I plugged in a graphics card while my pc was on and now my computer won't work

[JoelSF]

I know I probably sound like the biggest idiot but I don't know what to do. I've read through various stickys for similar problems but nothing's helped so far.

It was dumb to insert the card while my pc was on but now there's a no display. Initially it didn't even turn on after 3 - 4 attempts.

Any help or feedback would be appreciated since I've already tried steps listed in otherwise threads and stickys already

 

[clutchc]

You may have fried some delicate electronic circuitry. But first, try resetting the BIOS by removing the CMOS battery and using the on-board jumper. And list your specs.

 

[JoelSF]

You may have fried some delicate electronic circuitry. But first, try resetting the BIOS by removing the CMOS battery and using the on-board jumper. And list your specs.

Thanks for your quick reply.

Had a go at resetting via the CMOS but still the same result - powers on with a black screen.

Think I might have to take it to a shop and see if we can find out which component is faulting. Can you describe what could have fried on the motherboard?

My specs are:
CPU: Intel (BX80646G3260) G3260 3.3GHz 3MB
PSU: Corsair 450W VS450 ATX Power Supply
MOBO: ASRock H81M-ITX LGA1150 Intel H81 Mini ITX
All encased in a mini-itx case.

 

[clutchc]

No idea. Have you tried removing the card and using the integrated graphics?

 

[JoelSF]

No idea. Have you tried removing the card and using the integrated graphics?

Yeah that was the first thing I did after inserting it caused my computer to shut down.

Can you explain what you meant by possibly frying something in my motherboard? I'd like to know which component is more likely to have an issue so I can look at replacing it soon.

 

[Joshua_32]

Is your graphics card still installed in the motherboard?

 

[JoelSF]

No idea. Have you tried removing the card and using the integrated graphics?

Yeah that was the first thing I did after inserting it caused my computer to shut down.

Can you explain what you meant by possibly frying something in my motherboard? I'd like to know which component is more likely to have an issue so I can look at replacing it soon.

No. Have tried it with and without the card installed. Still just a black screen.

 

[Joshua_32]

Remove GPU, remove bios battery, plug in via onboard (vga) and report back

 

[JoelSF]

Remove GPU, remove bios battery, plug in via onboard (vga) and report back

I've tried this, it hasn't worked.

The graphics card was the first thing I removed (since it's what initially caused the problem) and tried running just off the in-built.

Resetting via CMOS also hasn't changed anything.

At this point I just want to know what's gone wrong and what I'll have to replace since nothing seems like it's going to make my PC just boot up normally.

 

[FinneousPJ]

What's gone wrong is you plugged in a PCI-E device hot. It's probably time for a new mobo.

 

[JoelSF]

What's gone wrong is you plugged in a PCI-E device hot. It's probably time for a new mobo.

Seems like it. I can live with only having the replace the MOBO so long as this hasnt effected any of the other components (is that possible?).

Can you explain what exactly could have happened when I plugged it in hot?

 

[FinneousPJ]

If I had to guess you either surged the power circuitry or messed up the switching logic that handles the different graphic outputs. I suppose in the first scenario something other than the mobo might have broken as well. But it's just guesswork.

 

[Joshua_32]

Sounds like it could be the motherboard, but theres no way to be sure without testing your components (to make sure nothing else got fried) best to try your cpu/ram in a friends computer that has the same socket if possible?

 

[JoelSF]

If I had to guess you either surged the power circuitry or messed up the switching logic that handles the different graphic outputs. I suppose in the first scenario something other than the mobo might have broken as well. But it's just guesswork.

Damn. Well thanks for the input.
This will teach me a lesson about plugging in components while it's on...

Sounds like it could be the motherboard, but theres no way to be sure without testing your components (to make sure nothing else got fried) best to try your cpu/ram in a friends computer that has the same socket if possible?

My only real option is to test each component. Here's hoping it's just the motherboard and not the rest of my parts too. I've only had this rig a couple of months :\

 

[JoelSF]

I'll post the results once I've determined what part was fried and have my PC up and running again.

Any further info or theories in the meantime would still be much appreciated.

Thanks for the swift answers guys.

 

[hang-the-9]

While you are at it, replace the VS model power supply unless you are going to be using a low power video card, that is probably the worst quality model that Corsair makes, and they are not know for their high quality to begin with, sales are mostly due to name and lower price than most in the power range. VS and CX you want to avoid.

 

[JoelSF]

UPDATE: It was the MOBO. Like FinneousPJ said, I fried the motherboard when I plugged the card in while my PC was on. Once I replaced the motherboard everything was restored to how it was beforehand, nothing else was damaged. Also picked up a better PSU as well.

Thanks for the quick replies. Learnt my lesson here.

 

[FinneousPJ]

Nice to hear it's all fine now.

 

[cst1992]

@JoelSF, the upvote/downvote button is to tag wrong information or to tag useful information(upvote) or information that adds nothing useful(downvote). It's not a yes/no button. All the votes are added to a total.
Please keep this in mind in the future.

 

[cst1992]

and they are not know for their high quality to begin with, sales are mostly due to name and lower price than most in the power range.

That's not necessarily true. It's true they slipped to that in the stage of CX and VS series power supplies but their newer models(HXi, RMi, RMx) are beyond excellent.

It's unfortunately just that they're one of the companies that sacrifice quality to meet price budgets. Though atleast they're not like Coolmax, and the CX/VS are far better than locally made tin cans.

 

[JoelSF]

@JoelSF, the upvote/downvote button is to tag wrong information or to tag useful information(upvote) or information that adds nothing useful(downvote). It's not a yes/no button. All the votes are added to a total.
Please keep this in mind in the future.

That's what I intended by voting. I up-voted the suggestions that benefited my progress towards finding out what had happened, and I down-voted answers that specified steps I'd already mentioned doing.

This thread has been Solved now anyway, so perhaps take up concerns you have via private messages, like your reply to another user's opinion on a brand of PSU.

I'm open to taking suggestions from you in a message but please don't fill my notification section with answers to a thread I've already found a solution to.

 

[cst1992]

No, no need.

 

[Saga Lout]

Looks like thread closing time to me before this degenerates into an unnecessary argument over voting.