No display after connecting sound card

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2142

2142

Honorable
Dec 4, 2013
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10,510
i7 3770K, Gigabyte G1 Sniper 3, (x2) MSI R7970 CF

I'm having a very strange issue here:

After plugging in a new Xonar Essence STX sound card into the PCIE1 slot on my mobo, there is no more display on boot. Removing the card makes the display output work again.

I've tried switching between the 7970 and the IGPU as well, and neither one shows any video when the sound card is plugged into the mobo.

Could it be trying to launch the Xonar STX as a video device? My previous sound card was PCI, which worked fine together with my 7970.
 
Solution
RaDiKaL_
That takes me again on the availability of the PCI-E lanes, seems like your mobo is designed to use the lanes of PCIE1 slot for your 2nd card to reach 8x or 16x or whichever amount is using, if that's the case (most likely) then you have no choice but to use the Xonar on the PCIE3.

Take a look at the manual in case there's a way to change this behavior, unlikely but else there's no other way.
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RaDiKaL_

RaDiKaL_

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Apr 17, 2006
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I think it has to do with the available PCI-E lanes, since you're crossfiring (and intel chipsets have an amount less than ideal imo of PCI-E lanes) the sound card when connected takes some of this lanes that your 2nd video card needs.

If possible see if there's a way to regulate how many PCI-E lanes your 2nd video card will use (if its set to use 16x reduce it to 8x, also check in the mobo manual if there's any specification regarding which PCI-E slots are usable after SLI/Crossfiring).
 
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2142

2142

Honorable
Dec 4, 2013
3
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10,510


I've just tried every possible configuration:

I removed my second 7970 and plugged the Xonar back into the PCIE1 slot, and I get the same issue - no video. I then tried plugging the Xonar into the PCIE3 slot where my second 7970 would sit, and it works! Obviously that's not a proper solution as I want my CF as well. So I then tried reconnecting my second 7970 and plugging the Xonar into the bottom PCIE3 slot and it works that way too - but this isn't a proper solution either as it blocks the second 7970's fans.

The only place where I can fit the Xonar without blocking anything is the PCIE1 slot just above the second 7970.

Any reason that you can think of for it not displaying video when I have the Xonar in the PCIE1 slot?
 
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RaDiKaL_

RaDiKaL_

Splendid
Apr 17, 2006
3,702
1
26,960
That takes me again on the availability of the PCI-E lanes, seems like your mobo is designed to use the lanes of PCIE1 slot for your 2nd card to reach 8x or 16x or whichever amount is using, if that's the case (most likely) then you have no choice but to use the Xonar on the PCIE3.

Take a look at the manual in case there's a way to change this behavior, unlikely but else there's no other way.
 
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Solution
2142

2142

Honorable
Dec 4, 2013
3
0
10,510
I see what you mean, but I'm not sure its the case. I checked the mobo manual and I can't find any specifics on how the PCIE slots work. I also don't see any BIOS settings to change the 8x and 16x.

I also just tried one more thing - I took an Asus Xonar DX out of another PC in the house and put it into the same PCIE1 slot in mine. Strangely enough it works (together with the second 7970). Could be an incompatibility with the STX, but I have no idea how to remedy it (tried installing the STX drivers as well). And I don't think the STX is faulty as it worked in the other PC when I tested it.

Guess I'm SOL with the STX.
 
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