Failure after upgrading video card

B

blindsniperpl

Geek Trainee
So I had an XFX 8800GTS and decided to upgrade to a x4870. I waited for a couple of hours to make sure the new card isn't too cold or w/e. Computer specs are on the bottom of the post.
I'll go step by step what I did.

First I uninstalled the drivers. Took the old card out and installed the new one. Once I started the system and it began to boot it would stop at some step that I can't exactly recall but it started with something like "USB intitializing" or something similiar to that. However I know it dealt with the USB. Also my keyboard or any of the USB devices wouldn't work so I couldn't access the BIOS or anything. It would simply stop there and that would be it.

After going into rage mode and turning off the computer and starting it up repeatedly hoping something would change it only got worse. (Don't worry i only did it twice or trice). After the second time it seemed like the BIOS values changed or went to default. It said my CPU was at 2.81 when it was overclocked to 3.21 and same with RAM. It went back to 800.

However it would once again all stop at the USB step. Next, the Monitor wouldn't even respond. It would say NO SIGNAL and then the light like usually would turn orange.

During this time I tried clearing cmos and taking the battery out and putting it back in but nothing would help. I even tried putting the card into another port thinking somehow the repitlian gods decided to fuck with me but no, it was still the same. At this point I put the old 8800GTS back in and everything was still the same. Monitor not responding and everything.

Next morning I got my brother to help me since I think his knowledge goes futher then mine when things like these happen. The new card needs a minimum of a 500W PSU and mine is 580W, still I thought maybe it was just the PSU so i went and bought a 700W but nothing changed. The next step we assumed it was the Mobo. (I put an RMA ticket to ASUS). It seemed logically the last thing that could fuck up since it seemed like we checked everything else. I bought a new Mobo thinking I will use it while the other one is being replaced and then simply return it. However, the new mobo didn't help. OMFG inorite?

Now i think the cabling isn't a problem. That's simple enough and my brother checked everything number of times. We tried different ports, 3 different video cards, 2 different monitors, 2 different power supplies, 2 mobos. The only thing we didnt check was a different CPU since we didn't really have a spare one atm. I also tried taking out the RAM, using only 1 stick or 2 sticks or all 4. (I got 4gigs). My original mobo was an ASUS P5K. Original video card was an 8800GTS, new one is x4870. My CPU is an intel E6750 dual core @[email protected]

Once again I didn't think it was a cabling problem. We plugged everything in right. The only difference was that the x4870 needs 2 6pins and my PSU has 2 so it wasn't a problem. The other 2 cards only require a single 6pin.

I'm sure I must of missed some minor details so ask away. I'm fucking sick and tired of the bad luck I've been having with my computer. It seems like everytime I try to upgrade something the whole PC ends up going to the shitter and i end up spending hundreds as if im getting a new pc.
BTW i decided to hold off on the whole RMA of the p5k mobo.

Thanks
 
Wow!!! I really feel for you...You have indeed put out a lot of cash. The only thing I can up with is this. You purchased a new power supply...700 watts...Did you do any research on Quality PSUs? What is the brand name of your new Power supply?

The other thing is...different graphic cards require different power supply requirements...Have you done any research on that?

Things to consider...in relation to the negative effects of heat on the computer...That can be caused by the power supply.

Manufacturers test their PSU's at a set temperature...from this their rating is determined... for most this No. is 25 degrees Celsius...which falls short of the temperature that most computers are capable of achieving.

Given that a PSU will actually lose 2-5 watts per one degree of heat above the 25 Degree Celsius testing temperature...coupled with the fact that computers tend to run at 10 degrees higher than room temperature... In the summer time when the room temperature can easily reach 80 degrees F... your computer will be running at 33 Degrees C. or 90 Degrees F.

So the...math can make...your 500 watt power supply into a 460 watt unit.

In addition to this...what needs to be taken into account is that each degree that your computer components are operating at...under powered...adds more heat to the equation.

Consider also...the possibility...that ratings given by the manufacturer of single components...such as graphics cards...need to be treated with skepticism...Manufacturers may minimize support issues and under rate the power required...in order to make a larger profit.

The above has not taken into account...the issue of high quality vs poor quality units...Power supplies convert voltages from wall outlets to lower levels used by the PC. During this conversion, some power is lost as heat. The efficiency level of the PSU determines how much extra power must be put into the power supply to run the PC. A high quality PSU can help reduce the noise and heat generated within a computer system. The higher the efficiency rating the less heat the PSU has to deal with.

Therefore heat is the computers enemy...The hotter the temperature your PSU is forced to run at...the poorer the supply of power the rest of the components will receive...which has been known to lead to such things as crashes, freezing, rebooting, BSOD’s, and video distortion, as well as partial and complete failure of other components.

The fact is very few PSU’s are capable of producing the wattage that the companies advertise.

For a very good comprehension of recommended brand names, wattage, and models in listed categories...Plus much more...check out this link. Power Supply Information and Selection - Tech Support Forum
 
did you try updating bios on your Asus pk5? sounds like the graphics card is some how corrupting the bios?

faulty card RMA the graphics card?
 
That's kind of what it would seem like at first but I couldnt do anything cause my keyboard wasn't even responding. It was some problem with the USB device.

But like i said i also tried different motherboards, different graphics cards and the result is still the same.
 
i think you best off RMA the lot back to the manufacturer, the board, the card. explain your problem when u RMA the graphics card, see if they can find a solution if not replace it.

Unless anyone else on the forum has a solution to fix ur problem???

if u decide to RMA the lot, when u get it all back, cross ur fingers and hope for the best that it works. good luck dude

ohh yea one more thing, I dont think its ur powersupplys either 700w is efficent enough to power that setup.
 
So i RMAd the motherboard to Asus and just got it back along with the brand new 4870 vid card which i got replaced just to make sure.

I still get nothing on my screen. The PC powers on, the fans turn on, the lights turn on, the motherboard light is green like usual.

I pretty much swapped out every part except the CPU.

What else could cause nothing showing up on the screen?
 
damnnn man bet ur ripping ur hair out. I think you should try replace the cpu. cuz u've replaced everythin else havn't you. The thing is though are you sure Asus havn't sent you the same board back? is it a replacement? is the ram u use not liking the motherboard? you tried one stick of ram at a time? checked to see if cmos is not set to clear. checked your VGA cable isnt loose? or it could be they sent you back the same board or another one that's duff.
Asus are a set of ***** they send back the same board sometimes or often one thats refurbished then it messes up straight away.
and one more thing are you sure all the components your using is 100% compatible with that motherboard?
 
Yeah I've done all those things, checked for compatibility, cleared cmos multiple times.
Asus send back the same board. They said nothing was wrong with it.

I even bought a 40$ CPU last night for lga775 to check before i rma the cpu and it still didn't work!

I'm at a total loss of words... I dont think im doing anything wrong since ive done all of this before.

For the last time im going to try using my brothers PSU and see how that goes. If that fails ill just give it to some repair service.
 
hey man, do you not think your best just selling the entire system in bits? and startin a fresh new system. you've replaced everythin all the main components and tried multiple motherboards, multiple PSU's, different RAM. you tried a different hard drive? or no hard drive at all? see if it posts? also one last thing is, you tried to build it outside of the case?
 
The hard drive shouldn't matter, even if it was faulty i should still get video, but i dont even get that. I don't know what's going on. This isn't the first time I've done this. I'm so frustrated.
 
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