Radeon 6870 Not Detected

[rjharbison]

Hello everyone, I'll get right to the point, I've just placed my brand new XFX 6870 in my new computer, both six pin connectors are in and the fans on the GPU are working. Also while inserting the GPU I heard the "click" that means it is snug in the PCI slot. As I don't have a DVI cable, only VGA, I've had to plug an HDMI cable into my TV (before you ask, I made sure the other end went into the GPU, not the mobo).

When I boot up, my TV shows the "retrieving data..." which means it knows something is plugged in, but quickly changes to "no signal". I tried uninstalling the drivers for my integrated GPU (Radeon 4200) with no luck, also made sure the BIOS is displaying "PCI-E" as the default video input and made sure to save changes. Still no dice. It seems the only thing I can try is to buy a VGA to DVI adapter cable but if an HDMI cable doesn't work, what would be different with the adapter?

I apologize for the lengthy post, I would rather not try to obtain a replacement GPU unless I'm absolutely sure it's actually faulty. Thank you so much in advance to anybody who can help!!!

 

[alyoshka]

It's not faulty. The primary display output for a GPU is the DVI.
Meaning that during the first few posts and getting the card warmed up and setting up the rig, you need to be using the DVI output port on the card and not any other one. If it had a VGA port , as they used to earlier, than you would have had to go for the VGA9D-SUB).
Now what you need is either a monitor with a DVI input and a DVI cable or a monitor with a VGA(D-SUB) input and a DVI-VGA(D-SUB) Dongle/Adapter and a VGA cable.
Your cards fine....

 

[jsc]

Assuming that the card is not DOA ...

 

[rjharbison]

Alright thanks guys. I'm assuming DOA is dead on arrival? That's what I'm afraid of. I'm going to go buy a VGA to DVI adapter to see if that solves it. But my main concern is that the HDMI didn't work, so why would the DVI work instead? Could it just be a faulty HDMI port?

 

[alyoshka]

The DVI is supposed to be working from Day one. HDMI comes into play after the rest of the Mobo come into action.....

 

[alyoshka]

It would be wiser to buy a DVI cable compatible with the Monitor and the GPU instead of buying an adapter...

 

[rjharbison]

OK thanks for the input but I already went out this morning and bought an adapter, got it plugged in, it's doing the same thing. I really don't want to buy a DVI cord just to get the same result.

I'm trying to get a hold of a computer specialist around here to take a look at it, I'm new to building computers so I need to make sure everything is hooked up properly before I go assuming its a faulty card and waiting 3+ weeks to get another. I was really looking forward to playing some BF3 lol...oh well. Thanks again to everyone who tried to help out, if you think of anymore suggestions PLEASE go right ahead.