Tom's Hardware > Forum > CPU & Components > Power Supplies, PC Cases & Case Mods > [Solved] Power problem
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garretthenerd   08-05-2009 at 10:52:52 PM

hello.

I have just built a new system and something seems to be wrong. I installed vista and started it up works perfect. So i took it apart and put in an ATi4890 and when i try to start it up, it acts as if theres not enough power and it wont boot up. not even to post. heres what i have

Asus M4A78t-e mboard
phenom 2 4x 3.0 processor
4 gb cosair ram
1tb sata drive
1 dvd burner
and the 4890.

i have a 750 w cosair power supply with the propper connections. It doesnt make sense that this doesnt work does it? As soon as i plug it in and turn it on it just starts some fans, chuggs a bit and the idles with a few fans running.(3) any ideas would be helpful.
thanks

Garret

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Best answer from Paperdoc
I like o1die's suggestions - definitely worth trying.

 

OP, with the BIOS setup you have, under good conditions it will adapt quite nicely to having a PCI-mounted video card either installed or not installed. If you take your new card right out without making any driver or BIOS changes, it should work fine using the on-board video. BUT having a malfunctioning video card mounted in a PCI slot may NOT allow the on-board system to work. It is possible for whatever detection system is used to conclude that the PCI card is present and shut down the on-board system, without ever knowing that the PCI card is not actually doing its job. Whether that happens because the card is bad, or just because there's a poor connection as Oldie suggests, does not matter. So try both tests. Take the card out and verify that it still works with on-board video. Then re-install the PCI card carefully and, per o1die, don't tighten its hold-down screw at first. If it still fails you probably do have a bad card. But if it works you continue forward - install the hold-down screw not quite tight and see if that works. If it does, tighten all the way down and try again. If that also works, you've solved your problem and just have to hope it stays solved!

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jsc   08-06-2009 at 07:57:37 PM

A 750 watt Corsair has enough capacity for 2 4890's.

So ...
You have a computer which works using the embedded graphics. You have a computer with more than adequate power. Yet, when you add a separate graphics card, it doesn't work.

If the above is true, I would conclude that your graphics card has a problem.

Reply to jsc
Paperdoc   08-06-2009 at 09:10:38 PM

My bet is you have a video conflict because you have two video systems competing - you forgot to disable the on-board video chip. Shut down and remove the new card, then boot up. Do Start ... Control Panel ... System, and choose the Hardware Tab, then click on Device Manager. Click on the "+" beside Display Adapters. RIGHT-click on the adapters shown and Uninstall each one.
Work your way back out of there and reboot into the BIOS Setup screens. Find the place where the on-board video system is set up and disable it. Choose Save and Exit and, as soon as it starts its boot process, shut off the machine.

Now re-install your new video card. When you boot up it should find the new device and it will probably just use Windows' built-in generic VGA driver. Now with the system running you should follow the card's instructions using their CD of drivers, etc. to install the proper drivers for your card. When finished, reboot and it all should be working, waiting for you to set the display properties you want.

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garretthenerd   08-07-2009 at 03:09:26 AM

thank you fellas,

i believe that this video card is bunk and im going to get it replaced. at first i thought maybee it was the powersupply but now from what im hearing it sounds as if it isnt.

also paperdoc:
thanks for the advice. although in my bios it had a piority to use pci express so im thinking i should have to do that. will the bios still display out of the board if the card doesnt work. ie... would i see the bios out of the motherboard after i turn off the graphics card?

Reply to garretthenerd
o1die   08-07-2009 at 03:17:53 AM

I would say you have a contact problem. Try reseating the video card without tightening the hold down screw or bracket on your case. I've had two instances of the video card becoming unseated when using the hold down screw due to alignment problems with the case. Also be sure to use the proper connection from the power supply to your video card.


Message edited by o1die on 08-07-2009 at 03:18:46 AM
Reply to o1die
Paperdoc   08-07-2009 at 03:34:21 PM
Best answer

I like o1die's suggestions - definitely worth trying.

 

OP, with the BIOS setup you have, under good conditions it will adapt quite nicely to having a PCI-mounted video card either installed or not installed. If you take your new card right out without making any driver or BIOS changes, it should work fine using the on-board video. BUT having a malfunctioning video card mounted in a PCI slot may NOT allow the on-board system to work. It is possible for whatever detection system is used to conclude that the PCI card is present and shut down the on-board system, without ever knowing that the PCI card is not actually doing its job. Whether that happens because the card is bad, or just because there's a poor connection as Oldie suggests, does not matter. So try both tests. Take the card out and verify that it still works with on-board video. Then re-install the PCI card carefully and, per o1die, don't tighten its hold-down screw at first. If it still fails you probably do have a bad card. But if it works you continue forward - install the hold-down screw not quite tight and see if that works. If it does, tighten all the way down and try again. If that also works, you've solved your problem and just have to hope it stays solved!


Message edited by Paperdoc on 08-07-2009 at 03:35:13 PM
Reply to Paperdoc
jsc   08-07-2009 at 07:24:28 PM

Many of the modern BIOS's will default to integrated graphics, but will also automatically detect the presence of an external video card and route the video to it.

Even my cheap ($0) ECS motherboard does that. Still, checking for a seating problem is not a bad idea.

Reply to jsc
garretthenerd   08-14-2009 at 08:06:18 PM

hey all,

i figured it out. Apparently with the 4890, you must use 2 cables to connect power to the pci express ( i get that) and there is one 8 pin and one 6 pin right next to eachother, but it appears seamless. Once I switched and used the first 6 as a whole and moved the 8 pin below it, it works. What do ya know.... Thanks all for your help!!

Garret

Reply to garretthenerd
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