New Graphics Card problem

Hi,

I've just bought a BFG Geforce 7800 GS and it doesn't work properly. I was previously using a Geforce fx 5700LE with no problems. I have installed the latest nvidia drivers.

When I boot up the screen display is knackered with odd bits of colour every - looks a bit like the matrix actually.

When it's booted, any attempt to change the colour setting from low or the resolution from 800x600 stops the graphics card outputting any signal at all and I have to restart in safe mode.

This is a brand new card so should be fine - does anyone have any ideas?

Thanks

I should also add I have a 500W PSU

First thought is that it's fubar'd, but maybe more investigation will help.

What refresh rate are you running?
Is the fan on the card spinning properly when booted?
Have you plugged in any auxillary connectors - namely 12V and also the fan power cable?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by kalniel

First thought is that it's fubar'd, but maybe more investigation will help.

What refresh rate are you running?
Is the fan on the card spinning properly when booted?
Have you plugged in any auxillary connectors - namely 12V and also the fan power cable?

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1. Which PSU is it? If its generic it probably isnt provide enough Volts on the 12V Rail.
2. Like above. Is the seperate power connector plugged into the card. The AGP slot doesnt produce enough ooomph on its own so this is a must.


If these 2 things are OK then the memory on the card is goofed and it will have to be RMA'd.

Where did you buy it? (Please don't say OCUK as it will be a long, arduous journey).

I'm running refresh rate at 60Hz
I'm pretty sure the card fan is spinning properly as it's making quite a noise. It stops when I change the colour depth or resolution
There is a 4-pin molex power cable socket which I have plugged in.

I bought it from Cheapprices18 on ebay who judging by their feedback look pretty good.

The psu is just a standard 500W one I picked up in PC world - could that be the issue?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by milned

I'm pretty sure the card fan is spinning properly as it's making quite a noise. It stops when I change the colour depth or resolution
.
.
The psu is just a standard 500W one I picked up in PC world - could that be the issue?

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It could.. but I wouldn't want to splash out on a new one before testing either the card in another computer or another PSU in yours. The crash on changing colour depth is quite worrying, I wouldn't have thought that increasing colour depth would increase power requirements, though poor power supply can lead to a host of problems.

My guess would be a dodgy bit of RAM on the card.

How does the card look - is the heatsink on correctly and relatively firmly attached? Are the capacitors etc. all looking ok?

The card looks fine, all the capacitors look ok and the heatsink too

Thats classic signs of being underpowered..

or F**KED!!

I had a 7900 GTX that did that...fubar'd unfortunatly

Quote:

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Originally Posted by staffsMike

Thats classic signs of being underpower..

or F**KED!!

I had a 7900 GTX that did that...fubar'd unfortunatly

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I'd better investigate the power before I try and return it then

cheers for the info