Question New Build: 4080 Super won't display anything, white VGA light on first-(ish) boot ?

[ajgo]

Just built a new PC for a much needed upgrade and got an ASUS TUF 4080 Super as the GPU.

I've powered the system previously with integrated graphics to check (while waiting for the GPU to ship) and everything worked fine, but after installing the GPU with the included 12VHPWR cable from corsair I get a white VGA light and no output on the HDMI.

The GPU came with its own 12VHPWR adapter that goes to 3 PCIE 8-pin connectors, however the one included with my PSU only goes to 2 PCIE 8-pin connectors. After some googling it looked like this would be fine (and I have another connector on order anyways), but no luck. There's no red power light on the GPU, and all of the fans spin up on boot
Any ideas what to do to troubleshoot? I've re flashed the BIOS using the flashback utility because of an issue with my RAM I didn't catch, but afterwards I was able to boot into BIOS using integrated graphics.

Do I need the 3-PCIE 12VHPWR adapter to use the card?

My build:
Mobo: Asus ROG Strix B650-A Gaming Wifi
CPU: Ryzen 9 7950X3D
GPU: Asus TUF RTX 4080 Super
Cooler: Corsair H150i Elite Capellix
RAM: Corsair Vengeance DDR5 32GB (2x16)
PSU: Corsair RM850e (850W) (using included 12VHPWR adapter at the moment)
Storage: Samsung 980 Pro 2TB M.2 SSD

 

[Aeacus]

I get a white VGA light

This tells that GPU is toast.

Do I need the 3-PCIE 12VHPWR adapter to use the card?

While ideal, not required. RTX GPUs that use 12VHPWR adapter can work with limited power. When you have 1x 8-pin PCI-E connected, GPU is limited to 150W. With 2x 8-pin PCI-E connections, it is limited to 300W. Plugging in all 3x 8-pin PCI-E cables would bring the available power up to 450W, which for RTX 4080 Super is more than enough, since GPU is 320W.

but afterwards I was able to boot into BIOS using integrated graphics.

This means the rest of the components in your PC work fine. But the RTX 4080 Super has issues.

2 things to try;
1. Try with 2nd dedicated GPU (loan it from friend/family if you don't have one at hand)
2. Try the RTX 4080 Super inside another PC to see if it behaves same there as well

But as far as i can tell, your RTX 4080 Super is DOA (Dead On Arrival). So, need to RMA it.
You can haul the GPU (or whole PC) to PC repair shop and let them diagnose the issue with GPU but i'm pretty sure they come to same conclusion as i did - dead GPU.

 

[ajgo]

After a bit more troubleshooting, I was able to get the GPU to be recognized by making sure it was plugged in, and then reflashing the BIOS on my motherboard using the BIOS flashback utility. I’m able to boot into BIOS using the GPU, but I’m now getting the boot QLED (I’m not sure if this is an issue, since I have an M.2 installed but no OS yet)

If I let it sit for a bit though, it’ll just shut off suddenly, and attempting to turn it back on results in all of the lights flashing once and then just nothing.

If I remove the power from the PSU, wait a bit, and then try again it’ll come back on for a bit, but suddenly power off again after a while.

I’m not sure what this issue is, but I’m hoping it doesn’t still indicate a faulty GPU since it’s the hardest or most annoying to replace. Could a bad motherboard or PSU be the culprit?

 

[ajgo]

After a bit more troubleshooting, I was able to get the GPU to be recognized by making sure it was plugged in, and then reflashing the BIOS on my motherboard using the BIOS flashback utility. I’m able to boot into BIOS using the GPU, but I’m now getting the boot QLED (I’m not sure if this is an issue, since I have an M.2 installed but no OS yet)

If I let it sit for a bit though, it’ll just shut off suddenly, and attempting to turn it back on results in all of the lights flashing once and then just nothing.

If I remove the power from the PSU, wait a bit, and then try again it’ll come back on for a bit, but suddenly power off again after a while.

I’m not sure what this issue is, but I’m hoping it doesn’t still indicate a faulty GPU since it’s the hardest or most annoying to replace. Could a bad motherboard or PSU be the culprit?

Also might be worth mentioning that it takes a decent bit to POST each time, and I always get a “new CPU” message on each startup

 

[Aeacus]

but I’m now getting the boot QLED

Nothing to boot off from (no OS).

Could a bad motherboard or PSU be the culprit?

PSU issue is a possibility since Corsair RMe is mediocre quality PSU. While for PCs with dedicated GPU, i wouldn't look anything short of good quality PSU (e.g Seasonic Focus or Corsair RMx/RMi), while great quality PSU is suggested (e.g Seasonic Vertex/PRIME or Corsair HXi/AXi).

IF MoBo would be bad, you couldn't get into UEFI with iGPU.

Also might be worth mentioning that it takes a decent bit to POST each time

Memory training takes time.

and I always get a “new CPU” message on each startup

Looks like CMOS battery could be empty. Else-ways, system would do memory training and configure itself with the components you have, including the CPU.

 

[thestryker]

The GPU came with its own 12VHPWR adapter that goes to 3 PCIE 8-pin connectors, however the one included with my PSU only goes to 2 PCIE 8-pin connectors. After some googling it looked like this would be fine (and I have another connector on order anyways), but no luck. There's no red power light on the GPU, and all of the fans spin up on boot
Any ideas what to do to troubleshoot? I've re flashed the BIOS using the flashback utility because of an issue with my RAM I didn't catch, but afterwards I was able to boot into BIOS using integrated graphics.

Do I need the 3-PCIE 12VHPWR adapter to use the card?

Just to note those are not PCIe connectors on the PSU side. The 8-pin connectors on the PSU side are good for 300W each minimum typically so it's not comparable to the adapter which came with your video card.

 

[Niklas_13]

if you bought the GPU within 2 weeks I would just return it then mess with a RMA

 

[ajgo]

Nothing to boot off from (no OS).


PSU issue is a possibility since Corsair RMe is mediocre quality PSU. While for PCs with dedicated GPU, i wouldn't look anything short of good quality PSU (e.g Seasonic Focus or Corsair RMx/RMi), while great quality PSU is suggested (e.g Seasonic Vertex/PRIME or Corsair HXi/AXi).

IF MoBo would be bad, you couldn't get into UEFI with iGPU.


Memory training takes time.


Looks like CMOS battery could be empty. Else-ways, system would do memory training and configure itself with the components you have, including the CPU.

Sounds good, I'll try replacing the CMOS battery to see if it just came dead since I can do that quickly, and I'll double check connections on everything to make sure nothing is loose.

After looking more into the power draws I do think more headroom from a PSU is likely a good idea and I'll take a look at your recommendations.

Just glad I can get output from the GPU, hopefully indicating it isn't faulty, getting it in the first place was a bit of a pain.

Thanks for the help! I'll let you know how it goes!

 

[ajgo]

if you bought the GPU within 2 weeks I would just return it then mess with a RMA

They charge a 15% service fee on returns if it isn't faulty, and since I can get output from it now it seems to not be the case.

I'd definitely prefer to save that $150 lol

 

[ajgo]

Just to note those are not PCIe connectors on the PSU side. The 8-pin connectors on the PSU side are good for 300W each minimum typically so it's not comparable to the adapter which came with your video card.

Ah so do you mean that the individual 8-pin connectors on the adapter that came with the GPU are not rated to 300W each, which is why there are 3 rather than 2?

And by PCIe, I just meant that they're intended for the ports on my PSU labeled CPU/PCIe power. Is there a better term to use so it is more clear?

 

[thestryker]

Ah so do you mean that the individual 8-pin connectors on the adapter that came with the GPU are not rated to 300W each, which is why there are 3 rather than 2?

The adapter that came with the GPU is a PCIe to 12VHPWR adapter and 8-pin PCIe are rated at 150W. That's an actual industry specification whereas the plugs on the PSU side are whatever the manufacturer decides they are. Seasonic for example uses the same connector on both ends of their 12VHPWR cables.

And by PCIe, I just meant that they're intended for the ports on my PSU labeled CPU/PCIe power. Is there a better term to use so it is more clear?

When you're talking about PSU connectors you really don't need to identify what the plug that goes into the PSU itself is because every manufacturer does it differently. It would be really nice if they'd standardize the PSU side connectors, but at this point I doubt it will ever happen.

 

[ajgo]

After replacing the CMOS battery, the system seems to save the settings and goes through POST much quicker so I do believe the battery it shipped with was dead.

After going over the wiring as well I noticed that one of the fan controller's had come half unplugged, this in conjunction with replacing the battery has solved the restart issue.


I did have the VGA light on again once but a restart fixed it, so I'm just going to keep an eye on it while I get other stuff set up. A new PSU with a higher wattage will be on the way soon.

I'm having some additional trouble installing windows 11 on here, but I'm still working on it and don't think it's in the scope of this post anyways. Thanks for all of the help!!

 

[Aeacus]

I'm having some additional trouble installing windows 11 on here, but I'm still working on it and don't think it's in the scope of this post anyways.

Few additional questions doesn't hurt.

Win11 installation guide: https://forums.tomshardware.com/threads/windows-11-clean-install-tutorial.3831442/

Note: Outside that guide, i have little know-how regards software issues since i'm specialized on hardware and it's issues. So, if you have any other questions outside of that guide, you'd be better off making a new topic in Win11 subforum.

 

[ajgo]

Will do thanks man!

Oh is there a way to mark these forum posts as resolved or something? Or do we not need to do that?

 

[Aeacus]

Oh is there a way to mark these forum posts as resolved or something?

Yes.

Guide here: https://forums.tomshardware.com/threads/how-to-mark-posts-as-solved-award-best-answer.3803582/