GA-Z77X-UD5H refuses to boot with 3 graphics cards

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Mike Coberly

Mike Coberly

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Jun 24, 2013
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Title states the meat and potatoes of it.

I had it working just fine...reboot after installing some software updates (gg Windows) and now it locks up right after the logo on boot.
I can boot into safe mode just fine. (Device Manager shows all three cards)
I have changed nothing in the BIOS, and it is the latest version.

CPU: Pentium G2020
RAM: 4x4GB Corsair DDR3 1600
GPUS: 3x HD 6970
1000W PSU
Win 7 64

After assuming it had something to do with the graphics cards drivers, I booted into safe mode and uninstalled all 3 of the cards and driver using Device Manager, reboot into Windows normally (albeit without a graphics driver)...
Installing any (I've tried 12.8, 13.10 and the latest 13.12) of the graphics drivers resort in the exact same reaction upon rebooting; lockup during/after Windows logo.

I have already RMA'd this board once (just got it back two weeks ago) it has already cost me more than it is worth. Gigabytes customer service is right next to useless, in case anyone didn't know that already.

I am at my wits end guys & gals... :(
 
Solution
Gee Bee
i would have left windows updates out for now and tried without. As for better experience with Asus maybe in the service department. I 've only ever owned gigabyte/Asus boards for the last 14 years (non-other). I've had zero new build failures with gigabyte and three with Asus. I've never returned a gigabyte product (mobo/gpu) and still don't believe that's the issue unless they said there is no problem and sent you back exactly the same the board you returned. Your experience with Asus services may well be better but i've done dozens of builds with gigabyte mobos with no issues. The problem may well be peculiar to entire ud5 boards period, but i doubt it.
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Mike Coberly

Mike Coberly

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@vrumor
"Make and model of PSU?"
RaidMax RX-1000AE (it has powered more then this without issue)
The GPUs are watercooled (temps are a non-issue) and consume ~210W at full load as a result; whole box consumes ~760-820W at the wall under load.

@EasyLover
"Anyhow have you tried with one GPU at a time? If not pl do it and report back. "
Single GPU in the top slot works just fine.

Before anyone asks, all of the GPUs are 100% working, the CPU/RAM/PSU have all been verified working
using other machines as test beds.
 
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Gee Bee

Gee Bee

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Can you revert back under system restore prior to updates using only one card and from there identify the change/s that have caused this problem The fact that it was working fine previously indicates changes made by updates are causing an issue. If not start from scratch with a clean install. I don't see any other option if restore not possible, as it all points to OS. When you state gpu in top slot works fine are you referring to all three cards tested separately in top slot? If so the aforementioned stands.
 
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Mike Coberly

Mike Coberly

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I did not choose that as the solution. I do not know why it now shows your answer as the best solution. There is no way to change it apparently.

@Gee Bee
"When you state gpu in top slot works fine are you referring to all three cards tested separately in top slot?"
As I mentioned before, every other piece of hardware has been verified in separate test beds. Including each GPU individually.

I have now started from scratch. Installed all drivers directly from Gigabyte, all Windows updates...after installing the AMD drivers machine fails to boot once again.

Communication with Gigabyte is very similar to having a root canal; unbearable, and drawn out longer than you'd like.
 
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Gee Bee

Gee Bee

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i would have left windows updates out for now and tried without. As for better experience with Asus maybe in the service department. I 've only ever owned gigabyte/Asus boards for the last 14 years (non-other). I've had zero new build failures with gigabyte and three with Asus. I've never returned a gigabyte product (mobo/gpu) and still don't believe that's the issue unless they said there is no problem and sent you back exactly the same the board you returned. Your experience with Asus services may well be better but i've done dozens of builds with gigabyte mobos with no issues. The problem may well be peculiar to entire ud5 boards period, but i doubt it.
 
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Solution
EasyLover

EasyLover

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Dec 30, 2013
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In this regard I can share my experience. I had been a Intel's loyal customer for last 12 years. But then I switched to Asus and believe me it was not an easy switch considering the span of time involved. It took me two months doing net surfing, taking feedback. checking reviews etc that I finally decided to go for Asus.

I'M NOT DISAPPOINTED AT ALL. Even my experience with customer support is also good.

Rest is your choice.
 
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A

anthony8989

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Feb 2, 2013
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Have you tried booting up with absolutely nothing plugged in the mobo except the monitor and the psu? Sometimes usb driver issues will cause Windows to freeze at the Intel splash screen. Happened to me with a wireless mouse and keyboard dongle being plugged in while the pc was off. Wouldn't boot until I pulled them and reinserted while Windows was fully booted
 
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anthony8989

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The problem may be that the mobo doesn't officially support 3 way crossfire.

1 x PCI Express x16 slot, running at x4 (PCIEX4)
* The PCIEX4 slot is available only when an Intel 22nm (Ivy Bridge) CPU is installed.
* The PCIEX4 slot shares bandwidth with the PCIEX8 and PCIEX16 slots. When the PCIEX4 slot is populated, the PCIEX16 slot will operate at up to x8 mode and the PCIEX8 will operate at up to x4 mode.
(The PCIEX16, PCIEX8 and PCIEX4 slots conform to PCI Express 3.0 standard.)
* PCIE Gen.3 is dependent on CPU and expansion card compatibility.

2-way SLI™ and 2-way CrossFireX™ multi-GPU support
 
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Gee Bee

Gee Bee

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I was thinking along the same lines today. As my ud3 has similar limitations when 3rd slot is populated (ie non of the x1 slots work). The Ud5h does not have this limitation even with the same z77 chipset. However, as stated the ud5h's 3rd slot won't work at all unlesss it's an ivy bridge. Could well be OP's problem if he's not on IB. ALthough G2020 is IB so...
OP may well be better suited to something like the z77x-ud7 or P8Z77-V Pro
 
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Kalicula

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Jan 21, 2014
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I'm thinking for 3-way Crossfire the IB might have to be a Quad core or at least a Core series. I can't find anything that states it flat out - but truthfully wouldn't anything below an (Ivy Bridge) i5 severely bottleneck a 3-way Crossfire setup?
 
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Kalicula

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Yeah I mean it's a heck of a lot easier to just say "Ivy Bridge only" than to list out every single Ivy Bridge CPU on the market and which one will and won't push 3 way SLI/Crossfire. Kinda like how microwave manufacturer's say "no metal in the microwave". It's more of just a ''blanket'' statement.

OP, it really doesn't make much sense to try and push a Pentium G2020 through 3-way Crossfire. A Core i3-4130 @ 3.40GHz would probably even bottle neck that set up. Although I'll bet dollars to donuts that the i3 would be able to boot the pc up!
 
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Mike Coberly

Mike Coberly

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If you had read my inital post, you would know that it was running just fine prior to updates; therefor the motherboard is at fault. All prior hardware has been proven.

I failed to mention that I swapped the Pentium G2020 for a i7 3770K, the result is the same.
Whomever mentioned that I should boot with nothing attached, I tried that, the results are the same.

Also, I do not know why this was chosen as the solution, I certainly didn't pick it.

Thanks for all of your guys/gals responses though, I do appreciate it.

Currently grinding my teeth with customer "support"...again.
 
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EasyLover

EasyLover

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Hey @Mike Coberly, Listen to what Gee Bee has to say. He is right when every thing was working just fine before the updates, then it should be some sort of software related issue not hardware. Can you clean install the windows again or roll back all the updates/new installation or even recover from windows backup if available.
 
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Mike Coberly

Mike Coberly

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Repeating myself over and over doesn't help anyone.

"I have now started from scratch. Installed all drivers directly from Gigabyte, all Windows updates...after installing the AMD drivers machine fails to boot once again."

After uninstalling all AMD related software, machine reboots into Windows just fine (ie. Windows Update is NOT the problem)
All three cards show up in Device Manager under these conditions, installing any driver other than the 'Standard VGA Graphics' that Windows loads with results in no boot (lockup during/after Windows logo)

Those of you discussing the CPU/chipset limitations should already be aware that the Pentium G2020 supports PCI Express configurations up to 1x16, 2x8, 1x8 & 2x4...

The chipset itself is perfectly capable of the task I am asking it perform; I have several examples of working proof.
I should mention none of those examples are manufactured by Gigabyte, although they all use the same chipset.

As for the guy asking about why I didn't mention swapping CPU's; people forget things sir/ma'am.
The machine would be fundamentally useless to me with the graphics cards... therefor if it cannot perform the task then it will be replaced by PCB which can.

I troubleshoot/maintain dozens of machines on a daily basis; this one in particular has been displaying behavior I had never encountered under the given conditions and I was under the assumption that this community may have encountered it before.

I tried many things that I didn't mention because they we're simply not worth mentioning. Try and forgive. ;)
 
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EasyLover

EasyLover

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Pl calm down, Everyone is also trying to sort out the matter or atleast trying to help/assist. Yes this is unique issue one has encountered. Apparently with no working solution. Too bad though. If anything works out pl do share.

Regards,
 
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