I built up a new PC today, and when I turned it on it displayed only for a split second before I got a black screen. The monitor was on and recieving a signal, but no image. I then tried a different graphics card in this machine, but the verbal POST (it uses audio to tell you of problems) reported a "VGA failure".
I thought this may be a problem with the motherboard, so I tried the original card in my own PC. Same problem, and now my PC will not display an image with any graphics card either.
It would seem that this graphics card (a Leadtek FX5900XT) is destroying motherboards. Has anyone else seen this happen, and is there a way to fix it?
Many thanks,
Cobra
+ Reply to Thread
Results 1 to 20 of 20
-
-
it is possible, but unlikely. i would clear the CMOS/BIOS and try a different card to get video back(your personal system, and then the "new") . i would like to ask what motherboard you used for the new build as well.
the card in question...
new? had ANY issues? intermitent or not? was it overclocked? does a visual inspection show any anomolies such burn, short or damaged caps? a smell of burnt electronics? when the card was plugged in did the fan on the GPU function? also look at the AGP slots on both boards to see if any damage can be seen.
AGP 3.0 card can be damaged when plugged into a AGP 1.0. some early intel P4 boards had this problem, because they used the universal AGP slot, which allow any AGP card to be inserted into the slot. because of voltage changes made to the AGP spec, a AGP 1.0 card would cause damage to the chipset on the motherboard.Be satisfied, the day is yours. If i have to explain, you would'nt understand. -
There are three different versions of AGP boards and slots. The latest AGP standard has incompatible power requirements to the older AGP standard.
An ASUS motherboard I used in the past had an "AGP safety feature" to avoid this kind of damage. A Led by the AGP slot would go Red if the AGP board was incompatible or Green if operation was normal.
The problem is that there is no difference between the two slots or edge connectors to avoid damage. The only way is to verify that both the VGA AND the motherboard are AGP v.3 compatible before plugging in.
Unfortunatelly, there is no visual feedback on the damage. Nothing explodes or burns or the like. Just dies a quick and silent death. (Well in your case, the mb is clever enough to tell you the AGP circuitry is dead!).
Now, to fix this, well it depends. There could be a fuse on the VGA but I doubt it.
What is the type of the motherboards you are using?The more I learn, the more I come to realize how little it is I know. -
I had to replace an AGP slot on my old Tyan once because it went out putting too much current through it. I didn't lose it completely, I just had some bizarre refresh and artifacts from the bad port. That was a motherboard issue though, the card has been running fine with the new board revision ever since.
-
I should have said the following, sorry.
- The motherboard is an Asus K8V-SE Deluxe (Athlon 64). Supports AGP 8X.
- The card is a Leadtek GeForce FX5900XT, model Winfast A350TDH. This is an AGP 8X card.
- Both BIOSs have been cleared but this has had no effect.
Both are split new, opened today. The machine was built on an professional anti-static mat, with a wriststrap. This was all earthed to a mains socket.
There is no smell and no burning. There is no sign of damage at all. The motherboards just seem unable to ship any video whatsoever to the cards.
Thanks for the replies. I really do appreciate your time.
Cobra -
have you tried to use a PCI video card to get video?
what PSU are you using in each?
this does not fix the AGP, but will allow you to see if the board is functioning. you may have a faulty FX, and i would not try that particualr card again.
remove the board from the chasis, to eliminate possibility of a short. you can try just powering the board, and the 5900xt, with out HDD or anything else, as well. i have read the K8V can be picky about RAM, but this does nothing about your other system not posting with a known good AGP card (leads me to beleive the LeadTek was faulty)
I would place a PCI card in the board(s) and make sure the board is functioning with out other probelms - RAM/CPU etc.
unfortuantely if the FX 5900 XT is defective, and responsible for the boards may be damaged and replaced.Be satisfied, the day is yours. If i have to explain, you would'nt understand. -
xxgriff,
First of all, thank you for your continued help.
I can say without a doubt that it is the graphics card that is at fault since we replicated the fault (ie. destroying the motherboard) in my computer. I was just wondering if there was a way to sort out the motherboard.
Sadly, we do not have any PCI graphics cards available bar one. It is a Formac card using the S3 Virge GPU from about 1998. I don't know if it will work since it was originally for a Macintosh.
Even without the use of a monitor, this new PC successfully booted into Knoppix LinuxLive from CD which tells me everything works, except video. I wonder if there was a short somewhere that has stopped the motherboard being able to send video to the AGP slot.
I wonder if that old graphics card would work. Do you think it is OK to give it a go?
Thanks again,
Cobra
PS - Today isn't my day for PCs. I have written two motherboards off with this Leadtek card, and nailed the BIOS in the other PC whilst trying to overclock it. Just recovered that one by flashing a new BIOS over the corrupt one, but talk about a rollercoaster! I may have to put some oven mitts on, and stay at least six feet from anything electronic.... -
Originally Posted by Cobra
makntraksIn the theater of the mind...
It's always good to know where the exits are... -
sorry to say that the PCI mac card will not work. I have to agree that the AGP slot seems to have died, and likely beyond help. the reason for using a PCI card was to ascertain if there are no other problems, and if so, then you could try and flash the board again. there is a small-slim chance this will work.
I would also inspect the underside of your motherboards, and look at the lead, and traces to the AGP slot in particular.
does your board support a recovery of BIOS via floppy? a way to force a flash without input from you? if not the only other way to flash would be hot-swapping, and that is tricky after reading how your day has gone thus far...i completely understand not considering this option.Be satisfied, the day is yours. If i have to explain, you would'nt understand. -
Well, we got it sorted. The monitor had become damaged somehow when we were building and so it didn't work when we plugged it into the newly-built machine...
-
Originally Posted by Cobra
-
A 17" Sharp TFT... A high-end one at that...
-
Originally Posted by Cobra
MBs would have been cheaper
-
Sorted it out. When I unplugged everything on my desk I stuck all the cables behind the radiator so I didn't have to get them all back up again. When I plugged everything together, I plugged the monitor power into the speakers and the speaker power into the monitor. Of course, they are different voltages - the speaker one being higher.
The speakers didn't work very well, and the monitor wouldn't work at all. Eventually my father sussed it and swapped them over. Now, all is well again.
That new machine really streaks along.
Cobra -
Originally Posted by Cobra
-
Cobra, you panicked me. My brother called yesterday and the computer I just built for him is exhibiting the same problem with a similar card.
Dead monitor, but all the boot and startup sounds. I'm going to run over there in a while to see whats up.
Sorry about your problems, but hopefully mine will work out better. He also moved cables around.
EDIT: Solved my problem. The AGP latch was not latched and the board came out of the slot. Everythink OK now. -
Whew, we're all making stupid mistakes just now!
-
Too true, bazooka...
-
I'm glad I've never done that
Similar Threads
-
AGP Graphics Card H.264 decoding
By roberto188 in forum Media Center PC / MediaCentersReplies: 13Last Post: 26th Aug 2010, 15:52 -
Look at this pic Do I need a PCI or AGP video card in my PC
By marionr26 in forum DVB / IPTVReplies: 4Last Post: 12th Feb 2010, 00:34 -
Need recommendations re. AGP card(s)
By CBinSD in forum Newbie / General discussionsReplies: 14Last Post: 14th Aug 2009, 19:20 -
I Need an AGP Video Card
By ron spencer in forum ComputerReplies: 4Last Post: 11th Jan 2009, 20:03 -
Buy AGP 2x/4x or PCI video card ?
By SingSing in forum ComputerReplies: 10Last Post: 26th Apr 2008, 10:24