Format C:\

[Flyby PC 23]

Just tinkering unhelpfully again... but I have a presumption against Dell running in my head. I was once told Dell machines were fine, did exactly what they were asked, but the downside was they were already optimised and 'maxed out' when sold, - that is to say you couldn't upgrade them.

 

Now I'm not in the trade, and have nothing to back this up, and it may very well just be heresay or anti-Dell propaganda..... But I was told this, albeit about 10yrs ago.

[Duce Lewis 3]

Things have been crazy busy this week so I had to set this down for awhile

Back at it today and made some progress and a bit more frustration

Made several RAM Tests

BIOS WinSys

4.0---------2.5-----Original Configuration

2.0---------2.0-----Removed Old RAM and placed New RAM in original slots

3.0---------2.5-----Added Old RAM into 3rd Slot

4.0---------2.5-----Added 4th RAM back in

4.0---------2.5-----Downloaded MS.Net Framework and BIOS v.1.4.1 (verified update)

4.0---------3.0-----Removed 1 SLI Video Card

 

Removed 2nd Video Card and installed new 9800 GTX+

Followed instructions to the "T" but the VC is Dead

Fan doesn't even turn on

Checked and rechecked installation but it's solid

Please tell me there's something very stupidly easy I forgot!

[Herr Prop-Wasche 7]

Just a guess, but:

 

1) All power connectors, uh, connected?

2) Do you need to change your BIOS settings from SLI enabled to single card?

[Duce Lewis 3]

Just a guess, but:

 

1) All power connectors, uh, connected?

2) Do you need to change your BIOS settings from SLI enabled to single card?

1. Yep, the new card has only a single power conn, tried both cables

2. Don't know here, but the single card from the SLI pair ran fine alone

Thanks HPW

[Herr Prop-Wasche 7]

Sorry I was not able to help much.

 

BTW, have you installed Service Pack 3.0 for XP?

[Duce Lewis 3]

Sorry I was not able to help much.

 

BTW, have you installed Service Pack 3.0 for XP?

No worries, you efforts are much appreciated

Yes, SP3 installed

I swapped 1 of the old cards back in and she's working again

[Von Paulus 8]

Duce I'm confused. So you had 2x Geforce7900GS 256MB, and not only one like you've said previuously, right?

And now you're trying to use one GeForce7900GS with your new one 9800GTX+?

SLI won't work with two different cards.

Have you tried your new card alone, in slot 1?

[Duce Lewis 3]

Duce I'm confused. So you had 2x Geforce7900GS 256MB, and not only one like you've said previuously, right?

And now you're trying to use one GeForce7900GS with your new one 9800GTX+?

SLI won't work with two different cards.

Have you tried your new card alone, in slot 1?

Both 7900 cards were removed and the 9800 was installed alone

Didn't know it mattered which slot though

Should I try the other?

[Von Paulus 8]

Both 7900 cards were removed and the 9800 was installed alone

Didn't know it mattered which slot though

Should I try the other?

 

If it's slot 1, yes please.

[Duce Lewis 3]

Yes, other slot works better

At least the fan turns on now

But still getting the black screen

 

Went through the troubleshooting it mentioned the motherboard's integtrated video adaptoro

Stated if present, it must be turned off, but no details on how

[Von Paulus 8]

Usually when there's a presence of a graphical card, the bios switches automatically to it.

But if not, than you can plug your monitor into the motherboard integrated video plug.

 

But I'm suspecting you've a bad graphic card.

[Duce Lewis 3]

Usually when there's a presence of a graphical card, the bios switches automatically to it.

But if not, than you can plug your monitor into the motherboard integrated video plug.

 

But I'm suspecting you've a bad graphic card.

Hope not, it'll ruin my already bad day

Where is this mb int vid plug and what type cable does it generally accept?

[Von Paulus 8]

Duce, I'm not sure you have it. Not all motherboards have it. The plug is the standard VGA 15 pin.

 

I'm ruining your day. But at least now you know why your Windows reported only 2.5 GB.

 

EDIT: It might be another thing, but I really need to knw some characteristics of you Power Suply Unit. Tell me the amperage, the voltage, how many 12V rails you have. This information is written in the PSU label. Were the old graphic cards also powered?

If you are not powering correctly the graphic card it only give you a black screen

Edited January 11, 2010 by Von Paulus

[Duce Lewis 3]

Duce, I'm not sure you have it. Not all motherboards have it. The plug is the standard VGA 15 pin.

 

I'm ruining your day. But at least now you know why your Windows reported only 2.5 GB.

You're not ruining my day! it's this *bleep* computer

Seems like on every option, it's got the more difficult set-up

Believe me you're mucha appreciated, thanks for putting up with me!

I'll keep at it

 

EDIT: It might be another thing, but I really need to knw some characteristics of you Power Suply Unit. Tell me the amperage, the voltage, how many 12V rails you have. This information is written in the PSU label.

1kWatt

+5V, 16A

-12V, .2A

+5VFP, 3A

+3.3V, 30A

+12VA, B, C, D, & E (5 total, 18A each)

 

Were the old graphic cards also powered?

Yes, same cable pops right into the 9800

 

If you are not powering correctly the graphic card it only give you a black screen

Found this on my system at support.dell

http://support.dell....s.htm#wp1073386

[Von Paulus 8]

Found this on my system at support.dell

http://support.dell....s.htm#wp1073386

And?...

Power seems OK. I mean 5 rails of 18A each. That's power man.

So it seems it's the thing you don't want to hear. :stink:

[Duce Lewis 3]

And?...

Power seems OK. I mean 5 rails of 18A each. That's power man.

So it seems it's the thing you don't want to hear.

You must understand, I'm the novice grasping for any (and every) useful bit of info

Thouhght it might give you a better idea of my sys, but obviously you're way beyond this

Must be frustrating at your end, not being able to get "hands on"

 

Power connectors are stndard configuration ...Right?

If it mates, it should have the same pin-out as the last?

[Herr Prop-Wasche 7]

Duce,

 

Excuse me for asking, but I am lazy and have not re-read the whole thread...

 

What kind of video card does your MB support: AGP, PCI, or PCI Express? Is your video card the same type that the MB supports? As I recall, AGP has one power connector, but PCI and PCI Express require two.

[Von Paulus 8]

You must understand, I'm the novice grasping for any (and every) useful bit of info

Thouhght it might give you a better idea of my sys, but obviously you're way beyond this

Must be frustrating at your end, not being able to get "hands on"

Not frustrating. It's ok Duce. I do think that sometimes we have to read the fu***** manual first.

And I've read that last week, because of your problem.

 

Power connectors are stndard configuration ...Right?

If it mates, it should have the same pin-out as the last?

Yes.

 

You should try that new graphic card in another computer.

 

@Herr. Is motherboard supports PCIe.

[Duce Lewis 3]

9800 list requirements as:

1. 450W with 24A minimum on 12V Rail

2. PCI Express 2.0 Compliant Motherboard

3. One 6 Pin PCIe Power Conn. or 2 available Hard Disk Connectors (adaptor supplied)

 

PS is robust, but will 18A rails combine to provide the 24A?

Worth trying the HD adaptor?

[Morris 2]

Duce,

 

reading the post about the new graphics card.

 

The bigger power supply u can use the better for the card.

 

i would suggest looking at a 750 - 1200 w power supply.

 

overall the whole PC will benefit from the bigger power supply.

 

morris

[Duce Lewis 3]

Duce,

 

reading the post about the new graphics card.

 

The bigger power supply u can use the better for the card.

 

i would suggest looking at a 750 - 1200 w power supply.

 

overall the whole PC will benefit from the bigger power supply.

 

morris

Pushing 1000 Watts already

I wanted the biggest Dell offered to eliminate these problems

 

My concern is, with the VC drawing 24A, if only 1 Rail (18A) is supplied, then the VC might be starved

[waco1937 0]

I haven't seen this specifically mentioned so I thought I'd mention it. I have two GTX 275 video cards in my SLI machine. Each card needed two separate power cables hooked up for a total of four before the cards would work.

 

 

[Von Paulus 8]

Sorry to disagree Morris, but he already has more than enough big PSU.

 

 

Duce you would only need 24A from 12V if you had only one rail.

That's not the problem Duce. 12A should be enough for that card.

You can always try to use different molex connectors (different rails) to power the card.

But like I've said I suspect your graphic card.

 

@waco

Duce has a 98000gtx+. He only needs one not two.

Edited January 11, 2010 by Von Paulus

[Herr Prop-Wasche 7]

9800 list requirements as:

1. 450W with 24A minimum on 12V Rail

2. PCI Express 2.0 Compliant Motherboard

3. One 6 Pin PCIe Power Conn. or 2 available Hard Disk Connectors (adaptor supplied)

Yep, the new card has only a single power conn, tried both cables

Okay, I think here is where we have a problem. Without opening up my case and taking a look, I believe that my PCI-E video card requires TWO power connectors--the 15 pin VGA connector which plugs into the MB, and the 6 pin PCI-E power connector which plugs into the VC. Look carefully on your card to see if you can find a 6 pin connector. Then, look at the cables coming from your power supply. You should see a cable with only 6 connectors. That is the cable that attaches to your VC.

.

.

.

I think.

[Duce Lewis 3]

Look carefully on your card to see if you can find a 6 pin connector. Then, look at the cables coming from your power supply. You should see a cable with only 6 connectors. That is the cable that attaches to your VC.

My old 7900 SLI set-up used 2 6-Pin power connectors

Plugged 1 of these into the 9800

Checked the card closely, there's no other options