HELP! GPU not working, cannot be detected!

[jigz2009]

Hello guys. My PC has been idle for almost 2 months since I moved from another place, and I was just able to set it up again and turn it on yesterday. Upon switching my PC ON, there's no display coming out of my monitor. The monitor was then plugged onto the GPU via HDMI cable. But when I plug the monitor to the MOBO's onboard HDMI it works. Try to troubleshoot this annoyance, here the following things I did already:

1. Re-seated the GPU to the PCI-E Mobo several times and restarted PC. Didn't work.

2. Cleared CMOS, double checked BOIS North Bridge Config if default display is set to PCI-Express rather than Onboard. Still didn't work.

3. Tried other cables other than HDMI, DVI and the default DB-15. All the video ports of the GPU didn't work while all worked on the MOBO onboard.

4. Done System Restore and registry cleaning. Nothing.

5. Tried slotting the GPU to the PCI slot instead of the PCI-E then setting the PCI on the BOIS as default. Still didn't work.

6. Tried installing the latest GPU driver but installation fails because it says it cannot detect the GPU from my PC.

Furthermore on Step # 6. I checked via Windows Device Manager and CPU-Z and indeed confirm that my PC cannot detect the GPU. I want to try disabling the onboard graphic adapter from Windows Device Manager but I cannot do it because I will loose my onboard display as well. This is not the first time I had a GPU display problem. Last 2 year (when I bought this GPU) it gave me a stupid problem when it wont display whenever my PC is "standing upright" and it displays when the PC is "lying down" in manner that the GPU is standing upright, I later found out the GPU appears not seating properly on the MOBO's PCI-E slot (and appears to be wobbling because of its fans) and I just resolved putting fillers inside the case to hold the GPU steadily seated on the PCI-E slot. Since then my GPU has been working for 2 years until yesterday...

Is there any other way to fix this? Is my GPU dead or is the the MOBO who's screwing me? Please help!

PC details: Asrock Z77 Extreme4, Sapphire Radeon HD 7970 Dual-X OC 3GB DDR5 (but never overclocked) , Samsung LED monitor, 750Watts power supply unit, i5-3750k, noctua NH14, CM Stormtrooper case.

 

[smog0]

you can try to clean your gpu connectors (the golden ones that goes to the pci port) with a pencil eraser

 

[cowboydude99]

Hi,
I have the same MB and GPU.

My PC is standing up. Is it possible that you broke the PCI-E clip when connecting it to the system board?

Since you said you moved is it possible that the GPU was damaged? Considering that it wouldn't work standing up, it sounds to me like either the clip was broken and moving it may have damaged it further, or that the card is just bad.

Things you can try.

Remove GPU - Load BIOS - reset all bios settings.
Reset CMOS
Install GPU
Make sure monitor is set to HDMI input
Power PC back on.

Still doesn't work?
Update system board BIOS, if possible.

Try again.

 

[cowboydude99]

you can try to clean your gpu connectors (the golden ones that goes to the pci port) with a pencil eraser

Also check inside the PCI-E port. Make sure there is no dust or anything that could break contact.

 

[jigz2009]

you can try to clean your gpu connectors (the golden ones that goes to the pci port) with a pencil eraser

wow! my officemate did told me this morning the same thing. I thought he's joking. I'll give this a shot. Thanks!

 

[jigz2009]

Hi,
I have the same MB and GPU.

My PC is standing up. Is it possible that you broke the PCI-E clip when connecting it to the system board?

Since you said you moved is it possible that the GPU was damaged? Considering that it wouldn't work standing up, it sounds to me like either the clip was broken and moving it may have damaged it further, or that the card is just bad.

Things you can try.

Remove GPU - Load BIOS - reset all bios settings.
Reset CMOS
Install GPU
Make sure monitor is set to HDMI input
Power PC back on.

Still doesn't work?
Update system board BIOS, if possible.

Try again.

Hi cowboy. Thanks for the quick reply!

Which is the PCI-E clip? is it the plastic clip on the right side where you hook the GPU in place after slotting it on the PCI-e? if your referring to that, no it's not broken. Right now, the GPU won't work regardless of the case is standing up or lying down.

I will try those steps then will let you know. I have no spray cleaner nor a pencil eraser here (I'll admit my PC was a bit deprived of cleaning) so i might buy a cleaner tomorrow.

 

[smorizio]

the slot the gpu goes in check that when the pc was moved the slot did not snap..that the gpu can wiggle. look on the gpu and mb for damage. make sure the cpu is seated and the 8 pin power cable is locked in.

 

[cowboydude99]

Just reseat everything.

Yes, the PCI-E clip is on the right side of the PCI-E port.

 

[jigz2009]

Hi,

Things you can try.

Remove GPU - Load BIOS - reset all bios settings.
Reset CMOS
Install GPU
Make sure monitor is set to HDMI input
Power PC back on.

I did the above-quoted steps in order. What happened is I cannot get a display both from the GPU and the onboard as well.

What I did next is shutdown the PC, unplugged the power from the GPU, plugged the video cable back to the Onboard, then Turn ON the PC, and it made the Onboard back to work.

I will try updating the Mobo's BOIS next.

 

[jigz2009]

the slot the gpu goes in check that when the pc was moved the slot did not snap..that the gpu can wiggle. look on the gpu and mb for damage. make sure the cpu is seated and the 8 pin power cable is locked in.

Hello.

PCI slots are all rock solid firm on the MOBO. No damage on the Mobo and GPU pins as well.

 

[jigz2009]

Hello guys. Just an update, I tried all the suggested solution post earlier:

- cleaning the GPU ports and the PCI-e slot
- reseating everything: GPU, memory, processor, etc
- resetting CMOS
- BOIS setting PCI-E as primary display


Now I wont get a display from both GPU and onboard as well. Is my GPU dead or my MOBO has problem as well? Any other step I can do to test and troubleshoot?

Thanks

 

[jigz2009]

Finally found the culprit: crappy (Asrock z77 extreme Mobo!!! both PCIe slots are somewhat "loose" inside and wont properly fit on contact with the GPU.

No more Asrock for me. Will just stick to gigabyte or asus.

thanks for the comments.

 

[cowboydude99]

Very odd. The actual PCI-E slots are loose?

Nice job finding the problem.

 

[jigz2009]

hi cowboy.. yeah that's why the GPU wiggles even when slotted and clip-locked. I just bought an Asus Sabertoooth z97 mark2 and plugged my sapphire 7970 GPU and it holds firmly. noticeably firmer than when plugged on the asrock z77.