Is my new GTX 1080 dead?!

Distance03 · Nov 17, 2016

Hey guys;

I just purchased a used GTX 1080; the individual who sold it to me told me he only used it once to benchmark it in his test rig and has been kind enough to order me a replacement, free of charge.

But I'm starting to get nervous - is it the card or my PC that's the issue?

First, let me describe what's happening:

I uninstalled my GTX 980 Ti (drivers first, then the card), inserted the GTX 1080, aaaand - no signal.

It took me all night to figure out how to set the BIOS to boot into intergrated graphics WITH the GTX 1080 just so I could simply use the computer.

I found that there was an error code 43 on the drivers. I reinstalled, rolled back, and nada. Some people have suggested code 43 indicates hardware failure, hence the title of the topic.

Inserting my GTX 980 Ti even now WITHOUT the drivers runs fine!

I also (gulps) had the courage to update my bios and that went well thankfully. I pulled CMOS battery - I've tried everything.

Here is my PSU and Motherboard just in case that helps

https://m.newegg.com/Product/index?itemnumber=N82E16817182239

https://m.newegg.com/Product/index?itemnumber=N82E16813130886

bignastyid · Nov 17, 2016

Sounds like a bad gpu to me.

Goocherino · Nov 17, 2016

If your card works with the 980 ti and not with the 1080, one can only assume its a faulty card. This could be stupid but did you check if they are compatible?

Distance03 · Nov 17, 2016

If what is compatible? The MoBo and the GPU? I don't see why it wouldn't be. The motherboard has a PCI-E 16-pin slot just as the card specifies.

geofelt · Nov 17, 2016

Any graphics card should output a low res display without ANY drivers.

If the GTX1080 was known to be good, and you trust the seller, then you perhaps did not install it securely and squarely in the slot.
Perhaps the aux pcie power connectors were not inserted at either end well.

Considering that you had no problem with reinserting your former GTX980ti, I might conclude that the new GTX1080 was, in fact defective.
You might check the support forums for the GTX1080 vendor to see if there might be something obvious missing.

Distance03 · Nov 17, 2016

I do trust the seller and once again he's been extremely patient and is willing to replace, but before I put him through the trouble (and avoid embarrassment) I want to ensure it's the card and not dumb 'ole me!

The card is securely slotted. It goes in deep enough to "click" with the board. It's the EVGA GTX 1080 s'oc - it uses one 8pin connector on the side of the card. It comes with an adapter and I installed that correctly as well.

KeFy_w · Nov 17, 2016

have had the same problem before with my 970 checked with my local computer store and they thought it was a faulty card

bignastyid · Nov 17, 2016

Adapter? You shouldn't need an adapter to power that card with the psu you are using.

Distance03 · Nov 17, 2016

This is difficult to explain but here it goes: the adapter is a 8pin to two seperate 6 pins. I've tried doing that as well as using my 6+2 pin directly from my PSU to the card.

Neither solution worked

bignastyid · Nov 17, 2016

Ok. When you get the replacement card leave the adapter in the box there is no need for it.

Distance03 · Nov 17, 2016

Okay. Could it have been detrimental to use it in the first place?? I did not use it when I originally installed the card

bignastyid · Nov 17, 2016

Possible but unlikely. It's just an added possible point of failure thats not needed.

Distance03 · Nov 17, 2016

Okay I see. I'm totally perplexed - I've never had this much trouble with a new GPU before.

If you don't mind telling me - what usually causes this kind of behavior ? Did it catch static? Is it a possible voltage/wattage distribution problem? The fans and the LEDs light up no problem...

As a matter of fact, I can hear windows boot up through the hdmi out on the card, the monitor turns "on", but just a black screen - starring back at me; what was it that Nietzsche said about the abyss again?

I get off late tonight but I'll update everyone when I get to the bottom of this.

bignastyid · Nov 17, 2016

Did you try a different output or just the hdmi?

Distance03 · Nov 17, 2016

Both dvi and hdmi

sla70r · Nov 17, 2016

I would Hook up both at once , run everything through the 980. I would see if my Nvidia control panel recognized I had a 1080 plugged in as well. Try to set it to handling the physics. See if it let's you do that. Hook up an hdmi or DVI to both, and see if you can swap which card is displaying through the Nvidia control panel.

Distance03 · Nov 19, 2016

Just an update!

I met with the gentleman who sold me the card; we tried it in his PC and sure enough - it didn't work!

He egearly replaced it with another EVGA GTX 1080 SC (brand new), and apologized profusely.

Got home, plugged it in, and spent about four hours straight enjoying games on ultra at 90FPS+

Moral(s) of the story:
- Code 43 often means hardware failure.
- Familiarize yourself with the RMA process.
- Never buy a $650+ GPU unless you have the option to return/replace.

DOAs are rare but real!

bignastyid · Nov 19, 2016

Glad to hear you got it sorted.

Is my new GTX 1080 dead?!

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