[SOLVED] GeForce Drivers can't find my GTX 950 card - HELP

[hobkirk]

Sorry - I accidentally "posted" this as I was changing it completely.
The actual post is 3 slots down.

 

[WildCard999]

What is your question or issue?

If you need the driver download link.
https://www.nvidia.com/Download/driverResults.aspx/159423/en-us

 

[hobkirk]

I think the problem must be my video card is defective or the new-to-me MB has bad PCIe slots.

• Everything works using the onboard graphics HDMI slot.
• The card fit nicely in the slot, I connected the 6 prong plug, the fan works, the "MSI" lights up
• I ran GeForce Experience program which I think was going to install the correct driver,
  • But it could not find the card.

SYSTEM - New Win 10 install on Gigabyte Z290 MB, M.2 500MB, HDD 1TB, i5 6500, 8 GB SSD4 2400 RAM - relevant (as far as I know) BIOS settings -

• BIOS = Win 8/10 Features ON (other choices include WHQL and "Othe OS"
• Peripherals = Initial Display Output = PCIe 1 Slot
• Chipset =
  • VT-d Enabled
  • Internal Graphics Enabled = Auto

Win 10, Device Manager, Display Adapters = ONLY Intel HD Graphics 530

I don't have another PC that I can use to test the card in. The GPU never had problems before the MB crashed 3 years ago.

Obviously I am out of my depth. Any suggestions?
===================================================================
Failed attempts to install drviers

• My original post was going to be: GTX 950 new install Win 10 - "Driver Download" doesn't find it - The steps are listed below.

===================================================================
ATTEMPT 1 ----------------------
NVIDIA Download Drivers page

1. Type = GeForce
2. Product Series = GeForce 900 Series
3. Product = GeForce GTX 950
4. OS = Win 10 64
5. Download Type = Studio Driver (SD) - Game Ready Driver
6. SEARCH

Result = "No certified downloads were found for this configuration"

ATTEMPT 2 ----------------------
MSI GeForce GTX 950 GAMING 2G - (my card us branded MSI)

1. choose SUPPORT
2. choose "Driver
3. select "GEFORCE EXPERIENCE ("Recommended")
4. I am redirected to NVIDIA GEFORCE > GEFORCE EXPERIENCE
5. choose DOWNLOAD NOW
6. Save, click on download, run -

Result = ""NVIDIA Installer cannot continue - GEFORCE EXPERIENCE requires an NVIDIA GPU"

WHY DOES GEFORCE INSTALLER NOT FIND GPU? ---------------------
click on "System Requirements" - shows required CPU, RAM, HD space, OS (my system checks all the boxes) -
And it lists: GPU Series - 6 categories -

• RTX 2060 and up
• GTX class - 1600's, 1000's, Titan X, >>>900<<<, 700, 600, 600-900M,
  >>>> hey, isn't my GTX 950 considered a "900"? <<<<
• 4 more small groupings w/ 600, 700, 300,200,100, 9, 8, and M versions

What is going on? Have I fallen into an NVIDIA worm hole?

 

[WildCard999]

Is the monitor connected to the motherboard or the GTX 950?

 

[hobkirk]

When the monitor is connected to the HDMI port on the MB, it works.
When the monitor is connected to the HDMI port on the PCIe card, there is NO SIGNAL

 

[WildCard999]

When the monitor is connected to the HDMI port on the MB, it works.
When the monitor is connected to the HDMI port on the PCIe card, there is NO SIGNAL

So when the monitor is connected to the motherboard it's using the iGPU on the 6500 which is why you have a display.

When the monitor is connected to the GTX 950 and there is no display then the issue more then likely is the GTX 950. Did it work previously? Did you buy it used? Can you test it out in another system? Does that model GTX 950 require a 6-pin connection? If so is it connected? Using a PSU adapter?

 

[Third-Eye]

I think the problem must be my video card is defective or the new-to-me MB has bad PCIe slots.

• Everything works using the onboard graphics HDMI slot.
• The card fit nicely in the slot, I connected the 6 prong plug, the fan works, the "MSI" lights up
• I ran GeForce Experience program which I think was going to install the correct driver,
  • But it could not find the card.

SYSTEM - New Win 10 install on Gigabyte Z290 MB, M.2 500MB, HDD 1TB, i5 6500, 8 GB SSD4 2400 RAM - relevant (as far as I know) BIOS settings -

• BIOS = Win 8/10 Features ON (other choices include WHQL and "Othe OS"
• Peripherals = Initial Display Output = PCIe 1 Slot
• Chipset =
  • VT-d Enabled
  • Internal Graphics Enabled = Auto

Win 10, Device Manager, Display Adapters = ONLY Intel HD Graphics 530

I don't have another PC that I can use to test the card in. The GPU never had problems before the MB crashed 3 years ago.

Obviously I am out of my depth. Any suggestions?
===================================================================
Failed attempts to install drviers

• My original post was going to be: GTX 950 new install Win 10 - "Driver Download" doesn't find it - The steps are listed below.

===================================================================
ATTEMPT 1 ----------------------
NVIDIA Download Drivers page

1. Type = GeForce
2. Product Series = GeForce 900 Series
3. Product = GeForce GTX 950
4. OS = Win 10 64
5. Download Type = Studio Driver (SD) - Game Ready Driver
6. SEARCH

Result = "No certified downloads were found for this configuration"

ATTEMPT 2 ----------------------
MSI GeForce GTX 950 GAMING 2G - (my card us branded MSI)

1. choose SUPPORT
2. choose "Driver
3. select "GEFORCE EXPERIENCE ("Recommended")
4. I am redirected to NVIDIA GEFORCE > GEFORCE EXPERIENCE
5. choose DOWNLOAD NOW
6. Save, click on download, run -

Result = ""NVIDIA Installer cannot continue - GEFORCE EXPERIENCE requires an NVIDIA GPU"

WHY DOES GEFORCE INSTALLER NOT FIND GPU? ---------------------
click on "System Requirements" - shows required CPU, RAM, HD space, OS (my system checks all the boxes) -
And it lists: GPU Series - 6 categories -

• RTX 2060 and up
• GTX class - 1600's, 1000's, Titan X, >>>900<<<, 700, 600, 600-900M,
  >>>> hey, isn't my GTX 950 considered a "900"? <<<<
• 4 more small groupings w/ 600, 700, 300,200,100, 9, 8, and M versions

What is going on? Have I fallen into an NVIDIA worm hole?

It looks like you were trying to download a Studio version of the driver when you need the Game Ready driver in Download Type. You also cannot install Geforce Experience without the GPU driver installed already. Download the newest driver for your GTX 950 here https://www.nvidia.com/Download/driverResults.aspx/159423/en-us

If the system just doesn't even detect the graphics card in the first place and you get no output from it when your monitor is connected, you may have a defective graphics card. It kind of looks more like you were just trying to download the incorrect driver release form the Download Type selection.

 

[hobkirk]

Thank you. Third Eye.

1. I downloaded both the studio version AND the Game Ready
2. The link you show is exactly what I used.
3. GeForce recommended using "GeForce Experience" to install the drive

So now I need to figure out how PCI cards work in Win 10 - in XP, there would be a "found new hardware" - I have not seen that in Win 10 despite trying another unknown video card (ASUS) or a COMM adapter card in another PCI slot.

Thanks all.

 

[Third-Eye]

Thank you. Third Eye.

1. I downloaded both the studio version AND the Game Ready
2. The link you show is exactly what I used.
3. GeForce recommended using "GeForce Experience" to install the drive

So now I need to figure out how PCI cards work in Win 10 - in XP, there would be a "found new hardware" - I have not seen that in Win 10 despite trying another unknown video card (ASUS) or a COMM adapter card in another PCI slot.

Thanks all.

Windows 10 should be automatically detecting the GTX 950 and installing the driver. If it never did that, it could mean a few things or more. You may not have finished installing all the motherboard drivers that Windows didn't automatically install. The graphics card is defective or the graphics card is not getting enough power because there is a possible issue with the power supply. There is the possibility that you might have bent a CPU socket pin when installing the CPU and now the PCIe slot(s) doesn't function properly.

What is the model of your power supply?

 

[hobkirk]

• What are "motherboard drivers" that Windows installs?
• The PSU is Corsair CX430M - no overclocking, 3 small fans

And thank you

 

[Third-Eye]

• What are "motherboard drivers" that Windows installs?
• The PSU is Corsair CX430M - no overclocking, 3 small fans

And thank you

Do you know your actual motherboard model and not just Gigabyte Z270? You might only need to download and install the chipset driver.

Normally you would download the newest drivers for your motherboard from the product support web-page and install those. Windows update doesn't always install everything, and sometimes requires those motherboard drivers for other functions. Just to make sure you have everything installed that is required, you should go to the product web-page for your motherboard and click the support option to download drivers.

If drivers are not the issue, it probably means something is wrong with the GTX 950, the power supply or maybe there is a defect in the motherboard. Since your PSU is still powering the system and you haven't said anything about random shutoffs or reboots, The only other thing I can think that would be the issue is the modular PCIE cable you are using to power the GPU is not totally plugged into the PSU or the GPU, so double check that too.

 

[hobkirk]

Third Eye - thanks for persevering.

1. Move GPU to large PCI #3 (runs at x4) - it worked fine. Ditto large PCI #2 (runs at x8)
2. Tried slot 1 (runs @ x16) again = nothing

So, bad MB. I can use it, but I assume it will run at half the speed of PCI #1.

And thanks again

 

[Third-Eye]

Third Eye - thanks for persevering.

1. Move GPU to large PCI #3 (runs at x4) - it worked fine. Ditto large PCI #2 (runs at x8)
2. Tried slot 1 (runs @ x16) again = nothing

So, bad MB. I can use it, but I assume it will run at half the speed of PCI #1.

And thanks again

Which model Gigabyte Z270 motherboard is it? If that bottom slot is using PCIE 3.0, it should have more than enough bandwidth to run your GTX 950 at full performance. Even PCIE 2.0 running at 4x should be fine and maybe drop performance by around 5%.