Caseless Woes

[HomelessDepot]

Hey all,

So I recently decided to move the guts from my Eyefinity machine to a modified television cabinet (so not really caseless, but you get the idea), and for some reason I can't get a start-up with the GPU inserted.

The motherboard sits on the shelf inside the cabinet. The shelf is wood. The board is suspended about an inch above the wooden shelf via screws through the regular mounting holes. The shelf itself has a piece of non-conductive vinyl layered on top of it. So I REALLY don't think it's shorting out. And it seems to boot fine without the GPU.

It's an EVGA Classified board (it was a gift). No hardware has changed, except for a fan controller. Same mb. Same RAM. Same PSU. CMOS cleared via button and battery removal. The only fans running are the push / pull for the H50 radiator.

Without my 5870 inserted, everything seems to start fine. Fans spin up, radiator runs, beeping ensues. I get an error, but it's generic (according to the manual), and I'm assuming that's because there's no display adapter. WITH the 5870 inserted, I get nothing. The reset button flashes once, I get one beep, and then dead.

I'm not sure the best way to troubleshoot...

1) I don't mind buying/stealing a cheap GPU to test - it's possible I damaged the 5870 during the transfer, though I was careful. Could a bad 5870 stop the board from booting?

2) It's also possible the MB got damaged, again unlikely. I've never had a board fail like this, though, where it'll boot fine without a GPU but fail otherwise.

3) I guess it could also be the power supply... but it's the exact same power supply as I was using before, with the exact same components.

Does it make sense to try a different graphics card first? I'm depressed... it looks great, just doesn't work.

-HD

 

[jeremyshaw]

Try a different slot?

Did you plug in both PCIe 6pin plugs? Try using different ones, as you may be hitting a PSU virtual rail (if so configured).

 

[HomelessDepot]

I only plugged in one PCIe 6-pin, good point. I'm almost positive I've only ever used one, but that's a good idea. I'd have to dig up the other cord, but I'll try that. Do you think it really needs that much extra juice?

I did try all the slots, same non-response.

-HD

 

[jeremyshaw]

I only plugged in one PCIe 6-pin, good point. I'm almost positive I've only ever used one, but that's a good idea. I'd have to dig up the other cord, but I'll try that. Do you think it really needs that much extra juice?

I did try all the slots, same non-response.

-HD

is it even possible to run a HD5870 with only one 6pin 0.o!?

It needs about 38W over what a single PCIe6pin+mobo can provide!! (188W is the spec, though it draws more than that in Furmark).

 

[J Macker]

Try the 5870 in a different computer.

yes, a bad video card would stop the board from posting.

 

[HomelessDepot]

is it even possible to run a HD5870 with only one 6pin 0.o!?

It needs about 38W over what a single PCIe6pin+mobo can provide!! (188W is the spec, though it draws more than that in Furmark).

Now you're making me lose my mind... I'm almost positive I only ever used one. I remember the question coming up of course back during the original installation, and for some reason I feel like I read that only one was necessary, at least sans crossfire.

I'll try plugging in the other one before running out to Microcenter in the snow and buying something cheap. Maybe I'm just an idiot and don't remember unplugging two. That would be great, actually.

-HD

 

[HomelessDepot]

Try the 5870 in a different computer.

yes, a bad video card would stop the board from posting.

Thanks, I don't have something empty but at least I know that could be the problem. I sort of figured it could, considering the GPU is the component most directly affecting the failure.

-HD

 

[4LC4PON3]

ok for one what are the full specs and do you have pics of this idea that your doing?

you mentioned that your using some sort of screw idea to raise the board an inch. are you sure there isnt any way its not shorting the board anywhere?

It could be a bad video card im just wondering

 

[HomelessDepot]

ok for one what are the full specs and do you have pics of this idea that your doing?

you mentioned that your using some sort of screw idea to raise the board an inch. are you sure there isnt any way its not shorting the board anywhere?

It could be a bad video card im just wondering

I'll get some up as soon as I can, I'm sitting at work obsessing over the problem.

BUT, if the board is OK without the GPU, and fails WITH the GPU... it would be strange if the short only existed with the GPU in place. Maybe the weight is putting things into contact? That's the only thing I can think of. It does weigh a ton. It's one of the original, 3 monitor variety.

Something else I'm remembering -

The board has lights (one that pulses, one that stays lit) so it has power. That's good I suppose.

With the card inserted, the 'reset' button (which is located on the board) only flashes the FIRST time after the power supply switch is toggled (from 0 to 1). After that, I could keep pushing the power button and I'd get nothing, not even the initial flash... Same with the beep - first time I get the one beep, after that silence, as if the mb is dead. Except the lights are on, so it has power.

..Which does sort of sound like an electrical problem? I don't know, I'm not and engineer. Maybe I'll try setting the thing directly on the wood/vinyl instead of the supporting screws.

-HD

 

[4LC4PON3]

I would try another card if you can get your hands on a extremely cheap card I would try it out.

 

[HomelessDepot]

Just wanted to follow up in case it helps someone else down the line -

It was a card problem or a power problem. I suspect I accidentally threw out my double 6-pin modular cable . It boots fine with a cute little 5450.

This is what I mean when I say the motherboard is 'suspended' - I think that's probably poor word choice, since 'suspended' makes it sound like it's hanging. Which actually sounds AWESOME. Need to remember that...



Thanks for the help, [H].

-HD