Computer doesn't boot with Graphics Card installed!

JTWorsfold

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Jun 9, 2014
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4,510
I'm a first time pc builder but a long time pc gamer. I decided that building my own would be the best step to upgrade from a well equipped (but evermore outdated) laptop.

When I bench tested the core components I can get to the BIOS screen without the Graphics Card installed fine (each of the red led's on the mobo flash once and go off). However with the Graphics Card installed it doesn't even POST and the vga red led on the mobo stays lit (the fans on the Graphics card spin fine).

Build
CPU: Intel Core i5-4670K 3.4GHz Quad-Core
Mobo: Asus Z87-Plus ATX LGA 1150
RAM: Corsair Vengeance 8GB (2x4GB) DDR3-1600
GPU: Gigabyte GeForce GTX 660 2GB
PSU: Corsair 600W ATX12V Semi Modular

I have done the following:
1. Checked the pins on the mobo - all seem straight with no bends or breaks
2. Changed the primary display option - when I did this the cpu led, ram led and vga led flashed but then suddenly rebooted and went back to AUTO on BIOS and the red vga led stayed on again.
3. Tried the Graphics card in another PCIe slot - no effect, still no boot + vga led
4. Reset CMOS - both by using the provided cap and by removing the battery to no avail
5. Updated the BIOS to the most recent version - no change
6. Tried changing power input to GPU - changed from the standard PSU lead 6 pin input (the gigabyte GPU only needs a 6 pin input) to the 4 - 6 pin adapter with no avail
7. Checked everything I can check on the Graphics card - literally looked at it from every angle looking for another 6 pin input or something like that but nothing.

So I assume that either:
1. The graphics card is bust - but I can't test it on another system
2. The motherboard is bust - but it runs fine without the graphics card?
3. The PSU isn't strong enough - not sure as I thought 600w would be fine?
4. I haven't followed the right steps - I haven't installed any drivers as I can't boot with the graphics card installed?

Sorry for the overload of details but if someone can think of something I've not done I'd be grateful if you could tell me what that is! In the meantime I'll try to borrow or buy another Graphics card to test on my Mobo or test my Graphics card on someone else's system. I'll let you know my findings.


 
Two things are likely, either the video card or the power supply. It may be a very rare motherboard and video card incompatibility issue, but the BIOS update should minimize that.

To test things you need to either try a different video card with similar power use in your system or test your card in a known good system that can run it.

Have you tried both of the PCIe x16 slots on the motherboard? I don't know if that card will fit in the edge one though depending on the heatsink.
 

JTWorsfold

Reputable
Jun 9, 2014
2
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4,510


Thanks for the quick reply, I have tried to of the three PCI-express slots with the same result. I'm trying to find someone with a system I can test the graphics card on. But if I can't I was thinking of buying another graphics card and power supply to try a few things then send back the parts I don't need.

However that depends on returning items to amazon that are opened and used.