[StormX2]

recently had an issue with my Wifes PC and now we cannot get the PC to even get to a Bios Splash screen.

seems to boot with normal Post Beeps except for one extra fast beep, only 1 beep.

Ive looked everywhere for list of Diag/Post Beep codes for this motherboard and I do not seem to see any, not even in the Manual.

Screen doesn't flicker either makes me think its video related.

anyone have any ideas?

Q9300, 4 x 2 GB G.Skill, 9800 GT SLI (SLI has been disabled as we had an issue before) MSI P7N Platinum SLI

the issue we had seemed to be do to the weight of the GPU making it look like it wasn't straight in the PCIE Socket.

I was able to prop that up a bit more so that it was looking right and not sagging, worked great for a while until this.

but with that old problem, I would still get a bios screen and no odd extra Post Beep.

so I dunno wth happened to the PC.

Basically, I was playing a game, had a problem in game was going to reboot the system. and she never came back online...

 

[StormX2]

god the machine to run by laying the PC down on its side, and gently pushing on the GPU with my hand...

Whats a pain in the butt here... anyone know a good way for me to keep this card from sagging and losing connection?

 

[cdoublejj]

i once saw a GPU on newegg with a power jack.

i think it was just two tube threaded together. I always figured i use a dowel rod cut to length with two pieces of double sided adhesive.

 

[StormX2]

hmm, that flew right over my head lol

 

[cdoublejj]

a stick to prop the GPU up.

 

[StormX2]

Ive never seen these problems before, is this faily common over 5 years for this to start happening witha heavy GPU Cooler?

 

[cdoublejj]

no just common when installing a truck in your PCIe slot, personally i don't have you machine in hand but, i'm gonna stab in the dark i might guess maybe it has had few cards swapped in it's day, i would inspect the inner pins and clean them how ever my method of cleaning while it works can hurt you pcie slot if your not careful.

 

[StormX2]

well actually, for the better part of 5 years that she has had this PC, it has never changed, you cant really take the cards in and out either becuase she has fan controllers connected to the Cards and Heat sensors on the cards too, so I cant really just take them out, ive only re-seated the PCIe card 4 times total this past few months in attempts to repair.

lately the machine will boot up if I physically hold the card down in place, it will boot and then give me now problem, but Im starting to get to the point where I am so unhappy with the machine that I might just need to upgrade it =(

the idea of replacing the 775 mobo though just sounds terrifying and I dont think i will take the chance on over priced old technology....

what I am kicking around in my head, is either a cheap 1155 or even 1366 . an i7 920 will run laps around this q9300 and both processors are worth about the same $$

I just need this to stop being a headache lol.

 

[cdoublejj]

does a second gfx card do the same thing? replacing an whole setup for one problem that can be fixed with something to hold it place? come one now man. see if a different GPU causes the problem if not i will have try a few things if you are willing.

 

[StormX2]

well she is old, and the 750i does not overclock at all.

I want nothing more than to get rid of it, but it doesnt look liek this guy is sending me that GTX 295, so I may be stuck with current setups for a bit longer.

Ive been trying to figure otu a way to hold the GPU in place for a while now, nothing seems to exactly work well., it always comes loose again

both cards sag btw, I had to turn off SLI

 

[cdoublejj]

Man i'd love to have a GTX 295, that would be a tremendous boost on my multiboot machine (nvidia for linux and osx[gts250])

Well if worse comes to worse you can always sell the old stuff to recoup a small part of the new build.

 

[StormX2]

that would be my last resort only because ive been collecting parts for a few years for my sons eventual first PC build.

and it would be nice if I could hand him a quad core processor and not the e6300 that we do have for him ;p

so what would work well, provided I do receive the GTX 295.

Is I replace my Wifes motherboard, Move up to a higher quality 775 motherboard (I will need some help picking one out)
Give that PC my GTX 275 for now, and hopefully not have spent much money on the motherboard.

otherwise upgrading it all is gonna be like 500 bucks, Proc, mobo ram and a cooler.

I dont think I can bring back half of that from selling the machine especially with the motherboard being quirky with the GPU.

Honestly what I should do is just keep fixing it and hope it keeps working and not spend a cent on it.

 

[cdoublejj]

does your current 775 board use ddr2 or ddr3?

 

[StormX2]

yah DDR2 unfortunately,

Im being a total pain in the arse about this too, cus If I build 1155 i would want a nice new Z77 around the $150 range, lower better, the 3570k minimum and I wouldn't buy less than 2 x 8GB kit lol

$500 bucks easy there and I dont have a cooler lol

 

[cdoublejj]

well the upside is there are plenty of pickings on ebay for around 50-80 dollars or so i would think.

 

[StormX2]

yah I think im just gonna hold off until it craps out =(

the want to build is strong, but the money is too tight.

Thanks for all the info!