HELP! New GPU woes...

I'm upgrading from a GeForce 8500 GT to a PNY Eco GeForce 9800 GT 1GB. My issue is that when I plug in my VGA cable to the card and start up my PC, there's no picture! The GPU's fan runs but nothing more. Getting into Windows via my onboard shows Windows isn't able to detect the card either. I've tried everything I can think of (including installing new MoBo BIOS and testing the GPU on a friend's PC) to figure out this issue but with no success. My relevant specs are as follows:

Gateway GM5478
Intel G33 MoBo
2.4 GHz Core 2 Quad CPU
3 GB DDR2 RAM
600W PSU
(It may not matter...but I use my Bravia HDTV as my monitor.)

Any help would be greatly appreciated! Thanks in advance!

 

Did you plug the PCI Express 6 pin power cable into the card? I suppose you did

 

The Eco 9800 GT doesn't have it. It's powered entirely by the PCI-E port.

 

Are you sure? It sounds very odd as my 9800gt has a power plug.

It could also be that the card is a bad design and isn't getting enough power.

 

PNY offers a version on the 9800 GT that lacks the 6-pin port and has 30% less power draw. That's the one I have. The card should be receiving sufficient power, especially since my PC is running on a 600W PSU. Also, it worked on my friend's PC so it couldn't be faulty.

 

Did you change the bios to disable onboard video and then change the primary to PCI Express if there is the option to:

EIDT:

Sorry didn't see you already had a 8500 GT that worked. I would try and reset the card and see if that helps. If it still doesn't work it could be a power problem due to your motherboard not supplying enough power to the pci express slot tho you have enough psu wattage.

 

I haven't seen an option to disable onboard but did switch primary display to PCI-E. Still no good...

My MoBo is a G33 and only a few years old. It should be fine, right?

 

Leads me to think that your mobo doesn't have alot of power on the PCI Express slot tho it should work since it seems to be a low power card.

Maybe try and reset the card like I said before?

 

I've reinserted the card several times over the course of this ordeal but it hasn't improved the situation, unfortunately.

 

think pclover Is referring to this kind of reset.

http://www.ehow.com/i/#article_4967194

may have to be done on your friends pc.

burrell

 

A BIOS update may help.... there are several available at the Gateway support page for your PC (link: http://support.gateway.com/support/drivers/search.asp?st=pn&param=1009570). Since they provide no info about the issues addressed by a particular BIOS update, I would personally use the newest one. Of course, you'll need to do it using on-board video or with the 8500GT card. Sometimes (it's rare) certain components just will not work with a particular motherboard. I've seen it before: I've seen a sound card work great on one system, but not even get recognized by a different system. It happens. You can also try booting using your onboard video, go to the Device Manager and disable the onboard video adapter. Power down, install the 9800GT, then power up again....

BTW- you didn't mention if this 9800GT gives NO video (as in no POST, no BIOS screen, nothing), or if you get a picture (with the Gateway logo, the Windows loading progress bar, etc) until right before the Windows desktop loads, then it craps out....

 

I decided to take the card back and exchange it for a GTS 250 instead. It's a somewhat better card from what I understand and it's working on my system. I guess I'll never know what the problem was. Oh well. Thanks for the help, everyone!

 

I think it was due to the PCI Express slot on the mobo not providing enough power to the card.

Doesn't your GTS 250 have a power connection on it?

 

Already tried

 

Yeah, it has a 6-pin on it...so it could very well have been a "lack of power" issue.