[SOLVED] Can only boot if I reset the cmos everytime after a new GPU install

[OCZedd]

Ain't been on here or in the PC scene the last few years. I've got an old Core 2 Duo 1.8Ghz cpu @ 3.0Ghz OC on an Abit IP35-E motherboard 775 plus a ATI 3850HD 512MB which recently died so I went and got a old 7800GT to bung in it for awhile, did the trick but now I have just bought and installed a new AMD R7 250 2GB.

However when I booted the first time, nothing happened, turned on but black screen (no signal) so I reset the CMOS and it booted with defaults logged into windows 7 installed drivers etc.. Then rebooted and then nothing again just black screen (although I suspect that behind the scenes, the pc may be booting and running in to windows just fine, I just cannot see it)

I can only boot when I reset the CMOS by removing the battery everytime, once only, and cannot log in a second time. I have tried going into the bios(when its CMOS reseted) and just changing the date from 2007 to 2019 and hit save and exit but it won't boot again just black screen. However when I just hit exit and don't change a setting it will boot again. But once it gets into windows its all fine and then I shutdown it won't boot a second time.

So its like the bios can only run this GPU if its in default settings for the bios and that also implies my pc/windwos is editing the bios as it boots once but cannot a second time , so I guess its changing a setting in the bios automatically during the first boot and thats why I need to keep cmos reseting, although I don't know why i need to do this anyway? Really confused as to whats happened? Is my GPU not compatible? Is there a setting I need to do?

Thanks

 

[clutchc]

Are your BIOS settings always reverting to default between boots? Like what would happen with a weak/dead CMOS battery?

 

[OCZedd]

Hi well I cant tell because it never boots a second time, only boots when I take out the battery and so it is 100% reset to defaults then. Also tried a brand new battery same thing.

Although one time it did it, no second boot still, but I let the pc sit off for awhile (10 minutes and unplugged from wall) and then it booted back with defaults without removing the battery and so I thought battery and changed to a new battery but yeah still doesn't work right. So its not that still

 

[clutchc]

But everything still boots/works normally with the 7800GT?

Btw, You said the R7 250 was new. But that card is quite a few years old; a 2013 card to be exact. Where did you find one that old still new? If you don't mind me asking.

 

[OCZedd]

It did, havent tried the 7800 again. I'm not in the UK (or USA) atm, I am abroad, and so got it in a local pc shop, i wondered the same thing , the 260 is the later one, it didnt look used though but hard to tell.

however it runs fine first boot, im on it now and its ok, not benched it or nothing yet though, could be haggered who knows.

 

[OCZedd]

The guy in their ordered it from a supplier, so who knows. I also could only see used ones for sale

 

[clutchc]

The guy in their ordered it from a supplier, so who knows. I also could only see used ones for sale

What is the make and model of the R7 250?

 

[OCZedd]

Sapphire . Isn’t the model r7 250?

 

[OCZedd]

It’s the low power small sized one 75watts

 

[clutchc]

It’s the low power small sized one 75watts

One of these?
But OK. Just wanted to make sure he didn't sell you a no name rip-off. I see lots of them on ebay.

 

[clutchc]

I think Abit is defuct now. Do you have the latest BIOS that they offer for that board? This is all I can find for that board.

 

[OCZedd]

Yeah its a legit Sapphire one. Wouldnt want one otherwise.

On bootup: bios id: 11 (2007) so I guess its not the latest one as they are from 2008. Could make a difference, but am well reluctant to flash the bios, especially seeing as something odd is going on possibly with the mobo and then I'm left with a brick.

Could just go back to the 7800GT when it all worked fine but super slow lol. AND i wasted a 100 on a new gpu.

Also for some reason when I'm in windows 7 with aero it turns on and off sometimes, both other gpu's didnt do this, but it could be because I'm running defualt cmos everytime and so no cpu OC (3ghz down to stock 1.8ghz)

All i can think is try the 7800gt again? And test this gpu back in the shop i bought it from today and see if its good? Anyhing else?

EDIT: of course this 710GT works, its also pci-e 2.0 and my old 3850HD was pci-e 2.0 too, which broke in the first place lol

 

[OCZedd]

UPDATE: Looking on the sapphire site: http://www.sapphiretech.com/productdetial.asp?pid=EA78A741-232C-4399-B5A5-F99068D659F0&lang=eng

It says on all their products from the last 6/7years which are pci-e 2.0/3.0 that it needs a minimum of pci-e 2.0 to run at the bottom of the specs even an old 4850HD : http://www.sapphiretech.com/productdetial.asp?Pid=93502187-4EF1-4100-964F-71774195C938&lang=eng

Strange that sapphire are the only ones i can see that list this others just say pci-e x16 thats it.

So i managed to get a 710GT at the moment, bit underpowered compared but it works all fine, cmos all good.

Not sure what to do now, either get another brand R7 250 (he'll let me swap it) and hope its just a sapphire thing, but also I have read it could also be an AMD thing on backwards compatibility. Or get a 730GT as its better than the 710GT , same architecture and so should work? Or maybe something more from nvidia?

Thanks,

 

[clutchc]

That Abit board is pretty old, and Abits are not well supported anymore. It could just be a compatibility issue with some of the newer UEFI cards and the older Abit (legacy) BIOS. If you don't want to chance a BIOS update, I'd suggest getting another card. Later gen Nvidia cards have always been a surer bet when using one on an old board than ATI (AMD) for me.

See if he'll exchange the R7-250 for an Nvidia of the same or better performance. GT 1030, GTX 750/750 Ti... should be equivalent to the R7-250.