Is there something wrong with my system? Or is it bad luck?

[deizel]

Current specs:

DFI Lanparty- NF4 Ultra-D
AMD 64 3700 San diego
1GBx2 OCZ DDR400
Winxp 32bit
1 Maxtor 250gb Diamondmax plus 9 (OS)
1 Maxtor 120gb (forgot)
1 Hitachi 1tb SATA
1 Seagate 400GB USB
3 Fans
ATI X1900XTX
OCZ 700w Gamextream

After receiving what seemed to be a messed up 8800GT, I decided to give ATI a shot. (screenshots at the bottom)

I get it today, install it, turn on my computer and lo and behold- no signal going to the monitor.

I played with the DVI cable about 800 times, called tech support hoping there would be some new magical button on the video card I didn't know existed and after he tells me to try another power cable on the card (which didn't do anything) he tells me to send it back.

By the way, no motherboard errors while trying to boot, and it was obvious that windows was loading in the background. There was one weird thing though and that was that I realized that because of the way my motherboard is laid out, this card ended up obstructing the NB fan. I made a slight adjustment and it was able to spin again though- but I tried booting it both ways.

I've never received a DOA product before but in the last week I'm 2 for 2. I'm thinking either something is going on with my system or god hates me. Have there been any obscure updates to PCIE that maybe I'm not aware of? My motherboard is a DFI lanparty ultra-d Nforce 4. Do you think a bios update would make any difference? I've only done it once and its not something I'm excited to do because I worry about it causing other issues or messing up completely. I'd have to do it through windows since I don't have a floppy disk drive.

Here is an example of what my 8800GT would do in every single game I tried, (I tried 2 different sets of drivers)

Crysis SP demo:
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y35/lynch03/Crysis.jpg

COD4 demo:
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y35/lynch03/Cod4.jpg

I'm not sure if it's just bad luck and I happened to get bad cards or if there is something going on with my system =/

Is there any chance a bios update could help either card?

 

[j0j081]

probably something to do with ur system. the chances of getting two bad cards in a row especially dif models are slim to none. it's hard enough to get one bad card that won't run. yeah it happens and you see people complain about it on here but think about how many people buy these cards and are happy with them, u only see people complain when they don't work.

 

[taltamir]

i would say it is most likely your mobo, followed by power supply. Did you fail to go into windows or did you fail to get bios posting screen? if it just doesn't go into windows then you just need to reinstall it due to driver issues.. if bios doesn't show then its a different issue...

 

[Capt Caveman]

Sounds like your mobo is not compatible with a pci-e 2.0 video card. I would see if DFI has a bios update for your mobo.

 

[taltamir]

not compatible with PCIE2? That is supposed to be impossible... although it is possible.

 

[deizel]

I didn't get any error messages or any error beeps, in fact I think windows even loaded. I just didn't get a signal to my monitor- never even got to see the POST screen. The fan spun and everything I at least know it was somewhat functional.

I know my PSU is just fine, its 700W and besides these 2 video card issues I have no other issues. My X1900XTX works.

Capt Caveman I'll try that then, thanks.

 

[Capt Caveman]

Originally posted by: taltamir
not compatible with PCIE2? That is supposed to be impossible... although it is possible.

Not all old pcie 1.0a motherboards are compatible with pcie 2.0 video cards. All pcie 1.1 and 2.0 are though.

Do some forum searches and you'll find that a number of people are having this issue. Here's one - http://evga.com/forums/tm.asp?...8&mpage=1&key=&#158518

 

[taltamir]

Originally posted by: deizel
I didn't get any error messages or any error beeps, in fact I think windows even loaded. I just didn't get a signal to my monitor- never even got to see the POST screen. The fan spun and everything I at least know it was somewhat functional.

I know my PSU is just fine, its 700W and besides these 2 video card issues I have no other issues. My X1900XTX works.

Capt Caveman I'll try that then, thanks.

Heh.. some motherboards will work fine with no video card... I had a mobo once where the video card broke... i unplugged it and accidently hit the power button while there was no video card plugged in (i leave all the cables connected, I just lay the computer on the side on the floor with the cables connected, open it, and do work)...

Well, it turned on, and I used VNC to connect to it from a different computer... it showed a blank screen on VNC... but I could access all the shared files on its drives.

 

[dajeepster]

uninstall the old drivers first before you swap out video cards... or just do a wipe.... the uninstall would be my first choice though

 

[taltamir]

Originally posted by: dajeepster
uninstall the old drivers first before you swap out video cards... or just do a wipe.... the uninstall would be my first choice though

he isn't getting bios screen so it cannot be the drivers.

 

[deizel]

I tried flashing to a newer BIOS. Not only did it not work, but it also REALLY destabilized windows. BSODS, restarts visual defects. Holy crap I thought I was screwed! I barely managed to boot, and when I did, I went all out kamikaze and quickly flashed back to my old BIOS with winflash (no floppy drive). Everything seems fine now, hopefully it last. Whew....

Oh I forgot to mention- I did try and start my computer with no card in it and it gives a very distinct-long beep. So it must be detecting the card, its just not displaying anything for some reason =/ I even tried my other PCIE slot and nothing.

There is something weird I forgot to mention though, it doesn't seem to fit correctly at all. When I put it in either PCIE slot, its not as towards to back of the case as it should be, and the screw holes line up slightly less then half way. The DVI ports dont stick out as much as they should and to get a screw in i have to kind of push back on it with a bit of force. However I also tried booting with it without screws and just in the slot as tight as possible and it didnt work.

 

[Jules]

Originally posted by: Capt Caveman

Originally posted by: taltamir
not compatible with PCIE2? That is supposed to be impossible... although it is possible.

Not all old pcie 1.0a motherboards are compatible with pcie 2.0 video cards. All pcie 1.1 and 2.0 are though.

Do some forum searches and you'll find that a number of people are having this issue. Here's one - http://evga.com/forums/tm.asp?...8&mpage=1&key=??

Wow, one guy is running a 8800GT with a 250Watt PSU and it works fine. I just ordered a HD 3850 and i hope it doesn't have that 2.0 problem.

 

[bombatwist]

i have a DFI nF4-DAGF motherboard. i've looked everywhere and i can't find the PCIE version :/. where do i go to find it?

 

[lyssword]

Originally posted by: bombatwist
i have a DFI nF4-DAGF motherboard. i've looked everywhere and i can't find the PCIE version :/. where do i go to find it?

Huh? that's exact same mobo as mine, and it has pcie x16 slot in it.

 

[spittledip]

Originally posted by: lyssword

Originally posted by: bombatwist
i have a DFI nF4-DAGF motherboard. i've looked everywhere and i can't find the PCIE version :/. where do i go to find it?

Huh? that's exact same mobo as mine, and it has pcie x16 slot in it.

No, he wants to know if his board has a PCI E 1.0a or 1.1 slot. There have been compatibility issues with PCI E 2.0 cards and 1.0a slots. This is stated earlier in the thread.

I am wondering myself if my abit kn8ultra will not work with the 2.0 cards. I was eyeing the 3870.. I emailed Abit to see if they had a resolution for the issue. I read on a forum that you have to flash the Video card bios rather than the mobo bios (which Abit wouldn't be able to help me with of course). At any rate, i hope there is a fix for this for sure..

 

[taltamir]

Originally posted by: MyStupidMouth

Originally posted by: Capt Caveman

Originally posted by: taltamir
not compatible with PCIE2? That is supposed to be impossible... although it is possible.

Not all old pcie 1.0a motherboards are compatible with pcie 2.0 video cards. All pcie 1.1 and 2.0 are though.

Do some forum searches and you'll find that a number of people are having this issue. Here's one - http://evga.com/forums/tm.asp?...8&mpage=1&key=??

Wow, one guy is running a 8800GT with a 250Watt PSU and it works fine. I just ordered a HD 3850 and i hope it doesn't have that 2.0 problem.

watts have nothing to do with anything... all that matters is how much amps you can get on each voltage rail.

Power = Voltage x Amperage. Aka, VA (volt-amper)

Since voltage is predetermined based on which rail you are using (3.3v, 5v, 12v...) you basically need to look at the ameperate the PSU can supply on EACH one of those idividually and determine weather it is enough for all the connected devices... for example if your power supply provides 10amps on the 3.3v rail then ALL your hard drives and cd roms together must take less then that...

 

[Jules]

Originally posted by: taltamir

Originally posted by: MyStupidMouth

Originally posted by: Capt Caveman

Originally posted by: taltamir
not compatible with PCIE2? That is supposed to be impossible... although it is possible.

Not all old pcie 1.0a motherboards are compatible with pcie 2.0 video cards. All pcie 1.1 and 2.0 are though.

Do some forum searches and you'll find that a number of people are having this issue. Here's one - http://evga.com/forums/tm.asp?...8&mpage=1&key=??

Wow, one guy is running a 8800GT with a 250Watt PSU and it works fine. I just ordered a HD 3850 and i hope it doesn't have that 2.0 problem.

watts have nothing to do with anything... all that matters is how much amps you can get on each voltage rail.

Power = Voltage x Amperage. Aka, VA (volt-amper)

Since voltage is predetermined based on which rail you are using (3.3v, 5v, 12v...) you basically need to look at the ameperate the PSU can supply on EACH one of those idividually and determine weather it is enough for all the connected devices... for example if your power supply provides 10amps on the 3.3v rail then ALL your hard drives and cd roms together must take less then that...

k

 

[deizel]

This is really strange. The problem isn't the motherboard it seems, but the monitor. Not only that but both monitors I have are the exact same model.

I have 2 Vx922s. Not because I do dual-monitor setup but because my old Vx922 had its screen damaged during the summer in the center and is now all darkened and has a cluster of dead pixels where it was damaged.

While building my computer I did a quick POST test using just the bare basics and I used my older Vx922 because my other one was still connected to my older comp. It booted just fine and I has happy thinking it must've just been the PCIE slot.

Well when I finished assembly and hooked it up to the new monitor- no display at all. Old monitor it displayed. Then I left the one DVI end in the card and swapped it between both monitors and it would only display on my old/damaged VX922.

What the hell could cause this? It makes absolutely no sense. I don't even know whether to blame ATI or Viewsonic. Besides that the card works great- played Crysis recently and it runs amazing compared to my x1900xtx. Unfortunately everything looks like crap on this monitor because its so dark.

EDIT just tried it again, just in case. Made sure the DVI cord was as fastened as tight as possible on the newer VX922 and it still didn't work. BUT- when I hooked it back up to the old VX922 and tried to boot, it didn't display. So I turned off the computer and played with it for a few seconds, booted again and it did.

I'm afraid to mess with it anymore in case it decides not to ever display on either monitor =/

 

[myocardia]

Originally posted by: taltamir
watts have nothing to do with anything... all that matters is how much amps you can get on each voltage rail.

Power = Voltage x Amperage. Aka, VA (volt-amper)

Since voltage is predetermined based on which rail you are using (3.3v, 5v, 12v...) you basically need to look at the ameperate the PSU can supply on EACH one of those idividually and determine weather it is enough for all the connected devices... for example if your power supply provides 10amps on the 3.3v rail then ALL your hard drives and cd roms together must take less then that...

Umm, hard drives and optical drives use the +5v and +12v rails exclusively. The motors use the 12v, while the electronics in them use the 5v. The 3.3v is almost exclusively for the RAM, and the northbridge and southbridge chipsets.

 

[tuteja1986]

Your mobo do support the PCIE 2.0 GPU.. right ? ... because some mobo ain't compatible.

 

[deizel]

Originally posted by: tuteja1986
Your mobo do support the PCIE 2.0 GPU.. right ? ... because some mobo ain't compatible.

It is definitely not the motherboard. Please read my last post.

 

[sheltem]

Try using a VGA cable with the DVI adapter to see if it works. I don't know what brand LCD you have, but this is a known issue with Viewsonic monitors. If you get a display with the VGA cable, then try these steps:

Plug in both dvi and vga cable into video card and monitor
Turn on computer (boot to windows fully)
Shut down computer
Unplug vga cable
Leave dvi alone
Unplug monitor 10 sec
Turn on computer

I had the same problem with my Viewsonic 2025WM. Instead of shutting down my machine, I was able to use standby to fix the problem. Hope this helps!

 

[F1shF4t]

Originally posted by: taltamir
watts have nothing to do with anything... all that matters is how much amps you can get on each voltage rail.

Power = Voltage x Amperage. Aka, VA (volt-amper)

Since voltage is predetermined based on which rail you are using (3.3v, 5v, 12v...) you basically need to look at the ameperate the PSU can supply on EACH one of those idividually and determine weather it is enough for all the connected devices... for example if your power supply provides 10amps on the 3.3v rail then ALL your hard drives and cd roms together must take less then that...

You do know VA is an AC quantity?
For AC yes VA is Amperage x Voltage, and when the power factor is unity then watts = VA.
For DC (eg. power supply output) watts = Amperage x Voltage.
The wattage of the psu determines how much current it can supply at a certain voltage.

Most components such as cpu and gpus now use the 12v rail, primarily cause you can supply more power at a lower current. (course the 12v is transformed to lower voltage before getting used by cpu, gpu etc )

 

[deizel]

sort of just fixed my monitor issue. I hooked them both up at the same time through the DVI ports. During POST I only got a display on the old monitor. But as soon as I got to Windows the display switched onto my new monitor and my old one wouldn't display anything. I unplugged the old one and rebooted again- still no display on the new one during POST , but once I got to the Windows start screen I got a display again.

Any ideas?