New vid card DOA :(

[Bizman]

Thanks for the clarification. Until so far I've obviously only seen cards that a) haven't been plugged into power, giving the warning, or b) have been able to boot with insufficient amount of juice at least to the desktop. I still have a feeling that (almost) any card is able to produce some graphics at boot time to the point where vga ends, given all power cords are plugged, no matter what their amperage is. After all, up to the point when only text is shown, any graphics circuit starting from eighties? seventies even? could show the black and white text at startup . Getting to Windows can be a totally different thing. Feel free to correct me if I'm wrong, I'll take it as ongoing education. 

[MrRiplEy[H]]

Thanks for the clarification. Until so far I've obviously only seen cards that a) haven't been plugged into power, giving the warning, or b) have been able to boot with insufficient amount of juice at least to the desktop. I still have a feeling that (almost) any card is able to produce some graphics at boot time to the point where vga ends, given all power cords are plugged, no matter what their amperage is. After all, up to the point when only text is shown, any graphics circuit starting from eighties? seventies even? could show the black and white text at startup . Getting to Windows can be a totally different thing. Feel free to correct me if I'm wrong, I'll take it as ongoing education. 

Although years ago, I personally experienced a false 'DOA' graphics card which simply refused to even display POST on my computer. It worked perfectly when we tested it on the shops own rig. Using a properly sized PSU the card became functional.

[Kenne]

then what PSU do yall recommend that have 30A?

[gyrene81]

then what PSU do yall recommend that have 30A?

how much do you want to spend? here is a thermaltake toughpower 750w single +12v rail @ 60a for $70 -- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817153170

a seasonic 550w single +12v rail @ 45a for $74 (it's a little better quality) -- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817151136

[Kenne]

thanks Gyrene.

but with the RMA hassles im having with the DOA VC,
I think more $$$ outlay at the local spots may put me closer to god.

Best buy n Frys are lot closer than Newegg in Whittier.

[guncrasher]

thanks Gyrene.

but with the RMA hassles im having with the DOA VC,
I think more $$$ outlay at the local spots may put me closer to god.

Best buy n Frys are lot closer than Newegg in Whittier.

whittier is right next to newegg's will call.  newegg's will call is right by the 60and 57.  fry's has some really crappy ps's unless you want to spend 150+.

semp

[gyrene81]

eh, before you send that card back...since that power supply has 2 +12v rails, you could try 1 power plug from each rail and plug them into the video card. that is assuming the power supply allows you to do it, that may get the power needed by the card to at least post.

[Bizman]

eh, before you send that card back...since that power supply has 2 +12v rails, you could try 1 power plug from each rail and plug them into the video card. that is assuming the power supply allows you to do it, that may get the power needed by the card to at least post.

You mean like the Y-cable with a pair of female molex connectors used for older hard disks and opticals, which often are shipped with the GPU? If the PSU has two 12 V rails, I have a strong feeling that one has only the GPU connectors and the other for other peripherals. Again, I may be wrong, but my imagination says the simplest way to separate two rails would be like that.

[gyrene81]

You mean like the Y-cable with a pair of female molex connectors used for older hard disks and opticals, which often are shipped with the GPU? If the PSU has two 12 V rails, I have a strong feeling that one has only the GPU connectors and the other for other peripherals. Again, I may be wrong, but my imagination says the simplest way to separate two rails would be like that.

it depends on the power supply Biz. i have an older thermaltake 750w modular with 2 12v rails and each set of cables have 1 6pin and 1 8pin gpu power connection. i also have adaptors with 4 pin molex to 6pin gpu power connectors.

[Bizman]

it depends on the power supply Biz. i have an older thermaltake 750w modular with 2 12v rails and each set of cables have 1 6pin and 1 8pin gpu power connection. i also have adaptors with 4 pin molex to 6pin gpu power connectors.

Good to know. I have a bunch of several molex to gpu adapters, too, both single and the Y-type. It's just that there's usually no information about how the wiring matches the rails. Modulars make it even more complicated.

[gyrene81]

Good to know. I have a bunch of several molex to gpu adapters, too, both single and the Y-type. It's just that there's usually no information about how the wiring matches the rails. Modulars make it even more complicated.

interesting, mine has the +12v pci-e rails separated, which makes it easy to figure out how to tap into both rails....if i'm not grossly mistaken the yellow with blue stripe is the +12v line, and if you don't have a modular power supply there should be tags on the cables.

[Kenne]

well the thermaltake i got has four outlets on the back.
1 marked 'PCiE' and that terminates into two 6pin plugs (for SLI)

and then one is for MB power, and the other two are for the rest.

with adaptors sent with the card..both of the 6pins became the 8pin plug.
then two molex adaptors became the cards 6pin connector.
(the card has one 6pin and one 8pin)

[gyrene81]

odd...i wonder if they're using 1 of your +12v legs dedicated to mobo power and the other for pci-e...that would explain a lot.

[Kenne]

Gyrene, do you have a VC with 2 aux power connects?

if you disco both of them, will the comp still boot.?

[Bizman]

odd...i wonder if they're using 1 of your +12v legs dedicated to mobo power and the other for pci-e...that would explain a lot.

That's what I was thinking about. With two rails it somehow makes sense dedicating one rail for GPU calculations and the other for "regular" computing. Then again not, as it shows. No wonder Thermaltake have gone into single rail with most of their new PSU's.