[Meas]

Motherboard: G31M
Processor: E5300
Graphics card: 7770 HD

I have a problem, whenever I try to overclock my processor, my graphic card goes from x16 to x1 mode. I see huge performance losses because of this. Odd thing, I can manually change the settings in bios to default, it will stay on x1. Only when I update bios/take the battery out does it ever come back to x16 again.

Few days ago it worked flawlessly but after I pushed my processor a bit too far (overclocked to 3.75, was unstable as f***) this thing started happening. Will getting a new processor fix this issue? Is it the processor, the MB or the graphic card that is causing this?

I also tried tweaking the PCI E frequency with no effect at all. The ONLY WAY I get the card to x16 is when I run the default bios, any tweaking forces it back to x1 and its stuck there until I take the battery out/update bios. Hope I make any sense, I'm beyond tired and desperate now, if I missed some important thing to mention let me know, I really wanna get this fixed

.

 

[emdea22]

Disable all power saving features on your PC. Also what are you using to monitor this change in PCI-e width? Remember to always stress your GPU when monitoring. You said you updated the bios, thats good, did you update the drivers of the 7770?

The motherboard full model would help.

 

[Meas]

Important thing I forgot to mention, I hear the GPU go to full 100% fan speed when i press the power button twice (as if "omg not enough power - engaging the x1 mode") if it goes to x1 mode, and only once when it goes to x16 mode. After that first time the GPU goes to x1 mode, it stays there regardless of hearing the fan at 100% at power up once or twice. For monitoring I just see the GPU-Z and also try a game that relies on the x16 (prototype 2, get about 10 fps when its on x1 and 35+ when its on x16).
Im not sure if its the power saving feature because overclocking worked normally until i pushed the chip too much. Im just not sure whether I hurt the motherboard or the processor in the process.
I consider getting an E8400 (but then again the fsb speed might be the cause of this and then im screwed), even at stock will be decent (and maybe better than an OCed e5300). This needs to last for about a year until I have enough money to buy a new decent rig.

 

[emdea22]

First of all post your motherboard maker and model, there are more than 1 G31M boards out there.

Try this

1 Download Furmark
2 Using win7 goto -> control panel -> select view "small icons" -> power options -> select "high performance" plan
3 open furmark and GPUZ
4 Run furmark stress test in window mode while monitoring PCI-e width with GPUZ

*5 Download latest drivers for your video card
*6 Check video card manufacturer for updated bios (last resort)

 

[ep45-ds3l]

Maybe try reseting the CMOS back to defaults. Then you can go back to overclocking.

 

[Meas]

Im 100% sure its actually on x1 (even on 3d load) and not just saying. And MB is GA-G31M-ES2C.
And I did remove the battery, waited 1min, put it back in. And if I change any clock setting the graphic card goes back to x1

 

[emdea22]

Looking at that board's power phase i would seriously advise against overvolting your CPU. You can overclock as long as you don't overvolt! You might end up in smoke if you do.
Regarding the x1 issue : did you actually check it as i said? Lower frame rates can be caused by cpu throttling and testing with a bad console port like Proto2 is not a good idea.

 

[ep45-ds3l]

What cooler are you using on your CPU? And have you tested for any kind of stability at your OC'ed speed?
I would say that you could overvolt sightly maybe 1.3 volts or so and still be within the thermals of the VRM's as it's only a 65 watt CPU. Although, you should be able to hit 266FSB x 13Multi (3.4Ghz) quit easily with stock volts.

 

[Meas]

Yeah I'm sure its not the cpu, when I change it back to default (leaving the graphics at x1) I still get the same results. And maybe I ****ed my processor or something with the overclocking I did previously? (I only raised to 1.31 though). I always get the weirdest issues srsly

 

[ep45-ds3l]

If it was too hot the on die thermal sensor on the CPU should have declocked before any damage had happened..

 

[Meas]

No matter what I do it goes to x1, I can Oc it to +1mhz and it still pushed the graphic card to x1.

 

[Meas]

And I had a stable 3.3ghz OC before with no voltage increases, but after trying to push it to 3.75ghz (with 1.31V) this x1 issue started happening on any OC.

 

[ep45-ds3l]

What are all the specs of your rig?
Also, what revision is your mobo?

 

[emdea22]

Reseat the card, maybe that solves it

 

[Meas]

Rly should go to sleep now but just to clerify. I had a stable OC before, I was playing around with 3.75ghz(1.31V) which was unstable, switched back to 3.3ghz. Now the 3.3ghz was also unstable, had random windows crashes and this x1 issue. Only way I can get the normal x16 is when I update/remove bios battery. Any playing with the clock speeds leads to x1. Even when switching back from lets say OC to 3ghz, get x1, switch back to default values manually -> will be x1 UNLESS I either update the bios or remove the battery.

 

[ep45-ds3l]

Turn off the power and unplug. I would take out the GPU, memory, and any usb devices that are plugged into the mobo. Then reset CMOS. Install GPU and memory and attach any ubs devices then plug in and turn on. Go into the BIOS and change a few things like IDE to AHCI if you installed Windows in AHCI mode. Then save to BIOS and restart. Then try OCing and see what happens.

 

[Meas]

Yeah I played with the card physically as well, removing the graphic card, going to OC with onboard card, then putting back the graphic card again yielded the same results. Tried cleaning the pci-e slot too, was no good, always come back to the same outcome. As for other info on the rig is kinda unnecessary in my opinion (people tend to cling on some detail (as in if they dont know the psu -> THAT MUST BE THE PROB)), so I try avoiding it but here goes:
RAM: 2x4gb Kingstone PC2-6400
PSU: Chieftec Smart GPS-500A8 (OEM is CWT, pretty reputable brand in East Europe, was about 70$, and I swear if somebody tries to blame the psu for not being corsair I will feast on little kittens)
HDD: i dont know how this could possibly be relevant since the error occurs in the BIOS
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-G31M-ES2C v1
Id understand if it didn't work at all, but it worked - i fooled around a bit - suddenly get the x1 issue.

Im gonna give a try removing the ram as well and resetting the cmos and see what happens. Im srsly off to bed now, thank you guys I really appreciate it and all other ideas are more than welcome

 

[ep45-ds3l]

Since you didn't specify.. I assume you are using the stock intel cooler. I would strongly advise against using that cooler whilst increasing the voltages and FSB speeds.

 

[emdea22]

Isn't the PCIe tied to the southbridge? Overclocking the cpu should not touch any southbridge related stuff. This is either a bios bug or something happened when you overvolted the cpu. Overheating mosfets damaged the board maybe?! still, it doesn't explain why it defaults to 1x only when you change the FSB...

Look over your bios settings, maybe when you messed up and gave it too much OC and had to restore defaults some settings changed to new values. I feel your pain on the PSU part btw

 

[frogger4]

Man, that is an odd problem you are having there. Like everyone here, I do have my "one trick" that I think will solve the problem

Download the latest BIOS for your motherboard from here http://www.gigabyte.com/products/product-page.aspx?pid=2961#bios
Flash the bios with the new version. I think if anything will help, this probably maybe could!