To start off, here are my specifications:

ASUS P5E
Q6600 CPU
Some 14 year old voodoo video card I found in my closet
2GB of crucial ballistix ram
2x Seagate 7200.11 500GB HDDs
Antec Neopower 650W


When I built my computer, I had an HD 3870, but I sold that to a friend a few days back. I planned on getting a 5850 when they came in stock.

Unfortunately, there are none in stock, so until I can get my hands on one, I decided to use a spare ATi 1650 I had lying around.

So I put it in my computer, and it worked fine for a few days.
Then, out of nowhere, it stopped working.
By this, I mean that my monitor receives no signal at all, even before windows loads.
Now, what really confuses me is this video (the 1650) works perfectly in another computer. Also, I know that my motherboard is not damaged because I borrowed my brother's 8500gt, and that worked fine in thesame PCI-E slot, with the same cable and monitor as well.

I've also tried resetting the CMOS...

It seems to be able to boot into windows, since I shut my computer off with alt + f4 and then pressed enter.

Any ideas as to how I can get the 1650 working?
Do you think that this could somehow be a problem with ATi cards that could persist when I get a 5850?

Also, I am very cheap so I probably won't get a 5850 for another month, when it is cheaper, so I would really appreciate any help that I can get

Try and see if it's beginning to work better after updating to the latest bios. The P5E has some problems with other Radeon-cards as well...

http://support.asus.com/download/download.aspx?SLanguage=en-us

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HD5870 | Core 2 Duo E8500 | P5E Deluxe | 4GB PC8500 | X-Fi Fatal1ty FPS | 4xWD Raptor | Vista Ultimate x64, DX 11

Forgot to mention, I already tried updating to the latest BIOS, I had the same problem.

 

Thanks for the suggestion though.

Edited: 11/07/2009 at 10:11 AM by McJugga

As I recall it you're not the only one with problems with the P5E. If you do make a search here you'll surely find many other people with problems too.

It's a little bit strange since the P5E Deluxe doesn't cause problems, at least not my sample (but still, it isn't the same model...).

Maybe you have better luck if looking up the P5E at the Asus-forums?

EDIT:

But wait a minute, I forgot the fact that everything actually had been working the first days! Have you tried with connecting the vga-cable to an other vga-port at the X1650? Try change the cable (switch between VGA, DVI etc). If using a DVI-VGA adaptor, try another one of these. Probably it's the communication between the display and X1650 that's faulting somehow since you said that Windows loads and everything. Also, try to find a proper driver for your display.

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HD5870 | Core 2 Duo E8500 | P5E Deluxe | 4GB PC8500 | X-Fi Fatal1ty FPS | 4xWD Raptor | Vista Ultimate x64, DX 11

Edited: 11/07/2009 at 03:03 AM by _r_n_

I am using the same cable and monitor for both the 1650 and the vodoo card, but only the vodoo card works.

I have also tried a dvi cable with the 1650, but that didn't fix it either.

 

I guess I'll try the 1650 in this computer, but with a different monitor and edit this once I have the results.

 

Edit: other monitor had the same problem.

Edited: 11/07/2009 at 11:49 AM by McJugga

Wow... All I had to do is wait a few minutes, and then it starts working... =[

Still don't know what is causing this delay...

remove the voodoo card and I'm sure your 1650 will boot and run as normal. Motherboard probably confused as to which is primary for boot.

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WIN7x64, ASUS P5Q E6300 @ 2.8MHz, FSB 400, 2GB GOLDEN DRAGON DDR2 800, ASUS HD4850 700/1100MHz, SAMSUNG SYNCMASTER T220, SEAGATE ST3500410AS 500GB SATA300, HITACHI HDS721616PLAT80 160GB ATA133, OPTIARC DVD RW AD 7200S SATA150, ANTEC NEOPOWER 650W.

The only video card I have in is the 1650.

I was confused about the Voodoo 2 as well as Rik55, but anyhow when one of those is connected the monitor has to be plugged in in that card and not the X1650 (as I'm sure you're aware of).

Which type of monitor are you using – LCD, CRT? If it's a CRT maybe it's beginning to be the end of its life cycle (I'm thinking if its electronics now has to "warm up" before you see any picture...).

Of course it's wonderful if it actually works for you now, but it would be interesting to know why it works?

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HD5870 | Core 2 Duo E8500 | P5E Deluxe | 4GB PC8500 | X-Fi Fatal1ty FPS | 4xWD Raptor | Vista Ultimate x64, DX 11

Ok, it decided to stop working again, I waited 30 minutes, still nothing.

 

I have a hitachi LCD, I know the problem is not the monitor, since the same thing happened on another monitor.

I was testing with another monitor, and after a few minutes it started to work. I plugged it back into the original monitor, and the exact same thing happened, it worked after sitting there for a few minutes.

 

In my BIOS, I have the video device priority set to PEG/PCI, which would mean it would look at the PCI-E first, right? I've tried screwing around with the BIOS, but nothing has made any difference. I reset to the defaults, and the same problems occured...

If I have both video cards in (PCI and PCI-E) it immediately goes to the PCI.

If I have just the PCI-E card, it just hangs.

 

If only those 5850's were in stock...

This is really starting to get on my nerves...

 

I tried again just for the hell of it, without making any changes.

I put the 1650 in, boot up, and it works perfectly, no delay in the monitor's response, it just worked...

This card just works one second, and then goes from half-working to not working at all the next...

Seems like the card enjoys playing games with you.

Are you hundred percent sure it's firmly connected in the PCIe-slot and doesn't fit loosely in any way?

When you tried with another display, did you use another cable as well? And have you tried both display-ports in the card?

And I think another possibility may be – even if it may seem far-fetched – the PSU...

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HD5870 | Core 2 Duo E8500 | P5E Deluxe | 4GB PC8500 | X-Fi Fatal1ty FPS | 4xWD Raptor | Vista Ultimate x64, DX 11

Good point!

EDIT:

This has to be a communications problem somehow..! If not between the display and VGA-card, so perhaps between the VGA-card and the rest..? This is very basic but I wonder if you have run the INF Update Utility for the mainboard?

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HD5870 | Core 2 Duo E8500 | P5E Deluxe | 4GB PC8500 | X-Fi Fatal1ty FPS | 4xWD Raptor | Vista Ultimate x64, DX 11

Edited: 11/10/2009 at 01:56 AM by _r_n_

Still nothing.... =[

I've pretty much given up, tried a few more things, but nothing worked...

 

Anyone know how long until the 5850's should be available? I bet by the time there are any in stock, something better will be a few weeks away from release... =[

I could get the 5770 now, would that be sufficient for 1680x1050 gaming?

Or a 4870 or 4890. Either one is light years ahead of your old stuff.

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Spigon: Phenom II 955BE @ 3.2, Arctic Freezer 64 Pro, Gigabyte GA-MA790FX-DS5, Asus 3870x2, ASUS Xonar D2X,
4 x 1gig OCZ2N1066SR2GK @800, Antec Truepower New 750, Antec 900 case. Vista x64 HP SP1
#2 Athlon 64 X2 4200+, 1950pro, Asus A8V-D, Enermax 465P
#3 2500 Barton, x800xl, ASUS A7N8X-E, Antec 400

Yes it would – it performs better than HD4850 that still manages 1680x1050...

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HD5870 | Core 2 Duo E8500 | P5E Deluxe | 4GB PC8500 | X-Fi Fatal1ty FPS | 4xWD Raptor | Vista Ultimate x64, DX 11

Got my 5770, everything is working fine now.

To everyone that tried to help, thanks... What an odd problem...

Good to know, thanks for sharing. Then my theory about "communications problem" would rather be "compatibility problems" instead (as I recall you said the X1650 had actually worked in another PC).

Anyhow I'm happy for you!

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HD5870 | Core 2 Duo E8500 | P5E Deluxe | 4GB PC8500 | X-Fi Fatal1ty FPS | 4xWD Raptor | Vista Ultimate x64, DX 11