GTX 970 not compatible with Acer motherboard?

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ComputerMagic

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Heya,

I've tried to get my new 4 GB EVGA GTX 970 SSC from Best Buy to work in my computer (which is a pre-built 2012 Gateway DX4870-UB21P computer) and it does not work. I've researched around and while not specifically for my computer, I've heard that some motherboard BIOS' aren't exactly compatible with these kinds of cards. I'm guessing that is the case here? My GTX 560 2GB SC worked just fine, but that is not the case this time around. I have a 600 watt ThermalTake PSU in the computer as well, so I don't really think its a lack of power, at least from the one website I used to calculate wattage usage.

Thanks for your time!



Computer Specs:

DX4870-UB21P

Intel Core i5-2320 3.0 GHz Quad-Core
Acer IPIMB-AR Rev 1.02A Motherboard
GTX 560 2GB SC or Intel HD Graphics for testing usage
SanDisk Ultra II 240GB SATA III SSD (OS & Programs)
Seagate 1 Terabyte 7200 RPM HDD (All other files)
ASUS VE278Q 27" Monitor (1920x1080)
16 GB DDR3 1333 RAM
ThermalTake 600 Watt PSU
LG Blu-Ray Drive
 
Solution
rcald2000
I'm honestly not sure what is causing your problem. Let's wait and see what others on this site come up with. In the meantime, I suggest that you also contact EVGA technical support. They are very good in my opinion.

* FYI: Keep the packing material and receipt, so that you have the option of returning the card to Best Buy without a restocking fee, if this problem can't be solved. Also, I too have Windows 7 Professional installed, which is my current OS at this time. I never liked the Metro interface on Windows 8.1 and Windows 10 is too new in my opinion.
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rcald2000

rcald2000

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Simple question: Do you have at least two 6 pin PCIe cables connected from the power supply to the card? If so, is there a more current BIOS? If so then you should update it.

Addendum: Before you check the BIOS revision number, are you running Windows 8 or newer? If so then make sure that "secure boot" is disabled in the BIOS.
 
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ComputerMagic

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Yes I have installed the 970 with two six pin PCI-E power connectors. I've also made sure they are fully inserted when I plug them into the power.

I flashed the BIOS to the latest one I could find on the Gateway support website for my specifc computer for Windows 7 64-Bit, but I don't have any options like I've read other people have on different motherboards from non-pre-built systems (or at least different from my manufacturer).

I'm running Windows 7 Professional on my desktop actually. I wasn't a big fan of Windows 8 or 8.1 and Windows 10 I'd rather wait until the end of the year, but if changing the OS to Windows 8.1 with the latest 2014 UEFI BIOS from Gateway may get my card working, then its not a big issue for me to get it (legally) and clean install it into my computer. I've had more practice with Windows 8.1, so the interface isn't as bad.
 
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rcald2000

rcald2000

Splendid
Nov 3, 2009
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28,990
I'm honestly not sure what is causing your problem. Let's wait and see what others on this site come up with. In the meantime, I suggest that you also contact EVGA technical support. They are very good in my opinion.

* FYI: Keep the packing material and receipt, so that you have the option of returning the card to Best Buy without a restocking fee, if this problem can't be solved. Also, I too have Windows 7 Professional installed, which is my current OS at this time. I never liked the Metro interface on Windows 8.1 and Windows 10 is too new in my opinion.
 
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ComputerMagic

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imrazor

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For the sake of clarification, what do you mean by "it does not work"? If you insert the video card, connect the PCIe plugs and power it up, what happens? Does your power light come on on your tower? Your monitor? Do you see any video at all (BIOS screen, Windows splash screen, etc)? Do you hear any beeps from your tower?
 
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ComputerMagic

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This is the issue I have that the same user described in the link I shared above:

"Hey there, hopefully there's some help to be found. I just received my GTX 970 card, and unfortunately it's not allowing boot up. Whenever I power on my PC with the new card installed, the default motherboard graphic pops up, and I get a single beep about every 15 seconds until it reverts to a black screen with a blinking cursor a minute or two later. During this time, the boot-up screen is frozen and I can't even access the BIOS menu, as keyboard commands aren't responsive.

I have connected the power supply via 2X 6-pin connections, ensured the card is properly seated, etc."

Its just like that. And by updating my BIOS with what the Gateway website had, it ended up flashing an Acer Aspire M1935 BIOS into my motherboard, which has the same minimal BIOS options as the BIOS that came with the computer initially did, so instead of saying Gateway, it says Acer on the screen at bootup. And with the graphics card installed in properly, PCI-E connectors inserted all the way tightly, it gets stuck at that screen for a while and then switches to a blinking cursor screen after three short beeps with the interval as mentioned above.

Edit: For future references to this page, overall the motherboard just doesn't have a decently updated BIOS to support a card like the GTX 970, so the solution will pretty much be to just get another motherboard if yours does not support it, which pre-built systems, or at least an older one like mine, will not support if the manufacturer of said motherboard doesn't update it much, if at all.
 
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