Question Unstable after hardware swap - what component is damaged?

[meharp7224]

I was having issues with my system after installing a gpu that was too tasking on my weak psu, (see this thread), so I uninstalled the gpu and replaced it with a crappy little msi radeon 560 so I could make sure that nothing got damaged while I was troubleshooting the previous issue due to lack of sufficient power.

Well, I think something’s messed up, but I don’t know how to figure out what. I only managed to get it to boot up AND output video to the monitor once, and that time the system was so slow that the display froze and never moved after that. That boot, it took about a minute and a half to get to the login screen as compared to its usual 20 seconds max, and before it froze everything was incredibly slow - it took about a minute after clicking for any action to go through.

I’d appreciate some insight, since I’m on a limited budget and need to prioritize which parts need ordered first.

SPECS:
Mobo: ASRock A320M
Processor: Ryzen 5500
Graphics: MSI Radeon 560
Ram: 2x16GB
Drives: Primary m.2 1tb ssd, secondary 500gb hdd
PSU: Thermaltake 80+ Smart 500w

UPDATE: Upgraded PSU to a Corsair RM750e. Issue persists: system appears to be in operation (all fans and chasis lights running, graphics card decorative lights are on) but I’m receiving no output to any monitor. Waiting in case of incredibly slow boot has yielded no results.​

My top suspects at this point are motherboard, processor and drives. I’ve first removed the primary (m.2 ssd) and left the hdd, and then when that yielded no changes, tried the inverse to no effect. At this point I’m thinking mobo is bricked, or it’s the processor which I’ve yet not figured out how to test for signs of life. Ideas?

 

[Paperdoc]

When you go to replace a graphics card, it is always best FIRST while the OLD card is in place to go into Windows Device Manger, find the graphics card, and UNINSTALL / REMOVE it. That really removes the DRIVER for that board so the machine has no info on any graphics card. Then you back out of Device Manager, shut down, unplug from the wall, open the case and remove the old card. THEN you can install the new one and, when you turn on, it will be discovered and Windows will realize it has no driver software for that new device, and will load it for you. Without the correct driver Windows does not know how to use the new graphics card.

It is possible this is the cause of your current situation - Windows may be trying to access your new smaller graphics card using the wrong driver. I realize it is impractical to re-install the old big card and follow the sequence above. But you could try this way. Without changing anything, boot up until the system is running. Go into Windows Device Manager and find that new small card from MSI. RIGHT-click on that and Uninstall / Remove it. IF you see in there the old graphics card, Uninstall that, too. Back out of Device Manger then shut down completely. Wait a few seconds, then boot up again. If this works, Windows may show you a message that it has found a new device and will load the correct driver for it. That may get your system to work more smoothly.

 

[CountMike]

I was having issues with my system after installing a gpu that was too tasking on my weak psu, (see this thread), so I uninstalled the gpu and replaced it with a crappy little msi radeon 560 so I could make sure that nothing got damaged while I was troubleshooting the previous issue due to lack of sufficient power.

Well, I think something’s messed up, but I don’t know how to figure out what. I only managed to get it to boot up AND output video to the monitor once, and that time the system was so slow that the display froze and never moved after that. That boot, it took about a minute and a half to get to the login screen as compared to its usual 20 seconds max, and before it froze everything was incredibly slow - it took about a minute after clicking for any action to go through.

I’d appreciate some insight, since I’m on a limited budget and need to prioritize which parts need ordered first.

SPECS:
Mobo: ASRock A320M
Processor: Ryzen 5500
Graphics: MSI Radeon 560
Ram: 2x16GB
Drives: Primary m.2 1tb ssd, secondary 500gb hdd
PSU: Thermaltake 80+ Smart 500w

Mod Edit - Language

Did you try booting in safe mode ?

 

[SkyNetRising]

That boot, it took about a minute and a half to get to the login screen as compared to its usual 20 seconds max, and before it froze everything was incredibly slow - it took about a minute after clicking for any action to go through.

I'd suspect cpu overheating.
Check, if cpu cooler is installed properly.

 

[meharp7224]

UPDATE: Upgraded PSU to a Corsair RM750e. Issue persists: system appears to be in operation (all fans and chasis lights running, graphics card decorative lights are on) but I’m receiving no output to any monitor. Waiting in case of incredibly slow boot has yielded no results.​

My top suspects at this point are motherboard, processor and drives. I’ve first removed the primary (m.2 ssd) and left the hdd, and then when that yielded no changes, tried the inverse to no effect. At this point I’m thinking mobo is bricked, or it’s the processor which I’ve yet not figured out how to test for signs of life. Ideas?

When you go to replace a graphics card, it is always best FIRST while the OLD card is in place to go into Windows Device Manger, find the graphics card, and UNINSTALL / REMOVE it. That really removes the DRIVER for that board so the machine has no info on any graphics card. Then you back out of Device Manager, shut down, unplug from the wall, open the case and remove the old card. THEN you can install the new one and, when you turn on, it will be discovered and Windows will realize it has no driver software for that new device, and will load it for you. Without the correct driver Windows does not know how to use the new graphics card.

It is possible this is the cause of your current situation - Windows may be trying to access your new smaller graphics card using the wrong driver. I realize it is impractical to re-install the old big card and follow the sequence above. But you could try this way. Without changing anything, boot up until the system is running. Go into Windows Device Manager and find that new small card from MSI. RIGHT-click on that and Uninstall / Remove it. IF you see in there the old graphics card, Uninstall that, too. Back out of Device Manger then shut down completely. Wait a few seconds, then boot up again. If this works, Windows may show you a message that it has found a new device and will load the correct driver for it. That may get your system to work more smoothly.

I have tried to boot with both graphics cards, and neither of them feed the output to my display. So while you are definitely correct in that the driver issue is a problem, I don’t believe it is the root of why my system isn’t working - not that I could modify the drivers without being able to view the output regardless.

Did you try booting in safe mode ?

I cannot view the output, and repeated shutdowns in an attempt to force a safe mode boot are either ineffective or irrelevant to the issue since I can’t visually confirm if it has or not.

I'd suspect cpu overheating.
Check, if cpu cooler is installed properly.

Previously, when monitoring my system vitals through Ryzen Master and AMD Software, the highest the temps ever got was 60C. Still, I reseated the cooler with a cleaning and fresh coat of thermal paste. No apparent changes.