[Help] New graphic card = no boot and no beep

[frk]

I'm slowly assembling a vintage PC with obsolete but brand new components. This is the system's configuration:

Asus A8V
AMD Athlon 64 3500+
1 single V-data DDR333 512MB RAM module
Modular PSU MS-Tech 550W (MS-N550-VAL-CM)
IDE HDD Seagate Barracuda 7200.9 120 GB

As I already wrote, every component has been purchased as brand new during the last couple of years and kept with maniacal care in a brand new case (Cooltek CT-K2 Rev.C), in his plastic bag and in its original box.
The only component i didn't have in "brand new" condition was the graphic board: i have several used AGP cards (mostly nVidia Geforce 6600GT/6800GT) and i have already tested the system many times, with no particolar problem. But i wanted a NEW graphic card so i just bought two Gainward 6800 GT AGP 8x 256MB Golden Sample, still SEALED in their original packages, from a reliable UK ebayer.

Today I received and installed the new graphic card, turned on the PC, and immediately entered the BIOS just to check everything was fine. After just a few seconds (maybe 20/30) video signal disappeared from the monitor. I rebooted the system getting again no video signal and no beep from the motherboard.
Supposing it was a defective item, i removed the new card and installed one from the ones i already owned and tested: again no beep and no video! The same with at least 3 different AGP cards i had previously tested.

I tried to remove CMOS battery and to reset CMOS RTC via jumper, but nothing changed.

Is it possible that a new graphic card has irremediably damaged a new motherboard?

How can i test the new graphic cards i've just bought if there's the risk they could severely harm any PC in wich i put them in?

Thank you in advance and excuse me for my english.

 

[arges86]

In theory it should have worked...
But who knows with decade old hardware, something could have happened with it just sitting around. Parts weren't meant to last forever.

Whenever I don't get a POST, the first thing i try is turning off the PSU, and re-seat all the hardware/cables to just make sure everything is good (no burn marks, etc.).

I've never heard of MS-Tech before, so I'm not sure how great their power supplies are...

What it sounds like to me, is that the card was pulling too much power through the AGP slot and damaged the board.

If you have an old PCI video card around you can try that as well.

 

[frk]

Thank you for your reply.

I already tried to unplug/replug every cable and unplugged every peripheral, included system disk.

I just checked PSU, trying another one with no results. Anyway, the MS-Tech i purchased is a good

PSU, with very stable voltages and a double 12v rail. I have several other PSUs, with no brand and

less power, and they have shown no issues with similar AGP cards. I tend to exclude it was an issue

caused by excessive power request.

Furthermore, a couple of seconds before the problem occurred, card's fans started to be noisy, so i

suppose something went wrong when the card was brought back to life after a so long rest.

Now the problem is: how can i test these cards without breaking another machine? I've got to leave

feedback and try to get assistance, in some way...

 

[frk]

Thank you for your reply.

I already tried to unplug/replug every cable and unplugged every peripheral, included system disk.

I just checked PSU, trying another one with no results. Anyway, the MS-Tech i purchased is a good PSU, with very stable voltages and a double 12v rail. I have several other PSUs, with no brand and less power, and they have shown no issues with similar AGP cards. I tend to exclude it was an issue caused by excessive power request.

Furthermore, a couple of seconds before the problem occurred, card's fans started to be noisy, so i suppose something went wrong when the card was brought back to life after a so long rest.

Now the problem is: how can i test these cards without breaking another machine? I've got to leave feedback and try to get assistance, in some way...

(sorry for double post, i can't edit messages and having several issues with this forum)

 

[arges86]

I'm not aware of any way to test a graphics card outside of another PC...
You can try taking it apart and see if there is any solder joints that are broken or flaking causing it to short
http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-fix-a-graphics-card/

Other than buying a cheap motherboard off of eBay to just test it, there really is no way.

As for editing messages and such on the forum, the site doesn't work well if you have an add blocker enabled on your browser... some of the functionality is removed if its turned on.