GPU doesn't work if case is vertical, but works fine if case is horizontal? Please help

Megaton

Reputable
Apr 13, 2014
21
0
4,510
I'm having an issue with my GPU, yesterday when I fired up my PC, I randomly had no display. After a bit of troubleshooting, I discovered that if I lay my computer case on its side (so that the motherboard is parallel with the ground), everything functions normally, but if I stand the case upright, no display.

I believe it's the GPU because I removed the GPU and ran off of onboard graphics and had no issues, but as soon as I reinstalled the GPU, back to square one. I was thinking maybe the GPU is not properly seated into the mobo, but as far as I can tell everything looks good, and the GPU had been working fine for about 2 years up until yesterday.

Any ideas why this would happen? The GPU is a Saphire R9 270.
 
Solution
Hi Megatron.

I have seen this a few times.

Open up the side of the tower case.
Undo the screw from the graphics cards bracket to the system case.
Lift the graphics card up over towards the top of the system when stood up right.
And while lifting the card up over, tighten the screw on the cards bracket up tight.

The card and it`s weight is pulling down, there are two lines of gold pins internal to the Pci-e graphics card slot on the motherboard.
It causes a break in the gold contact pins of the Pci-e card slot.
Lifting the card up while tightening the screw on it`s bracket to the system case normally resolves the problem for you Megatron.


Hi Megatron.

I have seen this a few times.

Open up the side of the tower case.
Undo the screw from the graphics cards bracket to the system case.
Lift the graphics card up over towards the top of the system when stood up right.
And while lifting the card up over, tighten the screw on the cards bracket up tight.

The card and it`s weight is pulling down, there are two lines of gold pins internal to the Pci-e graphics card slot on the motherboard.
It causes a break in the gold contact pins of the Pci-e card slot.
Lifting the card up while tightening the screw on it`s bracket to the system case normally resolves the problem for you Megatron.


 
Solution
Are you saying if you have it in the vertical position (working) and then move it to horizontal the display cuts out? If so, does it go back to working if you move it back to a vertical position? Doing this all while the computer is on mind you.

Or are you saying that the computer doesn't POST with the computer in the horizontal position but POSTs when you have it in the vertical position?

If it's the former, that sounds like a connection issue between the cable and the port on the card (whatever that is HDMI / Displayport/ whatever). In this case you can test this by putting it in the horizontal position and then taking the strain off of the connector (from gravity pulling the cable down) and see if the display comes back.

If it's the latter, then it most certainly sounds like a contact issue between the card edge and the card slot (PCI-E slot).
 

Megaton

Reputable
Apr 13, 2014
21
0
4,510
Thank you all for the replies! Shaun o's solution appears to have fixed the issue. I am currently typing this response with the GPU installed and the tower standing up.