Help: graphics card slot on mobo dead?

I got a new SATA III HD today and I plugged it into my desktop computer using the available SATA cable and power cable. Normally, the computer would just detect a new hdd, but when I booted up

my computer, there was the "check signal cable" message floating around my screen. I checked the cables and plugs and everything was in perfectly. Could the new SATA III drive have done something to my graphics cards or mobo?

I opened up the case to dust it out and reseat the graphics card etc, and I was able to get everything working again just fine and for a couple hours as I was checking the net, watching a few video files, checking my albums etc and backing data up....so everything was working fine on the MOBO. But I had to turn it off again and unplug everything to sort it all out after that was done (i had the case open and all the cables and wires out so I was just cleaning it all up and putting the case back on and arranging the cables to how I normally have it on my desk). Then when I booted up, the issue came back and there was once again no signal.

At first I thought it might be the DVI cable so I plugged the monitor in my 2nd computer (beside the 1st computer) and the monitor displayed everything fine so the monitor OR the monitor cables were not the issue.

The next thing I tested for was to see if the problem was my graphics card. I took the graphics card out and put it into my 2nd computer and it worked fine. So the graphics card was not the issue.

Then I took the original graphics card from my 2nd computer and decided to try and see if it would work on my main computer where the issue is happening. Upon boot up, there was no signal cable detected. Soooooooooo I believe this means that the issue is my motherboard?

Both graphics cards work on the 2nd computer.

But I'm wondering, does this sound normal to you? Is it possible for JUST the graphics card slot (PCI Express 2.0 slot) to go bad while everything else on the MOBO works fine as it was for me just earlier? If a mobo goes bad, doesn't that mean everything on the mobo won't work like the cpu too? My cpu works fine and everything else connected to the mobo but only issue is I can't see anything since the graphics card slot appears to be the issue.

My mobo is BIOSTAR AG880GU3

Now my dilemma is do i just buy a new computer or try and replace the mobo?

 

How long did you wait for the boot?
I am talking five minutes. Some cards just seem slow to sense an attached monitor. My old HP monitor was terrible for this, three or four reboots to get it recognized but then it was perfect for a while.
I could not find your model at the Biostar web site, can you use another PCIe slot for the card?
What graphics card are you running?
What size PSU do you have?

 

Hi

My first thought about the original issue after inserting another drive and the no signal is possible the power supply not enough juice.

If your video card failed you'd possibly get some beeps or flashing light sequence even depending on your mobo / brand etc..

It is possible some a hair some lint or dust is perhaps dislodged and is now shortening out or even to the case.

Id have a really close look. Also if the video card requires a power cable, try a different one. Pull one off your dvd drive or something safe like that. But prior to this, check that the video power cable pins in the plug itself. haven't been dislodged.

Some times if the power to a device's cable is pulled or stretched it can pull them or one of them back with-in its plastic housing going un-noticed as its hidden from view.

To correct this you could try, carefully but firmly, pushing the cables in the power cable back down towards the plugs opening.

Of course you'll make sure that you don't have the unit powered on and have taken proper "earthing" precautions so you don't run the risk of permanently shorting other things on the mobo itself in the process.

You may have also had some dust settle in the video slot, or an issue that became apparent such as a microfracture, when the mobo cooled down the fracture widened on restart the issue became obvious. Microfractures tiny cracks invisible to the eye mostly are a biatch to diagonose.

hope this helps, :wave