New Graphics Card Won't Let Me Boot

[oddlogic]

Hey guys, first time posting on this website, hopefully your insight can help me out.

So here's the basics. I have an HP desktop with a Sapphire 7770 1GB GDDR5 video card that runs great with my AMD APU. I wanted to upgrade my card so I can run some newer games better, so I ordered a Gigabyte R7 370 2GB GDDR5 card, but whenever it's plugged in, there's no display coming out at all.

I've been searching for a BIOS update for weeks now (for other reasons, but it seems a BIOS update might help this situation), but it's impossible to find one. I'm willing to dig as far into this as you guys would like to, as I'm quite experienced with software and hardware troubleshooting.

System info:
HP P7-1235
AMD A8-5500 APU with Radeon HD7560D GPU
Windows 7 Home Premium x64 SP1 (Fresh installation)
BIOS version AMI 7.07 2012
Sapphire 7770 HD 1GB GDDR5 GHz Edition
Gigabyte R7 370 2GB GDDR5 OC Edition
500W Coolermaster PSU

Any insight is greatly appreciated, thanks.

Edit: I should mention that I have tried many things to get this card working, involving BIOS settings mainly. But some other useful information is that I tried the card in another computer with a 500w PSU and it displays even without drivers, so I know the card isn't defective and doesn't need more than a 500W PSU.

 

[Hydroshot]

you need to install the driver 4 the gpu swich to onboard and look for the driver online for the model

 

[Danbuscus25]

There are bios update utilities you can use, but i doubt a bios update would help at all. Are the external power cables connected?

 

[oddlogic]

There are bios update utilities you can use, but i doubt a bios update would help at all. Are the external power cables connected?

The 6-pin power connector? It is connected, yes.

 

[oddlogic]

you need to install the driver 4 the gpu swich to onboard and look for the driver online for the model

That's what I had tried to begin with actually. The day my card arrived in the mail, I uninstalled all AMD drivers and software, rebooted, installed the new driver from the disk (planning to update anyway), shut down, swapped cards and.... black screen.

Tried using on-board VGA, no display. Made sure it was enabled in BIOS, still no display.

Tried uninstalling the drivers again, and reinstalling from the AMD website instead of the disk. Still no display.

Whenever the card is plugged in, the fans will spin and things are running, but nothing is happening. I can't hear the hard drive accessing anything like it does when it successfully boots, so something is stopping the boot process, but I can't see what it is.

 

[Danbuscus25]

So when there is no card in there, the onboard graphics still work?

 

[oddlogic]

So when there is no card in there, the onboard graphics still work?

Yep

 

[Danbuscus25]

Well then the problem is probably with the graphics card. see if they will let you RMA it again, and if the new card does the same thing, then your psu is probably killing the cards.

 

[Hydroshot]

Well then the problem is probably with the graphics card. see if they will let you RMA it again, and if the new card does the same thing, then your psu is probably killing the cards.

dan, i see that ur specs are kindof lightweight do u play much games ?

 

[oddlogic]

Well then the problem is probably with the graphics card. see if they will let you RMA it again, and if the new card does the same thing, then your psu is probably killing the cards.

The card does work, I tested it today in another computer, and it worked right away, even though I basically just pulled the Nvidia card that was in it and put the Gigabyte AMD card in.

 

[Danbuscus25]

Well then the problem is probably with the graphics card. see if they will let you RMA it again, and if the new card does the same thing, then your psu is probably killing the cards.

The card does work, I tested it today in another computer, and it worked right away, even though I basically just pulled the Nvidia card that was in it and put the Gigabyte AMD card in.

Try putting the card in another pcie x16 slot (if you have any others) or try using a different 6-pin power connector.

 

[Danbuscus25]

Well then the problem is probably with the graphics card. see if they will let you RMA it again, and if the new card does the same thing, then your psu is probably killing the cards.

dan, i see that ur specs are kindof lightweight do u play much games ?

I do play games, though not very demanding games. I would have a better system if i had more money 🙁

 

[oddlogic]

Well then the problem is probably with the graphics card. see if they will let you RMA it again, and if the new card does the same thing, then your psu is probably killing the cards.

The card does work, I tested it today in another computer, and it worked right away, even though I basically just pulled the Nvidia card that was in it and put the Gigabyte AMD card in.

Try putting the card in another pcie x16 slot (if you have any others) or try using a different 6-pin power connector.

Unfortunately I don't have an extra PCIE x16 slot, or an extra 6-pin. But I can confirm that they are both working because I have my old card installed again and it needs a 6-pin as well.

 

[Danbuscus25]

Well then the graphics card has an issue, whether its is defective or was killed by the psu.

 

[oddlogic]

Well then the graphics card has an issue, whether its is defective or was killed by the psu.

So the card is defective, even though it works fine in other computers?

 

[Danbuscus25]

Well then the graphics card has an issue, whether its is defective or was killed by the psu.

So the card is defective, even though it works fine in other computers?

Oh, i must be a bit confused lol so the R7 370 works in other computers, just not in your main one? and the 7770 never had an issue?

 

[oddlogic]

Well then the graphics card has an issue, whether its is defective or was killed by the psu.

So the card is defective, even though it works fine in other computers?

Oh, i must be a bit confused lol so the R7 370 works in other computers, just not in your main one? and the 7770 never had an issue?

Right

 

[Danbuscus25]

That is extremely odd. I would try running with just 1 stick of ram installed, check bios settings, make sure everything in there is fine, maybe even reset the cmos. If none of that works, check what bios version you have, if it isnt the most up-to-date one, then go to your motherboard manufacturers website and download the latest bios, as thats the only thing i can think of to try.

 

[oddlogic]

Anyone else got any ideas? So far I've just re-confirmed what works and what doesn't with this guy

 

[Danbuscus25]

did you try getting the latest bios?

 

[oddlogic]

did you try getting the latest bios?

I have been looking for a BIOS update for this computer for weeks to no avail.

Checked the HP website, no BIOS updates at all for this computer.

Checked the MSI website, this MS-7778 motherboard doesn't exist according to them (maybe because it's an OEM board). So I tried their Live Update tool, which tells me there's no updates except for Super Charger for iPads and iPhones, then "Optional Utilities" which is just Google Chrome with Toolbar, Google Drive and Norton Internet Security.... Nooooo Thanks.

Checked my System Information and found that my BIOS is AMI 7.07, so I check the American Megatrends website, download their Autodetect tool, and it says my system isn't compatible with this tool.

So I tried the HP Support Assistant to see if it can detect a BIOS update somewhere, and it says there aren't any updates either.

I might already have the latest BIOS installed, but there is no way to check if I do because there is so little documentation on this motherboard...

 

[Danbuscus25]

Thats odd... Well, im honestly stumped, I would try asking this question again on a new thread so somebody else can try to help you. Sorry I couldnt figure it out.

 

[Hydroshot]

i would suggest pysicly calling someone to help you maybe someone from msi or the gpu company......srry i spell hard words at a 3rd grade level lol

 

[oddlogic]

Just an update,

I ordered a new motherboard today, I'll let you know how it works out.

 

[oddlogic]

Update: new motherboard came in the mail, installed perfectly and works like a dream.

Thanks for your time, all is well again =D