Video Card RMA'ed - New one still doesn't work

[djzombie]

So a while back I thought my monitor died. Heard an audible pop and then video ceased to work on my pc. After some testing, I narrowed the problem to my video card, or so I thought.

Monitor works fine hooked up via hdmi(same input as desktop) to my laptop.

So I figured it was the video card, the computer still powers up, all fans and everything work. No beep error codes.

I sent my video card back under manufacturers warranty. I just got a replacement video card back. I installed it, turned on pc. Same thing as before, monitor gives me no signal when hooked up to my desktop, even with the new card.

I checked serial number on the old card vs the new card to make sure they didn't send me the same one back, different serial numbers. So I am guessing the old card was faulty if they sent me a new one.

My motherboard does not have integrated video, so I can't even test using that. I have another super old video card I tested with and it gives me the same results as the new/old faulty card, no signal. Still no beep error codes.

Everything powers on just fine, no error codes, but still no video, after receiving and installing the new card from RMA process.

Any ideas what it could possibly be? If I had a beep code at least I would have something to go on. But right now I am pretty clueless.

Kinda disappointed but don't even know where to start, RAM would generate a beep code, and I thought processor would too. I suppose if motherboard was shot it could be damaged enough not to generate a beep code? I'm just kinda at a loss and don't really wanna go replacing part after part without some idea of what actually needs to be replaced.

[Sonomaa]

that honestly sounds like a dead mobo, do you have another machine you can test fire the card in or a friend local you can get it tested with?

a local computer shop might give you a courtesy test on the video card to confirm its good which would make things very obviously mobo related
maybe try a different PCIx slot too

[djzombie]

Only got one pci-e slot on this mobo =(

I considered it could be the power supply as well simply not generating enough power to run the card + everything else. I am going to unplug power to everything except necessary components and see if I can at least get a post screen to display.

I also read that I can remove the cmos battery to reset the bios(already knew that, didn't know it had anything to do with a video card working though), it might pick up the new card(though it is the exact same specs as the previous card that was in there so it seems less likely that is the issue).

I am pretty sure the only other desktop in the house doesn't have a psu with 2 12v rails on it, which is required to run this card. (gtx 760 4gb) Doubt I'll be able to get a machine to test the card with thats not my own. Guess I may be looking at a new mobo/processor if the other couple tests I have don't yield results.

[Kalmado]

psu make model? It does sound like a mobo though.

[djzombie]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817517003

thats my psu

AZZA Dynamo 850W

This powersupply had been running the card fine for around a year now. I am just thinking that it may have been damaged when the video card went, or video card went because psu did, not sure. PSU still powers on just fine, and doesn't shut off until I manually shut it off. I just get no display. If it was psu I'd think it would be shutting itself off prematurely like it did with my old psu.

I am tempted to buy a mobo for about 65 bucks, same socket as my current processor, but then my concern would be if I get it all installed and it still does the same thing, its likely my processor as well. Part of my wants to be cheap and preserve as much of my old hardware as possible, the other part wants to say fuck it and spend some money to get updated hardware. AM3 socket, amd 965 black, x4, phenom ii is the processor.

I just hate not knowing. Wish there was a definitive way to get an answer before replacing parts, but everything powers on just fine. (>.<)

[Sonomaa]

I have never heard of that PS company
is it heavy? can you kill a man with it? rule of thumb for power supplies. if you dont think you can kill a mad or weighs as much as a baby, its blargh

[djzombie]

yea when i installed it i remember thinking i could wrap the cables around my hand and use this as a mace for murdering bitches if it ever dies. felt pretty solid.

[Kalmado]

Azza is made by Super Flower, but that model doesn't look to be even 80+ certified. The Dynamo series isn't listed on any psu hierarchy chart as well. I personally think it's a tossup on being the psu or mb. Stinks you don't have a way to test. It's hard to say just how good of quality that psu is and if it's somewhat older and/or has a lot of hours on it then it could be a psu issue.

[Senji]

If you heard a pop, then something had to pop. If you can't find anything damaged/scorched/bloated capacitors on mb, then it's the PSU. I'm guessing it's 5 or 6 years old based on that 965x4 build. Buy another. Worst case an extra PSU is very helpful to have around.

A multimeter is also nice to have for testing systems that don't work all the way. A several hundred dollar electrical engineering rms meter isn't needed for basics. Amazon/HF used to have some non pieces of shit for like 25/35 bucks.

[djzombie]

My buddy probably has a decent multimeter. Just not sure how they work, or how to use them effectively to test individual components. I have not actually examined the motherboard for damaged capacitors but I guess that would be a place to start.

PSU is only about a year old, bought that 850w at the same time I bought my gtx 760. It was running fine for a year.

BTW, Thanks for all the help guys, you're friggen awesome.

But yes about 6 years old is the age of most everything else in my system, except the video card and psu @ 1 year old.

Assuming I find a blown capacitor on my mobo, anyone know of any deals on decent mobo/cpu combos? Or should I just spend 65 bucks and throw my old processor in and be done with it? This rig was running fallout 4 on close to max before it died. But that may be why it died lmao.

If there is no visible damage on the mobo, and I replace the psu, any advice on getting something that is going to last me longer than a year? Ordering online, the blunt murder object test can't be done til I have the psu in my hands haha.

[Kalmado]

Power supplies to get: Antec, EVGA B2/G2/GS, Seasonic, XFX. There are some others that are good too, but it depends on price. My go to value/quality is XFX and EVGA B2 when on sale. I really cannot recommend Corsair unless it's the HX or AX series and have a killer price. I've heard the new RMi lineup is good, but again it's about price. Almost all Corsair units are grossly overpriced compared to other equal if not higher quality units. psu resources:

Site to look up all makes/models and has reviews linked if available: http://www.realhardtechx.com/index_a.../Page22979.htm
toms hardware psu hierarchy: http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/forum/...tier-list.html
reddit psu hierarchy chart: http://i.imgur.com/tgrbCnr.jpg

[Senji]

Basically voltage and amperage test for electrical output, if say PSU has no juice/problem coming out of a plug. Ohms tests for completed circuits, you could put one lead on each end off a cable to see if a connector degraded/got damage and its junk. Some boards have handy jumpers for quickly teasing different things too.

Yeah haha, fastest way to finish an old/cheap PSU off is to actually run the shit out of it with a new game. You essentially kicked a fat man off the couch straight into a triathlon.

You could buy a new mb for say $65, but I'd just buy a new cpu + $65 budget for a mb, and reuse your ddr3 ram. Budget mbs have come a long way. If you got into a used/old stock Athlon board; would have to find out what bios it had on it as that was an updated chip that wouldn't work on original bios of early boards. It's probably the PSU though. Kalmado just offered up some on sale quality PSU's in the part recommendations thread.

For CPU upgrades/builds for modern games; dual core has essentially reached the end. The G3258 chip overclocks well, and has a huge following for value and performance, but it's no longer minded towards future proofing. Games are also really taking advantage of faster/bleeding edge ram overclocks, though this might not be the thread to discuss it.

[djzombie]

I didn't consider that one of the 4 of my possible power connectors was just bad. I'll try switching them up to see if that changes things. If its the psu I'll just spend a little extra to get a quality psu. I don't want to replace it every year.

I'll rip this thing apart tomorrow, time for bed.

Thanks again everyone! At least I have some ideas now.

[Buffy]

This is what I do for a living, I troubleshoot hardware in an Amazon datacenter, but the advice here already has you going down the right path.

You put in a different card and the problem remained, which means it probably isn't the card.
If you can't find or borrow another PSU to use, you can buy one from Wal-Mart for testing purposes and then return it under their return policy.
If a new PSU isn't the trick, it is almost certainly the mobo.

I have seen mobos that will turn on enough to turn on lights and fans and spin up the HDDs, but never POST/beep/give video output, so I suspect if it isn't the PSU, it is the mobo.

[djzombie]

so i went through my motherboard on monday, no visible damage anywhere.

I have another crappy desktop that I was going to pull the psu you from just to see if everything works but it doesn't fit. The cables are not long enough to reach from the psu position in my case to the motherboard power connector, and the mobo power connector is about 4 pins short. It may run, but I didn't want to risk it just to test.

I am pretty confident it is the psu though, and I am looking to order one for my birthday coming on up on the 19th.

I was looking around tonight and think I found the one I wanted but I wanted to be sure. About 120 bucks is my budget, and this fits right in under the budget, but seems like a good deal.

http://www.amazon.com/EVGA-SuperNOVA...ts=p_89%3AEVGA

^ This is what I was looking at. ^

http://www.amazon.com/ZOTAC-DisplayP.../dp/B00E9O28DU

^ That is my current video card. ^

Everything I have looked at for my video card just says 600w psu/170w max consumption.

So I think the psu I have chosen will work, just wanted to make sure before I ordered it.

If anyone knows of a better deal on 850w psu, hook me up. I chose this one because its a.) evga, and b.) 7 year warranty.

Also, 80+ bronze vs 80+ gold. There was like a 10 dollar difference between this gold rated one on sale, and the 850w bronze that was not on sale. From what I have read those are just efficiency ratings(gold/bronze)?

And god dayum new psu weighs 8 lbs. Definitely heavy enough to brain someone with.

[Senji]

Bronze/Gold/etc is efficiently, which adds up quick in savings for gamers who pay their own electric bills. Its also about higher quality components/safer operation/longevity/quieter. Gold is where its at.

Buy this one. Its on sale.

[djzombie]

thanks man, same warranty length, same amperage on the 12v rail, modular, 80+ gold. saves me 20 bucks too.

wouldn't ya fuckin believe it. i send that link to my mom, she goes to order it for my birthday, sale is friggen off now. brutal

[djzombie]

new psu is installed. doing the same as the old psu, everything powers on and lights up, no post, no os. still no signal. guess im gonna replace mobo/cpu. was time for an upgrade anyways. still disappointing though. but at least i have a pretty decent psu to use now i guess.

still no beeps either. the only new symptoms are when i hold the power button to shut the power if it does about 1/2 second beep is the power fades so does its volume.

[Senji]

Just checking, you used the new cables with the new psu right?

[djzombie]

yea i swapped everything out. old psu wasn't modular. also used new power cable for the wall too