Problems installing a GTX650

[baja2215]

Hello,
I have a HP xw4600 workstation to which I want to add a Gigabyte GTX650 to replace my failing 9800GT.

The problem is that all I get from the machine (at boot) is 6 beeps indicating "Pre-video graphic card error."...

I have taken the following steps:
1. Tested the graphics card in another machine - a Mesh - works fine.
2. Removed and swapped memory to check if any of the memory is faulty.
3. Used the PSU from the Mesh machine in the HP - still doesn't work.
4. Removed all unnecesary peripherals (extra HDD, DVD, USB's, 2 PCI cards)
5. Ensured at each stage the old 9800GT still functions in the HP without issue.

Any suggestions? Clearly the graphics card works. I havn't had any problems with the HP and if the motherboard was faulty I would have expected an issue with the 9800GT.

edit: further to this I have tested the card in a similar machine where it worked - it wasn't the exactly same setup though. Not sure what else I could check?

 

[corymartin66]

what are your full system specifications?

 

[baja2215]

I have tried multiple PSU - it's not a wattage issue since on the older mesh pc all psu's work fine, in the newer machine - no difference. But in answer 450W, 650W and 800W.

 

[ergome]

Hello,
I have a HP xw4600 workstation to which I want to add a Gigabyte GTX650 to replace my failing 9800GT.

The problem is that all I get from the machine (at boot) is 6 beeps indicating "Pre-video graphic card error."...

I have taken the following steps:
1. Tested the graphics card in another machine - a Mesh - works fine.
2. Removed and swapped memory to check if any of the memory is faulty.
3. Used the PSU from the Mesh machine in the HP - still doesn't work.
4. Removed all unnecesary peripherals (extra HDD, DVD, USB's, 2 PCI cards)
5. Ensured at each stage the old 9800GT still functions in the HP without issue.

Any suggestions? Clearly the graphics card works. I havn't had any problems with the HP and if the motherboard was faulty I would have expected an issue with the 9800GT.

edit: further to this I have tested the card in a similar machine where it worked - it wasn't the exactly same setup though. Not sure what else I could check?

Any luck figuring this out? We are having the same issue. We have taken a similar approach without success.

 

[baja2215]

No luck yet! But I suspect this machine simply doesn't support this hardware for some reason.

 

[choilive]

Try updating the BIOS? I am also having the same issue, GTX650 and the HP wx4600 workstation. Will let you know if I find a solution.

 

[choilive]

Just updated to BIOS v1.34.. still nothing. I guess the xw4600 is just not compatible with the 600 series until they come out with an update of some sort.

 

[choilive]

Hey just letting you guys know I figured it out! I started a thread on HP's support forums and with the help of the guys there I managed to get it working.

Heres the gist: plug the GTX650 into the x8 slot of the HP xw4600 and it should boot without a problem. There is the bandwidth loss going from x16 to x8, but it shouldnt cause any performance difference.

Heres the thread (im the OP)
http://h30499.www3.hp.com/t5/Workstations-z-series-xw-series/HP-xw4600-and-GTX-600-series-compatibility/m-p/5887621#M14044

 

[baja2215]

I shall try this tonight and let you know how it goes for me .... I have high hopes now

 

[baja2215]

Seems the x8 slot does indeed work - thanks cboilive ... nice work.

 

[choilive]

Glad to hear! It seems like the xw4600 has some obscure problem that prevents it running some PCIE cards in x16 mode.
Cheers!

 

[baja2215]

Just a further question choilive .... can you check what link width your 'x8' slot is running at? Seems it's an x8 mechanical slot, but only x4 electrically ... at least that's what SiSoftware Sandra and CPU-Z tell me.

Obviously a x4 is going to create a bottleneck on the 650GTX - not a massive one, but still! Anybody know how to force an x16 slot to be x8 (without wires)? Could it be as simple as sticking tape over the pins so only the x8 connectors are accessible?