Question Sapphire RX 6700xt not passing POST only sometimes

[endbringer]

Motherboard: Asus PRIME B450-PLUS
PSU: Corsair 850W RM850X 80+ Gold

I have a weird issue with a brand new 6700xt.
After the PC is turned off for some time, like overnight, it will stop POSTing with VGA error beeps. If I restart it enough times eventually it turns on with zero issues and can be turned off and on normally again until it's been off for a few hours. Once it's on there appears to be no issues with the card. Can play games all day with normal performance and temps. Even did a stress test with no issues. Only happens with 6700xt not my old Nvidia 1660 Super card.

Tried to return it and after taking months they said the card is good. I've seen a ton of posts about similar issues and have tried just about any suggestion. Clearing CMOS, updating BIOS, use separate power cables, tested RAM, reseat everything about 100 times. Unfortunately, I can't test it on any other PC.

I'm at a complete loss. At this point my only option seems to be start replacing other components one by one to see if that's it.

 

[COLGeek]

Have you tried with both PCIe x16 length slots (on the motherboard)? If so, did that make a difference?

Is the motherboard BIOS fully up to date?

https://www.asus.com/us/motherboard...plus/helpdesk_bios?model2Name=PRIME-B450-PLUS

 

[endbringer]

Have you tried with both PCIe x16 length slots (on the motherboard)? If so, did that make a difference?

Is the motherboard BIOS fully up to date?

https://www.asus.com/us/motherboard...plus/helpdesk_bios?model2Name=PRIME-B450-PLUS

The second slot doesn't seem to work at all. Even occasionally.

Updated BIOS again yesterday to version 4402.

 

[COLGeek]

The second slot doesn't seem to work at all. Even occasionally.

Updated BIOS again yesterday to version 4402.

I suspect the mobo is your issue. Before declaring dead, please verify that both your 24-pin and 8-pin motherboard power connections are securely fastened to the motherboard AND PSU sockets.

 

[endbringer]

I suspect the mobo is your issue. Before declaring dead, please verify that both your 24-pin and 8-pin motherboard power connections are securely fastened to the motherboard AND PSU sockets.

I've triple checked and repluged everything that's plugable. Also tried different PSU cables.

 

[COLGeek]

What CPU are you using?

Also, are you overclocking anything (CPU, GPU, memory)?

 

[endbringer]

What CPU are you using?

Also, are you overclocking anything (CPU, GPU, memory)?

CPU is AMD Ryzen 7 2700X.
Never overclocked anything.

 

[COLGeek]

At any point, did you remove the CPU and inspect it for damaged/missing pins?

At this point, this seems a motherboard issue. The "nothing in the second slot" supports that working hypothesis.

In your BIOS, there should be a setting to select the PCIe version used. Typically, it is set to AUTO. Try finding that and seeing what options are presented.

 

[endbringer]

At any point, did you remove the CPU and inspect it for damaged/missing pins?

At this point, this seems a motherboard issue. The "nothing in the second slot" supports that working hypothesis.

In your BIOS, there should be a setting to select the PCIe version used. Typically, it is set to AUTO. Try finding that and seeing what options are presented.

They inspected it visually pretty thoroughly when I returned it under warranty. I can't see anything wrong either as far as I can tell.

PCIe version selection isn't an option for this motherboard (forcing v3.0 was suggested in other posts). There's only an option to change configuration like x8/x8, but I don't exactly remember all options.

 

[COLGeek]

They inspected it visually pretty thoroughly when I returned it under warranty. I can't see anything wrong either as far as I can tell.

PCIe version selection isn't an option for this motherboard (forcing v3.0 was suggested in other posts). There's only an option to change configuration like x8/x8, but I don't exactly remember all options.

Was the GPU and CPU inspected? I was asking about the CPU. Just clarifying.

 

[endbringer]

Was the GPU and CPU inspected? I was asking about the CPU. Just clarifying.

Oh, sorry. No I didn't look at the CPU. Can't imagine why it would be damaged as I have not touched it since installed years ago.

Anyway I managed to get ahold of a different motherboard and CPU this evening. The same behavior happens. So it's not the motherboard after all.

 

[COLGeek]

So, we are down to memory and PSU. Do you have access to another PSU to test with?

Who actually tested the GPU?

 

[endbringer]

So, we are down to memory and PSU. Do you have access to another PSU to test with?

Unfortunately none that have the right connectors or wattage. Anyway wouldn't a faulty PSU manifest when running too, especially under load?

For memory I have 4 8gb sticks one of which actually died on me recently and was exchanged. So that was one of the first things I tested. Tried booting with a single stick and ran memtest. Everything seems fine.

Who actually tested the GPU?

I actually have no idea. I bought it at a local electronic store chain and returned it to them. They're not official reseller. They sent it to some German company they work with. Which is why I'm actually really suspicious about their claim that the card is ok. I also strongly suspect that my original problem description wasn't passed along. Particularly the point that it would sometimes turn on normally so they plugged it in, it turned on and they called it a day. But that's just pure speculation.

So I guess my only options now are to either buy a new PSU and hope that's it. Or maybe find some PC repair shop and see if they can test the card or PC.

 

[COLGeek]

I think the testing of the GPU may be a red herring as you speculated. Unless Sapphire tested it, I wouldn't assume the testing was valid.

Have you tried to return to Sapphire under warranty?

 

[endbringer]

Just double checked and the company they sent it to for testing is actually listed as official distributor of Sapphire. So I guess that adds some validity. I could contact Sapphire directly and ask, but their website says to direct everything warranty related to distributor/reseller which technically I already did.

I'll see if I can get different PSU to test.

 

[COLGeek]

Just double checked and the company they sent it to for testing is actually listed as official distributor of Sapphire. So I guess that adds some validity. I could contact Sapphire directly and ask, but their website says to direct everything warranty related to distributor/reseller which technically I already did.

I'll see if I can get different PSU to test.

Where I live (US), I would request warranty service with Sapphire via a RMA. That would directly with them and is the route I would take.

https://support.sapphiretech.com/Default.asp?lang=eng

 

[endbringer]

So an update. I decided to get a new PSU to try because I figured the worst case scenario is that I'll have a PSU for a home server I've been wanting to build anyway (a bit overkill, but whatever).

There have been no booting issues over the weekend with new PSU. So mystery solved hopefully.

 

[COLGeek]

So an update. I decided to get a new PSU to try because I figured the worst case scenario is that I'll have a PSU for a home server I've been wanting to build anyway (a bit overkill, but whatever).

There have been no booting issues over the weekend with new PSU. So mystery solved hopefully.

Understood. Your original PSU should have been sufficient. I would try exchanging that one with Corsair in case it is defective (can and does happen from time to time).

Good luck and have fun!

 

[endbringer]

Nope, nevermind. The issue persists. It worked fine for about a week and a half and then came back with exact same symptoms. Less frequently and easy to recover from at first, but now doesn't boot at all (kind of hoping it just died completely so it's easier to prove it's broken). I damn near built a whole new PC so it must be the GPU.

By the sound of it contacting Sapphire will be useless as they're not accepting RMA requests directly at least in Europe, but might as well ask. Nothing else to do anyway.