Is it my GPU or PCI-E slot??

Snazzymacguy · Dec 19, 2015

Hey all,
My specs are: i5 4690k, MSI R9 390, 16gb (2x8gb) Kingston HyperX Fury, 750w EVGA Supernova G2 (Gold) and MSI Z97 Gaming 3 mobo. Also have a wireless card in one of the PCI-E slots (small).
So I completed the build and then turned the PC on. I got a picture on the monitor, set up Windows 10 etc. Then I noticed, quite evidently, the PC was running on the motherboard's integrated graphics. I went into devices on windows 10 and yeah, I couldn't see the GPU listed there, only the HD graphics motherboard thing.
So I then went into my bios and looked at an overview of the system and it correctly noticed everything in each slot... except the GPU. The PCI-E 16 slot appeared empty even though my GPU was inside. Furthermore, I decided to look at the GPU and noticed that the fans weren't running (but its lights were still on and it was getting hot, like every GPU). So I shut down the PC and checked my connections from the GPU to PSU etc. Tried turning on the PC again and guess what, the GPU lights turn on and stay on (good), but the fans work for about 10 seconds then shut down. Furthermore, no picture comes onto my monitor and the monitor doesn't detect the connection. When I took my GPU out after this, the monitor detected a picture (from the onboard graphics) and I could use the PC normally again. So, I'm left with it either being the 16 PCI-E slot that is faulty or the GPU itself. All parts were knew, I should add. Please help guys, narrowed it down to either GPU or PCI-E slot and now I'm in a dilemma. Also, I highly doubt it would be my PSU because it is a 750w, which is more than what my system needs.
ALL HELP APPRECIATED!!
Thanks

RARRAF · Dec 19, 2015

maybe the bios is not up to date and would work if it was updated but think you should look on your motherboard web site for clues as too other people having same sort of issues and fixes

Snazzymacguy · Dec 19, 2015

RARRAF :

Thanks for the reply, going to try update bios and see if it works ;o

Brandon- · Dec 19, 2015

Have you tried testing in another slot? Also, do the fans spin on the GPU when you boot your PC up?

Grapeh · Dec 19, 2015

I have an MSI R9 390 and I think the fans will not spin unless you are playing a game as it says on the box "Fans stop spinning under idle load, keeping heat and noise levels low". When I power up my PC the fans do not spin.

I am having the same problems as you - I am running a Z97-K motherboard and it won't detect my grapghics card (same as yours) so I think there may be a compatibility issue? I've found no solution so far and so at the moment I am using my old graphics card as I can just plug that in and it works, where as my R9 390 sits there not being recognised by the computer...

Snazzymacguy · Dec 19, 2015

Brandon- :

My mobo only has one PCIE 16 slot

Yes the fans spin when PC is booted, but stop after around 10s. Light stay on etc.

Snazzymacguy · Dec 19, 2015

Grapeh :

Oh, I didn't know that. I don't even have a spare GPU sitting around so I need to find a solution asap. How can we be sure it's a compatibility issue?

Grapeh · Dec 19, 2015

Snazzymacguy :

I'm not sure but it's my best hunch at the moment, it just seems oddly coincidental that we have similar motherboards and the same graphics card with the same problem.. I just find it odd that I can plug in my old card (Radeon HD7850) and the computer detects that and uses its video output, yet when I put in my new card it gives no video output and uses Intel graphics..

Brandon- · Dec 19, 2015

No x0.8 slot?

Snazzymacguy · Dec 19, 2015

Updated mobo bios and still nothing. PC doesn't even give a picture on monitor / turn monitor on automatically when the GPU is in!

Snazzymacguy · Dec 19, 2015

Brandon- :

Put it in that and same problem occured, card runs, lights on, no picture on monitor

Brandon- · Dec 19, 2015

There's also no PCIE x8.0 slot on the motherboard?

Brandon- · Dec 19, 2015

Ah, sounds like it's the GPU. I'd RMA it. I hope it's still under warranty if you do decide to RMA it.

Snazzymacguy · Dec 19, 2015

Brandon- :

I'm beginning to think that it is the GPU, because the other slot causes the same problem too.

Snazzymacguy · Dec 19, 2015

Brandon- :

Yeah I guess that it is

Will run on the onboard graphics for now. Thanks for the help!

Unolocogringo · Dec 19, 2015

Common problem.
Go into bios and set Initialize Graphics car first to PCI_E or PEG and save and restart.
Remove the monitor cable from the motherboard connector and attach to the graphics card connector.
If you are using a DVI to VGA adapter you will have to connect t to a DVI-I port and not a DVI-D port. DVI_D has 2 digital signals, DVI-I has 1 digital and one analog signal.
You may need to restart again .

Snazzymacguy · Dec 19, 2015

Unolocogringo :

I am not using any adapters. Going to try this now and keep you updated! Thanks.

Snazzymacguy · Dec 19, 2015

Unolocogringo :

Wait,you say go into the bios, is this with the GPU in or with it out? Because I can't enter the bios at all when the GPU is in (PC doesn't even start when it is inserted).

Unolocogringo · Dec 19, 2015

With the GPU out is fine.
Enter bios ,set settings. Save and restart.
Shut down, insert card, Connect PCI-E power cable(S).
Connect monitor to video card.
Boot computer.

Thefirstone111 · Dec 19, 2015

Silly question maybe, but did you install the GPU driver/driver utility

Is it my GPU or PCI-E slot??

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