Black screen after installing AMD Radeon R9 270

mevans567 · Jul 25, 2014

SETUP
Dell Vostro 260
Intel Core i5-2400 3.1GHz
Dell motherboard GDG8Y, Intel H61 chipset, 1 16x PCI 2.0 slot (and 3 1x slots), BIOS A10 (latest)
Integrated video (VGA, HDMI)
8GB RAM
256GB SSD Crucial MX100 (brand new)
EVGA 500W 80PLUS PSU (brand new)
Acer x233h 1920x1080 monitor (VGA, HDMI, DVI)
Windows 7 Professional (fresh install)
OLD GPU: ATI Radeon HD5450 512MB, VGA, HDMI, DVI
NEW GPU: AMD Radeon R9 270 2GB, HDMI, 2xDVI, DP

PROBLEM
After replacing old GPU with new GPU, all I see is a black screen.

WHAT HAPPENED
With the old GPU, I did a fresh install of Win 7 Pro on the SSD, updated the OS and everything else I loaded in. Graphics (using DVI) worked fine, all they way up to the monitor's max resolution. Could not play games, of course.

Today I got the new PSU and the new GPU.
I installed the PSU, all good, everything powers up OK.
I powered down and even removed the cord, then removed the old GPU, and installed the new GPU and booted up. Bad news: all I can see is black screen.

I have tried the following configurations:
(1) Onboard video + new GPU in its slot = black screen whether I connect video to any onboard port or GPU port (note: GPU fans are spinning)
(2) Onboard video only = visible screen

There is no BIOS setting for graphics (at least not one I could find!).

Device Manager shows only the integrated graphics, not the old 5450 (and of course not the R9 270).

I cannot install the AMD driver.

When trying to install the Catalyst software, it fails. I suspect this is because the new GPU is not in the slot (since I can't see the screen if it is!), and the program is searching for GPU hardware and not finding it.

I cannot find a way to manually install the driver using Device Manager without using the Catalyst installation program. I've searched through the subfolders of C:\AMD\Support\, where the downloaded Catalyst ZIP file expanded everything, and although I found some .inf files, I can't install them. Either I click OK and nothing happens, or, for some drivers that appear to be for audio (no idea why), Device Manager reports that those drivers are not for the type of device I am trying to install.

Hopefully I am missing something really obvious and easy... Any ideas on what I should do? TIA.

Outlander_04 · Jul 25, 2014

What do you mean the new GPU is not in the slot ?

do you have the auxilliary power cable connected to the graphics card?

TechHelpNO · Jul 25, 2014

mevans567 :

SETUP
Dell Vostro 260
Intel Core i5-2400 3.1GHz
Dell motherboard GDG8Y, Intel H61 chipset, 1 16x PCI 2.0 slot (and 3 1x slots), BIOS A10 (latest)
Integrated video (VGA, HDMI)
8GB RAM
256GB SSD Crucial MX100 (brand new)
EVGA 500W 80PLUS PSU (brand new)
Acer x233h 1920x1080 monitor (VGA, HDMI, DVI)
Windows 7 Professional (fresh install)
OLD GPU: ATI Radeon HD5450 512MB, VGA, HDMI, DVI
NEW GPU: AMD Radeon R9 270 2GB, HDMI, 2xDVI, DP

PROBLEM
After replacing old GPU with new GPU, all I see is a black screen.

WHAT HAPPENED
With the old GPU, I did a fresh install of Win 7 Pro on the SSD, updated the OS and everything else I loaded in. Graphics (using DVI) worked fine, all they way up to the monitor's max resolution. Could not play games, of course.

Today I got the new PSU and the new GPU.
I installed the PSU, all good, everything powers up OK.
I powered down and even removed the cord, then removed the old GPU, and installed the new GPU and booted up. Bad news: all I can see is black screen.

I have tried the following configurations:
(1) Onboard video + new GPU in its slot = black screen whether I connect video to any onboard port or GPU port (note: GPU fans are spinning)
(2) Onboard video only = visible screen

There is no BIOS setting for graphics (at least not one I could find!).

Device Manager shows only the integrated graphics, not the old 5450 (and of course not the R9 270).

I cannot install the AMD driver.

When trying to install the Catalyst software, it fails. I suspect this is because the new GPU is not in the slot (since I can't see the screen if it is!), and the program is searching for GPU hardware and not finding it.

I cannot find a way to manually install the driver using Device Manager without using the Catalyst installation program. I've searched through the subfolders of C:\AMD\Support\, where the downloaded Catalyst ZIP file expanded everything, and although I found some .inf files, I can't install them. Either I click OK and nothing happens, or, for some drivers that appear to be for audio (no idea why), Device Manager reports that those drivers are not for the type of device I am trying to install.

Hopefully I am missing something really obvious and easy... Any ideas on what I should do? TIA.

Try installing the GPU and remove or change slots of the RAM and see if that would help

mevans567 · Jul 25, 2014

@Outlander_04, I mean that the R9 is not in the slot because if it is, I can't see anything on the screen. When it IS in the slot, it requires two 6-pin power connectors, which I do connect. I don't know if those are "auxiliary" power cables or not; they are simply the ones that come from the PSU. Thanks.

@TechHelpNO, I'll swap RAM DIMMs and try with only 1 DIMM, and see what happens. Thanks. UPDATE: no effect.

TechHelpNO · Jul 25, 2014

mevans567 :

Ok

junkeymonkey · Jul 25, 2014

some models of store bought computers [dell.hp,acer,ect..] may come with a ''locked or fixed'' bios and may not allow you to change certain hardware as a video card.. this is done to protect them from undue warranty claims and refunds .this is not done to hurt you but to protect them. you really need to see if that upgrade has been proven to work in your model first before you invest money in it .. there are a lot of these threads here at toms to look at some models will allow upgrades and some dont.. and a lot of guys here say ya ya ya when is really no no no...it would be sad you spent $200 on a card that wount post after you installed it as most find out. then get told its your psu and you spend more and end up right back where you are now, but its up to you good luck..

you got to know the the boards in these computers are not like the ones we use to do custom builds witch are open to upgrading with in the boards compatibly . the bios is custom made for there design and just for the parts they authorize to be used on there computers

mevans567 · Jul 25, 2014

junkeymonkey :

@junkymonkey, you are probably spot on. Luckily for me, I was repurposing an old work PC, with the main goal of helping my 15 year-old son learn how computers work. I'd say this is a good lesson! We would have had to buy the GPU and PSU anyhow; I was just glad we had (and still have) some core components that are usable. Thanks.

P.S. I will update this as a solution once I get the new motherboard and make sure everything works. There's still a remote possibility the GPU is bad.

P.P.S. For those experiencing a similar problem, here is another possible solution, from another thread on TH. I tried it and it did not work for me, but may for you...
1. Turn off the computer and unplug
2. Remove Graphic card
3. Plug the monitor to your video output
4. Turn on the computer
5. Click on start and type msconfig
6. Select the Boot tab and click on the box that says Safe boot with minimal selected.
7. Apply then click ok.
8. DO NOT RESTART.
9. Shut Down computer and unplug
10. Install Graphic card
11. Turn on the computer (should boot into safe mode)
12. Go into Device Manager
13. Expand Display Adapter
14. Disable the Intel(R) HD Graphics 4000 driver. (DO NOT UNINSTALL)
15. Click the start button and type msconfig
16. Unclick Safe boot
17. Restart

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