Could I have a faulty graphics card

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jarnie

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Aug 8, 2015
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Recently I moved a graphics card (Radeon HD7660) from an older PC to my newer PC.
Since doing this I am experiencing the screen going completely blank for about 2 seconds which seems to happen completely randomly. It may not go blank for some time after I power up and sometimes very soon after powering up. Sometimes it happens once and other times it will happen twice withing a few seconds.
I posted this problem some time ago and received a few replies such as "try reseating the card on the mb" to "update the video driver". I also asked the manufacturer (Saphhire) who suggested getting rid of any NVidia software when I did - although I read that all that was required when changing graphics card was to uninstall the previous video driver before removing the old card which I did.
I also went through the registry and removed anything with the word 'nvidia' in it.
The problem has NOT gone away.

My question now is - is it possible for a video card to have an intermittent problem (causing the monitor to go blank briefly intermittently) such as I have?

I did not have any problem with the old very basic NVidia card.

BTW my system has a 500watt PSU, a i7-4770 CPU and GA-H87M-HD3 Mb and the MB drivers are up to date.

Thanks

John
 
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BubbaBobBobBob

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Feb 15, 2013
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Did this new computer used Nvidia or Radeon before video drivers before?
I suggest you get Display Driver Uninstaller Download version 15.7.4.1 from Guru3D and do a complete (safe mode is your friend) uninstall of the graphics drivers and then reinstall them. Next step the power supply and or power wires...
 
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jarnie

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Aug 8, 2015
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Thanks for your suggestions.

The PC used to have NVidia drivers and software installed before I installed the 'AMD/GeForrce' graphics card.

I will try the Display Driver Uninstaller to see if it does anything for me but I am now thinking that it could be the power supply (the other suggestion) although if the power supply is 'dodgy' wouldn't I see other problems?

The older PC (where the graphics card was taken from) has a well known power supply (Widetech) whereas the newer PC has a 'no name' PSU which came with the tower and all up it was quite cheap (probably about the same cost all up as I paid for the Widetech PSU). They are both labled 500 watt.

Do I assume correctly that 'generic/no name/el cheapo' PSU's although labled as say 500watt may not always supply that power compared to a well known (Widetech) PSU?
 
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BubbaBobBobBob

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Feb 15, 2013
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It's possible your power supply does not have enough power for it, but I also assume that a NVidia card was installed in this computer because of prior drivers, so that should not be a problem, UNLESS your old NVidia was a puny single slot card and I do not know how much juice a HD7660 used, I'm a team Green (NVidia Fanboy)...
What is the power of the other computers power supply (which the card came from is it also 500w?)

 
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jarnie

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Aug 8, 2015
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Both PCs have a 500watt rated PSU.
Yes I now prefer NVidia graphics cards. I bought the HD6770 a couple of years ago which seemed to have 'more bangs per buck' as they say compared with a similar priced NVidia card.
I now intend to get a GTX950 in a few months time when they drop in price (according to what the sales people at my favorite PC shop says).
I might swap the video cards back to see what happens.
Right now I am waiting to see if the screen goes blank after running the video card uninstaller program.

I also meant to ask if I should try a Windows 7 'repair' or are the risks not worth a possible fix?
 
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jarnie

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Aug 8, 2015
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For a short time I thought that running the Display Driver Uninstall had fixed my problem but just a short time ago the screen went blank again for a about 2 seconds.

I just remembered that this HD6770 card has a PCI-E 4 pin connector and the PSU unit did not have a 4 pin plug so I used a 'converter plug' which attaches to a molex plug. So it is either an older PSU or an 'el cheapo'. Not sure if this could be a problem. Maybe I will disconnect the 'converter' and reconnect in case the connection is not good and/or connect it to a different molex if I have a spare one.

If that don't work I guess the next thing to try is a new PSU but that will be an expensive exercise if it also doesn't fix the problem.

 
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gokitty199

gokitty199

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Feb 4, 2013
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amd recommends a minimum of a 450W psu. i cant find how many amps it needs on the 12v rail, whats your power supply
 
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jarnie

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Hello
The PSU has on it the following -
NUMAN model AT-500H
500watt PEAK POWER
+3.3v 24A
+5 20A
+12V1 16A
+12V2 16A
-12V 0.5A
5V5b 2A
The 6pin plug to the HD6770 shares power with the DVD drive.

I am starting to think that the PSU could be the culprit remembering that it seems to be a generic/el cheapo PSU which came with the tower case.
When a graphics card manufacturer states that 450watt PSU is required do they mean 450watts at 12V or a PSU which has a minimum 450W totally (all rails)?
Mine has 2 X 12V each of 16A (total 32A) which is only 384 watts total (at +12V)


Thanks

John
 
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jarnie

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Aug 8, 2015
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Well this problem has been solved by me.
I found that for some unknown reason there was both a digital and analogue cable connected to the monitor. ONLY the DIGITAL cable was connected to my PC and when I removed the analogue cable the problem stopped.
 
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