Is my Graphics Card dead?

KugarWeb · 02-05-2009, 09:25 AM

Hey guys,

Well I've got most of the bits in the case now but I have hit problems. My main problem is that the screen won't work when I have it connected to either DVI port on my graphics card, a HiS HD3870.

The interesting thing is, it also depends which power cable I plug into the card, as to whether the system boots up at all. Below, the first picture shows the "brown, yellow, black" cable connected, although with this connected the CPU fan lights up for approximately 1 second and then powers off again and won't power up after about 10-20 seconds of the PSU being switched off.

However, in this second picture I only have a power cable which is a "black and yellow". With this connected, the system boots up fine.

The weird thing is, in either case the screen won't display anything, using either DVI port, although the graphics card's fan is running fine, and yet last night when I was running through the bench test, there were no problems.

I have connected the graphics card firmly into the motherboard and it sits well so there doesn't appear to be any problems there.

Is it a dead part in the graphics card or is there something wrong with my mobo? :( Any further suggestions?

Cheers,

Andrew.

**wrench97** · 02-05-2009, 01:11 PM

What brand and model PSU are you using, The correct PSU for your system should not need adapters to connect your video card.

KugarWeb · 02-05-2009, 01:52 PM

Hi wrench, I'm using a Corsair 750W CMPSU-750TXUK.

Further to the above I took it all out of it's case again to run through the bench test for a second time and the motherboard etc. are all working fine, the graphics card fan powers up but still no video coming through to the monitor on either of the DVI ports.

The power adapter was used for the bench test as well so no changes there so I'm pretty sure the graphics card is dead :(.

KugarWeb · 02-05-2009, 02:03 PM

Okay, just tried another power socket from my PSU...and you were right, I didn't need an adapter. I thought something looked slightly different to the bench test! That's what you get for doing it on different days I guess lol.

Anyway, looks like the graphics card is still dead. The change of the power plug didn't change things and the monitor still didn't want to display anything so looks like it's an RMA job :(

Thanks for your suggestions anyway wrench!

**wrench97** · 02-05-2009, 02:39 PM

Did it work on the Bench?
If it did It is not dead.
Pull the board back out and check for a standoff out of place or missing or a short with the I/O panel.

KugarWeb · 02-05-2009, 05:40 PM

Nah I tried it on the bench and seems it still isn't working with the monitor :(. I've tried both DVI ports and neither are working and I know at least one was last night. I've filed for an RMA anyway since I'm pretty sure it wasn't anything I did, it just seemed to die :(.

I've checked for standoffs out of place etc anyway but there doesn't seem to be any problems there at all or any short circuiting.

I think I'll just wait out for this RMA and buy a cheap £25 graphics card (which is pretty similar to mine but only has 1 DVI port and not quite as much memory or speed) to see me through installing software and then swap them out when my new replacement arrives.

Thanks for the suggestions anyway wrench :)

KugarWeb · 02-06-2009, 10:58 AM

Okay, so in answer to my own question....no my graphics card isn't dead! lol. I took it into a local computer shop and they noticed I'd forgotten to plug in the 4-pin plug from the power supply into the motherboard. So, even though everything was working and powering up correctly, there wasn't enough power to display anything lol.

Thanks very much for the suggestions everyone :). I've now got a spare graphics card if anyone wants one? lol.

ATi Radeon HD3450
PCI Express x16
256MB DDR2 Memory
Max Res.: DVI: 2560 x 1600 / VGA: 2048 x 1536
1x DVI, 1x VGA & 1x S-Video Outputs
Supports Windows Vista

02-05-2009, 09:25 AM	#1 (permalink)
KugarWeb Registered User Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 28 OS: Windows XP Home Edition	Is my Graphics Card dead? Hey guys, Well I've got most of the bits in the case now but I have hit problems. My main problem is that the screen won't work when I have it connected to either DVI port on my graphics card, a HiS HD3870. The interesting thing is, it also depends which power cable I plug into the card, as to whether the system boots up at all. Below, the first picture shows the "brown, yellow, black" cable connected, although with this connected the CPU fan lights up for approximately 1 second and then powers off again and won't power up after about 10-20 seconds of the PSU being switched off. However, in this second picture I only have a power cable which is a "black and yellow". With this connected, the system boots up fine. The weird thing is, in either case the screen won't display anything, using either DVI port, although the graphics card's fan is running fine, and yet last night when I was running through the bench test, there were no problems. I have connected the graphics card firmly into the motherboard and it sits well so there doesn't appear to be any problems there. Is it a dead part in the graphics card or is there something wrong with my mobo? :( Any further suggestions? Cheers, Andrew. Last edited by KugarWeb; 02-05-2009 at 09:28 AM.

02-05-2009, 01:11 PM	#2 (permalink)
wrench97 Moderator, Hardware Team Join Date: May 2008 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania Posts: 18,725 OS: Win7	Re: Is my Graphics Card dead? What brand and model PSU are you using, The correct PSU for your system should not need adapters to connect your video card. __________________ Power Supply and Selection

02-05-2009, 01:52 PM	#3 (permalink)
KugarWeb Registered User Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 28 OS: Windows XP Home Edition	Re: Is my Graphics Card dead? Hi wrench, I'm using a Corsair 750W CMPSU-750TXUK. Further to the above I took it all out of it's case again to run through the bench test for a second time and the motherboard etc. are all working fine, the graphics card fan powers up but still no video coming through to the monitor on either of the DVI ports. The power adapter was used for the bench test as well so no changes there so I'm pretty sure the graphics card is dead :(.

02-05-2009, 02:03 PM	#4 (permalink)
KugarWeb Registered User Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 28 OS: Windows XP Home Edition	Re: Is my Graphics Card dead? Okay, just tried another power socket from my PSU...and you were right, I didn't need an adapter. I thought something looked slightly different to the bench test! That's what you get for doing it on different days I guess lol. Anyway, looks like the graphics card is still dead. The change of the power plug didn't change things and the monitor still didn't want to display anything so looks like it's an RMA job :( Thanks for your suggestions anyway wrench!

02-05-2009, 02:39 PM	#5 (permalink)
wrench97 Moderator, Hardware Team Join Date: May 2008 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania Posts: 18,725 OS: Win7	Re: Is my Graphics Card dead? Did it work on the Bench? If it did It is not dead. Pull the board back out and check for a standoff out of place or missing or a short with the I/O panel. __________________ Power Supply and Selection

02-05-2009, 05:40 PM	#6 (permalink)
KugarWeb Registered User Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 28 OS: Windows XP Home Edition	Re: Is my Graphics Card dead? Nah I tried it on the bench and seems it still isn't working with the monitor :(. I've tried both DVI ports and neither are working and I know at least one was last night. I've filed for an RMA anyway since I'm pretty sure it wasn't anything I did, it just seemed to die :(. I've checked for standoffs out of place etc anyway but there doesn't seem to be any problems there at all or any short circuiting. I think I'll just wait out for this RMA and buy a cheap £25 graphics card (which is pretty similar to mine but only has 1 DVI port and not quite as much memory or speed) to see me through installing software and then swap them out when my new replacement arrives. Thanks for the suggestions anyway wrench :)

02-06-2009, 10:58 AM	#7 (permalink)
KugarWeb Registered User Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 28 OS: Windows XP Home Edition	Re: Is my Graphics Card dead? Okay, so in answer to my own question....no my graphics card isn't dead! lol. I took it into a local computer shop and they noticed I'd forgotten to plug in the 4-pin plug from the power supply into the motherboard. So, even though everything was working and powering up correctly, there wasn't enough power to display anything lol. Thanks very much for the suggestions everyone :). I've now got a spare graphics card if anyone wants one? lol. ATi Radeon HD3450 PCI Express x16 256MB DDR2 Memory Max Res.: DVI: 2560 x 1600 / VGA: 2048 x 1536 1x DVI, 1x VGA & 1x S-Video Outputs Supports Windows Vista