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Post by jojo on Sept 4, 2014 15:30:09 GMT
I have two PCI Express x 16 slot blue
and one PCI Express x 16 slot x 8 link white
Anyone cans say what the white one is for?
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Post by jojo on Sept 4, 2014 17:57:02 GMT
Really could do with some advice from anyone who knows about hardware, graphics cards in particular.
Got my new card, Radeon R7 250.
Took out old one and put in new one. Started, not picture.
Removed and replace with old one. working fine.
Tried installing old one of a different PCI Express x 16 slot blue and still works fine, but the new one, in the original socket, still doesn't.
The fan on the new graphics card also doesn't start.
Sounds like I have a duff card?
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Post by mikkh on Sept 4, 2014 18:36:31 GMT
Yeah doesn't sound good. I did a quick check before I recommended that card and it seemed it didn't need an extra power input like a lot of the bigger cards do Unless they upgraded the card to need one, it appears to be duff See the 2 x 6 pin in this article (a single 6 pin is more standard on mid range cards) www.buildcomputers.net/power-supply-connectors.htmlThe white PCI eXpress (small slot about one inch long) is for things like modern sound cards and basically any add on card that used to fit the old PCI slots The latest (expensive) trend is for SSD drives to come on a card that fits in that slot. Another possibility is your PSU is too weak to support it, anything over 400 watts should be fine, but if it's old they do degrade over time, especially if it's one of the cheaper brands According to this chart 380 watts is recommended and only the x variant requires extra power input That's higher than I expected and is beginning to look like your problem www.realhardtechx.com/index_archivos/Page362.htm |
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Post by jojo on Sept 4, 2014 19:16:59 GMT
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Post by mikkh on Sept 4, 2014 19:46:14 GMT
That was a good board in it's day and the extra PCI eXpress slots are for SLI, an Nvidia invention to couple two or more cards together, only the blue is usable by a single card. You need a special bridge connector to use blue and white together. It was an idea that never really took off, unless you were a keen gamer. The idea being to couple two mid price cards together to get closer to a top range card without spending silly money. That board claims to be quad SLI ready, but with just 3 PCI eXpress slots, that seems like a pretty neat trick to pull off. And the heat generated by four cards would be horrendous anyway. Crossfire is the superior ATI/AMD version of SLI, because it can utilise different cards, whereas the Nvidia version must use exactly matching cards 500 watts on the label doesn't mean a lot if it's not a decent branded one This article highlights that with tests on a very generic 500 watt PSU www.hardwaresecrets.com/article/How-Much-Power-Can-a-Generic-500-W-Power-Supply-Really-Deliver/534I doubt if yours is one of those horrible cheapo's but the underlying message is the same, unless it's 80 Plus certified the wattage number displayed doesn't mean a lot |
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Post by jojo on Sept 4, 2014 19:57:01 GMT
My PSU is made by Core X Stream, I took the precaution of photographing it last time I had to check. Apologies for the shaky hands. A result of a lifetime of hard work and abstinence.  Come to think of it, I seem to recall It was you who put me onto my current PSU, when my old one gave up on me. Had a bit of triuble working out how to connect. All sorted by you. Thanks for that as well.  |
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Post by mikkh on Sept 4, 2014 21:12:19 GMT
OCZ is a reliable good brand usually, it's one of their budget models but they don't put their name lightly to anything because they have a big reputation to uphold.
Therefore I declare the card faulty as originally charged - case dismissed
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Post by jojo on Sept 5, 2014 1:00:36 GMT
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Post by mikkh on Sept 5, 2014 9:14:01 GMT
Should be OK, I recently downgraded my graphics card to a 1 GB model because I felt the 2 GB one was kicking out too much heat. I don't notice any performance difference, in fact I'd forgotten I'd even done the switch. It was supposed to be a temporary thing while I investigated what was happening, but it's been in several weeks now
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Post by jojo on Sept 5, 2014 12:29:50 GMT
I read not dissimilar comments. This one in particular: www.tomshardware.com/reviews/graphics-card-myths,3694-5.html But I don't seem to have much luck with graphic cards. This isn't the first that's been doa. I'm pretty sure it isn't my technique. I've watched numerous videos of people putting in graphic cards and my current one, I've pu in, taken out, put back in taken out again and put into a different slot (3). But I look forward to my new card and will post when it is working. |
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Post by jojo on Sept 9, 2014 11:41:31 GMT
OK getting my shiny new graphics card delivered. I have my old one in the PCI 3 socket. Planning to put the new one into the PCI 1 socket Is it necessary to remove the old card or can both work, separately without conflicts? Any suggestions for installation to someone who has had several bad cards and one really reliable one. This is the new card incidentally: www.sapphiretech.com/presentation/product/?cid=1&gid=3&sgid=1226&pid=2028&lid=1Acting like an expectant father now.
Just occurred to me. My MB used DDR2. The graphics card boasts DDR5. Will my MB accept the new graphics card? |
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Post by vikingken on Sept 9, 2014 12:46:24 GMT
Carefully but firmly stuff them in the hole and screw them down Jojo. Both cards should work, but not a lot of point if your only using one monitor. You can run two monitors off the new one anyway. DDR5 is whats going on inside the graphics card and wont matter to the motherboard.
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Post by jojo on Sept 9, 2014 15:02:50 GMT
Thanks ken. Good to hear.
The only reason for putting in both is if I have a problem during installation of the big boy. I'll remove the kid brother later.
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Post by mikkh on Sept 9, 2014 23:45:04 GMT
Hmm, I'm not sure your attempted insurance policy is a good idea. It has multiple slots ONLY for SLI with the correct bridging adapter to couple them together
It's not meant to house single uncoupled cards and could cause BIOS and/or Windows problems
The correct procedure should be to un-install the current cards driver first, switch off, Take out the old card, fit the new card and restart the PC. I must admit I rarely bother with that myself (the drivers bit) but that is the accepted method of doing it.
Not quite sure why your current card is in slot 3, unless that is the normal position for a standard board with only one slot (near the middle of the board) I would have assumed that would be slot 1. Either way, the slot that is currently working should be the one for the new card really to make sure there are as few problems as possible
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Post by jojo on Sept 10, 2014 7:06:08 GMT
It was in Slot 1. I moved it to Slot 3 after I plugged in the last new card and my screen was blank.
Plugged in the old card into 3 so I could get an idea of what was happening. Just left it afterward.
I'll take your advice on removing the old drivers. I would have liked to have the old card in slot 3, but will remove it as well.
<suddenly, expectant jojo quickens his pace up and down the tiny room he calls home>
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Post by jojo on Sept 10, 2014 15:10:41 GMT
Uninstalled everything to do with the old graphics card.
Turned off machine. Disconnected mains lead and waited a while.
Removed old card.
Installed new card.
Turned on. Card fan briefly fired up, then off. No video.
Major Help please.
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Post by jojo on Sept 10, 2014 16:22:26 GMT
Major Panic over. New graphics card arrived and installed safely. According to CPUID Monitor, V = 0.9V Temp = 50C Fan listed as running though it hasn't made any more appearances yet. Thanks all for the support |
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Post by Lynnrose on Sept 10, 2014 17:39:48 GMT
Good news x |
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Post by mikkh on Sept 10, 2014 19:58:43 GMT
OK lol, an hour is a long time to be in panic mode with or without senior military officers
If you're worrying about 50 degrees C, don't - that's perfectly normal for a modern graphics card to run that hot at idle, it will get even hotter under load which is why I keep a few slices of bread handy to toast on the dragon like inferno that is emitting from my PC. OK I lied about the last bit, I open the case up and throw a pie in to warm up instead!
Don't be tempted to run benchmarking software on it like 3Dmark, it's made to prove £300+ cards are worth the expense and makes the cheaper cards look bad. The only test you need is - does it run the game you wanted to try? And it should quite easily
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