HD 6850 Problems

Hey guys,

So I've got my new build all assembled, and it seems to be working fine with the exception of the 2 6850s. This is a problem I've come across before and I just cannot solve it. I hope someone will be able to help me.

When I install any drivers at all for the 6850, after a reboot and the windows logo there is just a blank screen. The PC is still running, but there is no display. It's fine as long as I don't try to install any drivers. I've tried literally everything I can think of: installing normally by downloading and installing Catalyst Control Centre; using driver sweeper then installing normally; using driver sweeper in safe mode then installing normally; using driver sweeper in safe mode then installing in safe mode; and all of the above but allowing Windows itself to install the drivers. Inevitably, after a reboot, all I get is a blank screen. I'm definitely installing the correct drivers (the ones for 64-bit Windows 7) so I'm flummoxed.

I came across this problem before with Vista 64-bit but I never solved it. I just gave up and carried on using the XP part of my dual-boot system, on which the card worked fine. Now, I can only assume this is a 64-bit driver issue, because the system, the OS and the card are all different since I last encountered this problem (I got two new cards for my new PC), so can someone recommend something to me, please. I'm going out of my tiny, malfunctioning mind trying to solve this.

Thanks guys.

Do you get the same problem with only one card installed or is it with xfire? I'd try obvious things first, try to test the cards in another system. Failing that, try to boot and install with minimum amount of items physically attached to the mobo, flash to latest bios and make sure that the onboard GPU (if that board has one) is disabled.

Also make sure you don't have any extraneous programs like AIsuite or OC software installed.

Thanks for your input, planet436. I tried everything you suggested. I deleted AISuite, I tried each of the cards on its own and in crossfire, and tried the system with only the cards and the bare minimum. The board is already using the most up-to-date BIOS and Chipset drivers, and the onboard GPU is disabled. There was no change at any of these steps. I also installed all the windows updates that were available, to no avail.

This is definitely a driver issue, as the cards do physically work, in that they display everything with no drivers installed, and display everything up to the windows logo with drivers installed without any problems. As I said, the other card that did this same thing on 64-bit Vista worked without restriction on XP 32-bit. I find it hard to believe I've somehow got three defective cards, especially since one was proven to work on XP. I'll copy and paste my system specs here in case that helps anyone.

Case : Corsair Graphite 600T White
PSU : 850w Coolermaster Modular 80+ Bronze
Mobo : Asus P8P67
CPU : Intel Sandy Bridge 2500k
Cooler : Noctua NH-D14
RAM : 8GB Corsair XMS3 1600MHz 9-9-9-24 (1.5v)
OS Drive : 120GB OCZ Vertex 3 SSD
Other HDDs : 1TB Caviar Black
2 x 2TB Caviar Green
Graphics : 2x Sapphire HD6850 Crossfire
OS : Windows 7 Home Premium 64-Bit
Optical : LG DVD Burner
Sound : Creative Labs Sound Blaster X-Fi Extreme Audio PCI Sound Card
Wireless : Edimax EW-7612PIn 300Mbps Wireless 802.11 b/g/n PCI Express

Please, someone, help me make this work.

EDIT: I've realised that one thing I haven't tried is flashing the cards' BIOSes. But would that be necessary for them to be compatible with current drivers?

OK, small update.

With the help of someone I know, I booted into Windows in low resolution mode directly after installing the drivers. From there, I changed the default catalyst control centre resolution to 1280 x 768 (it wouldn't go any higher without black bars appearing on the screen). I also ticked the option to reduce DVI frequency on high-resolution displays. I am now able to boot into Windows normally, and change the resolution to 1440 x 900. However, it will go no higher. I am operating currently with only one 6850 installed, but I'll put the other one back in tomorrow and see what happens.

I don't understand, however, why my monitor's native resolution as reported in Catalyst Control Centre results in only a black screen. It makes no sense since both the card and my monitor are capable of displaying 1680 x 1050 on 32-bit Windows XP. Could it be something to do with the Plug n Play drivers for 64-bit Windows? Is, perhaps, my monitor (the manufacturer of which doesn't even have a website, nor do they seem to actually exist anymore) the culprit here?

Thanks again for your forthcoming help.

If your connecting via DVI then try VGA instead. If your not having issues with installing the drivers and CCC isnt having an issue then could potentially be a monitor issue.

If you have the possibilty of testing components in another system then I would strongly recommend doing that.

Thanks again, planet436 - I think the monitor is the issue, to be honest. I found another thread on google a day ago in which the OP (who has exactly the same off-brand monitor as me) was having exactly the same problem. My guess is that it's some kind of incompatibility with the 64-bit PnP monitor driver. It's not a big deal, really, anyway - not as big as it was when this whole debacle first started. I'll just work in 1440 x 900 (the horror... the horror) until I can get a new monitor. Might as well get a much better one, while I'm at it. Pay myself back for all this hassle.

Have a play with powerstrip. If you can find a mode that the monitor is happy with, you can essentially create your own custom driver.