Strange boot problem with Nvidia 680 4GB

Question

I just bought an Aurora R4 at Frys (single GTX 680 2GB,16GB RAM, 2 TB SATA) and already owned a GTX 680 4GB.

After messing around with trying to get SLI to work, I discovered that the two cards must have the same amount of RAM. At that point I figured I'll have to stick to a single GTX until I either get a second 2 or 4 GB card, so I decided I'd get rid of the stock 2GB 680 and replace it with the 4GB 680. This is where it gets strange, no matter what I try, I can't boot the computer with only the 4GB card in. The machine loops on beeping 6 times and the BIOS never loads.

Things I've tried:

-Removing the 2GB 680 from the top slot, and leaving the 4GB 680 on the bottom slot (6 beeps)

-Moving the 4GB to the top slot and leaving the 2GB out (6 beeps)

-Reinstalling the 2GB card on the bottom slot, with the 4GB on the top slot works (just can't use SLI)

-Tried to update the BIOS, but the BIOS loader claims to flash (from A07 to A11) but doesn't do anything except reboot the box

So basically, any combination of the 2GB and the 4GB or just the 2GB card work. Any attempt to use just the 4GB card errors out.

Any ideas?

speedstep · Accepted Answer

Is this a secure boot Windows 8 machine or a non UEFI windows 7 machine?

To use Video cards that Are not Windoze 8 certfied you have to disable secure boot and enable CSM.

The Compatibility Support Module (CSM) has several settings. If enabled, it allows for UEFI, Legacy, or both types of boot devices. It also has settings for UEFI or Legacy or Ignore, OpRoms for Network, PCIe Video, and Storage Devices. So why do they call a CSM a Compatibility Support Module? Probably because its purpose is to create compatibility with non-Windows 8 systems.

Linux ISO's burnt to disc are UDF.

Legacy Windows install, is MBR.

UEFI Windows install, is GPT.

When installing an after-market graphics card into a certified Windows 8 PC with UEFI enabled, the system may not boot.

When an after-market graphics card is installed into a motherboard with UEFI enabled in the system BIOS, or if the system is a certified Windows 8 PC with Secure Boot enabled, the system may not boot.

UEFI is a new system BIOS feature that is provided on most new motherboards. A UEFI system BIOS is required in order for the Windows 8 Secure Boot feature to work. Secure boot is enabled by default on certified Windows 8 PCs.

In order to get the PC to boot with a graphics card that does not contain UEFI firmware, the end-user must first disable the secure boot feature in the system's SBIOS before installing the graphics card.

Note: Some system SBIOS's incorporate a feature called compatibility boot. These systems will detect a non-UEFI-enabled firmware VBIOS and allow the user to disable secure boot and then proceed with a compatibility boot. If the system contains a system SBIOS the supports compatibility boot, the user will need to disable secure boot when asked during boot process

Instructions for manually disabling secure boot:

1) Power down the system

2) Remove the NVIDIA Add-in card

3) Boot the system using integrated graphics

4) Enter CMOS settings. CMOS settings can usually be accessed during boot, typically by pressing one of F1, F2, F8, F12, or Delete (depends on the system firmware) Alternatively they can be accessed in Windows 8 as follows: www.makeuseof.com/.../how-to-access-the-bios-on-a-windows-8-computer

5) Set Secure Boot to disabled

6) If there is an option, set CSM (or compatibility or legacy mode) to enabled.

7) Save the new settings

8) Power down the system

9) Install the NVIDIA Add-in card

10) The system should now boot

* Note that not all existing NVIDIA based cards are capable of adding UEFI support.

If your card manufacturer is unable to supply you with an update, you will need to operate in compatibility mode CSM.

DELL-Rajath N · Answer

Hi delphipro,

I appreciate your efforts to use SLI on Aurora R4. The latest BIOS version available for download from the support web site is A07. To use SLI, the following conditions have to be fulfilled:

1. The system must have 2 identical graphics cards.
2. Both cards must be inter-connected using SLI connector.
3. The system must have a PSU which can support the power requirement of the GPU.

Please let me know if you need further assistance.

delphipro · Answer

Thanks for your help.

My problem is not with SLI anymore. I can boot the computer with both the 4GB and 2GB cards in and both cards work fine without SLI. Since SLI won't work (mismatched memory on the cards), I want to remove the stock 2GB card and leave only the 4GB card in. However, while both cards will boot, if I leave in just the 4GB the system will not boot.

delphipro · Answer

Thanks for your help!!!

What an unbelievably bad way to implement a feature. Nothing in the boot screen or Windows itself implies its a "SecureBoot" or that the BIOS won't load because of it. I would hope the BIOS would be updated to warn of the issue.

Tesla1856 · Answer

Thanks SpeedStep .&#xa0; http://en.community.dell.com/owners-club/alienware/f/3746/t/19491824.aspx?PageIndex=3 So, it is the video card manufacturers (Gigabyte, PowerColor, etc) that need to update their vBIOS? Not Dell-Alienware ... not in the Aurora,&#xa0;right? &#xa0;

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Strange boot problem with Nvidia 680 4GB

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