Nvidia graphic card on AMD drivers?

Nawrocki · Apr 20, 2016

Hi guys, i'm new to this site and couldn't find the answer through search, but if it's out there please guide me to it. In that case i apologise for not being good enough at searching.

I recently got a problem with my Nvidia Geforce GTX 770, which in running on my ASUS P8P67 LE motherboard. It worked perfectly 2 days ago, but then yesterday i turned on my PC, and got these images:

and

I was very confused and couldn't figure out what the problem was. After trying different ports, both on the motherboard and output (Both VGA and HDMI showed the same image), i turned on the computer to figure out if the problem was software-related. I then got this image, after windows started:

Now i am even more confused, and after trying to uninstall the GPU and reinstalling its drivers, the problem wasn't solved. Now i am pretty much out of ideas, and really hope that one/some of you can help with this problem, since the graphic card is by far the most expensive in my setup, and i really fear that it's broken.

I'm certainly not a tech genius or anything, so if you need more info to help me solve this problem or anything else, just say so and i will provide it to my best knowledge.

Best regards and in hopes of help

- Nawrocki

RobCrezz · Apr 20, 2016

Its odd that its a gtx 770, but the picture shows a message about AMD drivers?

Anyway, it certainly seems like your graphics card has died. If its still in warranty then RMA it, otherwise you could try the baking method to see if that fixes it. Try it in another PC first before certifying it dead.

Nawrocki · Apr 20, 2016

But is it a sure thing that it's dead, or could it have something to do with the AMD thing? I don't know much about graphic cards, so i wouldn't be able to say, but it seems, as you say weird, that it wanna use AMD drivers for an Nvidia card. Can it do that?

Also: What could have caused it to die? I mean it worked fine 2 days ago, and i haven't touched it at all, and then all of a sudden it doesn't work? Seems a little weird to me.

RobCrezz · Apr 20, 2016

Yeah sometimes they just die, can be due to a manufacturing defect or something else.

Yeah I dont understand the deal with the AMD drivers. Did you ever have a AMD card in here before?

Nawrocki · Apr 20, 2016

Yeah i used an AMD card before getting the GTX 770. Can't remember the number right now, but nevertheless i switched to the 770 without any problems, until now. This switch was made in late december '15.

RobCrezz · Apr 20, 2016

Right, so you prob didnt uninstall the AMD drivers when you changed over - this shouldnt really cause a problem, but explains why the AMD drivers are there.

Nawrocki · Apr 20, 2016

Even though that this warning have never popped up when the 770 was functioning correctly? Sorry to bother you with all these questions, just desperately want a alternative explanation before realising that the card maybe really is dead.

techgeek · Apr 20, 2016

Since you are seeing a garbled image before Windows loads (at POST), this isn't a driver issue, it's a hardware issue. The card is failing. It most likely is bad VRAM.

Nawrocki · Apr 20, 2016

That's true though - maybe could have told myself that. I will try to figure out if there is a warranty on the card or whatever.

Thanks for the answers to both of you!

techgeek · Apr 20, 2016

No problem. I've seen this before at work. You are "lucky" you actually made it to the "desktop". I had a linux workstation that the graphics card suddenly did this. The BIOS screen was messed up like this, but it would POST and start to boot. Once the BIOS handed off the display control to the kernel and the nVidia driver loaded and switched to graphics mode, the system would completely hang. To further the problem, I wasn't exactly where I could get a replacement quickly (Yemen), so it took awhile to sort the issue out.

Mark_1970 · Apr 20, 2016

RobCrezz :

Nawrocki :

I thought bricked graphics card , but the AMD notice threw me off , wondering if this would be something, but it does it on bios too, still thinking card.
I would isolate the card as being it by trying in another capable pc, that be a definitive answer. clean the contacts of it's connection with isopropyl alcohol, try different monitor/cable ,psu etc

Plumboby · Apr 20, 2016

could be an amd thing as amd does this even check ur psu as well could be down on power. Could be vid card been nuked or over or under amped

Nawrocki · Apr 20, 2016

Okay, maybe one last question: After i've tried in on another PC, with another cable etc., should i try the baking method, if there is no warranty? Is the a serious chance that it will work, or is it just another of these non-working scams you find online?

Plumboby · Apr 20, 2016

replace it & do ur psu best option atm

Nawrocki · Apr 20, 2016

What does "do ur psu" mean? Do you mean to check the power supply as to whether this is the failing link in the proces? If so, how can i do this?

Dustybin · Apr 20, 2016

The best check you can do is to try the GPU in another machine or try a different PSU in your computer. If you've got a CPU with built in graphics you could run off that and check things like the 12v, 3.3v and 5v readings are in bios/windows but these aren't always accurate anyway.

If you have a local PC shop they might be nice enough to try your card for you (I know I used to do things like that when I worked in one many years ago).

techgeek · Apr 20, 2016

If you are thinking that it's a solder defect, baking is a placebo. BGA rework is a serious business, complex and expensive. In fact for consumer products BGA rework would cost more than the replacement of the device. It's really only viable for very expensive custom fit to purpose PCB's.

Solder reflow requires both sides of the cracked / separated solder to be cleaned with flux so that the solder can mix. Otherwise the oxide will keep the two sides from actually flowing together. Beyond that, the temperatures necessary to melt the solder will melt all the plastic on the PCB (PCI-E power connectors) destroying the board even further. If you did manage to get the solder fluid, any amount of tilt or vibration could cause the components to slide (as heating the entire card would cause all the solder to melt) and basically turn your already broken card into junk.

RobCrezz · Apr 20, 2016

Yeah to do it correctly, there is special equipment, however the baking method can and does work if there is issue with the soldering.

Plumboby · Apr 20, 2016

get its tested as well as psu ur safest option

techgeek · Apr 20, 2016

RobCrezz :

It's a placebo. Most common solders need a temperature of 180 - 250C to melt (60 / 40 is 183 - 190 which is a very narrow temp band). Then when you talk about lead free solder we are talking over 220C to melt most of them. So you'd really have to crank your oven to get it that hot. At this point your connectors and anything else plastic is a puddle. Then again we have the lack of flux which I mentioned. Then if you manage to defy all of these physics, if the PCB isn't perfectly flat and the room completely still the components will slide. They don't have to move much (particularly on BGA grids) to cause issues.

In my opinion what gives it the impression of working is that when it heats both sides of the bad solder connection expand. They press together and create a more "conductive" connection by scraping together. Like pushing a DMM lead harder into your battery post when measuring the voltage. However after a while oxide will isolate the two sides enough to cause issues again.

Mark_1970 · Apr 20, 2016

You would need to remove i/o plugs (dvi,hdmi etc) pcie plug plastics, fan plug plastics before attempting a bake as it takes 230-260c to flow the solder at yes things may slide/move. you would never want to try it in a wanted pc, only one you don't care about. I wouldn't even try

RobCrezz · Apr 20, 2016

techgeek :

Well, if its a broken card with no warranty what does he have to lose?

I personally have done it on a broken card @ 200'c and it has fixed it permanently (still works now), none of the plastic melted.

edit: not saying its a "good" solution, but it can work as a "last resort" before it goes in the bin.

Plumboby · Apr 20, 2016

dont bother u probly make it worse the beter the card the more chances u do more damage

RobCrezz · Apr 20, 2016

Plumboby :

Did you see his screen shots? How can it get worse? :lol:

Plumboby · Apr 20, 2016

cook ur whole system & nuke ur bios & mb sometimes can do a catastrophic nuke of whole set up have u checked ur psu

Nvidia graphic card on AMD drivers?

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