8800GT problems

[mdk88]

Hi,

Got an 8800GT on halloween ( ironic ? )

Installed it on sunday night, after having switched from my previous ASUS M2V Mainboard ( which the card decided it didn't like, and gave graphic error beeps on boot ).

Anyway, worked brilliant, runs games like a dream and to say i was pleased was an understatement. However, yesterday after turning off my computer and then my PSU switch ( saving electricity bill money ) my rig wouldn't display anything when booted up.

The pc would ''come alive'' and the 8800GT fan goes mental, spinning at what i imagine to be 100%, but the slow down / quiet down never comes, and nothing is displayed on my monitor.

Tried a different monitor, same problem. Re-seated the card numerous times, unplugged and re-plugged the 6 pin pci-e connector and finally, it started working, dunno what i did right :x

So it worked fine all last night, and this morning. Shut it down, re-started in the early afternoon and same problem.

Been tinkering around for ages and now it's back .... i just don't understand it.

It's not overheating as far as i'm aware, and my PSU is more than adequate ( 600W OCZ StealthXStream )

Any ideas ?

Spec :

AMD Black Edition X2 5000+ @ 2.6Ghz
ZALMAN CPSN Something CPU Cooler
2 GB GeiL RAM 800Mhz ( 2 x 1GB )
MSI KN9GM2 Board
BFG 8800GT 512MB
OCZ StealthXStream 600W Sli-Ready PSU

 

[C64]

Have you had a look at the way it screws in maybe the screw is pulling or moving the card slowly if it's a tight fit and you have to force it onto the case to screw it in.

 

[Sir Random]

If it works fine except on a cold boot, I'd suspect the PSU.

I know your OCZ 600w is more than adequate, but it may be faulty.

 

[Sinny]

Have you checked the card itself is seated properly and screwed in?

Does it make any kind of beep at all?

if it doesnt make any beeps its more than likely power supply.

 

[mdk88]

It works but then sometimes just goes from working, to dead. pc shuts down, then when i restart everything runs and sounds all good, just no display. if i remove the card and connect monitor vga to onboard graphics, i can boot into windows with no problems. It's fixed at the moment, but i'm thinking perhaps the weight of the card is causing it to slowly slip out of position, so as one gentle knock on the tower breaks the card from the mobo ?

 

[Foxor`]

It works but then sometimes just goes from working, to dead. pc shuts down, then when i restart everything runs and sounds all good, just no display. if i remove the card and connect monitor vga to onboard graphics, i can boot into windows with no problems. It's fixed at the moment, but i'm thinking perhaps the weight of the card is causing it to slowly slip out of position, so as one gentle knock on the tower breaks the card from the mobo ?

the exact same thing kept happening with my x1900xt proper anoying, i had to hold it in and up somtimes to get it to boot, peice if poo...

 

[Flying Gribble]

Have you had a look at the way it screws in maybe the screw is pulling or moving the card slowly if it's a tight fit and you have to force it onto the case to screw it in.

I have an X1900XT and this is the exact problem I have. I usually get this 'fan at 100%, no boot' problem after I've taken the PC in the car. A quick push on the card when it's powered off usually solves the it. Once I've had to completely reseat it.
Mega-panic the first time it happened!

 

[555BUK]

Sounds like the mobo is failing POST (power on self check). Perhaps the 8800GT is drawing too much voltage from the PCI-E slot. I have similar issues with an 2990Pro but fortunately the 8800GT works fine for me.

Try the card in yet another Mobo if possible.

 

[jrodga2k5]

Card probably isnt seated properly

 

[mdk88]

If it wasn't seated properly would i not just get graphical error beeps on start up ?

Is it possible for me to play for an hour, shut down, Come back to the computer in the morning to find no display on boot?

I narrowed it down to one of two things;

Weight of card is resulting in it working itself loose under pressure, over time.

Temperatures are causing problems.

The latter i can't really justify as temperatures shouldn't be an issue when the card has been off for 12 hours....

I now have the GPU fan @ 45% on windows load ( compared to previous 29% :x ) and 65% - 80% during game play. Furthermore i've ensured the card is seated, and the little 'hook bit' is snapped around the screw tightly before screwing begins.

The pc is now on it's side and two small case fans are directly above the card.

If it happens again now, i can only assume i'll have to RMA.

Any thoughts ?

 

[svbooga]

Sound similar to my XT1800 in an MSI motherboard. Occasionally turn on the PC and get no output to the screen, take the side off and push the end of the card back up and then it works. Its like the weight of the card is pulling it down and failing to properly connect the top pins in the slot. Had a major panic with this the first time it happened with my X1800, as i had just sold my X800!
I now have the the mobo power cable holding it up