Graphics Card Broken after CPU Overclock?

[underworld00]

Hi,

Recently decided to try and increase my CPU overclock in the BIOS and also switch from auto to manual voltage control.

I hit a setting that caused restart loops but no posting and no matter what I tried I couldn't get back into the BIOS. So I gave in and took it to a local PC repair place who recovered the BIOS but said the GPU is broken. I double checked this at home to be sure, and I can only get an output from the onboard graphics.

GPU is a 4970 that had been working perfectly until I started raising the voltage in BIOS. Any idea why it would have suddenly stopped working after a failed CPU overclock?

I will try and find an old card to test that, but until I do it would be useful to hear your opinions before I end up buying a R9 390 to replace it.

 

[Puppetmaster]

What PSU do you have?

 

[BluD]

I assume they tried the card in another system to confirm its dead?

 

[underworld00]

Its definitely not the PSU because all the fans were firing up ok etc etc, but as it was getting on a bit I replaced it with a Corsair CX750M anyway just to be on the safe side and to future proof the pc.

Here is what their report said:

"Power but loops & no display. Removed graphics card. Corrupted BIOS - restored from back up BIOS. Now powers up & boots on internal GPU. When graphics card is installed - power, boots but no display. Faulty graphics card."

So no, it doesn't look like they tested it in another computer!

Could the gpu be repairable or do you think it may have got fried from when I upped the voltage on the motherboard?

 

[BluD]

The GPU might not be the problem if they didnt test it, could be a mobo or CPU problem, i would test the GPU in another PC first or test another GFX card in that mobo.

I've killed a a few mobos, even had a powersurge blow my PSU once and it killed everything in my system except the GPU which came out working just fine so i would be suprised if the overclock killed your GPU, the constant restarting in the boot loop may have corrupted your GPU bios, i would try changing the bios switch to the second position. Also maybe try the GPU in another pci-e slot if you have a couple on you board, check in your manual to make sure its a x16 speed slot though.

 

[bimbleuk]

Maybe ther PCIE lanes from the CPU are now duff hence the GPU not working. Try the GPU in another system to test this.

 

[Relentless81]

They have potentially just bridged the mobo jumper to reset the bios and your bios has set the VGA to on board only?

Look in the bios to disable on board VGA and see if then outputs via PCIE, make sure you know how to bridge the mobo jumper first so you can get an image again if it fails

 

[underworld00]

BluD - Good thinking, have just tried that but no difference. The fans on the card come on so its clearly getting power, but its just not putting out any display.

Also tried switching in the BIOS to PCI rather than Onboard Grpahics - no luck there either!

Will try another card tomorrow which should show whether it is the GPU or motherboard at fault...

 

[underworld00]

So I put in my old 4890 and it fired up first time, so sadly it looks like the 7970 is kaput. Any ideas on how I could test it to work out what is wrong and whether it is fixable? Or should I just put it on a well known auction site listed as not in working order?

I dont really see the latest cards being much better for 1080 gaming (eg 380, 380x, 390) and so would prefer to fix than replace if there is a possibility of getting it working.

 

[underworld00]

Update on this, ordered a R9 390 from OC but it doesnt work - Im thinking that the 4890 want actually working either as the drivers no longer exist so maybe my mobo reverted to IGP.

Anyway, going to replace the mobo and hopefully that'll sort it.