Is my PC totally dead?

Luke Rhinehart · 16 Nov 2019 at 07:46

My computer has died. I have no hdmi from the graphics card, nothing on vga from the mobo. There's power, the fans spin but no beeps or diagnostic lights.

I've tried unseating and reseating connections, memory and graphics card.

******** BLACK NTI52 - INTEL CORE I5 3570K - 16GB DDR3 1600MHZ MEMORY - 2TB SATA HARD DRIVE - 120GB SSD - RADEON 7950 3GB GRAPHICS

It's an old machine but I wasn't looking to replace it quite yet. Is there anything simple I can try or am I best off just bringing forward my new computer date?

TIA

Tyrion2 · 16 Nov 2019 at 08:04

Easiest would be to test another graphics card. Doesn't need to be an expensive card, literally just a cheap second hard card (£10 or so) off the bay will tell you if it's the card or something else.

If you're not getting any signal from the motherboard vga connection, could be something else, but at least you'll know it's not the card.

As for a new pc right now, depends if the current pc was ok for your needs. If it does what you need, probably makes sense to investigate a little further before getting a new one.

freddie64 · 16 Nov 2019 at 08:34

Did you remove the graphics card when you tried vga on the motherboard?

Luke Rhinehart · 16 Nov 2019 at 08:45

I didn't remove the graphics card when checking the vga on the mobo.

When I get a chance tonight I'll try it without a graphica card and then I can probaly steal the card from my better half's machine to try that.

I was intending to buy a new pc in April anyway so it's not the end of the world if this one can't be resurrected, just a pain in the arse.

Thanks

freddie64 · 16 Nov 2019 at 10:04

If you leave the GPU in, i think it disables onboard graphics so you have to remove it.

Len Dananey · 16 Nov 2019 at 10:41

freddie64 said:
If you leave the GPU in, i think it disables onboard graphics so you have to remove it.

Yeah this is correct, I fixed someone's PC about 2 weeks back who had the same issue and to test I had to remove the GPU to try the onboard properly.

BUDFORCE · 16 Nov 2019 at 22:06

Reset the bios, if this doesn't work take the bios battery out and try and start it a few times, leave it for half an hour.

Make sure the RAM if firmly seated, sometimes you gotta push harder then you feel you want to.

If the above doesn't work it may be a failed motherboard.

Ohh also unlikely but try swapping monitors around, even the cable, you never know...

Luke Rhinehart · 16 Nov 2019 at 23:05

I removed the graphics card and my computer booted. Now I just have to decide if I buy a new graphics card and continue delaying bying a new computer for another six months or hope to pick up a new machine on Black Friday/Cyber Monday.

At leaat I can access my pc now.

freddie64 · 16 Nov 2019 at 23:44

I would try your GPU in the other computer to confirm it is actually dead.

If it works, try it in the second slot on your computer if it has one.

If it still does not work in yours, it could be a failing PSU. It can degrade after time and may not be able to power GPU.

Quartz · 17 Nov 2019 at 00:31

Another thing to try is changing the power connectors to the GPU if your PSU has a second set. Or by swapping the PSU if you don't. Which PSU do you have?

EsaT · 17 Nov 2019 at 13:02

BIOS battery could have been also dying, but if removing graphics card solved the problem completely, then problem likely isn't in it.
Graphics card and possibly motherboard's PCIe slot are likely problems.
PSU could be also worn out and unable to cope with extra load.

joedeath332 · 17 Nov 2019 at 14:12

freddie64 said:
If it still does not work in yours, it could be a failing PSU. It can degrade after time and may not be able to power GPU.

This , be sure and rule out the PSU as well if possible before you splash out on a new GPU , or try your GPU in another PC to confirm the GPU is dead.