Dead PCI-Express slot or bad PSU?

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echrisconnor

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My video is no longer working correctly. After running for a few minutes on my HD7790 the screen goes black while the rest of the PC runs properly. If I wait a few minutes and reboot, video comes back briefly but then black-screens again. If I switch on onboard video it runs fine - but with crappy graphics ofc. I've tried switching out 3 different video cards and the same thing happens - video displays briefly but then black screen/no signal to monitor. The PSU is ample for the card, but one of the lower power consumption cards runs for longer before going to black screen. However if I try to run a game or something graphically intensive I lose video again.

Since all 3 cards do similar things, I doubt it's the cards. The PSU has run fine for years and everything else on the PC is running. I only have one PCI-e slot, so I can't switch to a different one to see if that fixes things.

Am I motherboard shopping or PSU shopping or other?
 
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echrisconnor

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Yes, and I've switched to different connectors from the PSU to see if that changed anything. My smallest card has no power direct from the PSU and even that one still goes black when placed under load.
 
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jazzy663

jazzy663

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Hmm. This is a toughie. I'll try my best to help you out.

Do you have a GTX 750/750 Ti, by chance? If not, can you borrow one? Many of those cards (the ITX ones, I've noticed) don't need PCI connectors as they draw all their power directly from the board (only 60W needed). If you plug one in and it runs fine, then it's your power supply. If it goes out like the others, then it's the PCI-E slot. That way you can get a definitive answer for which part is going bad.

Good luck.
 
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jazzy663

jazzy663

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Alright. You didn't really specify, you said 'lower power consumption', there are plenty of those that still need external power. I'm going to side with COLGeek on this one though, it's more likely the PSU. You said that your PSU has 'been running fine for years', it might be time to replace it. I get you though, you don't want to replace a part if you don't have to.
 
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jazzy663

jazzy663

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I really, really want to say yes. But at the same time, since even the motherboard is powered by the PSU, I don't want to say yes definitively. I'd feel a lot better if you had another PSU/mobo to put in there, to see if you can pinpoint the problem.

Incidentally, I doubt this is it, but have you checked voltages in the BIOS? I never play around with voltages because I generally don't know what I'm doing, but, it's just a thought.
 
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COLGeek

COLGeek

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Neither of these are power consumption intensive. As the integrated video seems to work properly, the problem points even more to the PSU.

This could also be heat related, per my earlier questions.
 
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echrisconnor

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Sorry for obsolete responses on some of these things I think we're typing at the same time. I have an older smaller PSU that originally worked with that Asus Silent card. I could swap that out. My fear, of course, is that it's the MOBO and this is an older HP Pavilion which I may not be able to source parts for.

As for checking voltages at the Bios - I've never messed with them and TBH I'm pretty sure I can't alter them in any way since this is a stock board and nothing sexy or overclockable. If I check them will they show me what my *actual* voltages are?
 
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echrisconnor

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COL Geek, I don't have a CPU temp monitor running. I'll say though that it happens after a few minutes or startup and nothing seems excessively hot. The fan isn't cranking high speed either when the video goes black. Do you think I should install a temp monitor and look at that as a priority?
 
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echrisconnor

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It's a HP HP Pavilion p6710f Since I've been troubleshooting the case has been open and it's about 62deg in my house. I really can't see heat being an issue now, but my heatsinks were pretty dusty when I opened things up. They're all blown out now with plenty of airflow.
 
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jazzy663

jazzy663

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Alright-- looks like this is the board that's in your system.

http://h20564.www2.hp.com/hpsc/doc/public/display?docId=emr_na-c02560084

Read this thread, it's short but it might be of interest to you, especially the last post:

http://www.tomshardware.com/answers/id-2027102/alvorix-rs880-uatx-problem-hpe-400-410-p6610-6620.html

I can't vouch for what the last post is saying, but it sounds like you're not the only one having problems with that particular board (assuming your problem is the board).
 
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echrisconnor

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That mobo looks like it. I also found this on ebay:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/HP-PAVILION-P6710Y-P6740F-P6604F-P6621C-P6703W-P6706F-P6710F-P6719C-MOTHERBOARD-/331155935414?pt=Motherboards&hash=item4d1a6e90b6

I installed the CUPID temp/voltage monitor - although I fell for one of the "download" links which was actually an ad an installed something that I'm hoping doesn't wreck my system shortly. I've uninstalled everything but god knows what's lurking that I can't uninstall. Anyways, I'm not sure what I'm looking for but all temperatures are under 89degrees. All CPU cores are under 70 deg. My 5v supplies all show at 5.13v but my 3.3v show at 2.773v Not sure if that's a concern.

 
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echrisconnor

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Jazzy - I read that thread which of course doesn't sound great but that's in response to crashes and system shutdowns. My system seems fine, it's just the video end that's barfing. Hmm.
 
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jazzy663

jazzy663

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I understand, but the point I was trying to get at is that that particular motherboard seems to have problems. It's just something I wanted to point out in an effort to further help pinpoint the problem. I think with ambiguous issues like these, any information pertaining to specific hardware is helpful.

By the way, I saw some of those boards on eBay - I don't know how you feel about buying from eBay - personally I never will. But, in the event that you do have to replace the motherboard, I thought it only right to let you know that they are indeed out there. It looks like there are two types - N-Alvorix-RS880 and H-Alvorix-RS880. I'm not sure what the difference is between the two, if any.

Edit: Whoops, didn't read that post above the last one. Looks like you already found them, although that isn't the listing I was looking at.
 
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