Just when I thought I was out.....they PULL ME BACK IN

[Necronic]

So, I had just gotten an SSD installed and was going to switch my OS over to it. Then I started having some weird stuff happen. Here's a list of the symptoms in order:

1) Computer seemingly crashed, no BSOD, went to cursor, screen kept flickering on/off with just cursor on screen.

2) Was working in the BIOS (see below) then screen flickered and then stopped displaying.

3) Now when I start computer there is no image/display, but it posts. I've tried both of my monitors and both of the video card ports, no good, but I haven't tried a second cable yet.

The problem definitely sounds like my graphics card.

However, when I was in the BIOS it was because I had restored factory defaults recently and forgot that the 1066 that the computer detected/assumed for my RAM was actually incorrect, and an 800 setting worked better for it. Technically the RAM is 1066 but one of the sticks was defective and would crash prime 95 every time I ran it with the setting at 1066 so I just downclocked both of them (I caught it because it was crashing other programs).

So anyways, I was about to change it from 1066 to 800 in the BIOS right before the screen started flashing/went dark.

Anyways, that's where I am at. What do yall think? Video card? Gonna be mighty angry if it is because it was a 4870X2 that I bought new....

 

[strawman]

Buy an uber cheap video card and swap it out. IF the cheap one works, then you've found the problem.

First, though, remove and re-seat all the cards and memory just to make sure it's not a problem with some contact or another.

 

[Necronic]

Yeah, I'm going to do that first (since it's free.) I also have a suspicion that it might be my PSU, which is a bit surprising because it was a Silverstone which is (I thought) a high quality PSU.

There's a trick with unplugging it and holding down the power button that I am going to try.

 

[PatrThom]

If you get BIOS, then the GPU might be dying when it switches out of text mode (or into 3D mode if you use the Aero interface). Might want to see if shorting the CMOS jumper fixes it, or trying to force a different RAM speed via jumper (if you have that option), or just running with one stick long enough to boot.

I'd try that last one first, especially if you have one of those setups where the GPU shares some of the main system RAM.

--Patrick

 

[Necronic]

So I unplugged the power supply and pressed the button for a while, that didn't do it. Then I switched the RAM (1 stick at a time in each of the ports) and that didn't do it. I never actually hooked up the POST speaker thingy and I'm trying to do that to see if I get an error message that tells me something.....after that I'll short the CMOS jumper (although I don't actually have a jumper. I should have some copper wire around somewhere though.

Anyways....not looking great.

Edit: Ok, listening to the speaker it sounds (although its hard to tell) like one long and 2 short beeps. That would mean its the video card (or the monitor but that doesn't make no sense.)

So......what do yall think I should get for a video card? If I buy something expensive and it turns out that doesn't fix the problem, I have less to spend on the other problems. If I buy something cheap and it does fix the problem I may still have to go buy another video card.

My thought is something in the 150$ price range. I'm going back to NVIDIA for this purchase. My last card was a 4870x2, which was an amazing card. But what sucks is that, even for a high end card like that, there isn't a warranty. So I would like to get back to EVGA or BFG so I can get the good lifetime warranty.

 

[Necronic]

Ok so I didn't wait for anyone to say anything and just bought a new card from Microcenter (seriously I love that store, the prices are as good as newegg and I don't have to wait for shipping.) Got a EVGA 550 TI SC, like 150$. I also grabbed a power supply tester and that drive bay adapter for the SSD. Anyways.

Power supply checked out except the 8 pin adapter won't fit into it for some reason so I wasn't able to check that port. It may be the case that the problem was with that. I dunno.

But whatever, because I installed the 550 TI/SC and it worked. The problem was clearly with the card or with the 8 pin adapter (the 550 doesn't take the 8 pin.) I downclocked the RAM like I should have done earlier and right now I am installing windows onto my SSD. Frankly it's pretty damned sick how fast this thing is installing Windows....

Here's hoping that this fix works. Frankly I'm kind of pissed that my 4870x2 died. That was a pretty expensive piece of hardware. The new card *should* out-perform it though, due to the age, and it's definitely going to run cooler (that card ran so freaking hot) but you can still see the quality difference just from the case/weight of the new card (very light and the case feels flimsy, whereas the 4870x2 weighed a couple pounds and had a seamless heavy duty case.

Anyways. I started the windows install when I started writing this post and it looks like it's finished. Here's hoping this fixes it.

Edit: Ok everything is looking good, but I now have some questions on my SSD so I'm going to bump that thread.

...does anyone here ever feel like Patrtom is like our tech-slave?

 

[PatrThom]

...does anyone here ever feel like Patrtom is like our tech-slave?

There are times...

--Patrick