Help with new video card

[Crash Orange]

Not directly AH related but I'm hoping someone can help since I'm upgrading specifically for this game.

I installed my new video card and the computer won't boot. I get the very first screen where it says "Press the ESC key for startup menu", a few beeps, then nothing, it just stays on that screen. I unplugged the power supply before switching the cards out, the new card was seated correctly in the slot, the power cord to the card was hooked up, the power supply is more than adequate for the card, the monitor was connected, and I tried it both before and after installing the new driver and got the same result. The old card is a GT 520 and the new one is a GTX 960. It still works fine if I put the old card back in. Any idea what the problem might be?

DXDiag with old card attached.

[Skuzzy]

Typically HP computers only have enough power supply to drive what is in the stock system.  What makes you think the power supply is big enough?

A 960 needs about 120W, to be comfortable.
A 520 needs about 100W, to be comfortable.

[Bizman]

You may not like this and I hope that I'm wrong:

 from http://h20564.www2.hp.com/hpsc/doc/public/display?docId=c03188873

   
Must select one of the following options:

    Intel Graphics Media Accelerator HD Integrated Graphics

    GeForce 405 (512 MB)

    GeForce GT 520 (1 GB)

    GeForce GT 530 (2 GB)

    Radeon HD 6450 (512 MB)

    Radeon HD 6450 (1 GB)

    Radeon HD 7350 (512 MB)

    Radeon HD 7450 (1 GB)

    Radeon HD 7570 (2 GB)

[Crash Orange]

Typically HP computers only have enough power supply to drive what is in the stock system.  What makes you think the power supply is big enough?

A 960 needs about 120W, to be comfortable.
A 520 needs about 100W, to be comfortable.

I upgraded to a 480W power supply. The recommended minimum is 400W.

[Crash Orange]

You may not like this and I hope that I'm wrong:

Pretty sure those are the options to include in a system you buy from them, not every compatible upgrade.

[Skuzzy]

The symptoms you are describing, assuming everything is connected correctly, are exactly what they would be for not enough power.

480W seems a bit small to me, but it also depends on how that 480W is apportioned between all the voltages supplied.  It would not be beyond the realm of possibilities to get a bigger supply but end up with the same, or less, power to the extra PCI power plugs.

[Crash Orange]

This is the power supply I got: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817170018

Any suggestions for how to proceed?

Thanks very much for responding.

[oboe]

Isn't it common for bootup beeps to be a code indicating an error condition?   I.E. two short beeps vs one long or one long and one short - that kind of thing.

Can you search beep codes for your motherboard model?

[Bizman]

Pretty sure those are the options to include in a system you buy from them, not every compatible upgrade.

Not all of the hardware options "must select", so I suppose there's a reason for that. I've learned the hard way that HP can have a white list or some other restrictions coded in the bios.

[Edit]According to the last post on page one in http://www.hammerfistclan.com/forum/f60/graphics-card-installation-problem-639848/ I was right.

---this motherboard is incompatible with all gtx7xx cards because of bios---

That naturally applies to more modern cards, too. 

[Skuzzy]

It would be like them to do that.  HP has been brilliant in creating products they can easily obsolete.

[Chalenge]

Yes, we were all bitten with one such problem just recently. HP had hardcoded their BIOS in such a way that standard drivers would not function, period. In fact, I believe that was a CPU issue.

[Crash Orange]

 

Thanks again for the help. So, where does this leave me? New motherboard or whole new system?

[Brooke]

I ran into this once on one of my machines.

I don't know if this is what is going on with yours or not, but it is quick enough to try.

Try this:

Shut off your computer and unplug power cord.
Press your front power-on button and keep it held in for 5 seconds.
Take out your new graphics card and install your old graphics card.
Boot your machine.
Shut it down.
Unplug your power cord.
Press your front power-on button and keep it held in for 5 seconds.
Take out your old graphics card and install your new graphics card.
Boot your machine.

If that doesn't work, 2nd thing to try.

Look up on Web how to clear your CMOS/reset your BIOS for the computer you have.
Shut down your computer.
Unplug power cord.
Hold in front power-on button for 5 seconds.
Clear your CMOS/reset BIOS.
Boot your machine.

[Brooke]

By the way, clearing CMOS on most motherboards is to do either of these things.  Use a method like this -- not one by selecting some reset from your screen while in the BIOS settings.

1.  Locate jumper near the battery on your motherboard labeled "CLEAR CMOS, CLEAR, CLR CMOS, PASSWORD, or CLR PWD".
2.  Set the jumper to "CLEAR".
3.  Power on your computer.
4.  Power down your computer.
5.  Remove power plug.
6.  Hold in front power-on button for 5 seconds.
7.  Put the jumper back to where it was before you moved it.

or

1.  Remove your motherboard's battery.
2.  Wait 10 seconds.
3.  Reinstall battery.

[Brooke]

Also, always observe proper static precautions.

When working on your computers, don't be moving your feet around (or moving knees around if you are kneeling, or sliding your butt around if you are sitting).

Touch non-painted metal parts of the case with your hands before you touch anything inside the computer.

If you can manage it, while you are touching anything inside the computer, keep part of your hand (or 2nd best your other hand) touching a non-painted metal part of the case.

Do this also with graphics cards and other electronic components you might be handling -- touch a bare metal part on the device before moving it.  Don't handle it by any of the parts that plug into the slots on the motherboard.  Touch only the bracket and edges of the circuit board.