GA-73PVM-S2H and ATI PCI-E 2.1 cards

[spirits247]

Hi everyone, first post!  

I have a HTPC/Workstation using a GA-73PVM-S2H with a E7200 overclocked to 2.85Ghz and a X-Fi Elite. Works well.

Thought I'd upgrade the graphics for better media playback and browser acceleration, so chose a low power ATI 5670.

However, the GA-73PVM-S2H takes FOREVER to post with the new card, spinning the fan up and down and continuously hammering the hard drives/DVD drives in a loop. Eventually it will post, but it's unusable and unstable.

After doing some research, I found out the ATI 5 and 6 series are PCI-E 16x v2.1 cards, when the GA-73PVM-S2H has a PCI-E 16x v1 slot. I have been told by ATI that the motherboard bios needs updating to add PCI-E backwards compatibility, as 2.1 cards should work in any version of 16x slots as long as the motherboard has bios support.

I tried an older 4850, and that boots and runs fine. As does a GTX 260. These however are older PCI-E v2.0 cards. Also tried the 5670 in a PCI-E v2.0 slot, works fine.

I've emailed Gigabyte support and await their answer, but has anyone here had any solutions provided for them? I've noticed some other board manufacturers have provided updated bios files to fix this but was disappointed to find no newer bios on the public site from Gigabyte. ATI 5 series has been out since 2009, so support should have covered this on this (not that old) board.

I can't believe that ATI list a 16x PCI-E slot under requirements, when it seems only PCI-E 16x v2.0 and above slots actually work for some.

[Dark Mantis]

Hi and welcome.

From what you have said you have already contacted GGTS to try and find a solution to your problem and I suspect a BIOS update file. I am surprised that it isn't already incorporated into the newest BIOS update at least for your motherboard. Hopefully they will be able to help you out shortly but please let us know the answer from them.

[spirits247]

Thanks for the quick reply. Do you know what hours support work? I'm aware of the time difference, just need to have an idea if it will be after the weekend when they look at the email.  (ie does support work normal office hours over there?)

This problem is very well covered with a simple Google search, but could not find a solution for my board:

http://www.google.co.uk/search?&q=5770+PCI-E+1.0

As you can see, really surprising this isn't made clear by ATI and a fix was released especially since newer nVidia cards work. A lot of people will be caught out by this little known fact. Hopefully support can help, I've read about a few others receiving special bios files emailed for the same issue. but not for my board.

[Dark Mantis]

Well it is not a big job for them to just customise the BIOS for your board incorporating the necessary change.

I am afraid I really don't know what times the Technical staff work in Taiwan but I would guess it would be office hours.

[spirits247]

Thanks anyway for the replies. I'll update this thread with the outcome.

[spirits247]

As promised I'm back with the outcome and I must say I'm impressed.

After a week I received a response with a new Bios file attached - F9F. The last on their public webpage is a beta F9E version, which didn't work.

Tried the F9F they sent me and the 5670 posts first time and works as it should. Even though the board is v1.0 PCI-E 16, there isn't any performance hit I can notice from the v2.1 card.

I think giving them a detailed outline of the problem (as mentioned in my opening post) made for a swift bios fix, but they were under no obligation to do so for an older board.

So, this board should now work with all newer v2.1 PCI-E cards. I think this bios should be posted on their public website, but I'd imagine this is a beta bios and may break something. Everything is fine for me however - noticed no issues, YET.

Anyway, thumbs up to Gigabyte for their support.

[Dark Mantis]

Thanks for the update and maybe you could supply it to anyone who asks through the forum here. There may be others with a similar problem.

[spirits247]

I have it sat here on the hard drive - I can try to attach it to a post for the forum if you'd like?

Wasn't sure if making it public was permitted here.

As you said, anyone searching for a solution may very well come across this thread.

[Dark Mantis]

I don't think you will be able to actually upload it to the forum but you can upload it to a file sharer and then post the link by all means or send it to me and I will pass it on to anyone who enquires.

[spirits247]

It's only a small file, so I've been able to attach it to the forum below. If this isn't ok I'm sure you can sort it Dark Mantis - thanks by the way for your help - applaud.

I can't believe no one else has posted about this issue here! I would have thought 775 630i motherboards would have been popular for HTPC's (built in HDMI and graphics) and the ATI 5670/6670 are ideal cards to use if you need a bit more power and media acceleration.

[Dark Mantis]

Thanks for the Karma ...appreciated. I notice that you did indeed manage to upload to the forum so that is even better for anyone following later. I am surte that there are many boards in use like you mention. Of course the new Z and H series boards also have the benefits of on board HDMI graphics and sound.

[spirits247]

Yes, Gigabyte have some really nice boards. Next upgrade round for certain! I bet they are at an all time low in power consumption too.

My first ever PC was a Gigabyte motherboard so I have a soft spot for them - running an AMD 586-P75 CPU or something, long time ago!

[Dark Mantis]

I wish I coluld say that was my first one....actually a few(tens) of years before.

[fatharry]

Sorry for reviving an old thread but I just had to say a big "thank-you" to spirits247 for posting the solution and firmware to the problem in the OP.

I've got a GA-73PVM-S2H and recently bought a Radeon HD5450 to improve on the built in motherboard graphics and could not understand why I couldn't get past POST during a startup or if I did the PC would be very unstable.

After seeing the same problem here I installed the F9F firmware attached to this thread and the PC is running great now!!! 

Very pleased, just a shame I bought a new PSU because I thought it was a power issue

Thanks again for taking the time to post the solution...

[spirits247]

No problem fatharry! Glad others are finding this useful. As for the PSU, I have many times spent money on PC upgrades that were not needed or had issues. Takes a few times getting it wrong before you know what to look out for!

I bet a lot of people just give up trying to get 5 series and above cards working on this board, but it's nice of Gigabyte support to at least provide a fix.

I guess they don't post it on the main webpage as this board is past the normal support phase a long time ago, plus they have to sell new boards!