Problem with NVidia 8500 GT

TIWizard

Limp Gawd
Joined
Nov 10, 2008
Messages
420
I recently bought a NVidia 8500 GT for my Slimline, and for about 3 days it was working terrificly. Nothing was wrong with it until 3 days ago...

I turned my computer off at about 7:30PM, and the next day my monitor showed "No Input" before turning black.

I checked ALL cables, including the ones that physically connect to the card, and they were not loose.

Eventually, I switched the cable to the onboard video card and reinstalled the drivers from the NVidia website. It restarted, and still showed no input on the new video card... Then, after it boot up, I just shut the machine down and started it up again. It worked!

However, same problem next day... No input detected, so I switched back to the old integrated card and did a system restore to a day before I had problems.

It eventually started working again, but I am not sure how I fixed it...

NOW, I come home, and it does not work...

Two things--
1. Any suggestions to fix this? Anyone know why this happens?
2. Has anyone had this problem?


I have a HP Slimline s3100n with the default hardware except 2 GB of RAM and a NVidia 8500 GT video card... I also have a 27 inch (I think) Soyo monitor with a VGA cable.

Thanks in advance!
 
I know that bumping is not a good thing to do, but does anyone have an idea? Need to get this fixed ASAP.
 
Does device manager show the card is functioning ok or that it has a problem?
 
get a spare monitor to test on, and ensure that you're monitor isn't the issue. also get a space add in graphics card to test that another card won't exhibit the same issue. Also, ensure that if you have the add in card installed, the onboard video is disabled, and that the first graphics adapter option in BIOS is set properly.
 
Spare monitor is probably not an option... It was working before, so I do not think that the monitor is an issue. I will see if I can dig up my old one.

There is 0 space to test another card, so...

I know the BIOS is set to PCI-E (only checked a bajillion times), but how do I disable my onboard card?
 
The problem is that the system doesnt recognise that the card exists at all.
Try refitting it, you possibly have a bad connection.
Clean the cards contacts before refitting and make sure the slot is free of dust.
 
Will do that now, but I have checked numerous times without success...

Is there anything else that would suddenly cause the card to not be recognized?
 
I know that I should probably not "shout", but most people look at "URGENT" than "Need help on ___"...

Reinstalled driver, restarted, and nothing... Going to check the card in safe mode, but I would like to find a solution to this ASAP.

Working for a few days, then not... Odd...
 
Will do that now, but I have checked numerous times without success...

Is there anything else that would suddenly cause the card to not be recognized?

Not enough power.
Can you try a bigger PSU?

Have you got another low power gfx card to test with?
I say low power because I dont know what PSU you have so am being cautious.
 
160W PSU, and HP recommends a card with the same wattage as the 8500 GT... Also, the PSU can't be upgraded.

No other GXF cards except a HUGE ATI card which my dad accidentally bought...

Also, it JUST STARTED WORKING!

I was going to put my comp. into safe mode, so I held down the power button (the hotkey doesn't work on bootup :/)... When I turned my computer back on, there was no input on the integrated port, so I swiched the cord to the port on the card... And it worked...

Odd...
 
160W is extremely low power, I would suggest that is quite likely to be the problem.
Keep the PSU as cool as possible as it will perform better.
However I do NOT recommend pushing a PSU to its limit as it can go pop and take anything out attached to it.

Did it by any chance start working after opening the case?
 
160W PSU, and HP recommends a card with the same wattage as the 8500 GT... Also, the PSU can't be upgraded.

No other GXF cards except a HUGE ATI card which my dad accidentally bought...

Also, it JUST STARTED WORKING!

I was going to put my comp. into safe mode, so I held down the power button (the hotkey doesn't work on bootup :/)... When I turned my computer back on, there was no input on the integrated port, so I swiched the cord to the port on the card... And it worked...

Odd...
thats is odd. I was going to tell you that HP/Compaq comps are set to pci for default and if you plug in a pci-e express video card it wont pick it up. you have to go into bios and select pci-e. of course your onboard graphics will still you work if you have the monitor plugged into. you then have to disable(not uninstall) the onboard graphics in the device manager. then turn off the pc, install the video card, plug your monitor into the card and reboot. thats how you install a pci-e video card in an HP/Compaq pc.
 
So I just disable it in the device manager? Thanks :)

It is set on PCI-E, so that is not the problem. I will revive this thread tomorrow if I still have problems, but thanks for your help everyone!

And I didn't even open the case...Still don't know why it would work when playing Crysis for hours and not work when I just turn on my computer...
 
So I just disable it in the device manager? Thanks :)

It is set on PCI-E, so that is not the problem. I will revive this thread tomorrow if I still have problems, but thanks for your help everyone!

And I didn't even open the case...Still don't know why it would work when playing Crysis for hours and not work when I just turn on my computer...
yeah disable it or computer will keep finding it. then turn off your pc and plug your monitor into the video card and reboot.
 
Well, still having problems.

I have narrowed it down to some hardware issue, but it is NOT a power problem. Even when unplugging the DVD Drive, it still doesn't work.

And guess what-- my motherboard has been recalled!

http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/...044&cc=us& dlc=en&lc=en&jumpid=reg_R1002_USEN

I do not have any issues with the built in chip preventing my computer from booting, and I do get video, but my WHOLE screen is tinted cyan!!! ARGH!

This means that I am not covered under the extended warranty from what I can tell... Got the computer last year and I am quite frustrated right now...
 
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