Doing a little test, quick question before I start.

Anesthetize · 12 Jul 2011 at 15:59

Okay, so I've had two faulty graphics cards, one after the other from EVGA since building my new system over a month ago. Now, it seems unlikely that I'd be unlucky enough to get one bad card after the other, especially from EVGA, so I thought it might be my motherboard.

Since I don't know any other way of testing my motherboard's PCI-e slot, to see if it's damaging the cards, I figured I'd put my really old Geforce 7100GS in, and see if that breaks, as I can spare it. But being so old compared to the rest of the rig, is there a chance it could do more harm than good?

That's pretty much all I need to know. Thanks for any replies.

ScratchFive · 12 Jul 2011 at 16:11

as long as its a PCI-express certified card, (and not faulty) which if i remember correctly the 7100GS is, it will be fine.

just make sure the power is off before removing or adding anything in any PCI e slots

hope this helps

Anesthetize · 12 Jul 2011 at 16:13

Got it, cheers pal.

Plec · 12 Jul 2011 at 16:15

Anesthetize said:
Okay, so I've had two faulty graphics cards, one after the other from EVGA since building my new system over a month ago. Now, it seems unlikely that I'd be unlucky enough to get one bad card after the other, especially from EVGA, so I thought it might be my motherboard.

I had 3 borked XFX 6800s before moving onto ASUS - but that was a batch issue. But it's still possible with the EVGA - did you get to compare their repsective ref/batch numbers?

Anesthetize said:
as I can spare it. But being so old compared to the rest of the rig, is there a chance it could do more harm than good?

If the boards faulty (i'e. a gfx killer) then hopefully the 7100S will be the only thing damaged. But if it's shorting/crippling the gfx card there's always a slight risk that another component could be taken with it...