ATI RADEON 5770 + 350w Power Supply = black pixels all over desktop? Help!

You and AMD are operating under a misconception. The Dell video card is not the same as the retail video card. So AMDs Ati Radeon HD5770 may require 450w but ours does not. We ask the manufacturer to make a Dell OEM (original equipment manufacturer) video card based on our specifications. This means the GPU and Vram are tweaked by our custom Vbios.

The following video cards will work on this 350w power supply -
Radeon HD5770, P120A
Radeon HD5450, M114A
GeForce GTX260 P201N
GeForce GTS240, P118N
GeForce 9300GE, M114N
GeForce GT220, M205

Load the Ati Radeon HD 5770 Vbios and test the PC. Post the results.

OK Chris, thanks for that., I did download it and followed the installation instructions, and while it did install....it never did finish ....it just hung on the "flashing bio" prompt...so after 1hr, I clicked the "X" to close the window and then rebooted the computer. Still, after the boot, I still get the corrupted/black pixels on screen.

Perhaps I should delete that and try it again? I did attempt to copy over it and reinstall, but it wouldn't let me because it said the bios was already flashed....so perhaps I need to delete it and start from scratch?

I need the following in a private message. Click my username, click Send Message -
Name:
Email Address:
Shipping address:
Phone number:
PC Service Tag number:
Reason/Issue: Ati Radeon HD5770

Hi Chris,

 I actually spoke to Dell tech a few days ago and they are sending me a new card. Will report back if it's not resolved. Thank you.

So Chris I can order the HD5770 from dell install it and it will work on my StudioXPS435mt?

Let us now if it works and what the situation is with the 5770?

From: crc2
Subject: RE: ATI RADEON 5770 + 350w Power Supply = black pixels all over desktop? Help!

bellboy3,

they are robbing purchaser's of their right to the component manufacturer's warranty.
* 99% of all customers know we sell OEM parts. The retail warranty never applies to Dell OEM (original equipment manufacturer) hardware. That also applies to HP, Apple, Acer, etc.

Yes, many so called PC Manufacturers who mostly just assemble (if at all) to their own specification are tied to the same brush. Thankfully there are some companies who do buy in proper retail versions of PC components so that their customers obtain 100% direct warranties. These companies do not tweak components to the point they need thrid party software in order to work.

My message is simple. The likes of Dell can do what they like of course but they should spell out precisely what is offered for sale. Specifications should be precise. The use of OEM is vague and generic. There is no comfort zone when thinking that the world knows what OEM means. Dell has the duty of care and attention in the fields of openness and transaparency.

This thread is about a customer who purchased in good faith; only to find out too late that Dells OEM policy means that his ATI HD5770 isn't actually the same product available directly through ATI/AMD. No doubt he did not see on your sales pages that the PSU was under powered against ATI recommendations. Perhaps his motherboard was tweaked as well, and other things. He learns the hard way that the only way his belt and braces version of an ATI HD5770 (with hopefully at least an HDMI and 2 DVi outlets and 1GB ram)  will work, is through a bit of software Dell organised. It's simply not good enough.

And so it seems to customers that the real purpose of this OEM stuff is not to enhance reliability and performance but rather to cut down the cost of retail versions to save money, so that Dell can then sell at high prices in order to maximise profit. By the way PC component manufactures don't like being forced to provide OEM versions of their otherwise very capable products?

Time for Dell to explain I suggest.

I return to the email from Chris M quote: “You and AMD are operating under a misconception. The Dell video card is not the same as the retail video card. So AMDs Ati Radeon HD5770 may require 450w but ours does not. We ask the manufacturer to make a Dell OEM (original equipment manufacturer) video card based on our specifications. This means the GPU and Vram are tweaked by our custom Vbios.

The following video cards will work on this 350w power supply -
Radeon HD5770, P120A
Radeon HD5450, M114A
GeForce GTX260 P201N
GeForce GTS240, P118N
GeForce 9300GE, M114N
GeForce GT220, M205

Load the Ati Radeon HD 5770 Vbios and test the PC. Post the results”

And more importantly his follow up to the Vbios failing to correct the problem- Quote:

·         “I need the following in a private message. Click my username, click Send Message -
Name:
Email Address:
Shipping address:
Phone number:
PC Service Tag number:
Reason/Issue: Ati Radeon HD5770”

Well we now know for sure Dell is God-like by being able to tweak retail products to suit their own interests. They certainly seem to know more about Graphics Cards than ATI AMD who produce them.  Amazing stuff.

Anyway, in Chris M's following email when he notes Dell's belt and braces Vbios tweaking did not work he climbs under a blanket by asking for the matter to be taken off line. No doubt skunker will follow his lead like a lamb going to slaughter, because all he wants is his product repaired.  But in simple terms the whole issue smells bad.

It seems almost certain now that Dell are misleading folk into making purchasing decisions that they will almost certainly regret. I cannot recall seeing any Dell specification listing OEM in their PC specifications against components.  What they do list is components like ATI Radeon HD 5770 as if they are retail versions when they are not.  And then there is the Dell motherboards- are they made by Intel, Gigabyte or AMD etc., you will never find out- because they tweak anything they can into OEM configurations to the point that component manufacturer’s disown them?

Remember what Toshiba (Bluetooth stack) and ATI stated in our battle to find Win7 drivers for the M2010?  Nothings changed except whatever Dell print you need to take with a pinch of salt and ask questions that quite frankly you should never need to ask BEFORE BUYING A PC from anyone (except Dell of course).

1. Is the ATI Radeon HD 5770 real or OEM and if the latter what have you changed that caused the manufacturer to refuse giving me a direct guarantee?

2. What is the power output of the PSU and is it up to recommended standards of the motherboard, graphics card and other component manufacturers?

3. Same for motherboards but don't forget to ask how many spare PCI slots there, and query whether or not the PSU supplies sufficient plugs to power them all as may be needed?

Yep, ask questions like this on every component because buying a PC from Dell is more about what is not written in the specification.

Good luck skunker.

Anyway, in Chris M's following email when he notes Dell's belt and braces Vbios tweaking did not work he climbs under a blanket by asking for the matter to be taken off line.
* I resent that accusation! I have to take it offline to get their address, phone, service tag, etc. so I can send a replacement video card. That information cannot be publically posted.

* I resent that accusation! I have to take it offline to get their address, phone, service tag, etc. so I can send a replacement video card. That information cannot be publically posted.

Chris-M, When a door is left open, motive becomes questionable. Had you advised skunker that in order to organise a further replacement card you needed to go off line to obtain personal details, then he and the open public domain would have little left open to mis-interpretation. However, I do believe most Dell employees are normal honest hard working individuals, and I personally regret causing you grounds to feel any resentment.

The problem skunker has with his ATI is the real subject of this thread and you are dealing with it. Likewise, I and a great many other forum members like to help other consumers because experience world wide shows that Dell run their business in a way that too often upsets customers, especially when they refuse requests, because of their seemingly contractural right to put end users into straightjackets. Dell can put this right, but for years they have apparently ignored consumer pleas raised within the public domains available. It's a strange world to see more and more suppliers and manufacturers direct after sales service to Public Domains!

Without wishing to detract; skunker's issue is about why it is not straightford to fix his problem with his PC. Why didn't he get advice and explanation about what Vbios is and why it must be run? And now he is going to obtain a third card, I am sure skunker would like to know if the first replacement card was a new replacement, or second hand, and likewise the next, and maybe next?

Meanwhile, overshadowing this service call is the higher than likely probability that when skunker bought his machine he was unaware that the ATI Radeon HD 5770 card he purchased from Dell, was in any way different to the ATI Radeon HD 5770 adertised by the strong and reliable AMD/ATI graphic card manufacturer. You explained it is tweaked as required by Dell, and THIS IS PRECISELY WHAT I AM SAYING. If said tweaking was to the betterment of performance and reliability we can be sure AMD/ATI would appreciate and maybe adopt the tweaking. We can be sure it's not like that at all, otherwise the likes of AMD/ATI would be happy to respond to Dell owners looking for assistance. As I say, the very tweaking of otherwise standard software and hardware means that all roads to service lead back to Dell. This straightjacket as I call it, is a major problem for consumers who buy PC's expecting them to be upgradeable to keep pace with the progress of I.T. Obtaining Windows 7 drivers is one such prime example of the many constraints that Dell produce.

Skunkers situation then, is not a isolated incident.  In my opinion the best thing that can happen is for the Dell boardroom to change their ways and start marketing with transparancy and honesty. Whenever Dell tweak hardware and software it should be declared because only then can consumers identify precisely what it is they are buying as an informed decision, instead of being led into a dead end entrapment. The least Dell can do, and should do, is start by declaring everything in a PC specifications that is OEM. This is not an unreasonable request and you are ideally placed to forward the matter onto senior management.

Regards,

I have to agree that this is a cheap thing for Dell to do. We all know that the Dell video cards are OEM but you would expect them to be stock refrence cards. To take a stock card and make it worse then it was and not tell anyone..I dont get it.

I mean if they wanted a card that would work on say a 350w PSU they have many choices.  But to take a card that can not work on a 350w and dumb it down so it can...the only reason I can think of for them to do that is to rip people off. I mean what other reason can there be?

It sounds to me like Dell is taking a Ferrari body,putting vinyl seats and a moped engine in it and then turning around and still selling it as a Ferrari.

I am sorry but the only reason I can come up with for them doing this is to decive people.

Hi Morblore,

Yes, once again that is precisely what I am saying. And of course, OEM's don't start and stop with graphic cards. This threads gone a bit quiet eh?

I recently purchased a SX8100-2777NBC because it had the videocard that I wanted, an ATI Radeon 5770. The power supply included in the desktop is 350 W, which is low for the retail version of the card. Because the low wattage makes no sense to me, I looked online and found this thread. To my surprise, it says that the Radeon included in this desktop is not the same as the retail version of the Radeon. Assuming this is true, I have some questions:

1) What is the difference between the Dell Radeon 5770 and the retail version of the card that I could buy from Best Buy?

2) What is the actual power requirements (amps and wattage) for the Dell Radeon 5770?

3) What are the total amp and wattage requirements (worst case) of the entire desktop with all of the default components?

4) How many leftover amps and watts are there if I wished to upgrade the system by adding a new hard drive, Blu-ray drive, and/or something else?

Thanks.