8800GT Won't Boot on ASRock Core2Quad Board

[phoenix198]

Hi

I've just bought and installed a Gainward Bliss 8800GT 512MB into a built on an ASRock 4CoreDual-SATA2 motherboard which was previously happily running Vista Home Prem 32-bit with a 7300SE installed, and does the same with an XFX Geforce 7900GTX 512MB

Unfortunately the system just won't boot - not even a POST - and doesn't seem to be outputting a signal to the monitor. The 8800GT does seem to be receiving power - the fan is spinning (quite noisily actually). As I see it, one or more of the following could be wrong:

1. The 8800GT is goosed (and I'll have to RMA or return it)
2. My PSU (a WinPower ATX 500W) isn't up to the job, although I would have expected it to POST - so I'll have to return the 8800GT under the DSR
3. The 8800GT is incompatible with my motherboard (return under DSR)

Any thoughts, anyone?

[MadduckUK]

ASRock Motherboard - Product - 4CoreDual-SATA2 - FAQ

Question: I use a NVIDIA® 8800GT PCIE VGA card on VIA ® chipset motherboard. But I got black screen on the monitor. How do I solve it?

Answer:The NVIDIA® 8800GT PCIE VGA card is GEN2 mode VGA card. Unfortunately VIA ® chipset does not support GEN2 mode VGA card. The only solution is to set 8800GT PCIE VGA card to GEN1 mode.
We have tested 8800GT PCIE VGA card. After flashing GEN1 mode BIOS for 8800GT, it works fine on VIA ® chipset motherboard.

Please contact VGA card vender to get the VGA BIOS with GEN1 mode for your 8800GT PCIE VGA card."

sound like the problem?

[phoenix198]

Yep.

Didn't see that in the ASRock FAQ (must be going blind) but just had that advice in a reply from ASRock's tech support team.

B****r!

Guess I'll be returning the 8800GT then

[Blitzen]

Yep.

Didn't see that in the ASRock FAQ (must be going blind) but just had that advice in a reply from ASRock's tech support team.

B****r!

Guess I'll be returning the 8800GT then

How are you going to return it?
Its the motherboard with the issue and not the card?

Sell it. There are plenty of 'loonies' out there willing to pay over the odds for some reason.

[MadduckUK]

could always flash the bios if you have integrated graphics / a pci graphics card handy

[phoenix198]

could always flash the bios if you have integrated graphics / a pci graphics card handy

Although it is the motherboard that is not capable of running the 8800GT, the ASRock advice is to flash the 8800GT's VGA BIOS (not the mobo's BIOS - already done that), and I'm not prepared to do that because a. don't like flashing video BIOSs b. it might not work and c. it would invalidate the 8800GT's warranty

The 8800GT is still within DSR 7 day return timescale so I'll RMA it

[phoenix198]

How are you going to return it?
Its the motherboard with the issue and not the card?

Sell it. There are plenty of 'loonies' out there willing to pay over the odds for some reason.

You may be right about the 'loonies' but as the card is within the 7 days from receipt Distance Selling Regulations window, I can return it 'as of right'. Simpler that way ....

[Blitzen]

You may be right about the 'loonies' but as the card is within the 7 days from receipt Distance Selling Regulations window, I can return it 'as of right'. Simpler that way ....

Ahhhh......i didnt know it was that new.

I will tell you what though. You will prolly get more than what you paid though, especially after you have paid the return shipping.

[phoenix198]

Ahhhh......i didnt know it was that new.

I will tell you what though. You will prolly get more than what you paid though, especially after you have paid the return shipping.

Actually I've had a complete change of heart.

I'm now not going to sell or return the card, but instead I'm going to replace the motherboard

And the PSU

And add another 320GB HDD for a striped RAID area

And add a TV card

Good job the Vista Home Prem I've got on this machine is a retail version OK an upgrade version but still retail

Anyone want an ASRock Core2Quad-SATA2?

[burtie]

Lol the little things that make us spend alot, good idea changing the mobo.