PCI-E Graphics Cards Not Working but On-board Graphics Work

[supercrazyoi]

Hi

The other day my monitor wouldn't boot up. The first thing I thought would be the monitor but after trying another monitor, I guess it would be the video card. Now, I went out and bought a video card and that didn't work either (the video card could still be faulty).

I have reverted to onboard graphics and it's doing ok for now... but I was just wondering if anybody knows what the problem could be.

The first graphics card was a Nvideo 7200le and the one I bought was a 8400gs both 256meg and both went into my pci-e slot.

Is there any way I can work out if the graphics slot is working or not? Any way to work out if it is a mother board problem? The computer is a gateway gm5046b.

Thanks.

[Carbon]

Kind of sounds like a power supply issue to me, at least that's the cheapest solution.

[supercrazyoi]

Kind of sounds like a power supply issue to me, at least that's the cheapest solution.

Why would it be a power supply unit problem?

Would it make any difference if I said the card was only 256mb and the power supply unit was 300w?

I have looked online for power supplies and they're fairly pricey.

I'd go for a 450w power supply if I could.

[Carbon]

A failing PSU may be able to power a system with onboard graphics but not one with the extra load of dedicated. If you don't think it's the power supply you're welcome to replace the entire motherboard.

[supercrazyoi]

A failing PSU may be able to power a system with onboard graphics but not one with the extra load of dedicated. If you don't think it's the power supply you're welcome to replace the entire motherboard.

Is there a PSU you can recommend?

[Carbon]

http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/400W-...-year-warranty

[supercrazyoi]

http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/400W-...-year-warranty

Do you think 400W is enough? Did you choose this because it's Corsair?

[supercrazyoi]

http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/400W-...-year-warranty

Thanks. I hope you don't mind answering a few questions for me...

Did you choose this because it's Corsair?

What do I need to know when choosing a PSU?

Will it blow my motherboard?

What do I need to know when changing the PSU?

Thanks again.

[anthonyla65]

Hmmn, looking at scan, that seems like the best choice as carbon posted. Out of curiousity, what socket does ur CPU use?

[supercrazyoi]

Hmmn, looking at scan, that seems like the best choice as carbon posted. Out of curiousity, what socket does ur CPU use?

Do you think it is a PSU issue as well?

It's Socket AM2.

Have you ever come across PSUs frying motherboards?

[anthonyla65]

I've came across, dodgy PSU frying Graphics Card twice, not happened to the slot. well AM2 motherboards are as cheap as the PSU Carbon linked but is more fiddly to replace. It seems more like a dead slot to me as 7200LE/8400GS are really low powered cards drawing no more than 20W's I'd say at load. At Idle it should be like onboard, can you like try the 7200/8400 on another PC? if that works, the card is 100% working. Then try the PSU (that didn't work with the card) with that PC (that the card works on) if that works, the PSU + Card is 100% working and its a dead slot.

[supercrazyoi]

Hmmn, looking at scan, that seems like the best choice as carbon posted. Out of curiousity, what socket does ur CPU use?

It's a big work around to find an answer. LOL...

Erm... I'll see what I can do. I don't want to buy a new PSU to find out it's not that... etc etc.

I checked through PC Wizard and my PCI-Express is showing up but I can't see it in my device manager...

[anthonyla65]

Device manager don't show up spare PCI-E slots I don't think. And yeah, big work round, could take couple of hours. But could save you some $$$.