Hi there guys,

I was hoping that you could help me with an issue that I've been trying to sort out.

Background / history:
I've gotten a new (to me) PC

It has a motherboard with NO onboard GFX
I've just gotten a GFX card from a friend for testing

As an aside -
I also managed to take the SSD out of the tower, use my current PC with an external
HDD reader, and install Ubuntu 22.04 LTS to the SSD that will be used in the
new PC

I'm using a basic 19" dell monitor with a VGA connection, and a HDMI to VGA converter
box which looks like this -

HDMI (out) from PC GFX card > HDMI to VGA converter box > VGA cable to monitor

N.B. I use this exact same set-up with my current PC (which does have onboard GFX)
and it works brilliantly


Issue(s):

1. The PC won't boot (properly)

2. Wont display a signal from the GFX card


Troubleshooting:

1. The PSU works and provides power

2. The fans spin up and work properly

3. The GFX card fans spin and work properly

4. I do not hear any BIOS "beep error codes"

5. The DVD drive tray - will respond and open/close when its button is pressed

6. The USB ports "don't appear" to be getting power / or working properly
(Although this may be a red herring)

As When i plug my USB keyboard and mouse into them, the keyboards lights (Num lock)
do not light up properly - They did briefly when I was using my KVM switch
but I've taken that out of the equation, to try and simplify things until I get
the PC booted and into the main desktop.

6.1. I've tried various different USB ports with my keyboard and mouse - with the same
problem.

6.2. I've also tried the dedicated USB ports (specifically used for the keyboard and
mouse) again with the same issue - they dont light up or appear to work

7. I have the GFX card in the top (1st ?) PCI slot
This is supposed to be the reccomended configuration


8. The motherboard has an old PS2 style mouse/keyboard port
But I dont have a PS2 to USB converter or PS2 stlye keyboard/mouse to test with



Questions:

1. What could be causing these problems ?

2. Am I missing anything obvious to get an output from the GFX card ?7

3. I was considering buying a dedicated HDMI to VGA monitor cable, and a PS2 to USB
converter to see if that helped



Useful details:
Motherboard = Sabertooth 990FX
CPU = 8 core
RAM = 16-32 GB
GFX card = Geforce RTX 3070 Ti



TIA for any help or advice

Normally this means that a hardware component is dead and mostly it's the mainboard itself. Think about that "Sabertooth 990FX" is a 10 years old socket AM3+ mainboard.

If you have really pressed this PCIe graphics card into a PCI slot as written you have killed graphics card and mainboard.

1 members found this post helpful.

This could be:

1. hardware component incompatibility
2. hardware component failure
3. PSU producing out of tolerance voltage
4. RAM failure (possibly just needs reseating)
5. motherboard requires separate speaker be connected

Is the RTX 3070 Ti a card that requires plugging into it a separate power cable? Does using it with a VGA display require an active converter? Is yours?

Can you get your hands on a TV with HDMI input to try instead of the VGA monitor?

@mrmazda - Thanks for your input, it's a big help

To answer your questions -

4. The RTX 3070Ti (AKA 1070) may require a seporate power cable for the VGA
The box I use (a cable matters - HDMI to VGA) has an option to be powered by a micro USB
from the video converter box to a full sized USB on the PC.

4.1. However, I don't need to use it for my current set-up on my main PC
I realise that doesn't mean that I wouldn't need it for my new PC

5. I tried connecting my New PC (lets call it PC-2) to my TV, via a standard HDMI to HDMI
cable. The result was the same, no video output.

6. I took another look at the PC, in a bit more depth (I took the side off the case
and watched it boot serveral times).

6.1. I noticed that there are some very useful LEDs on the motherboard to show you
various running states and error codes

6.2. The DRAM LED alternates between showing red for a short while (on some boots)
or permanent (again about 40-50% of the time)

6.3. As a result, I reseated the RAM a couple of times

6.4. I have also tried different RAM sticks, in their slots individually
and rebooted each time. The result = The issue remains

6.5. The only thing I haven't tried (yet), is -
Taking each RAM stick, and methodically trying it, in each RAM slot, then rebooting
That's probably gonna be my next step.

6.6 The CPU LED also (sometimes shows red) but this tends to be at the very beggining
of the boot sequence, then goes off. So it doesn't stay red.

What GPU was used for this? Did the installation include proprietary NVidia drivers instead of pure FOSS?

Does your monitor show anything after turning the computer on?

Sorry, but what? Powered by micro usb? 290W?

That card seriously needs a seperate power cable from psu... recommended psu minimum 650W btw...

7. For the installation of the OS on the new SSD (for PC-2),
I didn't use any specific or propritary GPU drivers.

The reason being is - I was a little concerened that (as I was using my main
computer (PC-1) and it has onboard GFX (Intel 4500 ??) and I didn't want to
complicate matters further, by trying to download additional drivers for the
new card. Perhaps this was a mistake ?

8. Re: The VGA converter box.
It has a micro USB assisted power, so I would assume that it would draw
5v (as per the USB spec).

8.1. This is to power the converter box, (not the GFX card) and IIRC
is used to boost the power signal to the cable itself, not the GFX card
and is currently not in use.


9. No the computer / monitor doesn't display anything (at all) once it
(the PC) has been powered on.

9.1. I am currently using my TV as a monitor / VDU, as it supports straight
HDMI inputs.

9.2. I have also tried using another cable (HDMI to DVI) but the issue remains
In that, the PC or GFX card is not showing any display, at all.

10. I may have resolved the LEDs showing red on the RAM and CPU

10.1. I tried each stick of RAM indiviually, in each RAM slot, working my way
down each slot, I have changed the RAM sticks and slots.

In the new set-up, the RAM LED now only lights up (red) briefly, then turns off
(rather than before where the RAM LED would stay solid red (in 50-60% of the
boots).

This also happens with the CPU for the LED, (it lights up red briefly
then turns off).

11. I have checked the PSU and it is a Corsair CX 750 (a 750w PSU)

11.1. I beleive that the GFX card draws 150w of power

12. I have also disconnected the DVD drive, and the SSD
to see if the motherboard POSTed and further or got to BIOS
It didn't.

13. I think my next step is to reset the BOIS, and possibly remove the
coin battery from the CMOS chip

[EDIT] - I have now reset the BIOS, and the issue remains

Also a long shot but...........
(for testing)

Q4. Would the Geforce RTX 3070 Ti (AKA Nvidea 1070) GFX card
work in my current PC (motherboard = Intel DG45ID)
for testing purposes ?

Do you have a spare graphics card you could try?

I suppose that board should be able to. It is a complete mix match. It depends if you can plug it into the power supply and if it can handle that 290W card. Is it plugged into the power supply with the 2x PCIe 8-pin connectors?

The board has "PCIe x16." Intel says it is compatible with "PCIe x16 Gen 2.x." https://www.intel.com/content/www/us...fications.html
https://community.amd.com/t5/general...bo/td-p/320472
https://forums.tomshardware.com/thre...h-2-0.3599877/

"Supplementary Power Connectors 2x PCIe 8-pin
(adapter to 1x 12-pin included)"
https://www.nvidia.com/en-us/geforce...x-3070-3070ti/

14. I was able to get hold of a spare GFX card and...............
I worked flawlessly.

I was able to

14.1. Get a signal from the GFX card and a dispaly on my TV
14.2. Boot the system via a live USB stick


THANK you VERY much, to all who helped me with this.
It's very much appreciated

1 members found this post helpful.

Your "RTX 3070 Ti" may be incompatible with your "Sabertooth 990FX".

New PCIe graphics cards may not work on old mainboards. This situation occurs e.g. with an "AMD Radeon R7 240" (depending on manufacturer and graphics card BIOS version) on a Gigabyte "GA-Z77-DS3H".