Plugging PCI-E cable from PSU into XFX 8800GT Alpha Dog makes pc not able to boot

Jizzor · 11-05-2008, 03:10 PM

Hello everyone.

I bought all my computer parts about a month ago (listed below) and greatly enjoyed the computer up to now.

My computer exists of:
- Motherboard: Gigabyte EP45-DS3
- RAM: 2x Kingston KHX8500D2/1G (1GB each)
- CPU: Intel Core 2 Quad Q9550
- Graphic card: XFX 8800GT Alpha Dog
- HD: Samsung 1TB SATAII
- PSU: Corsair 550W V2.91

Yesterday I was cleaning my room and by accident walked against my computer and it fell over || -> = (vertical->horizontal).
I tried to boot it, and no harm done, everything was fine, so I went to bed.
The next morning (today) I woke up and tried to boot the computer.
Nothing.
I checked if all power cables were attached and if the PSU switch was switched to "on". Everything seemed to be fine.
I tried to look up possible solutions on the internet on my laptop but didn't find any, which is the reason I came here to ask you guys for help.

What I did to "detect" the problem is the following:
I removed all the hardware from the case and de-attached everything.
I started doing the basic steps:
- Connect PSU to motherboard
- Place CPU & heat sink
- Insert RAM
- Attach (SATA) Hard Drive

I tried booting it from there (with audio on) and everything went fine. Windows clearly successfully booted.

I shut down the computer and inserted my XFX 8800 GT Alpha Dog and tried booting; the motherboard made a high pitch beep sound (normal in this case) which means the PCI-E cable from the PSU isn't plugged into the card. So far so good.

I shut down the computer again and attached the PCI-E cable to the graphic card and tried booting.
The LEDs from my fans lighted up for a second and died after that.
Nor my PSU, nor my HD, nor my fans were working.
At that point I realised it could be 3 things:
- My PSU
- My motherboard
- My graphics card

I checked the possible damaged hardware (Motherboard, graphics card) for any cracks or scratches but didn't find any.
I'm quite worried. I called the store where I ordered the parts and they say they could take a look at it for 40 Euro/hour (I live in Belgium btw).
I found that quite much so I'd rather solve it myself.

Do you guys have any idea what it could be?
Please don't forget it was fine before it "fell"!
If you have any questions, please don't hesitate asking them!
Thanks in advance,

Joost

**manic** · 11-05-2008, 03:29 PM

So onboard video works and machine seems ok. Right off Im leaning to
a video card issue. That card is kinda big, and when it flopped over
it may have broke some pins that insert into the pci-e slot. It may
have even damaged the board, the weight of the card putting undo
pressure on the pci e slot. Have you tried putting the video card
into the pci-e x8 slot? Do you have another pci-e video card?
Doesnt matter what it is, we are just trying to determine if the slot
itself is damaged....that is what Im thinking anyway....

Jizzor · 11-05-2008, 03:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by manic

So onboard video works and machine seems ok. Right off Im leaning to
a video card issue. That card is kinda big, and when it flopped over
it may have broke some pins that insert into the pci-e slot. It may
have even damaged the board, the weight of the card putting undo
pressure on the pci e slot. Have you tried putting the video card
into the pci-e x8 slot? Do you have another pci-e video card?
Doesnt matter what it is, we are just trying to determine if the slot
itself is damaged....that is what Im thinking anyway....

I dont have another PCI-E video card, and yes, I tried both x8 and x16, neither of them worked.

**magnethead** · 11-05-2008, 03:44 PM

have you tried in another machine?

Jizzor · 11-05-2008, 04:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by magnethead

have you tried in another machine?

I dont have a second computer.. but I guess I could try it at my friends house one of these days.

**wrench97** · 11-05-2008, 04:10 PM

Since the fans seem to shut down I'm thinking a power supply issue any chance you could borrow one to test with?

Jizzor · 11-05-2008, 05:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wrench97

Since the fans seem to shut down I'm thinking a power supply issue any chance you could borrow one to test with?

A friend of mine should have a spare one, I'll visit him tomorrow or the day after that and try it out.

Thanks for all your ideas and suggestions so far guys!

**magnethead** · 11-06-2008, 09:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jizzor

I dont have a second computer.. but I guess I could try it at my friends house one of these days.

We technicials are spoiled :P

sometimes we must remember not everybody has full computer labs for bench testing parts. *cough*linderman, emosun, and I*cough*

Jizzor · 11-10-2008, 02:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by magnethead

We technicials are spoiled :P

sometimes we must remember not everybody has full computer labs for bench testing parts. *cough*linderman, emosun, and I*cough*

Hehe ;)

Well, I went over to my friend yesterday and we found out it is definitely my graphics card.
The same problem occurred when we put my card in his computer.

Now I have another question.. I don't have the box from the gfx card any more, does my warranty still apply to the card?

Thanks again for all your feedback guys!

**manic** · 11-10-2008, 04:43 AM

Some makers dont require a reciept, some do. If you registered the
card with xfx I think they have a lifetime warranty.... Call xfx
and sweet talk them, there are numbers on the card, they will
know the age of the card, if there nice they will take care of it.

11-05-2008, 03:10 PM	#1 (permalink)
Jizzor Registered User Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 5 OS: XP SP3	Plugging PCI-E cable from PSU into XFX 8800GT Alpha Dog makes pc not able to boot Hello everyone. I bought all my computer parts about a month ago (listed below) and greatly enjoyed the computer up to now. My computer exists of: - Motherboard: Gigabyte EP45-DS3 - RAM: 2x Kingston KHX8500D2/1G (1GB each) - CPU: Intel Core 2 Quad Q9550 - Graphic card: XFX 8800GT Alpha Dog - HD: Samsung 1TB SATAII - PSU: Corsair 550W V2.91 Yesterday I was cleaning my room and by accident walked against my computer and it fell over \|\| -> = (vertical->horizontal). I tried to boot it, and no harm done, everything was fine, so I went to bed. The next morning (today) I woke up and tried to boot the computer. Nothing. I checked if all power cables were attached and if the PSU switch was switched to "on". Everything seemed to be fine. I tried to look up possible solutions on the internet on my laptop but didn't find any, which is the reason I came here to ask you guys for help. What I did to "detect" the problem is the following: I removed all the hardware from the case and de-attached everything. I started doing the basic steps: - Connect PSU to motherboard - Place CPU & heat sink - Insert RAM - Attach (SATA) Hard Drive I tried booting it from there (with audio on) and everything went fine. Windows clearly successfully booted. I shut down the computer and inserted my XFX 8800 GT Alpha Dog and tried booting; the motherboard made a high pitch beep sound (normal in this case) which means the PCI-E cable from the PSU isn't plugged into the card. So far so good. I shut down the computer again and attached the PCI-E cable to the graphic card and tried booting. The LEDs from my fans lighted up for a second and died after that. Nor my PSU, nor my HD, nor my fans were working. At that point I realised it could be 3 things: - My PSU - My motherboard - My graphics card I checked the possible damaged hardware (Motherboard, graphics card) for any cracks or scratches but didn't find any. I'm quite worried. I called the store where I ordered the parts and they say they could take a look at it for 40 Euro/hour (I live in Belgium btw). I found that quite much so I'd rather solve it myself. Do you guys have any idea what it could be? Please don't forget it was fine before it "fell"! If you have any questions, please don't hesitate asking them! Thanks in advance, Joost

11-05-2008, 03:29 PM	#2 (permalink)
manic Mod Hardware Team Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Florida Posts: 5,238 OS: xp	Re: Plugging PCI-E cable from PSU into XFX 8800GT Alpha Dog makes pc not able to boot So onboard video works and machine seems ok. Right off Im leaning to a video card issue. That card is kinda big, and when it flopped over it may have broke some pins that insert into the pci-e slot. It may have even damaged the board, the weight of the card putting undo pressure on the pci e slot. Have you tried putting the video card into the pci-e x8 slot? Do you have another pci-e video card? Doesnt matter what it is, we are just trying to determine if the slot itself is damaged....that is what Im thinking anyway.... __________________

11-05-2008, 03:44 PM	#4 (permalink)
magnethead Registered User Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Texas, USA Posts: 3,570 OS: Vista ultimate 32bit My System Blog Entries: 3	Re: Plugging PCI-E cable from PSU into XFX 8800GT Alpha Dog makes pc not able to boot have you tried in another machine? __________________ For proper support: what are you running? graphics, cpu, m/board, ram, PSU brand wattage PCI-E requires 26 amps at 12 volts. That's a 650W PSU. Power Supply Info and Selection . Info on thermal compounds & application . TEST PSU USING MULTI-METER . Bench Testing Your System

11-05-2008, 04:10 PM	#6 (permalink)
wrench97 Moderator, Hardware Team Join Date: May 2008 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania Posts: 18,469 OS: Win7	Re: Plugging PCI-E cable from PSU into XFX 8800GT Alpha Dog makes pc not able to boot Since the fans seem to shut down I'm thinking a power supply issue any chance you could borrow one to test with? __________________ Power Supply and Selection

11-10-2008, 04:43 AM	#10 (permalink)
manic Mod Hardware Team Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Florida Posts: 5,238 OS: xp	Re: Plugging PCI-E cable from PSU into XFX 8800GT Alpha Dog makes pc not able to boot Some makers dont require a reciept, some do. If you registered the card with xfx I think they have a lifetime warranty.... Call xfx and sweet talk them, there are numbers on the card, they will know the age of the card, if there nice they will take care of it. __________________