Question Graphics down (?)

Jun 10, 2025
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Updated with specs
Note: Made an assumption it was onboard graphics, it is not, specs below

PC Original to build, 2015
Specs
O/S Win7Pro, 64 bit
Pentium i7 processor (XPS 8700)
Memory DDR3, 2 DIMMS, 8GB
VidCard, NVIDIA GeForce GT 635 1GB DDR3
HD, SATA, 1 GB, 6GB/s, make unknown, not on BOM (can't access to know empty space, but rather full )
Internal 16X DVD R/W
Integrated 7.1 WAVE MAXXXAudio4 Sound
Dell Wireless 802.11b/g/n (Disabled when Win7 updates no longer available)


Peripherals
Hanns G Monitor, attached by VGA
USB keyboard, mouse
USB Brother P-Touch 2700 label maker, now removed

On hard reboot, monitor light goes green as the power supply comes up
Can hear the hard drive spin up
After a minute or so, light goes amber and the following message pops up
No Signal Input, Check Video Cable

I will look for another VGA cable, but I've never had one go bad
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P:revious post
Old machine - Dell Win7 XPS

It went down last weekend, and when rebooted, the Dell logo flashes on the screen, and then I get a message about a faulty connection to video.

The monitor is not a Dell, so what I see must be coming from the computer - but I'm thinking the onboard graphics died.

Happy to buy a cheap video card to fix it, but don't want to waste the money if I'm headed in the wrong direction.

Any thoughts would be appreciated, I only use it for printing labels, but it's a handy station I'd rather not lose.
 
Last edited:
Update your post to include full system hardware specs and OS information.

Include PSU: make, model, wattage, age, condition (original to build, new, refurbished, used)?

Disk drive(s): make, model, capacity, how full?

List of all connected peripherals.

Wired or wireless network?
 
Update your post to include full system hardware specs and OS information.

Include PSU: make, model, wattage, age, condition (original to build, new, refurbished, used)?

Disk drive(s): make, model, capacity, how full?

List of all connected peripherals.

Wired or wireless network?
Done.
 
If you are comfortable with doing so, power the system down, remove the discrete card and plug directly into the motherboard video output and see if it will post. (I assume you are trying the connector off the graphics card currently)

You might need to reset CMOS when do you this. I cannot recall for sure but some of these older chipsets had a if/then setting in BIOS for discrete or onboard graphics and not sure if it will auto detect. Been a while.
 
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Something else to mention here. Check around and make sure that XPS will work with "any" other card, or only the ones it came with. I had an older XPS with the i7 2600 and it was BIOS locked to the three specific graphics cards that were optioned new from Dell, no others. It was quite a shame.
 
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the Dell logo flashes on the screen, and then I get a message about a faulty connection to video.
VidCard, NVIDIA GeForce GT 635 1GB DDR3
That message says two things one your getting verification the PC boots ok and the video chain from boot to monitor is working by way of the Dell logo coming up and showing than yes monitor goes to sleep.

That message about faulty connection to video usually only pops up when we forget to plug in the power plug to the video card the 6 pin or 8 pin. But would the GT 635 even have one ? I would think the GPU just runs off the PCI-E power.

At the very least while powered down and unplugged pull the GPU and than reseat it and try again.

I also agree with punkncat to try the video off the motherboard. Just an FYI Dell puts a black plastic cover over the motherboard video out just remove the cover and use the port.