Reasonable result - but not too sure of next actions ...

[CW.]

OK, on my first build and it's been a bit of a learning experience, but I'm getting somewhere now

I am using a Gigabyte 890GPA-UD3H motherboard, and a HIS Radeon HD 5850 graphics card. The motherboard has built-in graphics as well.

I'm at the stage where without the graphics card in and using the normal VGA connection from the mobo it gets to the 'No operating system' screen (which I reckon is a success ). With the card in I get no display at all. I still get one beep - indicating boot success according to the manual, but no display on either of the DVI outputs from the card, nor when I use the VGA from the mobo (obviously the card is overruling it somehow). Fan on the card is going fine ... can't see anything out of order.

I've tried taking it out and reseating it, same result. I'm pretty sure it's well in ok - it can't get any further in as the far end is pretty much resting on the SATA sockets on the mobo. Also the brackets line up exactly with the end plate.

I'm going to try installing Windows 7 and looking at the BIOS settings for now just using the on-board graphics, possibly I'm missing a driver or something? Or possibly the card is dead.

Curious to see if anyone has any ideas - I'll report back on what I find.

[glc]

Have you connected the power connectors to the video card?

Windows has nothing to do with the bios, and no drivers are needed to get a POST display. Do not install Windows until you get the card working.

[CW.]

Ah ...

Yes - I had two 6 pin power connectors into the graphics card. One had to be two four pins and an adapter to make a 6 - the adapter was supplied by HIS in the box though they don't recommend it as the best way to do it.

I am already part-way through the Windows 7 install (with the card out of the machine of course) - is there an issue with trying to add the card after I get Windows up?

[glc]

If your power supply doesn't have the two 6 pin connectors, it may not be adequate to power the card.

[CW.]

Yes, I am suspicious about that ... it's a 750W PSU though so overall there should be plenty spare, and I made sure I used two four pins from different supply leads from it.

I did have a Corsair 750 - but it was too big for the case made a late change of case due to it becoming totally unavailable in the UK, and I didn't realise the PSU bay on this one was smaller in size .

Latest news - card is back in, and if I use a DVI to VGA converter I can get the monitor powered via the card socket. I can't see the card in any hardware list that Windows has though, just a generic VGA adapter. Not exactly sure what that means yet ...

Still working through installing the various utilities etc. that came with the bits of hardware.

[CW.]

OK - cracked it.

It appears that without the ATI drivers the graphics board only operates in VGA mode - but it doesn't have any VGA outputs, so you need to use DVI with a DVI-VGA adapter.

Then installing the ATI drivers from the disc with it brings it all to life!

Up to 7.7 for graphics on Windows Rating now (lowest is 5.9 for disks).



Me 1 - Family 0