RX580, Mac Pro 5,1 - Card can't stay on

[hokiewalrus]

I just upgraded to a Pulse RX580 from the stock 5870. I order the dual 6 pin to 8 pin cable from china (from an eBay link in another thread on here) and plugged everything in.

The card powers on and computer POSTs, but then the card shuts off before I get any kind of screen. The power cable appears to be high quality (it's beefy and well-made) so I don't have any immediate avenues to go down for troubleshooting.

My question is, what can I do to try and narrow down the issue? I have a new card, with a new cable, and I'm drawing more power than ever before. Is it possible I'm overtaxing the PSU? I have 4 spinning HDD and an SSD and the optical drive, but no other expansion cards. Is it possible one of the 6 pin connectors on the motherboard is busted? (Can you tell I don't think it's any of the new kit?) One of the reasons for the upgrade was strange video issues from 5870...

What can I check and how do I check it? Googling didn't seem help, unless I don't know what to google for...

 

[handheldgames]

some thoughts in no particular order...

1) the cable could be bad.
2) the video card could be bad.
3) the power supply could be tired.
4) have you tried another video port /or power cycling the monitor (plug / unplug)?
5) Can you log into the mac with VNC to see if it's a display sync issue.
6) It could be the OS. Which version of macOS are you using?
7) what kind of cable / connection do you have between you mac and the display?

 

[h9826790]

I just upgraded to a Pulse RX580 from the stock 5870. I order the dual 6 pin to 8 pin cable from china (from an eBay link in another thread on here) and plugged everything in.

The card powers on and computer POSTs, but then the card shuts off before I get any kind of screen. The power cable appears to be high quality (it's beefy and well-made) so I don't have any immediate avenues to go down for troubleshooting.

My question is, what can I do to try and narrow down the issue? I have a new card, with a new cable, and I'm drawing more power than ever before. Is it possible I'm overtaxing the PSU? I have 4 spinning HDD and an SSD and the optical drive, but no other expansion cards. Is it possible one of the 6 pin connectors on the motherboard is busted? (Can you tell I don't think it's any of the new kit?) One of the reasons for the upgrade was strange video issues from 5870...

What can I check and how do I check it? Googling didn't seem help, unless I don't know what to google for...

Which OS you are running?

Your power draw is well within the PSU can deliver. Don't worry about that.

 

[hokiewalrus]

some thoughts in no particular order...

1) the cable could be bad.
2) the video card could be bad.

Both true. Any way to test short of buying doubles of everything?

3) the power supply could be tired.

I unplugged 2 internal drives and tries to boot, same result

4) have you tried another video port /or power cycling the monitor (plug / unplug)?

Currently booting without any monitor or video cable plugged in, same result

5) Can you log into the mac with VNC to see if it's a display sync issue.

I doubt it's a sync issue as it happens without any monitor plugged in.

6) It could be the OS. Which version of macOS are you using?

High Sierra, fresh install

7) what kind of cable / connection do you have between you mac and the display?

When I have it plugged in, miniDV to a Cinema Display

 

[h9826790]

You said "the card shuts off", do you mean the fan stop spinning? That's 100% normal. This card has silent fan feather. Until the GPU reach certain temperature. The fan won't spin at all.

"miniDV to a Cinema Display" <-- you mean mini display port? If yes, check the display port to mini display port adaptor.

BTW, do you use FileVault?

 

[hokiewalrus]

You said "the card shuts off", do you mean the fan stop spinning? That's 100% normal. This card has silent fan feather. Until the GPU reach certain temperature. The fan won't spin at all.

"miniDV to a Cinema Display" <-- you mean mini display port? If yes, check the display port to mini display port adaptor.

BTW, do you use FileVault?

Ah, you're a genius! It never occurred to me that a video cards fans wouldn't always be running (you can probably tell by my "miniDV" flub that I'm old school). I plugged in a TV with HDMI and it worked. Awesome.

I now have a workable area to investigate (wouldn't surprise me if the Cinema Display doesn't like the converted signal for some reason), and that's great.

 

[hokiewalrus]

Just to close the loop on this, I ordered several other adapters and the startech one worked for me. My Geekbench openCL score went from 16,665 to 136,753, so I'm calling that a win.

Thanks again everyone, you saved my bacon.

 

[thepawn]

The card definitely seems to be picky about certified cables/adaptors... almost none of my existing DP cable equipment worked.