PCIe extenders - video card not recognized - MSI 990FXA-GD80

[ModusPwnd]

Just got this board today, hoping I could load a bunch of video cards onto it.  I can get it to post and mine just fine with video cards plugged right into the board.  But when I use extenders (the same ones I have used for months) it does not recognize the video card.  I try just one extender and one video card - nothing.  Doesnt matter if I put it into a x16 slot or x1.  I have tried powered and unpowered extenders.  All of my extenders are of the x16 -> x1 type.

Has anybody experienced this before? 

[Sturmvogel]

You need to short some pins on PCI-e to make it work.
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=36061.0

[ModusPwnd]

Thanks, that looks helpful.  

I see these comments though,

i think boards should work find plugging x1 extender into x1 motherboard slots without shorting pins.

Mine does not.  I will try the fix anyway, thanks!

edit - It worked, thanks.  A video card is now detectable via my extenders on both x16 slots and x1 slots.  I only did one extender so far so I only had a chance to test one.  Now I have a few more to do...  I see on that other thread that simply grounding pin B17 may work. ??  It is suggested to short it with neighboring B18 but I would rather connect it to my extender's molex's ground so I dont have to tap into more ribbon wires than I have to.  What do you think?

[Sturmvogel]

Thanks, that looks helpful.  

I see these comments though,

i think boards should work find plugging x1 extender into x1 motherboard slots without shorting pins.

Mine does not.  I will try the fix anyway, thanks!

edit - It worked, thanks.  A video card is now detectable via my extenders on both x16 slots and x1 slots.  I only did one extender so far so I only had a chance to test one.  Now I have a few more to do...  I see on that other thread that simply grounding pin B17 may work. ??  It is suggested to short it with neighboring B18 but I would rather connect it to my extender's molex's ground so I dont have to tap into more ribbon wires than I have to.  What do you think?

Yes, looks like it's all about grounding.
If you want to keep riser intact, you can simply stick some wire (UTP will do) next to contacts on the side of PCI-e slot. There was an exact how-to on Hardware subforum, but I can't find it now.

[Sturmvogel]

This is what I meant:

http://blog.zorinaq.com/images/pcie-short-photo.jpg

No soldering needed!

[ModusPwnd]

Ah you can just treat it like a bread board and plug small wires in.  I see, thanks again!

[Cablez]

I had to do this on my GD80 as well. Had 4x5970s on it for 8GPUs total.

[echris1]

I have a board that currently has 2 cards in the 16x slots and 1 on a 1x to 16x extender.  When I try to use the 2nd 1x slot (its the one above everything else) the card isn't recognized. My guess is I either need a extender with molex power, or to try this shorting method.  I'll try shorting first, since I can't seem to find a guide to hooking up molex to a 1x>16x extender.

[Cablez]

There you go echris:  https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=76121.0 

[echris1]

Ah, thank you so much.  I'll probably do this just for the sake of it since I have extra 1x>16x

[Cablez]

Ah, thank you so much.  I'll probably do this just for the sake of it since I have extra 1x>16x

I found it was a little easier to directly solder to the upper connector and then just clip the unused wires of the extender.

Kind of like this:  http://cablesaurus.com/image/cache/DSCN0535-500x500.jpg