Problem replacing an APU's graphics with a graphics card

[Fanta Zee]

Okay so...
I bought this graphics card second-hand recently, an MSI Geforce GTX 780, to replace the gpu-side of my AMD A8-6600K APU.

Upon plugging in the card and starting the system up, one of two things happens, seemingly depending on how many monitors I plugged in in what order; Either the system launches without video output; or it launches with video output from the integrated graphics ( in which case the graphics are still coming from the APU instead of the card). In the latter case, the graphics card is not present in the device manager.
[EDIT]What is also mentionworthy is that I use a DVI-to-VGA adapter due to lack of the right monitor(s) and cable(s) for HDMI and the likes.

When the card is connected to the system, the fans do spin- I take this to mean it is functional. The manual suggests something about 6 and/or 8-pin cables; however, it seems to imply they are optional. I also do not seem to have any of them.

I want to disable my on-board graphics and finally manage to install this card to do the work... Sooo... Where do I start?

 

[Fanta Zee]

I mean, shouldn't the card be recognized at least, even if it's not powered by the cables?

 

[madmatt30]

Recognized without power cables ? No not at all.
The 780 is a 200w card , it needs reserve cable power just to boot.

The PCI express slot would supply enough power to run the fans & that's about it.

Check the whole of the cable lengths for damage.
Check the pin on the connectors themselves
Check the PCI express slot for dust

& yes burning & non boot would worry me too as its not at all normal.

You sure the card was inserted full - you need to unlock the latch on the end of the PCI express slit first.

Burning is 99% of the time the sign of a short circuit somewhere.

 

[Fanta Zee]

Recognized without power cables ? No not at all.
The 780 is a 200w card , it needs reserve cable power just to boot.

The PCI express slot would supply enough power to run the fans & that's about it.

Check the whole of the cable lengths for damage.
Check the pin on the connectors themselves
Check the PCI express slot for dust

& yes burning & non boot would worry me too as its not at all normal.

You sure the card was inserted full - you need to unlock the latch on the end of the PCI express slit first.

Burning is 99% of the time the sign of a short circuit somewhere.

The cables appear intact.
Apart from miniscule offset of the metal within one of the pins, they seem to be in fine state.
No dust in the slot whatsoever.
I am fairly certain I inserted and fastened the card correctly.

Also, since the card has both a 6 pin slot and 8 pin slot.. uhh.. Am I supposed to fill them both or..?

 

[DRagor]

Yes, both 6 pin and 8 pin should be connected

 

[Fanta Zee]

Yes, both 6 pin and 8 pin should be connected

So do I like.. connect a 6-block and a 6+2 of the same cable or seperate cables, or am I supposed to have a single 8-block at some point? The card came with a 6-to-8 converter..

 

[Fanta Zee]

Hey, just noticed something; the converter that came with the card... the output side ( the 8-pin ) .. actually has an empty pin- one of them doesn't have any metal inside.

 

[DRagor]

Converter that came with card is only used when you don't have necessary plugs - not a case here, so just put it away.
You should connect on 6 pin block and one 6+2 pin block; shouldn't matter if you use two plugs from one cable or from two cables (should work either way, although some may say it's safer to use two cables).

 

[Fanta Zee]

alright- so the firey smell's after-taste is still in the air, and it seems to come from close to where the power plugs are meant to go.

okay- this mayube sounds a bit overdramatic. If I smell from closeby, I can smell it came from that spot, is what I mean.

 

[hang-the-9]

I would stop messing with the system and get someone that knows about computers check things over. You may not have plugged things in correctly, or the used card you got is bad. The first thing you said is that you got a used card. Did you make sure the card was working and tested before you bought it? From the sound of the post so far, you can easily end up damaging something while trying to get the card working. Find a friend that has built computers before and have him look at the connections and system and test the card in another system.

 

[Fanta Zee]

I would stop messing with the system and get someone that knows about computers check things over. You may not have plugged things in correctly, or the used card you got is bad. The first thing you said is that you got a used card. Did you make sure the card was working and tested before you bought it? From the sound of the post so far, you can easily end up damaging something while trying to get the card working. Find a friend that has built computers before and have him look at the connections and system and test the card in another system.

I haven't exactly had the oppertunity to test this one, I bought it online.. Also, to be fair, I have no friends that work on this type of stuff that I live near, so.. for the moment that seems like an unavailable option

 

[hang-the-9]

I would stop messing with the system and get someone that knows about computers check things over. You may not have plugged things in correctly, or the used card you got is bad. The first thing you said is that you got a used card. Did you make sure the card was working and tested before you bought it? From the sound of the post so far, you can easily end up damaging something while trying to get the card working. Find a friend that has built computers before and have him look at the connections and system and test the card in another system.

I haven't exactly had the oppertunity to test this one, I bought it online.. Also, to be fair, I have no friends that work on this type of stuff that I live near, so.. for the moment that seems like an unavailable option

Since it's a used card, and you did not have a chance to see it working, it is likely a bad card, unless it got damaged when you were trying to run it without the power cables which can happen. I suggest you find a card in your area that you can actually see running and return this one.

 

[madmatt30]

You have the option of pulling the card from your system & plugging the power cables in while its isolated.
At least this way its not going to fry the rest of your system if it is faulty.

As I said before smell of electrical burning is 99% of the time the sign of some kind of short.

 

[Fanta Zee]

Well, y'all, sad to say it, but this card is now 160 euros of burnt crisp. Somethin' fried it.
Worst thing is I still ain't sure if maybe I broke the card or slot ( because it got fried just sitting in the PCI E slot, which it did fine before)
Or if it was just always gonna break down in a matter of moments..

Regardless, the smoke seals the deal, this thing is D to the dead.