Not well with flushed GTX680

[kunia]

I don't know as I don't have any cards except for my graphics card.

However, I'd expect it to draw something, even when idle.

Have you tried your 5770 using each of the 6-pin connectors in turn? Also, have you tried it in both slots 1 & 2?

I'll be testing this tomorrow with the 5870. I think it makes a bit more sense since its so close to the gtx680 in terms of power requirements.
And yes, I'd expect the expansion card to draw some power as well....i'm using a mouse off of that USB port at the moment, yet it still shows at 0w. strange

 

[kunia]

just a quick question....or two
is it possible that I simply got two defective cards, a bad batch sequence?
I've been running the 5770 all day yesterday with no issues, and will be testing my old 5870 today.
I'll be monitoring the power draw on the card while under load, and if there are no problems what could possibly cause all those issues with gtx680 other than broken cards?

I'm still going to drop off my mac for testing - already have an appointment in on Wednesday and might as well use my warranty till it runs out - but what if they find nothing wrong? Should I try another gtx680, but perhaps from a different store?

I'm trying to explore all the possibilities, and to be honest all the problems I've been having with the gtx680 are a bit confusing.

 

[jjhny]

just a quick question....or two
is it possible that I simply got two defective cards, a bad batch sequence?
I've been running the 5770 all day yesterday with no issues, and will be testing my old 5870 today.
I'll be monitoring the power draw on the card while under load, and if there are no problems what could possibly cause all those issues with gtx680 other than broken cards?

I'm still going to drop off my mac for testing - already have an appointment in on Wednesday and might as well use my warranty till it runs out - but what if they find nothing wrong? Should I try another gtx680, but perhaps from a different store?

I'm trying to explore all the possibilities, and to be honest all the problems I've been having with the gtx680 are a bit confusing.

Well having flashed a gtx680 myself, and had absolutely no problems of any kind, I would say it is clear there is something wrong with the card you have. The fact that your 5770 works is pretty much proof -> you pulled out the bad component (gtx680) and now it all works. Therefore, 'bad' card.

Honestly, if you want it to work easily with no hassles, get a plain EVGA card with 2 GB of memory. That is what the flash is made for. And the consensus is that it works.

(/rant-on) Why people feel a need to use weird cards is beyond me. Unless you are a highly technical person who can edit ROMs and understand what you are doing - you should clearly only do it the simple way, that is proven to work. I'm pretty advanced and even I avoid weird combos - mainly because I no longer have the time to troubleshoot all of it. I used to love hacking all this stuff together. But that takes real knowledge and a love for trouble! (/rant-off)

 

[kunia]

Well having flashed a gtx680 myself, and had absolutely no problems of any kind, I would say it is clear there is something wrong with the card you have. The fact that your 5770 works is pretty much proof -> you pulled out the bad component (gtx680) and now it all works. Therefore, 'bad' card.

Honestly, if you want it to work easily with no hassles, get a plain EVGA card with 2 GB of memory. That is what the flash is made for. And the consensus is that it works.

(/rant-on) Why people feel a need to use weird cards is beyond me. Unless you are a highly technical person who can edit ROMs and understand what you are doing - you should clearly only do it the simple way, that is proven to work. I'm pretty advanced and even I avoid weird combos - mainly because I no longer have the time to troubleshoot all of it. I used to love hacking all this stuff together. But that takes real knowledge and a love for trouble! (/rant-off)

That's what I got...a plain EVGA GTX680 2gb card...two of them....both didn't work properly, one fried

 

[kunia]

Now, Im really confused
5870 in, running Valley....
full speed x16 lane width, 5gt/s, under 160w...
wtf is going on? two screwed up gtx680 in a row?
should i go and pick another one up from a different location?

 

[kunia]

and here's I'm about 10minutes into the benchmark...160w and still going

 

[cal6n]

Well, that's all looking exactly as it should.

 

[kunia]

I know....would that mean I got two screwed up cards?
What are the chances of getting two bad cards in a row...bad batch?

 

[Asgorath]

I know....would that mean I got two screwed up cards?
What are the chances of getting two bad cards in a row...bad batch?

Do the cards work before you flash them? You'll be missing the boot screens, but once the system boots to the desktop the non-EFI cards should basically just work with 10.8.3. If the system works fine with a non-flashed 680 but then fails with the flashed 680, then all signs point to something going wrong when you flash the cards.

 

[kunia]

I didnt flash the first one....and it was running at x8...half the speed in both slots 1 and slots 2

the second one was running at x16 before the flash and x16 after the flash. about 5 hours into playing WoW it started to crash and went back to x8
I reflashed it back to stock rom and it was still running at x8 in both windows and os x and of course kept on crashing about 3 minutes into playing wow.

I returned the second card and it was 'fried'. The store tested in on their PC and couldnt get any video out form any dvi port.

 

[lewdvig]

Nvm just read your latest post

 

[jjhny]

That's what I got...a plain EVGA GTX680 2gb card...two of them....both didn't work properly, one fried

Okay - this is really odd. I don't doubt that weird things happen...

Is there any way to test the cards in another MacPro? (I know that would be difficult and annoying) but that is the only way to be certain - two card screwed up is odd. I would almost think power supply or even static shock somehow, but then why would the 5770 work.

 

[kunia]

Okay - this is really odd. I don't doubt that weird things happen...

Is there any way to test the cards in another MacPro? (I know that would be difficult and annoying) but that is the only way to be certain - two card screwed up is odd. I would almost think power supply or even static shock somehow, but then why would the 5770 work.

And the 5870 with two pins and the GT120...all work well
Sadly, no MPs around. But I still got warranty left, so I'll be taking it to the Apple store for a test.
I can get another GTX680, 02G-P4-2682-KR model from a different store. They only got one left. For some strange reason, those are kind of hard to get here in Toronto.

 

[kunia]

Okay - this is really odd. I don't doubt that weird things happen...

Is there any way to test the cards in another MacPro? (I know that would be difficult and annoying) but that is the only way to be certain - two card screwed up is odd. I would almost think power supply or even static shock somehow, but then why would the 5770 work.

I do have my old MP 1,1 at work, but it runs windows only.
I was up till 2 am monitoring the power levels...all was good both under OS X and under Win7.
To be honest, I really don't feel like like dragging my MP to the apple store, not to mention re-configuring it to stock setup and installing OS on a clean drive, but I guess I rather be sure, so I'll suffer.

I'm still debating if I should get that GTX680 or just order the mac version of. it. There's a 15% restocking fee on returns and if I get the PC version and it doesn't work I'd have no choice but to pay it if I want to return it. With the Mac edition I do get EVGA support.

As a side note, downgrading sucks. That brief time I had with a working GTX680 made me realize how crappy 5870 is.

 

[kunia]

I know this topic is getting boring, but I just need some advice on my options.

Option 1.
I take the MP to the apple store, have them check it out, not knowing exactly what's the problem. 5870, 5770 and GT120 all work as they should. Two GTX680, same model (02G-P4-2680-KR), from the same store and possibly from the same batch didn't. At the same time order the GTX 680 mac edition, pay extra $150 and wait about a month since they're all back-ordered, and hope it works when it arrives.

Option 2.
Buy a different model GTX680 PC version (model 02G-P4-2682-KR) and see if that works before I take it to the apple store. If it works - great...two other cards were defective. If it doesn't then I'd be 100% sure there's something wrong with my mac. But I'll be stuck with the card or pay a 15% restocking fee if I want to return it (ir RMA it if my MP is the culprit and fries the cards) and pretty much hit the MAC edition price (which might not work).

I'm no MAC/PC expert but from what I've gathered in the past 3 days it appears that my MP is fine. I pretty much did everything you guys have suggested and I can't find any issues with the computer itself.

 

[Asgorath]

The GTX 680 Mac Edition is an officially supported product. That means you can call EVGA and talk with their tech support if something goes wrong. Seems silly to pass that up in your situation, in my opinion.

 

[kunia]

The GTX 680 Mac Edition is an officially supported product. That means you can call EVGA and talk with their tech support if something goes wrong. Seems silly to pass that up in your situation, in my opinion.

My only issue with with this sort of 'support' is like talking to a mechanic over the phone and try to fix your car that's on the driveway. On top of that, even thou I still have warranty, Apply will NOT diagnose my computer unless it's in stock configuration, so I'd still be giving it to them with the 5870 inside

It boils down to this: everyone that's using an EVGA GTX680 card (PC rom or flashed) does not have issues like me. It should work in my MP out of the box. People flashed those cards as well...again no issues - it simply becomes a mac version. I appeared my MP is the problem, but after testing three other cards there are absolutely no problems. Question is, did I buy two bad cards in a row from the same bad batch? Is that even a realistic possibility?

BTW, anyone in Toronto/Mississauga area with a 4,1 or 5,1 MP and is willing to test out a PC version of GTX 680

 

[xcodeSyn]

Question is, did I buy two bad cards in a row from the same bad batch? Is that even a realistic possibility?

While it is possible that you may have bought two lemons from a bad batch, but by then EVGA should have been aware of this situation and started a recall. If I were you, I'd wait until Apple checks out the machine before buying another GTX 680. I also noticed something odd about your Hardware Monitor graph. The graph from cal6n, presumably from the GTX 680, shows max output of 63.5 and 60.7W from the two 6-pin aux power lines, and 43.9W from the PCIe slot. In your case, from the 5870, it shows only 48.1and 49.3 max output from 6-pin lines and 56.5W from the PCIe slot. The weird thing is that the min ouput from your PCIe slot is 39.4W, that is way too high compared to cal6n's 8.1W. It seems to me that your machine has some trouble cranking up power from those two 6-pin power lines, definitely ask the Apple techs to check them out. You could tell them that one EVGA GTX 680 Mac Edition (technically speaking) may have been fried while in use.

 

[kunia]

While it is possible that you may have bought two lemons from a bad batch, but by then EVGA should have been aware of this situation and started a recall. If I were you, I'd wait until Apple checks out the machine before buying another GTX 680. I also noticed something odd about your Hardware Monitor graph. The graph from cal6n, presumably from the GTX 680, shows max output of 63.5 and 60.7W from the two 6-pin aux power lines, and 43.9W from the PCIe slot. In your case, from the 5870, it shows only 48.1and 49.3 max output from 6-pin lines and 56.5W from the PCIe slot. The weird thing is that the min ouput from your PCIe slot is 39.4W, that is way too high compared to cal6n's 8.1W. It seems to me that your machine has some trouble cranking up power from those two 6-pin power lines, definitely ask the Apple techs to check them out. You could tell them that one EVGA GTX 680 Mac Edition (technically speaking) may have been fried while in use.

Max draw from the PCIe slot was at 57.8W and 50.6W + 50.6W from 6-pin aux lines. And thanks a lot! That's something that wouldn't even cross my mind to look at.
Again, thanks I feel much better now - I can actually tell the apple techs something logical

 

[Moleyman69]

Have you tried new 6-pin-to-6-pin cables?

 

[kunia]

Have you tried new 6-pin-to-6-pin cables?

Nope...don't have any extra ones. My MPs going to an apple store tomorrow. I'll ask them to check those cables as well.

 

[cal6n]

*snip*

The weird thing is that the min ouput from your PCIe slot is 39.4W, that is way too high compared to cal6n's 8.1W.

*snip*.

That may just be how ATI cards idle. I'll pop my 5870 back in later this evening and see that mine behaves in my Mac Pro.

Incidentally, what settings did you run in Valley, kunia? Was it the extreme preset with AA off? It's just that the benchmark's bugged with AA on with ATI cards.

 

[kunia]

That may just be how ATI cards idle. I'll pop my 5870 back in later this evening and see that mine behaves in my Mac Pro.

Incidentally, what settings did you run in Valley, kunia? Was it the extreme preset with AA off? It's just that the benchmark's bugged with AA on with ATI cards.

First time I ran it was at the default setup, and then while it was running I changed it to 'ultra' setting in the top left menu...was getting about 24fps. But I think AA was off.

 

[cal6n]

Here's the 5870's power window.

The boost lines are providing less power than the slot, unlike the GTX 680. However, my 5870 idling behaviour is different from yours but similar to what I see with the GTX 680.

I don't understand why your 5870 is drawing 40W at idle through the slot, but I'd say it's worth taking it to Apple.

 

[kunia]

Here's the 5870's power window.

The boost lines are providing less power than the slot, unlike the GTX 680. However, my 5870 idling behaviour is different from yours but similar to what I see with the GTX 680.

I don't understand why your 5870 is drawing 40W at idle through the slot, but I'd say it's worth taking it to Apple.

I'll check it again in the next hour.