Matrix 7970 will not boot with PCI-E 3.0 enabled ?

[MOOGLEYS]

I did hijack someone else's thread but thought it best to start my own.

I'm having a weird issue with a new Asus HD 7970 Matrix card and my MSI Z87-G45 Gaming motherboard.

When I select PCI-E gen 3 in the settings I get no signal out from the Matrix, As I can then immediately power off the Pc it seems it is freezing at the bios load.

If I enable PCI-E 2.0 in the settings it runs fine without issue.

I can run with PCI-E 3.0 enabled but have to have the Matrix in the second slot (8x3.0) slot for it to work, again it works fine in this slot. The problem is the card sits against my PSU and blocks on off one of the fans so this is not really ideal.

Has anyone managed to get this card running PCI-E 3.0 in the top (16x3.0) slot on either this board or had any similar issues as I'm out of options to try.

I have loaded the latest bios for the motherboard and even tried a few older ones with no luck. I have also applied the update to the GPU on the Asus site again with no luck.

My previous GTX 680 ran fine using PCI-E 3.0 in the top slot so I doubt it is an issue with the motherboard ?

Any help would be very welcome...

Cheers

 

[MOOGLEYS]

Updated the BIOS?

Sure have latest bios for motherboard and GPU have been tried with no luck.

 

[MOOGLEYS]

Any other PCI-E cards installed? If you have try removing them see if it enables?

If you don't find a solution, it might be worth asking on the MSI Forums, whenever I've asked for help on there with my MSI boards, I usually get some good help back.

An MSI tech roams the forum as well now.

EDIT: Also you can get access to the latest beta bios on there as well, if you haven't already got it, they update the beta's quite regular usually.

No other PCI-E cards installed just the gpu.

I have tried the beta bios posted but its still the same no post or display with pci-e 3 enabled. I will put a post on there tomorrow and see what they say.

I have no idea really if its the card or board. It just seems strange that my 680 ran fine.

 

[MOOGLEYS]

Actually now it seems to be booting into windows but still no display at all.

This card is a complete pain in the butt. Its also damn noisy at idle for some reason.

I'm just about given up with it no wonder they are cheap.

 

[MOOGLEYS]

I'm sure there's a solution. However...

Considered a DSR return?

I have considered throwing the damn thing out the window as well...

It's annoying me as I'm not sure what is at fault the Matrix or the Motherboard.

The fan can be fixed with a custom profile once it's running but at the moment I'm stuck trying to work out what's at fault.

I also know running the card at PCI-E 2.0 will make no difference as I have tested this before myself but my OCD says it needs to be at 3.0 as it should damn well work..

 

[MOOGLEYS]

If in doubt, DSR and then buy again later when it's cheaper and you've found out more.

Just tried my reference Sapphire 7970 again which is a bit knackered but it runs fine with PCI-E 3.0 enabled. It must be the matrix although I'm not convinced its faulty just incompatible which is weird if a reference card works fine.

Not really great for what is meant to be the best 7970......

 

[MOOGLEYS]

I have now tried every available bios available either full or Beta for the G45 gaming board and had exactly the same issue with all of them. None of them will allow the Matrix Plat to run with PCI-E Gen 3 enabled only 2.

I think this is just a compatibility issue with the card and board tbh. More than likely as MSI wan't you to buy a lightning

MSI blame Asus and Asus blame MSI so no help from either of them really.

The easy answer would be to run the card using PCI-E Gen 2 but this for me is not good enough and also if the bios fails and resets it becomes a pain.

I have decided just to order a Asus Maximus VI Hero board and sell the MSI.

The Matrix 7970 is happy running at 1375 on the core with no volts increase so it's a keeper for now.

Stupid computers......

 

[MOOGLEYS]

"Fixed it"

I have managed to get the card working using PCI-E 16x 3.0

I downloaded the original bios for the card from when it was launched at techpowerup and flashed this to the card.

Job done booted first time after the flash and GPU-z confirms it is running Gen 3.

Very happy now...