No POST with new video card

[goomba_69]

Hello,
I'm wondering what to try next to trouble-shoot a problem with an old PC I want to make into an HTPC (no gaming required), so I'd like to install a cheap passivly cooled graphics card with HDMI. I have a PCIe 1.0 slot with a 300W power supply (+5V 25A max, +3.3V 18A max, +12V 19A max). I got a good Newegg price on a Radeon HD 5450 PCIe 2.1 card ($15) which recommends 400W PS and has specs of "average 19W". When I installed the card I got no image on my monitor. The monitor recognizes some connection, because it doesn't display a "signal not detected" message. However I get no image and don't think I am getting through the BIOS startup step. I didn't uninstall the previous video card driver. Should I uninstall the driver, or is it more likely a problem with not enough power or a conflict between PCIe 2.1 vs 1.0 slot on the motherboard? Thanks!

 

[smorizio]

Hello,
I'm wondering what to try next to trouble-shoot a problem with an old PC I want to make into an HTPC (no gaming required), so I'd like to install a cheap passivly cooled graphics card with HDMI. I have a PCIe 1.0 slot with a 300W power supply (+5V 25A max, +3.3V 18A max, +12V 19A max). I got a good Newegg price on a Radeon HD 5450 PCIe 2.1 card ($15) which recommends 400W PS and has specs of "average 19W". When I installed the card I got no image on my monitor. The monitor recognizes some connection, because it doesn't display a "signal not detected" message. However I get no image and don't think I am getting through the BIOS startup step. I didn't uninstall the previous video card driver. Should I uninstall the driver, or is it more likely a problem with not enough power or a conflict between PCIe 2.1 vs 1.0 slot on the motherboard? Thanks!

check to see if the onboard video port still works..sometime you need to turn off the onboard video inside the bios or with a jumper. sometime you have to do a bios update to fix small bugs. myself sounds like the 12v line of your power supply is weak.

 

[noidea_77]

If you don't get the bios, it has nothing to do with the driver. Try to reset the cmos (jumper or take battery out).

 

[goomba_69]

check to see if the onboard video port still works..sometime you need to turn off the onboard video inside the bios or with a jumper. sometime you have to do a bios update to fix small bugs. myself sounds like the 12v line of your power supply is weak.

Onboard video is disabled and bios update to no avail. Not sure if I have DOA card or insufficient power.

 

[RazberyBandit]

It's not a problem with the card or a power issue. The problem is simple incompatibility.

PCI-E 2.1 cards (all 5000-series AMD cards) often don't work in PCI-E 1.0-equipped motherboards unless the board received a BIOS update (circa 2009 or later) that enables compatibility. This has been a very common problem since AMD began using a PCI-E 2.1 interface on it's 5000-series cards. Most/many 1.x boards had long since been left unsupported by manufacturers when PCI-E 2.1 was introduced, so they are incompatible with 2.1 cards.

A PCI-E 2.0 card (4000-series ATI or Nvidia 400-series, or older) should work, but no 2.1 or 3.0 card will.

 

[goomba_69]

It's not a problem with the card or a power issue. The problem is simple incompatibility.

PCI-E 2.1 cards (all 5000-series AMD cards) often don't work in PCI-E 1.0-equipped motherboards unless the board received a BIOS update (circa 2009 or later) that enables compatibility. This has been a very common problem since AMD began using a PCI-E 2.1 interface on it's 5000-series cards. Most/many 1.x boards had long since been left unsupported by manufacturers when PCI-E 2.1 was introduced, so they are incompatible with 2.1 cards.

A PCI-E 2.0 card (4000-series ATI or Nvidia 400-series, or older) should work, but no 2.1 or 3.0 card will.

Thank you, I'll try a 2.0 card.

 

[goomba_69]

Best answer selected by goomba_69.