Question Previously working system now endlessly reboots with GPU installed - definitely problem with GPU?

[09092384392]

Hello, I hope my thread is acceptable since this is my first post.

This system has been running for a while, and a bit of dust has gotten into it. I built it about ten or so years ago. I've since replaced it with another build but I want to revive it for some other work. It would be great if I can reuse it without buying new components.

The specifications are:
- Motherboard: MSI B75MA-E33 (LGA 1155, PCIe 3.0 x16 Graphics slot). BIOS version: Unknown. (last date of update unknown)
- CPU: Intel i5-3350P
- CPU cooler: Cooler Master i30
- GPU: The back says "VT 5450 PCIe 2GB". It's a very basic card, I only use it to get a screen. "Radeon HD 5450 2GB GDDR3"
- PSU: Cooler Master RS-460-PSAR-I3. At least 10 years old.
- OS/HDD: None (trying to get the system working first)
- Chassis: Basic metal case I got 10-15 years ago.
- Ram: Crucial "Ballistix sport" 1600 Mhz 8GB , quantity 2

Symptoms:
- Without the GPU: Computer appears to start normally, since the fans run forever.
- With the GPU installed, the fans start for a few dozen seconds and then stop, and then it starts again, and so on.

I've looked at the Stickied thread about troubleshooting. The one step I have not yet performed is connecting the system speaker since my system speaker is in storage and I need to find it. I did also try removing the memory sticks even though the problem appears isolated to the GPU.

Question:
I'm wondering can I conclude it's definitely a problem with the GPU? Or could it be a problem with the motherboard, where it broke somehow and it's no longer able to use the GPU?

If it is a motherboard problem, I want to figure that out soon so I can decide to just build a new system at that point. I plan on getting a new, more powerful GPU anyway for my work, but which one I get will depend on whether I can reuse this sytem or whether I'm building a new one.

Right now I don't have any other PCIe GPU to test with. I guess there are GPUs out there that are cheap enough that I could just buy and try a second GPU. But I want to avoid wasting money, and also, at the very least once I resolve this, the thread will be here in case someone else ever has this exact problem.

Edit:
Also, I did replace the CPU fan because I initially thought that might be a problem. I thoroughly cleaned the CPU surface and the fan was new, so it came with paste installed. I am confident the fan is installed correctly. Since the system seems to start without the GPU installed, it seems that I can rule out the CPU being the problem.

Edit 2: Clarifications on specifications

Edit 3: Typo ("Graphics" -> "CPU")

Edit 4: Added CPU cooler

Thanks!

 

[Lutfij]

Welcome to the forums, newcomer!

The specifications are:
- MSI B75MA-E33 (LGA 1155, PCIe 3.0 x16 Graphics slot)
- Intel i5 (no onboard graphics), I forgot the exact model.
- GPU: The back says "VT 5450 PCIe 2GB". It's a very basic card, I only use it to get a screen.
When posting a thread of troubleshooting nature, it's customary to include your full system's specs. Please list the specs to your build like so:
CPU:
CPU cooler:
Motherboard:
Ram:
SSD/HDD:
GPU:
PSU:
Chassis:
OS:
Monitor:
include the age of the PSU apart from it's make and model. BIOS version for your motherboard at this moment of time.

- Intel i5 (no onboard graphics), I forgot the exact model.
Practically all Intel processors except for the F SKU have an iGPU, I'm assuming you're on a 2nd or 3rd gen Intel processor, if so, you should yet have an iGPU. Remove the cooler and thermal paste and pass on what you see etched onto the IHS of the processor.

GPU: The back says "VT 5450 PCIe 2GB". It's a very basic card, I only use it to get a screen.
https://visiontek.com/products/visiontek-radeon™-5450-2gb-ddr3-dvi-i-hdmi-vga?srsltid=AfmBOorMkZXuEuLzy9kQPuRQHAY2A0sLy2LjSx0vgVdIyXgSkMF8aliP
This?

Question:
I'm wondering can I conclude it's definitely a problem with the GPU? Or could it be a problem with the motherboard, where it broke somehow and it's no longer able to use the GPU?
It could be your PSU. If you think it's the GPU, then drop the GPU onto a known working, donor motherboard and see if the issue persists.

 

[09092384392]

Thanks much for your reply.

I updated the specifications which I hope are adequate, let me know.
The CPU is i5-3350P.

GPU: The back says "VT 5450 PCIe 2GB". It's a very basic card, I only use it to get a screen.
https://visiontek.com/products/visiontek-radeon™-5450-2gb-ddr3-dvi-i-hdmi-vga?srsltid=AfmBOorMkZXuEuLzy9kQPuRQHAY2A0sLy2LjSx0vgVdIyXgSkMF8aliP
This?

I think so. That looks exactly like my card, and I remember it being labeled Radeon.

Question:
I'm wondering can I conclude it's definitely a problem with the GPU? Or could it be a problem with the motherboard, where it broke somehow and it's no longer able to use the GPU?
It could be your PSU. If you think it's the GPU, then drop the GPU onto a known working, donor motherboard and see if the issue persists.

Edit: Just saw this after my reply. I will think on what the most cost effective way to proceed is since all the extra hardware I have is running right now.
It sounds like in your opinion it's probably not the motherboard then, right?

Edit 2:
To test this, I think I will get another PSU since it sounds like that's the riskiest component right now as far as my future use of the machine. In other words since I plan to use this machine, getting a new PSU will be valuable anyway, and it'll work with any system I have whether it's this one or a different one. So even if the old PSU isn't the problem that will be ok.

 

[DaleH]

Hello, I hope my thread is acceptable since this is my first post.

This system has been running for a while, and a bit of dust has gotten into it. I built it about ten or so years ago. I've since replaced it with another build but I want to revive it for some other work. It would be great if I can reuse it without buying new components.

The specifications are:
- Motherboard: MSI B75MA-E33 (LGA 1155, PCIe 3.0 x16 Graphics slot). BIOS version: Unknown. (last date of update unknown)
- CPU: Intel i5-3350P
- CPU cooler: Cooler Master i30
- GPU: The back says "VT 5450 PCIe 2GB". It's a very basic card, I only use it to get a screen. "Radeon HD 5450 2GB GDDR3"
- PSU: Cooler Master RS-460-PSAR-I3. At least 10 years old.
- OS/HDD: None (trying to get the system working first)
- Chassis: Basic metal case I got 10-15 years ago.
- Ram: Crucial "Ballistix sport" 1600 Mhz 8GB , quantity 2

Symptoms:
- Without the GPU: Computer appears to start normally, since the fans run forever.
- With the GPU installed, the fans start for a few dozen seconds and then stop, and then it starts again, and so on.

I've looked at the Stickied thread about troubleshooting. The one step I have not yet performed is connecting the system speaker since my system speaker is in storage and I need to find it. I did also try removing the memory sticks even though the problem appears isolated to the GPU.

Question:
I'm wondering can I conclude it's definitely a problem with the GPU? Or could it be a problem with the motherboard, where it broke somehow and it's no longer able to use the GPU?

If it is a motherboard problem, I want to figure that out soon so I can decide to just build a new system at that point. I plan on getting a new, more powerful GPU anyway for my work, but which one I get will depend on whether I can reuse this sytem or whether I'm building a new one.

Right now I don't have any other PCIe GPU to test with. I guess there are GPUs out there that are cheap enough that I could just buy and try a second GPU. But I want to avoid wasting money, and also, at the very least once I resolve this, the thread will be here in case someone else ever has this exact problem.

Edit:
Also, I did replace the CPU fan because I initially thought that might be a problem. I thoroughly cleaned the CPU surface and the fan was new, so it came with paste installed. I am confident the fan is installed correctly. Since the system seems to start without the GPU installed, it seems that I can rule out the CPU being the problem.

Edit 2: Clarifications on specifications

Edit 3: Typo ("Graphics" -> "CPU")

Edit 4: Added CPU cooler

Thanks!

If it's ten years old and the CMOS battery hasn't been replaced yet, then replace it, regardless of whether it's causing your current problem. The shelf life of the battery isn't that long.

 

[09092384392]

If it's ten years old and the CMOS battery hasn't been replaced yet, then replace it, regardless of whether it's causing your current problem. The shelf life of the battery isn't that long.

Thanks I will do that also



I will report back with results once I've tried a new PSU

 

[09092384392]

It looks like it was the PSU! Thank you!
When I tried with the new PSU and the existing GPU, it did reset once the way it did with the other PSU. But after that one reset, there were no more resets.