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Back again with graphics card problems...

  1. 20th Jun 12 6:37 PM Gamers Lounge Senior Member General Discussions Senior Member  #1
    Kirjava
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    Back again with graphics card problems...

    Hey y'all. Last year I posted a thread with a problem about my graphics card, an 8600 GT.

    In summary: one day, it worked. The next day, it no longer appeared in my Device Manager, and I had to plug my monitor into the onboard NVIDIA 6100 in order to see anything- when plugged into the graphics card, the monitor would seem to be in sleep mode.

    I figured it was the card's problem, and effectively gave up on PC gaming for a while.

    Now, I have been helpfully provided with a GTX460. I've seated it, switched on my machine. Same problem.

    It can't be the cards, can it? Both are still getting power- the fans are spinning merrily. But after having been seated and reseated a few times, neither graphics cards are giving me any joy in the slightest.

    Put me out of my misery, ye Dolts- is something utterly fucked on, I dunno, the motherboard?

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  2. 20th Jun 12 7:13 PM #2
    FriendlyFire
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    I'm afraid that if two graphics card exhibit the same issues, it's likely that the motherboard is the problem, probably that the PCI-E slot (it's PCI-E, right?) is somehow defective. Only other possibilities would be bad RAM (run memtest86 to check that) causing the driver to unload or a misconfiguration within Windows (which could be anything and would ideally be solved by a full format-and-start-over ordeal).

    So, did you actually reformat between the last time you had issues with your previous card and now with your new card?

    Did you check in the event log for driver-related issues? You can run that by searching for "event viewer" in the start menu. Look under Application, possibly System. Filter down the log to just errors if possible, and ideally check it right after you've had an issue to try to pinpoint it more easily.

    I'd be surprised if nothing showed up, but if that's the case it really is going to be a motherboard issue or a terrible luck with your GPUs, because for that to happen the motherboard would have to simply forget the GPU exists and is plugged in.
  3. 21st Jun 12 1:50 AM #3
    Slow_Runner
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    Is the power cord attached to the GFX card? Can you try the GFX cards in any of the other PCI-E slots?
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  4. 21st Jun 12 4:57 AM #4
    TBS
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    It won't be RAM or anything in Widows else you would at least see your POST screen - its either the PCI-E slot or the PSU.
  5. 21st Jun 12 6:45 AM Gamers Lounge Senior Member General Discussions Senior Member  #5
    Kirjava
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    @Slow_Runner: the GFX card is just plugged into the PCI-E slot. I can't see any of the wires in my rig that could plug into it, but it is definitely getting power. And I think I only have the one PCI-E slot, unless I'm being an idiot (a possibility, certainly).

    @TBS: if it's the PCI-E slot, is my only option to by another motherboard? I figured this would be the case...

    @FriendlyFire: I have reformatted since. Fairly confident it's the motherboard by this point.

    Thank you guys for replying, it's at least good to know that I probably need to replace something rather than keep trying graphics cards or fiddle around with stuff. I have a rather basic knowledge of PC hardware so this is all very baffling, but cheers for helping nonetheless.
  6. 21st Jun 12 9:18 AM #6
    FriendlyFire
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    Slow_Runner was referring to how many modern GPUs require extra power in the form of additional connectors (Molex or otherwise), however from your picture your card doesn't seem to have any.

    Just to clarify though, because I didn't read the first post the way TBS did: is the problem intermittent or permanent? As in, it stopped working and never worked again or enough fiddling around will make it work for a bit? Is your screen in sleep even during the initial boot, before Windows even loads?

    The way I understood it, it would just do that once into Windows (so would show something during POST), but now that I re-read it I notice I just... I don't know. My bad.
  7. 21st Jun 12 11:32 AM Gamers Lounge Senior Member General Discussions Senior Member  #7
    Kirjava
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    So GPU is another abbreviation of graphics card? Ok, now I know, and knowing is half the battle. I think the GTX460 is meant to (it certainly had some attached when I pulled it, still beating and screaming, from Arinax's PC) but this doesn't seem to be the problem here since my 8600GT doesn't need any and that doesn't work either.

    The problem is permanent. One day, Dawn of War 2 was running... if not well then at least tolerably The next, my monitor wouldn't register the slightest flicker of interest until I plugged it into the onboard graphics port. Having now tried both the GTX460 and the 8600GT (fuck me, graphics cards numbering is confusing), I guess it's most likely a problem with what the cards are being plugged into, rather than the cards themselves, which means the motherboard, and god dammit I don't know much about motherboards apart from where to plug cards and RAM into it. Sigh.

    Ok, new problem: I put the 8600GT into my parents' PC and it coughed and died. Or rather, it kept trying to turn itself on and then turning off. No beep, just the lights turning on, the fan powering up and then everything switching off, before trying again a few seconds later. Only way to stop the cycle is to unplug the power cable. Is even my old graphics card overpowering this poor girl? DXdiag accompanies.

    DXdiag

  8. 23rd Jun 12 3:51 AM #8
    TBS
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    Its likely that their PC doesn't have a powerful enough power supply to power a proper graphics card, so I wouldn't worry about that - if you want to test the card then I'd call on the friend who gave you the GTX460.

    It does seem that it is your motherboard which means a new one - you can either get one with the same socket as your CPU (I believe you have a socket 939 CPU, but make sure you verify that) and just transplant all your parts over (and possibly have to deal with Microsoft support when Windows sees that you have installed it with a new motherboard) or you can build a new PC.

    Have a look on ebay - you may be able to find an appropriate socket 939 motherboard cheaply...
  9. 23rd Jun 12 5:39 AM Gamers Lounge Senior Member General Discussions Senior Member  #9
    Kirjava
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    Well, Arinax is based in Austria, I'm currently in the UK, and his PC is at my girlfriend's flat, so that's that out the window

    Thanks very much for your advice TBS, it is greatly appreciated.
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