No signal when trying two diff 7970s

[Shocked]

I decided to get an old computer back up and running again. It was well stored and in good shape. All I had to do was install a new PSU and re-wire it and stick a video card back in.

• Intel 2500K
• ASUS P8Z68-V PRO/GEN3
• 16GB DDR3-1600 4GBx4
• XFX HD 7970 / MSI HD 7970 (Not using both since I don't need to use them in SLI anymore but I've tried both)
• Crucial M4 128GB
• Corsair CX750 PSU

However, neither GPU outputs any signal at all - monitor stays black the whole time. It's not just not getting into Windows, there's no bootup display or anything.

I've tried:

• Disabling onboard graphics in BIOS/setting discrete graphics to primary
• Updating motherboard BIOS
• Tested each GPU in each different PCI-E slot
• Tried different PSU power cables
• Tried using different display cables (HDMI, Displayport, and DVI)

I have not been able to test a third graphics card or test the 7970's in a different computer, but unless something happened to both of them in storage (which were stored in static bags inside their original packaging) they should work.

I was able to install a fresh copy of Windows 7 by using onboard graphics. After installing all drivers I could find, there's still an "Unknown device" listed in the "Other devices" category in device manager. I'm not sure if that's the 7970 (I would think it probably is) or if the 7970 just isn't listed anywhere at all. Onboard graphics is the only thing listed under display adapters. Other than that the GPU fan does at least work.

I tried installing the proper AMD drivers to see if they would recognize the card. Doesn't appear to have changed anything.

 

[RazorWind]

I would test the graphics cards in a different machine next.

Why did you retire this machine in the first place? Did you experience a hardware failure of some other component that caused you to build a totally new system?

 

[Shocked]

I would test the graphics cards in a different machine next.

Why did you retire this machine in the first place? Did you experience a hardware failure of some other component that caused you to build a totally new system?

No, I just wound up building a new system instead of upgrading parts individually. I had plans for the older machine but I never got around to putting it to use again.

The reason I haven't been able to test the graphics cards in another machine is I'm away from home and will be for quite some time. All I have is my laptop.

 

[DrDoU]

Have you managed to bump the memory modules try may try resetting them.I had the same problem until I pulled and put them back in

 

[primetime]

well is the motherboard posting while using on board video? Nm i see you did that.....you dodnt by chance have UEFI enabled in the bios? Card prior to the 280 did not include UEFI compatibility ....so thats probably all it is..Turn UEFI off in the bios and it should post fine...maybe its called legacy mode or secure boot off? I have never owned a UEFI Motherboard so im not positive where that option is in the bios to be honest.

If you cant find the option try clearing the cmos and see if that helps

 

[Shocked]

Have you managed to bump the memory modules try may try resetting them.I had the same problem until I pulled and put them back in

Well, I know I didn't touch them because the giant HSF I have on it is in the way. Might not be a bad idea to reseat them after this long has passed though. But if there was a problem there, I'd think it would prevent me from booting into the system at all? (Since I did get in fine via onboard graphics)

well is the motherboard posting while using on board video? Nm i see you did that.....you dodnt by chance have UEFI enabled in the bios? Card prior to the 280 did not include UEFI compatibility ....so thats probably all it is..Turn UEFI off in the bios and it should post fine...maybe its called legacy mode or secure boot off? I have never owned a UEFI Motherboard so im not positive where that option is in the bios to be honest.

If you cant find the option try clearing the cmos and see if that helps

7970's came out well after the GTX 280 though? I used them with this system in the past and had no issues with it then, but I'll try fooling around with the UEFI settings anyway. I did clear the CMOS before I updated the BIOS to the newest version so that didn't help.

 

[Reality]

My guess is the pcie slots are shorted out. Remount the motherboard and make sure to use a standoff for every screw.

I've had this happen before.

 

[primetime]

Well, I know I didn't touch them because the giant HSF I have on it is in the way. Might not be a bad idea to reseat them after this long has passed though. But if there was a problem there, I'd think it would prevent me from booting into the system at all? (Since I did get in fine via onboard graphics)



7970's came out well after the GTX 280 though? I used them with this system in the past and had no issues with it then, but I'll try fooling around with the UEFI settings anyway. I did clear the CMOS before I updated the BIOS to the newest version so that didn't help.

no trust me...lol......well the xfx ones were not UEFI compatible until the 280x's came along.....But I guess its possible the MSI one is....I just know about the xfx ones cause i had both. Now when i say compatible, i dont mean it wont work in your motherboard, but i believe certain bios settings have to configured correctly.....There is no fucking way both cards went bad....and the pc works....its the only explanation to me.

Im going to copy a quote from elsewhere
What does it mean when a video card is UEFI-Ready?

If Windows is installed in UEFI mode (motherboard and graphics card/iGPU must be UEFI) and you try to add a non-UEFI graphics card it probably won't boot. You have to reinstall Windows to change from UEFI to Legacy or vice versa you can't just change that in the BIOS.There's no issue installing Windows but if the motherboard AND graphics card aren't UEFI compatible it will install in Legacy mode.

I'll repeat, the main compatibility issue is if you install Windows in UEFI mode (which you might do with just a CPU and integrated GPU that is UEFI) then shut down and switch to a non-UEFI card it likely won't boot.

(It's also hard to tell if you're actually in UEFI mode. The C-drive would be GPT format, not MBR.)

So if you installed windows in UEFI mode...that could be the problem. Theres nothing wrong with the cards

 

[Shocked]

My guess is the pcie slots are shorted out. Remount the motherboard and make sure to use a standoff for every screw.

I've had this happen before.

I do know there's a standoff in every hole because I've always been extremely careful about that. Could they still be shorted somehow though? If it's still worth a try I'll give it a shot.

(The rig is in an old Cooler Master HAF X case, I don't know if certain cases are more prone to shorting or anything like that)

no trust me...lol......well the xfx ones were not UEFI compatible until the 280x's came along.....But I guess its possible the MSI one is....I just know about the xfx ones cause i had both. Now when i say compatible, i dont mean it wont work in your motherboard, but i believe certain bios settings have to configured correctly.....There is no fucking way both cards went bad....and the pc works....its the only explanation to me.

Im going to copy a quote from elsewhere
What does it mean when a video card is UEFI-Ready?


So if you installed windows in UEFI mode...that could be the problem. Theres nothing wrong with the cards

Oops, my apologies. When you said 280 I was thinking GTX 280 and was like... that's way before the 7970 was released. Completely forgot AMD made a R9 280. I'll definitely give it a try but it's curious that I didn't have any problems with it when I first set up this computer (speaking of XFX and MSI, the XFX is a launch version - I literally got it the very week the 7970 line was released which is also when I built the rest of the computer - but the MSI I added to the system a year and a half later, it still has the stock HSF but I'm sure it's a later revision, not to mention it has a 1GHz clock even though it wasn't technically billed as a "GHz edition" like many were at the time).