Graphics card not detected in Dell optiplex 990

[Vokturne]

I inherited a Dell Optiplex 990 recently and wanted to use the Nvidida GeForce 470 from my old computer in it. I swapped out the 240watt power supply with a 650watt one from my old case. The computer boots to windows and runs fine with the exception of Windows not recognizing another video device. I checked BIOS and PCI slots are turned on - I installed the card in slot one of the motherboard which is PCI-e x16. Both 6 pin power connecters are plugged into the top of the 470.

I also checked BIOS for an option to turn off the onboard graphics integrated into the i7 since I thought that may have conflicted but could find no option.

Any advice/suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Hardware includes i7 2600
16bg ram
128 ssd (Windows drive)
1tb hdd from old computer
Nvidia geforce 470

Thanks

 

[junkeymonkey]

the card may not be supported under the dell bios for that model ?? prebuilts are funny that way with certain upgrading .. I never recommend upgrading a prebuilt unless your 100% sure the parts will work

there only guaranteed to work as is as you bought it out of the box from dell or dells authorized parts/upgrade list for that model anything you do outside of that is all your own risk

my disclaimer

some models of store bought computers [dell.hp,acer,ect..] may come with a ''locked or fixed'' bios and may not allow you to change certain hardware as a video card.. this is done to protect them from undue warranty claims and refunds .this is not done to hurt you but to protect them. you really need to see if that upgrade has been proven to work in your model first before you invest money in it .. there are a lot of these threads here at toms to look at some models will allow upgrades and some dont.. and a lot of guys here say ya ya ya when is really no no no...it would be sad you spent $200 on a card that wount post after you installed it as most find out. then get told its your psu and you spend more and end up right back where you are now, but its up to you good luck..


you got to know the the boards in these computers are not like the ones we use to do custom builds witch are open to upgrading with in the boards compatibly . the bios is custom made for there design and just for the parts they authorize to be used on there computers there only guaranteed to work as is out of the box as you bought it ,..


also these boards do not have to meet atx standards and there pci-e slot power may not do the required 75w needed for most higher end cards and can be limited to say 45 or 60w that is all thats needed with the low end factory oem cards that it may of shipped with

 

[junkeymonkey]

may dig through all these and find gpu threads to see whats what ?? all I see are AMD cards used so far ??

http://en.community.dell.com/search#q=Dell%20optiplex%20990&sort=date%20desc&defaultAskForumId=0&pi32437=4

 

[Vokturne]

may dig through all these and find gpu threads to see whats what ?? all I see are AMD cards used so far ??

http://en.community.dell.com/search#q=Dell%20optiplex%20990&sort=date%20desc&defaultAskForumId=0&pi32437=4

The computer was offered from dell with some AMD cards as add-ons. I just happened to have the Nvidia 470 from my old computer. If it cannot be upgraded (which would suck for me heh) then it's not too big of a deal. I'll just have to save up and build a new gaming box. As it is this computer was donated to me so I'll make due for a while if I have to. Thanks for your response!

 

[junkeymonkey]

like said here for this NVidia card ''LOL - Answer from Dell Support: This videocard is not supported in the 990 '' this is what I try to point out its a dell board with a dell bios and dell only gives bios support for hardware they want

http://en.community.dell.com/support-forums/desktop/f/3515/t/19385160

all you do is hope for the best

good luck

 

[justajohn]

I don't own an Optiplex 990 I do own quite a few dells.
I'm not completely sure just how far you are getting with trouble shooting this issue but as it is a much older series GPU your dealing with and this is a newer series Dell I would think Bios compatibility issues would not be the problem.
That being said I always recommend that anyone experiencing issues or even if not should update their bios to the most up to date currently offered supported bios available from the manufacturers website. A-19 dated 23 Sep 2013 seems to be the latest. You can verify which bios you are currently running by loading into your bios and checking or by getting a freeware such as CPU-z which can tell you easily while in Windows itself.

People are usually having Bios issues due to trying to use the newest generation of graphics cards in much older generation PC's like a Dell dimension e520. This is causing a conflict where the GPU is requiring a newer Bios from the PC to be able to communicate with it properly. More of a problem with the Graphics card manufacturers not building the support for much older computer systems into their newest line of products.
Nvidia I'm sure doesn't think a typical gtx960 user is going to attach their GPU in a well outdated LGA775 motherboard if you can imagine that. Morons. LOL

Your PC is perfectly compatible with the card as It has a pci-e 16X slot that is rated 2.0 (the blue one on your motherboard). Which you point out you have identified and are using. That's a plus.

The other slot that will accept a full pci-e 16X sized expansion card is only wired for pci-e 4X operation
Just for future reference in case you didn't know.


I would point to a few possible things being the issue here. The first one is probably the most likely.
I say this because from what it seems like you are actually getting video in order to check other things. Also you haven't mentioned the PC freezing up at post with lights and beeps.

1. You have connected your display to a video output on the motherboard itself bypassing the Graphics card completely.

There is a VGA connector and a Display Port output to pass video from the built in on board graphics adapter to your display. If there is anything plugged into either of these two connections it may bypass the card. Sometimes Dell included a Display port to DVI adapter which may be physically plugged into the display port output on the back of the PC... It's a little dongle that adapts display port to DVI.
I would check to see if this is still plugged in. If so this can be removed.
If you happen to have hooked up multiple displays to various video outputs remove everything but a single display. Plug this directly into one of the Graphics card outputs. Please only use one monitor until you get your graphics card working.

2. The card is not seated or powered properly in the slot.

Verify that the gpu is indeed powering on with the PC. Any fans present should spin when the power is turned on. Physically remove the card and reset it into the pci-e 16X slot to ensure it is seated down firmly and completely into it's connector slot (with the power off and the computer disconnected from the power of course). Also re-verify that the pci-e power connectors are firmly attached and in place in there sockets on the GPU to ensure it is indeed getting the required power. Again ensure you are plugging your display into the actual video card adapter itself and not onto another output at the back of computer..

3.The bios is set to initiate the built in IGP for some reason.

This does usually have a setting that can be changed in the bios.
Check this by entering your bios.
In case your not sure what this is exactly or how to go about doing it I'll give a quick rundown.

-First plug your display into one of the onboard graphics options (VGA, Display Port) so that you can have working video.
-Next restart your computer and while it is booting at post press F2 continually. This is usually the quick part it shows Dell Optiplex 990 and a little loading bar. It should not load into windows. if it does restart the computer and try again.
-The bios screen should say Dell really big someplace and have lists of options as well as displaying a lot of basic information about your PC. You should be able to use your mouse and keyboard to negotiate the options. Older ones only used the keyboard and this may be the case but I don't think it will be.
-There should be an option for Video. Selecting this should expand to other options. Primary Video should be an option if not the only one.
Make sure it is not set to engage the onboard video driver only and bypass add in cards.
Dell is really funky with how they word this option in my experience and it varies model to model. Usually Auto is the default and this should look for add in cards first then go to the onboard video.
Sometimes they have a PEG option. You can select this if it's listed as it means PCI Express Graphics. This way it will look for an add in card only in the pci-e slots. Being you have multiple pci-e slots it might be more specific stating which slot to initiate though I doubt this.
I'm not sure or I could tell you specifically.
If it gives an option to load defaults under Video I would choose that option. Then press the Escape key until it asks you if you want to save changes and exit. Choose to save changes and exit.

and lastly
4.The card has just decided to die.

It wouldn't be the first time that an old gpu dies without warning. If you have another PC to test it out try it in another computer. If it is not working in the other PC then it may just be that it has perished.

Dell is anything but helpful on any "real" issue for the most part that deals with enhancing an older computer.
They are in the business of selling new computers.
Yours doesn't work the way you want it to... you can buy one of there NEW computers that do.
So as a rule they say anything that is not sold as an option for the same series PC you own is not supported generally.
This is not the same thing as it can not possibly work at all.
But it can have the same effect for those who don't know the difference.
Or who have not ever successfully attempted.

So a quick reference recap

Simple trouble shoot guide for GPU's

-Set the PC in an open easily accessible place where you can have it open while on and examine everything is working.
-Disconnect all extra accessories accept mouse keyboard monitor and power.
-Also disconnect anything at all that may be plugged into the onboard video outputs (VGA, Display Port)
-Check power to the card is available working and plugged into the graphics card
-Check the video cable to the monitor is actually attached to an output port of the GPU and not on any of the motherboards native video outputs and that nothing else is
-Ensure the display you are using still functions properly
-make sure the bios is set to initiate through the GPU not through the IGP

Hopefully what I have listed can help you to get that old gtx470 to play nice.
If all this hasn't helped in any way please elaborate further with what you have tried and just what else is happening.

- John

 

[justajohn]

Oh and a few more tricks in dealing with Dells shenanigans of trying to keep the consumer under it's thumb. You can unlock a little more performance sometimes using setFSB freeware to adjust the frontside bus frequency if there happens to be a working PLL for your motherboard. This can give you a small to substantial FSB overclock depending.
That and used in conjunction with Throttlestop which is another freeware software you can get more control of your CPU's overall performance in general as well as monitor temperatures. I'd recommend both these things to hopefully unlock any further potential of that older i7 you've got.

With a newer GTX 9xx series gpu that would still be a really decent gaming setup today.

 

[william p]

The old GPU probably has an AHCI BIOS, and the 990 has an EUFI Bios. that will keep them from working together. Nothing to do with Dell really. Look for a GPU with EUFI support. There are some issues with R series AMD cards and Dell BIOS incompatibility. I don't know what models are effected. So do some research before buying one of those. GTX7xx, GTX9xx with EUFI should work.

 

[justajohn]

Yes that Dell has UEFI. I researched a little on the issue... I always thought what I had said was the critical issue because I have the older non uefi Dells which have the issue with newer series gpus. I guess I should have done more looking this up before posting misinformation. But I learned something new today. Thanks williamp.