Question VGA Light - GPU Swap - Nvidia to AMD

[RadeonHype]

Hello! Long time browser, first time posting.

I have viewed dozens of other posts on this topic and still haven't found a solution.

Switching from an MSI 1070 to a Sapphire Pulse 6800 - new. I had followed the common advice (the TH GPU install guide) of running DDU and swapping GPUs. Checked most of the common issues. The only thing I messed up on was an 8-pin cable was slightly unplugged on the first installation...

GPU: Sapphire Pulse RX 6800
CPU: Ryzen 3700X
Motherboard: MSI B450 Tomahawk Max
BIOS Version: 7C02v3G (released 2023-04-27)
RAM: 16GB Corsair 3600 MHz CL16 (in A2 and B2 slots)
PSU: EVGA GQ 650W 80+ GOLD SEMI MODULAR
Operating System: Windows 10 - Home Edition
Chipset Drivers: AMD B450 v 5.05.16.529

Troubleshooting: (not in any set order)
- First , updated BIOS / Chipset before installation. Old 1070 ran fine.
- Reseated the 6800 multiple times, pins look clean and intact
- Unplugged peripherals, RAM. Tried HDMI/DP/both
- Tried turning monitor off, run computer, turn monitor on
- Reset CMOS multiple times (so, no XMP)
- Ran DDU again
- Original power cable was daisy-chained. Some online said that was their issue, so I replaced it with two 8-pin cables
- Changing Legacy/UEFI settings and keys
- Cleaning pins / PCIE slot
- PSU pins have correct voltage
- 1070 still works

The only other thing I haven't tried (or don't know if I can do it) is updating GPU bios? but I don't think that applies to my case.

Occam's Razor:
- GPU is bad - DOA or I fried it

I am really excited to use the 6800 - powerful and efficient.

Would there be any other things to try, or send it back in?

 

[JohnBonhamsGhost]

Would there be any other things to try, or send it back in?

try the RX 6800 on a different more robust system with more power available
or take it to a local computer shop and have them test it for you.

if it is deemed defective, return it to the retailer purchased from for a refund and put that towards a different model card.

 

[RadeonHype]

Sounds good, I can test it tomorrow and will give an update afterwards.

 

[Avro Arrow]

If the VGA light is glowing on the motherboard, it usually means that there's something physically wrong with the card. DDU only gets rid of remnant drivers, something that would only have an effect once Windows is loaded. It wouldn't have any affect on the PC during post. If a card won't work right off the bat, 99 times out of 100, the card is bad.

The one time that I've ever seen otherwise was when an RX 580 2048SP that I got from AliExpress (for $70), wouldn't output any display on my mother's 990FX motherboard. When tinkering with it, I'd learnt that it has a 100% success rate with my A320M motherboard (I got it for $40CAD and I use it for testing and tinkering). I would try it in the 990FX motherboard and, nothing. I would try it in the A320 motherboard and it would work.

I managed to get lucky and found a PowerColor RX 6500 XT for $161CAD (at the time, less than $115USD) and it worked in her system just fine (she only needed a glorified video adapter that drew less power than the gigantic R9 Fury that she was using at the time). However, I still wanted to know what was going on with the RX 580 2048SP. To say that I was puzzled would be a huge understatement.

Fortunately, some guys on TechPowerUp who specialise in this kind of thing told me about how some Polaris cards won't output anything if the motherboard onto which they've been mounted has a legacy BIOS instead of a modern UEFI. There are some pretty sharp guys over there and I was glad to learn something new after building PCs for 35 years.

To date, every other card I've seen that didn't output a display right away during post was DOA. I know it's not what you want to hear but I won't lie to you. You're a wise person to bring up Occam's Razor because I think that this is a perfect case-in-point for it.

You should send the card back for an RMA because even if you get it working, there's clearly something wrong with it.

 

[RadeonHype]

Thanks for the responses. Yeahhhh, you are right, the card was bad . RMA'd it, got a functional new one (and saved $30)! I love it.

Spent a while doing tuning, the card is so efficient! holy moly! uses way less power than the 1070 with more output.
Plus, the idle is 6 to 14 W, which is way less than the 1070's 40 W.

For example, for one game at 1440p:
1070 - 170 to 180 W, about 240 fps

With an undervolt and power limit:
6800 - 100 to 110 W, with 280 - 320 fps

Here are some select tunings I tried using 3DMark TimeSpy. (got over 8 pages of testing notes)

Name	Voltage	GPU Clock (max MHz)	VRAM (MHz)	GPU Power (TGP)	System Wall Power (max ave)	GPU Score	Comments
1070	1093	1860	2003	187	--	6 345
Stock 6800	1025	2209	2000	219	383	15 334
w/ SAM + VR	1025	2209	2100	219	385	16 168	Crazy jump from just SAM and VRAM
UV VR	950	2209	2100	214.7	355	16 250	Good efficiency
UV OC VR	950	2300	2130	219	380	16 573	Best performance below stock power
UV VR PR +5	970	2209	2130	223	365	16 304
UV VR PR -8	958	2209	2150	201	352	16 124	Averages 190-195 W. About 30 W less from wall
UV UC VR PR -8	958	2100	2150	188.5	325	15 482	Averages 170-175 W. -15.6%W, - 4.2% score
UV UC VR PR -8	960	2030	2150	173.9	308	15 080	Averages 165 W. -20.0%W, -6.7% score

 

[Avro Arrow]

Thanks for the responses. Yeahhhh, you are right, the card was bad . RMA'd it, got a functional new one (and saved $30)! I love it.

Spent a while doing tuning, the card is so efficient! holy moly! uses way less power than the 1070 with more output.
Plus, the idle is 6 to 14 W, which is way less than the 1070's 40 W.

For example, for one game at 1440p:
1070 - 170 to 180 W, about 240 fps

With an undervolt and power limit:
6800 - 100 to 110 W, with 280 - 320 fps

Here are some select tunings I tried using 3DMark TimeSpy. (got over 8 pages of testing notes)

Name	Voltage	GPU Clock (max MHz)	VRAM (MHz)	GPU Power (TGP)	System Wall Power (max ave)	GPU Score	Comments
1070	1093	1860	2003	187	--	6 345
Stock 6800	1025	2209	2000	219	383	15 334
w/ SAM + VR	1025	2209	2100	219	385	16 168	Crazy jump from just SAM and VRAM
UV VR	950	2209	2100	214.7	355	16 250	Good efficiency
UV OC VR	950	2300	2130	219	380	16 573	Best performance below stock power
UV VR PR +5	970	2209	2130	223	365	16 304
UV VR PR -8	958	2209	2150	201	352	16 124	Averages 190-195 W. About 30 W less from wall
UV UC VR PR -8	958	2100	2150	188.5	325	15 482	Averages 170-175 W. -15.6%W, - 4.2% score
UV UC VR PR -8	960	2030	2150	173.9	308	15 080	Averages 165 W. -20.0%W, -6.7% score

Thanks for best answer! I'm glad that I could help and I'm glad that things turned out well for you.