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New computer, Graphics completely FUBAR

S

seajewels

n00b
Joined
Oct 26, 2010
Messages
18
I'm literally at wit's end. I'm completely clueless when it comes to computers, but after years of using a teeny laptop, I ordered a very nice computer with dual EVGA 460s. It took 3 weeks for them to ship, and then they shipped with the wrong case ("oops we somehow scanned the wrong item") so I sent the PC back. (I know, it might sound crazy for just a case, but I really didn't like the one that was shipped). I didn't take it out of the box even the first time.

After another two weeks, I finally get my computer. I turn it on, hook up my Dell U2311h via DVI, and notice that the screen is all messed up (low res, etc.) so I install the newest NVidia drivers. 260,99. Restart, everything looks beautiful. So I start installing windows updates, and then update my motherboard drivers.

All of a sudden after about 30 minutes of browsing the web I get really bad graphical distortion on my screen, and then my computer spontaneously reboots. This happens over and over. I go to safe mode, try rolling back the drivers, try downloading drivers from EVGA, try using 260.89 instead of 260.99. No go, in safe mode it's fine, in non-safe mode, graphical problems --> reboot or crash.

I reinstalled windows. Things worked fine, I started off by updating motherboard drivers. I notice windows update is installing something for Nvidia 460 display drivers. Windows update was installing 3 things and at the end it said one of them gave an error.

I reboot after the motherboard drivers and the windows update, when I come back, Nvidia Control Panel starts up, asks if I want to set up SLI. As soon as I hit OK for setting SLI and selecting Nvidia 460 (2) instead of Nvidia 460 (1), I get graphical distortion and my computer reboots.

I tried updating the EVGA drivers in safe mode again, still having huge problems. Sometimes I get graphical artifacts(? not sure if this is the right word, but screen gets all messy) even in safe mode.

And soforth.

I honestly want to scream or cry at this point. I've waited so long and it looks like I'm going to have to send it back. Does anybody have a clue what could be the problem? Any thing I can try before packing it up and sending it away again? (and I have to go out of town for work tomorrow, so I won't even be able to do that for a few days.. which means even more delay). And now I think the company I bought it from is going to be pissy (and it really is not my fault that 1) they messed up the initial order and 2) something in my computer is defective).
 
What happens if you disable SLI mode? Try using just one card in the top slot, one at a time. At least this will narrow down your issue: it's either one of the cards or the power supply unable to handle powering both cards because it's defective or underpowered.
 
Hmmm. SLI working -> windows update -> nothing works? Could it be the realtek network driver issue?:
http://www.evga.com/forums/tm.aspx?m=324313

Edit: If you have that issue, install the network drivers from your driver disk or download them from the MB support site. Some that have issues with other Nvidia drivers, swear to the 258.96 drivers, so you can use those.
 
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PSU is a corsair 850w, so if it's the problem, it's defective. Windows disabled one of the graphics card and said it was causing errors. I'm afraid to open up the case and touch anything in case the company wants to void warranty or blame this on me or something crazy like that. I'll look at it.. but since I have absolutely zero knowledge of how to build computers, I doubt it will help.

I looked at the EVGA forums thread.. I don't know if that is the problem, but disabling the only network adapter labeled Realtek didn't help. I'm reinstalling windows again to see if I can try to pinpoint when the issues happen..
 
seajewels said:
PSU is a corsair 850w, so if it's the problem, it's defective. Windows disabled one of the graphics card and said it was causing errors. I'm afraid to open up the case and touch anything in case the company wants to void warranty or blame this on me or something crazy like that. I'll look at it.. but since I have absolutely zero knowledge of how to build computers, I doubt it will help.

I looked at the EVGA forums thread.. I don't know if that is the problem, but disabling the only network adapter labeled Realtek didn't help. I'm reinstalling windows again to see if I can try to pinpoint when the issues happen..
Click to expand...

Try to reinstall the network drivers. As you can see from the Evga thread, people experienced the same as you when they used windows update and WU installed some other RT drivers. :)
 
If reinstalling the network drivers don't work, call up the company you bought the PC from and ask for help from them. Sounds like this was an issue that may have been present at factory.

BTW, which company did you buy the PC from?
 
It was Cyberpower. and they have been very nice so far, but frankly, having already waited 1.5 months to even boot up this computer, I really want to send it back and try a rush order from ibuypower. But based on everything i've read about ibuypower, i sincerely doubt that a rush order would actually be rushed. At least with cyberpower, they shipped on the very last day (5-10 business days, so basically, literally 15 days after i ordered, including the weekends) they quoted, but my friend recently bought from ibuypower and they shipped 1.5 weeks *after* the quoted date. not to mention that when he realized a couple weeks after he ordered that the ibuypower prices vary wildly based on which "configuration" you start off with, rather than what configuration you end up with, and called them up and asked for a price difference refund, they refused. this was *before* they had even started building his computer. They said if he wanted, he was free to cancel and re-do an order. (and likely wait another month).

so.. that's the reason I went with cyberpower instead. Unfortunately, I've been plagued with horrible luck as you can see. On principle, I still want to like cyberpower better, because I do think their CS for me was good. That doesn't make the fact that I've waited this long for my computer and it still doesn't work any more palatable. It may not be their fault, but..

and yes, the likely best thing to do would be to get a refund and try to learn how to build computers and just make it work myself. But I just moved somewhere completely far from where I was last year, I'm just starting to make friends (new job), know nobody who is good at computers, and I just wanted a nice company to build it and ship it out and for it to work without any major problems. Well.. yeah.
 
seajewels said:
It was Cyberpower. and they have been very nice so far, but frankly, having already waited 1.5 months to even boot up this computer, I really want to send it back and try a rush order from ibuypower.
Click to expand...

Yeah, that explains a lot actually and confirms my hunch. CyberpowerPC, and by extension iBuypower since both companies are owned by the same family, is well known for poor PC assembly and quality. I mean, there's a reason why the term "cyberpowerfucked" exists. Going with iBuypower wouldn't change anything since, again, they're owned by the same family so there's gonna be a bit of the same incompetence in both companies.

So in this case, yes you can basically blame Cyberpower for everything that's went wrong so far. They're really that incompetant and lazy when it comes to building a PC. So yeah, you're better off just either building the PC yourself as you're more likely more competant than Cyberpower or spending the extra cash for a reputable PC builder like Puget Systems, Avadirect, Maingear, Velocity Micro, Digital Storm, etc.
 
The premium you have to pay for some of those places isn't like a matter of a couple hundred dollars.. it's a matter of a thousand dollars+, and that's what really stopped me from going somewhere else. and yeah, I had a lot of issues with Cyberpower. The reason the whole case fiasco (which I shortened above) even happened is because apparently they still use PCI sound cards instead of PCI-Express, and so I (being completely clueless) had no idea why they kept swearing the sound card doesn't fit with 2x video cards in any mid-sized tower. after some research here and after calling Cooler Master (the manufacturer of my case) it turns out that the problem is the PCI sound card instead of PCI-Express, which I guess is somewhat outdated?

I honestly don't really know what to do at this point. I will have to call the company tomorrow and talk to them, but I guess this whole situation is meant to teach me the value of patience. and I'm *this* close to just throwing a temper tantrum, which would be much more satisfying than trying to accept that I'm still not going to have a desktop PC for.. who knows how long.

My friend who ordered from ibuypower bought almost exactly the same setup however. Same Video cards, same motherboard, and he has zero issues. He also got to keep his PCI-Express sound card, since ibuypower uses PCI-Express.

I will look at the other companies you listed, but I really can't afford to pay $3500 for the same setup that I paid $1700 for here.. =/ I guess I can try to learn about building PCs and try my hand at it, but that scares me also. A friend once helped me build a PC a few years ago, and he tried to get me to do certain parts of the process, and everything felt so fragile.
 
seajewels said:
The reason the whole case fiasco (which I shortened above) even happened is because apparently they still use PCI sound cards instead of PCI-Express, and so I (being completely clueless) had no idea why they kept swearing the sound card doesn't fit with 2x video cards in any mid-sized tower. after some research here and after calling Cooler Master (the manufacturer of my case) it turns out that the problem is the PCI sound card instead of PCI-Express, which I guess is somewhat outdated?
Click to expand...

The issue isn't specifically related to the PCI sound card though. It's also dependent on the motherboard's layout. More than likely the motherboard you chose had the PCI slot in the wrong place for a dual-GPU setup + PCI card. The PCI interface itself isn't too outdated for a sound card. I'm fairly sure that there are motherboards with better layouts out there that'll fit the PCI card and dual GPUs just fine.

seajewels said:
I will look at the other companies you listed, but I really can't afford to pay $3500 for the same setup that I paid $1700 for here.. =/ I guess I can try to learn about building PCs and try my hand at it, but that scares me also. A friend once helped me build a PC a few years ago, and he tried to get me to do certain parts of the process, and everything felt so fragile.
Click to expand...

Well we do have a giant FAQ with several PC building guides available here on this forum:
http://hardforum.com/showthread.php?t=1352293

In addition, the General Hardware subforum is one of the better subforums out of this forum for helping you build a complete PC IMO.
 
If you are going to call them, ask if you can open the case to check if something have loosened during transport without voiding the warranty. :)

Even with little knowledge, you can always try to check the GPU's different connectors. Touch some leading metal with your fingers first, to reduce the risk of electrostatic discharge. Turn off power on the PSU and remove the psu power cable. Open the side of your cabinet and place it gently flat on the floor on the closed side. Press gently to check if: Cards are seated properly in the slots, pci-e power connector is fastened properly to the cards and that the SLI bridge is firmly on.

This way you can at least rule out if something around the GFX was loose. :)
 
Well now I can't install windows. I've retried twice from the CD they provided, and it keeps asking for the activation code. Which is not on the CD, not on the CD slip, not on the case. The only serial-number-like things that are on the case I've tried, none are long enough. The reinstall worked without asking for the s/n the first time.. I don't know if the CD was limited to a certain number of free installs or something.

I feel like I have to be a complete idiot or something, but I've looked through all the things I have, looked over the entire case.. and nothing. so I can't really try the Realtek lan driver thing, but I doubt that was the issue. Sigh.. I don't know. Avadirect looks like it has good prices. Maybe I can try them and rush an order.
 
Yeah for the License, you're gonna have to contact Cyberpower about that and see if they kept that on file or anything.
 
man, get a refund and get one of us on here to build the computer for you. heck for $10 i'll build it for ya.

im not really sure what is causing your issue's, i hope you get it all worked out.
 
It just gets better and better. I guess I shouldn't have expected a full Windows 7 license or something.. did not know there were such restrictions.
 
xSnip3rMaNx said:
man, get a refund and get one of us on here to build the computer for you. heck for $10 i'll build it for ya.

im not really sure what is causing your issue's, i hope you get it all worked out.
Click to expand...

Thank you! I wish I did know somebody from here to get help from. Anybody live near Reno? haha.
 
seajewels said:
Thank you! I wish I did know somebody from here to get help from. Anybody live near Reno? haha.
Click to expand...

I am sure plenty of us here would do it for you. I would do it for free because I like doing it in my spare time, just pay for parts and shipping.
 
I'd also build it for free, you pay shipping and parts. It's not very hard to build a PC and set it up. Just send that one back and get yourself a refund. Cyberpower is garbage and you dont need the hassle from them. Keep us updated.
 
Make sure both cards have both power connectors hooked up to the cards. I wouldn't be surprised if you find that one card doesn't have the power cables hooked up to it. Those companies can be sloppy at times. Or as someone else mentioned, disable SLi and try each card by itself to narrow down a possible bad card.
 
Being you have limited knowledge about computers I would recommend you not opening the case and messing around with the hardware as CyberPower might VOID the warranty if anything happens that is caused by the end user. Just my opinion, it would be easier to return it for a refund. Make them pay the shipping back also.
 
seajewels said:
A friend once helped me build a PC a few years ago, and he tried to get me to do certain parts of the process, and everything felt so fragile.
Click to expand...

Although I can't weigh in too much on your issue (Personally, I would boot the computer with ONLY one of the cards installed and do 3D tests, repeated with the other card - potentially narrowing down the issue to a single card's failure or a driver issue) I will say that most PC parts aren't fragile.

I wash motherboards in the dish washer (no detergent mind you) routinely as maintenance. Boxes that get literally, coated, with glued-on construction dust need to be cleaned spotless once every 6 months. I've never used an antistatic strap, and routinely work on carpet, etc. etc. I will eventually kill something (I've come to terms with that!) but until then, the tally is 0.

Just be careful, and don't be stupid. Worst case scenario, we're here to help.
 
Thanks everyone for the advice and support. I'm sending the PC back today, but I will give them another chance to try to fix it, although I have doubts as to whether it will actually work the next (being the third) time I receive the computer.

I probably should have just asked for a refund, but I didn't want to deal with any hassles about restocking or shipping fees. I'll try it one more time. I guess at least I have a working computer.. sure, it's a 13inch laptop that won't play any newer games, with a crappy screen that serves as my only source of TV/movies (and not a very good source!) but hey, it works. For the basics, anyways. I was very upset last night because I'd been looking forward to this for so long, but I guess I'm resigned now. and I'll harass them the minute they receive the package until they ship it out again.

But I will take all your advice next time, and I *will* build my own. It's a good skill to have. That way I won't be completely helpless when things break down.
 
seajewels said:
But I will take all your advice next time, and I *will* build my own. It's a good skill to have. That way I won't be completely helpless when things break down.
Click to expand...

Not to mention the money saved - I'm sure had you put the system together yourself, you would have netted a few hundred for your trouble :)
 
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