Possible GPU failure.

T

TheWimpyRambo

New Member
I'll start off with the background:
When playing games or doing anything, my computer (I believed) used to randomly shut off with the video display going away. However the computer would still be powered on and the only thing left to do would be to reset it. Then everything would be fine. This continued on and off until yesterday, when I was playing a game.
The computer turned off and, frustrated, I left the computer and didn't attempt to restart it.
Now today, it turns on but there is no video.
I opened my PC up, and realized the graphics card fan isn't spinning up, everything else is. I figured it was a Gfx problem. But then I also noticed that the USB ports do not work, nothing plugged into them gets powered. (I figure this is because the computer is not POSTing.)
I figure it is a GPU problem?
I also tried with one RAM stick, both RAM sticks, and no RAM sticks.
I get no display, boot, or error beeps.
Edit: I can hear my HDD spinning up.
To me this looks like a GPU failure, but could it be a motherboard failure?
Thank you in advance


I built my PC by the way.
I can't remember all the specs off the top of my head but I remember the motherboard is a Gigabyte m790x-ud4p with 4 gigs G.skill DDR2 RAM and a gtx 260 XFX card.
AMD phenom ii 940 processor at stock Ghz, no overclock was done.
All inside an Antec 1200 so I don't think it could be overheating.
It may also be a PSU problem, but all the fans and lights spin up on the case and the CPU.
Lastly, once the computer is turned on through the power button, it cannot be turned off unless i simply flip the switch on the PSU.
No integrated graphics to test the display on.
Thank you!
 
Could be a power supply failure or a graphics card failure. Too bad you don't have integrated video to use. Can you try the GTX 260 on another system and see if the same thing happens?
 
vistakid10 said:
Could be a power supply failure or a graphics card failure. Too bad you don't have integrated video to use. Can you try the GTX 260 on another system and see if the same thing happens?
Click to expand...

Hmmm power supply?
All the fans and lights come on so I'm doubting that it's that.
Plus I can turn my lights off and on inside the case and put more load and less loud on the PCU and it seems to keep running.
I don't think I have another computer that can run my GTX 260 but I may be able to swap another cheap GPU into my computer and see if that one works.
 
Yeah get a cheap GPU and see if the problem persists. I know you doubt it's the PSU but it may be worth trying it another PC if you have access to one just to be sure.
 
UPDATE:I took a tried and true GPU from my old computer and plugged it into my computer which isn't working.
This time, the fan on the GPU spun up and all looked well.
However, the screen still did not come on??
I tried again with both RAM sticks, one RAM stick, and no RAM sticks. Nothing.
What should I try next?
Since it didn't work I plugged in the working GPU back into the old computer and hooked that up with my monitor and it worked.
So it is something with my computer?
 
If you have more than one PCI Express x16 or 2.0 slot on your board, try plugging it into another slot.

Can you try using the power supply from your 'non working' machine in the other computer? Just to rule it out?

Right now I'm thinking it's probably motherboard or power-related. You are plugging all the required power connectors into the graphics card aren't you? Are you using any power adapters? What make/model PSU are you using?
 
vistakid10 said:
If you have more than one PCI Express x16 or 2.0 slot on your board, try plugging it into another slot.

Tried both cards in both slots. No change.
Can you try using the power supply from your 'non working' machine in the other computer? Just to rule it out?

Hmmmm I'll try that next.
Right now I'm thinking it's probably motherboard or power-related. You are plugging all the required power connectors into the graphics card aren't you? Are you using any power adapters? What make/model PSU are you using?
Yes of course. I'm not using an adapters I have the OCZ 600W power supply that's been working fine for a while. Plus the other GPU doesn't require any extra power other than the power from the PCI slot.
Click to expand...

I'll report back soon.
 
vistakid10 said:
OK it all looks fine to me. Just try that power supply in another system and see what happens. :) Get back to me once you've done it.
Click to expand...

Ok, here's what I did.
Took an old 300 watt tried and true PSU from my old computer and simply plugged in the 24-pin connector to my nonworking computer and the 4 pin connector to the CPU (Problem: The old PSU has a 4-pin but my MOBO has an 8-pin) I plugged in the 4-pin anyway and nothing else.
I also plugged in my tried and true GPU (9600 gt: requires no external power besides PCI express port)
Turned it on, and it worked!
It didn't boot as HDD wasn't plugged in or anything but the computer did turn on and I did get video.
So now I'm sure it has to be a PSU problem.
However, as the tried and true PSU had only one 6-pin connector for my GPU, whereas my GPU (the believed to be broken one) need two, I could not test if the GPU works or not.
All I know is the computer boots with the new PSU and the 9600 gt.
Now, which PSU should I get, the old one was 600 watts.
Do you think my GPU actually works, and was simply getting no power?
 
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