Failure, or mismatch? nVidia graphics card problem

Skofab · 22 Oct 2018

Your help, opinions appreciated.
My Desktop is old, modest, but continues to give good service.
For years it has run with a Gigabyte motherboard GA-H6M-S2PV (Rev 2.2)
The graphics card was a nVidia GT210.
I had this connected to a Dell 1708FP monitor.

I bought a MSI GT710 in an effort to improve screen quality. This did not work - just a blank screen!
I refitted the GT210, and surprisingly got the same result - no picture. As a result I had to then rely on the integrated Intel ( HD) graphics.

I have now bought a full HD Philips 226E9 22" monitor, which is giving new life to my system - the difference is amazing.

The question is was the earlier Dell 1708fp (1280x1024) incompatible with the GT710, or am I clutching at straws?
Perhaps someone with hardware knowledge can give some guidance as to the possibility of refitting the GT710, and it working in its new setup.
Thanks in advance

CJ

philc43 · 22 Oct 2018

The fact that only the intergrated graphics worked makes me wonder if a BIOS setting got changed and needs resetting to allow the graphics card to be used as the primary graphics source.

Refit the GT710 graphics card and go into the BIOS to make sure the onboard graphics is turned off or set to allow graphics cards to be used as the primary source. These settings are usually set to AUTO but you can change them as shown in the manual (section 2.5):

Failure, or mismatch? nVidia graphics card problem-capture.png

Skofab · 22 Oct 2018

Thanks philc43
first problem is that I cannot boot into bios with the PCI card inserted.
At one stage after a lot of playing around, I got a picture on my monitor, which obviously needed drivers (this proves it does work) but could not alter display settings.
Downloaded separately the nvidia drivers. When rebooted the changes to the display settings did not save - so back to square one!
This is an old PC - may investigate building something never
Thanks for your help
C

bobkn · 22 Oct 2018

I presume a couple of things:

Your MB is really a GA-H61M-S2PV (Rev 2.2), and

The GT710 is really a PCI-E graphics card (not PCI), even though your MB has both PCI-E and PCI slots.

My suggestion:

Uninstall the nVidia drivers.
Shut down the PC.
Disconnect it from power.
Remove the GT210 (if it's installed).
Clear the CMOS. (Jumper. See your manual, or donload the .pdf if you don't have it handy.)
Install the GT710.
Connect the monitor to the 710, and connect power.
(Optional: pray to the deity of your choice.)
Start up the PC.

If all goes well, install the appropriate nVidia drivers. (The 416.34 drivers support the GT710.)

Let us know how it comes out.

Skofab · 23 Oct 2018

Hi everyone
many thanks for your input - have tried all tweaks known to mankind, which include your kind suggestions.
Rather embarrassingly

I have to admit that I did at one stage set the init to PCI instead of PEG !!!

No matter what the settings - with the GT710 in place - boot up takes me as far as the starting Gigabyte screen and stops. It will go no further - leaving it for a time makes no difference.
If I try (With GT710 in place) to enter bios, this will not happen!!

Back now on the onboard graphics, which work with no problems.

Thanks again
C

bobkn · 24 Oct 2018

Skofab said:

Hi everyone
many thanks for your input - have tried all tweaks known to mankind, which include your kind suggestions.
(snip)

Did you actually clear the CMOS? I can't claim to have needed to do that more than a few times over the years, but it has always worked in getting a new graphics card to work.

Skofab · 25 Oct 2018

Hi bobkn
thanks for your further thoughts. Yes I can confirm that I did also clear the cmos, and also left the battery out overnight on one occasion.
AS stated, I am back on the onboard grahics setup, that works well.
Must see what I have stashed away up in the loft that might accept a PCIe card.
Thanks again everyone