PC won't boot with more than four of same graphics card installed

**[XC] Oj101** · 09-20-2010, 12:58 AM

Ok, here's the deal. The specs of the system are as follows:

Asus P6T7 WS
Core i7 920
6x1GB Kingston DDR1866
5x Asus Radeon HD5450
2x Asus Radeon HD4650
2x500GB Seagate Hard Drives
1x 1TB Seagate Hard Drive
Windows 7 Ultimate 64bit
CoolerMaster 600w PSU

I've tried multiple driver versions from about 10.2 to current and the issue is always the same. I've also tried a different PSU and different RAM. No matter what the configuration, the system is PERFECTLY happy with four or less HD5450s installed, as soon as a fifth is added either with or without any of the HD4650s it blue screens on startup. Nothing is overclocked, the RAM is at 1600 9-9-9. I know this is a driver issue of sorts. The system also works fine with all seven cards with the "Standard VGA" driver. The blue screen is as follows:

SYSTEM_SERVICE_EXCEPTION

*** STOP: 0x0000003B (0x00000000C0000005, 0xFFFFF88003D5A080, 0xFFFFF8800586BB70, 0x0000000000000000)

*** atikmpag.sys - Address FFFFF88003D5A080 base at FFFFF88003D40000, DateStamp 4c75178

The underlined addresses vary, the addresses in red are always linked minus the preceding 0x. As soon as one of the five cards is removed, the machine boots up perfectly. Please help

Just as an example, this is what I got the next time I booted:

SYSTEM_SERVICE_EXCEPTION

*** STOP: 0x0000003B (0x00000000C0000005, 0xFFFFF880041C0080, 0xFFFFF88006869B70, 0x0000000000000000)

*** atikmpag.sys - Address FFFFF880041C0080 base at FFFFF880031A6000, DateStamp 4c75178

**[XC] Oj101** · 09-20-2010, 01:53 AM

And now I just got a completely new one:

Attempt to reset the display driver and recover from timeout failed.

*** STOP: 0x00000116 (0xFFFFFA800851D010, 0xFFFFF88003CDFF5C, 0x0000000000000000, 0x0000000000000002)

*** atikmpag.sys - Address 0xFFFFF88003CDFF5C base at FFFFF88003CD9000, DateStamp 4c75178

Can ATI drivers handle more than four of the same card at all?

**aythrea** · 09-20-2010, 03:25 AM

The 5450 is a dual display card, as it seems. If I recall, and this is OLD knowledge, Windows 98/XP could handle a total of 10 displays. That said, the first error you're getting is a ram error. Try knocking down the amount of system ram first. Try 2 or 3 gigs first. It doesn't seem right, but you may be hitting a maximum memory wall. Windows 7 has a huge upper limit, but your motherboard may not know what to do with it, so it panics.

Keep us updated.

**[XC] Oj101** · 09-20-2010, 03:42 AM

The cards aren't being used for dual displays but rather 21 displays total (three per card) in a grid 7x3. It is definitely not a RAM error as it doesn't matter what RAM I use (I said in the first post I have tried other RAM) and the PC runs perfectly with four 5450s and two 4650s. I have tried as little as 1GB of RAM, and this board works with up to 24GB.

6 x DIMM, Max. 24 GB, DDR3 2000(O.C.)/1866(O.C.)/1800(O.C.)/1600(O.C.)/1333/1066 ECC,Non-ECC,Un-buffered Memory
Triple channel memory architecture
Support Intel Extreme Memory Profile (XMP)
*Hyper DIMM (DDR3 1800MHz or above) support is subject to the physical characteristics of individual CPUs.
**Refer to www.asus.com. Or user manual for the Memory QVL (Qualified Vendor Lists.)
*** ECC Un-buffered memory support requires Intel® Nehalem-WS 1S W3500 series or Nehalem-EP E5500 series processors

Link to Asus site, it's under the Specifications tab

**EtheEnthusiast** · 09-20-2010, 06:31 AM

I think u have to increase the memory 'lowgap'
Used to run ws supercomputer back in the days but dont remember bios setting possibilities

**[XC] Oj101** · 09-20-2010, 06:42 AM

Again, I don't think it has anything to do with RAM in any way.

4x 5450 512MB + 2x 4650 512MB = 3GB graphics memory total = ok
5x 5450 512MB = 2.5GB graphics memory total = not ok

**[XC] Oj101** · 09-20-2010, 06:42 AM

Again, I don't think it has anything to do with RAM in any way.

4x 5450 512MB + 2x 4650 512MB = 3GB graphics memory total = ok
5x 5450 512MB = 2.5GB graphics memory total = not ok

**EtheEnthusiast** · 09-20-2010, 11:19 AM

Then I think it is bios problem
I remember this now small system Fastra II needed custom asus bios to run 13 gpus with 7 slots

**EtheEnthusiast** · 09-20-2010, 11:50 AM

I also think maximum support with official bios is 8 gpus
maybe its also ati driver
good luck m8...hope u get it working

**[XC] Oj101** · 09-20-2010, 02:06 PM

The thing is there are only seven GPUs. This is really irritating me now, seven Nvidias work FINE together but the customer INSISTS on the cards in post one. AAAAAAAARGH I hate customers at times............................................. ..................

**CrazyNutz** · 09-20-2010, 04:20 PM

Considering the fact that atikmpag.sys pops up on every crash, it looks like it's an ATI driver issue.

**[XC] Oj101** · 09-21-2010, 11:36 PM

Update:

I've swapped the cards to four HD5450s, two HD4650s and an HD4350 and the drivers now install just fine and it goes into Windows without a hitch after the reboot. However, after a second reboot, all of the 5xxx cards change to "Standard VGA" and if I check their properties under Device Manager they say "This device could not be started (Code 10). After manually pointing them to the driver folder, they install as Radeon 5400 Series as they should, but after the next reboot they start saying something about "the driver for this device could not be loaded as it is already in memory." Installing Catalyst Control Centre at any stage causes the blue screens to appear once more

**aythrea** · 09-22-2010, 06:13 AM

Just a dumb thought... are the 5800 series trying to use the same resources? It's stupid, I know. But you might check to see what IRQs they're using, etc.