Question Please help diagnosing a dying RX 6800 XT ?

[sandijs11]

Hello,

I own an RX 6800 XT reference card for about 2 years now.
The GPU started crashing out of the blue when idling with the display turned off. Eventually it grew into crashes during basic usage and finally, no post. I took it to a repair shop and they reflashed the VBIOS with a programmer, said everything is good and checks out. The repair shop told me they flashed a different VBIOS if the current one was faulty. I used the card for a month and it died on me again. No POST, but card runs (VGA LED turned on). I tried to boot the system using my iGPU while the GPU is plugged in, but it doesn't let the PC post (I did change the BIOS settings so the initial output is on the iGPU). I am considering reflashing the VBIOS with CH341A myself, but would this type of cards behaviour check out as a bad VBIOS chip? Does it need to get replaced?

Thank you.

 

[Hasselblad]

I'm still learning What is a "reference card" ?

 

[sandijs11]

I'm still learning What is a "reference card" ?

The OEM design from AMD

 

[Gururu]

Can you show the original, new and current VBIOS versions? Should be shown in GPU-Z.

 

[Roland Of Gilead]

Hey there,

Before even offering any advice, please list your PC specs in full. We would be only be guessing otherwise. Also, don't be flashing vbios willy nilly. That's just introducing another variable to consider.

 

[sandijs11]

Can you show the original, new and current VBIOS versions? Should be shown in GPU-Z.

The GPU is not posting, can't really do that currently until I've received my CH341A

 

[sandijs11]

Hey there,

Before even offering any advice, please list your PC specs in full. We would be only be guessing otherwise. Also, don't be flashing vbios willy nilly. That's just introducing another variable to consider.

The full PC specs are:
Aorus B560M Elite
Kingston 2x16GB 3000MHz DDR4
Intel i5-11500
Pure Power 10 700W

The problem is with the GPU itself, I've confirmed it on different systems as it doesn't post. The repair shop told me the problem was the VBIOS, everything else on the card is ok. Since the VBIOS got corrupted again, I am looking into this and asking for help and advice. The GPU is running a GD25Q80CT VBIOS chip

 

[SyCoREAPER]

Hello,

I own an RX 6800 XT reference card for about 2 years now.
The GPU started crashing out of the blue when idling with the display turned off. Eventually it grew into crashes during basic usage and finally, no post. I took it to a repair shop and they reflashed the VBIOS with a programmer, said everything is good and checks out. The repair shop told me they flashed a different VBIOS if the current one was faulty. I used the card for a month and it died on me again. No POST, but card runs (VGA LED turned on). I tried to boot the system while using my iGPU, but it doesn't let the PC post. I am considering reflashing the VBIOS with CH341A myself, but would this type of cards behaviour check out as a bad VBIOS chip? Does it need to get replaced?

Thank you.

"Repair shop" is hosing you. VBIOS firmware doesn't just randomly go bad, something else on the card is bad or the module/chip itself and corrupting it. Buy a cheap second GPU or use the iGPU and see what it's showing in device manager, GPU-z and HWInfo

 

[punkncat]

I may be misunderstanding but it appears you say the system won't POST even without the graphics card?

Your 11500 should be able to output video. If I am understanding correctly this would shift cause to something else, possibly.

 

[sandijs11]

I may be misunderstanding but it appears you say the system won't POST even without the graphics card?

Your 11500 should be able to output video. If I am understanding correctly this would shift cause to something else, possibly.

I corrected my original post as I wrote it wrong, but the iGPU itself posts. When I set the initial output in BIOS to iGPU and connect the GPU, it also doesn't post.

 

[sandijs11]

"Repair shop" is hosing you. VBIOS firmware doesn't just randomly go bad, something else on the card is bad or the module/chip itself and corrupting it. Buy a cheap second GPU or use the iGPU and see what it's showing in device manager, GPU-z and HWInfo

The iGPU doesn't post when the card is plugged in (only when unplugged). Thank you for confirming my suspicions that the BIOS chip needs to get replaced. I'm guessing if the replaced one starts getting corrupted, something else might be corrupting it. If THAT'S the case, then the GPU will go to a trash bin

 

[SyCoREAPER]

The iGPU doesn't post when the card is plugged in (only when unplugged). Thank you for confirming my suspicions that the BIOS chip needs to get replaced. I'm guessing if the replaced one starts getting corrupted, something else might be corrupting it. If THAT'S the case, then the GPU will go to a trash bin

Not sure if I'd even pay to replace it unless it's warrantied in writing by the shop and the cost.

And while you might be inclined to trash it, let it be someone else's adventure and post it on Facebook Market/eBay/Craigslist or whatever your local equivalents are.

As for the iGPU, Technically what makes pci-e "express" is hot swap, though I personally wouldn't plug it in with the system on. I'm on the go and can't look but your BIOS should have a preferred video output device. Otherwise it's possible the slot might be damaged on your Motherboard or the PSU could be bad or it's cables.

Since yours isn't modular, make sure you're using both PCIe cables and only the main plugs, not the extensions coming off from them.

 

[sandijs11]

Not sure if I'd even pay to replace it unless it's warrantied in writing by the shop and the cost.

And while you might be inclined to trash it, let it be someone else's adventure and post it on Facebook Market/eBay/Craigslist or whatever your local equivalents are.

As for the iGPU, Technically what makes pci-e "express" is hot swap, though I personally wouldn't plug it in with the system on. I'm on the go and can't look but your BIOS should have a preferred video output device. Otherwise it's possible the slot might be damaged on your Motherboard or the PSU could be bad or it's cables.

Since yours isn't modular, make sure you're using both PCIe cables and only the main plugs, not the extensions coming off from them.

I already set the preferred video output to the iGPU and tried to test the card on a different system. Both didn't post on the card. But I understand your point, I'll think about what to do with the card. Thank you for your help

 

[SyCoREAPER]

At least, not much of a consolation, you know your PSU and Mobo are good.

Best of luck. I forgot the obvious above but if you sell it obviously put "Not Working/For Parts - No Returns" or similar to protect yourself.