computer won't boot with my new AIW graphics card

[frazer]

Hello,

I'm trying to revamp my HTPC using an AIW x800GT PCI-e card and an MSI RS480M2-il motherboard, but can't get it to boot. Before installing this graphics card, I had tested an 8600GT which is going to go in my HD HTPC, and everything worked, so the problem would seem to lie with the ATI x800 card.

Tellingly, I presume, the DVD drive won't open now when I switch the computer on- only the fans on the CPU and the Graphics card are obviously working- so I assume it's a problem with power supply to the motherboard or something. But can an x800GT really be drawing that much more than the 8600GT I had in beforehand? Or is the problem likely to be something else entirely?

All I could think of trying was swapping the power connectors to the optical drives around (I have 2 hard drives and the DVD drive installed) so that they weren't using the chain of connectors which had the 4 pin CPU power connector on it, but this made no difference. My power supply is rated at 350W- the recommended amount for the AIW card- and gives 16A on the 12V rail, if that is important. The CPU is a Venice Athlon 64 3000+, so that shouldn't require too much power itself.

The only other thing to point out is that the motherboard has a 24 pin socket but my power supply only has the 20 pin connector, but this obviously was not a problem with the 8600GT installed.

Does anyone have any ideas as to what I might try next? I'm a bit stumped. I don't have another power supply to test with unfortunately.

Thanks!

Frazer

[peterh]

Some PCI-e cards need their own power connection; which presumably isn't present on your current PSU. Also, you can get 20 pin to 24 pin motherboard power connector convertors, but if you need a new PSU for the card you'll be able to sort that at the same time

[martint123]

I'd say the DVD not opening was a giveaway. Have you a test meter to check the 5 and 12 volts on the drive connectors.

[frazer]

Thanks for the responses. The AIW x800gt card doesn't have a power connector on it. I don't have a power meter, and can't really afford a new PSU at the moment. Is it sounding likely then that the x800 is putting more strain on the 12V rail than the 8600GT, even if their overall power consumption is similar?

Thanks again,

Frazer

[ACTCMS]

Probably irrelevant, but have you tried putting the 8600GT back in to see if that still works?

[frazer]

no I haven't- it was literally a few hours between testing them both, but it might be worth a go again later!

thanks,

Frazer

[ACTCMS]

My thinking is that if the machine stills works fine with the old card, then nothing got fried when you installed the new one - so definitely worth a go.

Alex

[frazer]

Definitely makes sense to try it, but everything runs fine with the 8600GT back in, so I guess the problem is with the ATI AIW x800GT. Bloody annoying if it's due to the PSU- I'll probably have to sell the AIW rather than buy another power supply due to financial restraints. Does anyone know if these ATI cards are known for being harder on the 12V rail for instance than the Nvidia perhaps?

thanks again,

Frazer

[Jaggy]

Could be worth trying disconnecting the power from all your drives etc. so they aren't drawing any power & see if it will boot then.

[smajor]

I haven't looked at the specs of your hardware, but I remember waaaaaaaay back when there were compatibility issues with AGP4x vs. AGP8x (putting an 8x in a computer, while suppose to be backwards compatible, wasn't always.)

Could something similar be happening here? PCIe, I believe, has a 1.0, 1.1, and now 2.0 spec. They are all suppose to be backwards compatible (both ways), but the symptom you're describing seems to be reminiscent of that AGP issue of days gone by.