Check for signs of damage and test performance to see if it's malfunctioning.
Check for signs of damage and test performance to see if it's malfunctioning.
I've been using this computer for about 5 to 6 years now. It has always performed well until recently. About two days ago, while using Isaac and searching the web, I was distracted by my phone. Both screens displayed "no signal." I tried turning it off and on the next day, but when I attempted to restart again, the issue persisted. After plugging in and unplugging the cables multiple times, it still wouldn't work. I even swapped one of the screens' cables with the motherboard, assuming the problem was with the GPU. It worked fine with integrated graphics, and the GPU showed up as "device not connected" in the device manager. I powered off the PC, cleaned the cables, dusted the PCIe port, and tried turning it back on, but it didn’t help. Now I’m unsure whether the problem lies in the port, the GPU, or something else entirely. I don’t have a spare GPU or another machine to test it on. My motherboard only has one PCIe port, so I can’t try a different one. Buying a replacement GPU would be an option, but I’d prefer to confirm the cause before doing so. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you for reading, and sorry for the unclear formatting—I’m on the phone with this."
could be a power supply that can't supply full power to everything any more. What are your system specs?
Generally by ruling things out...or purchasing a tester such as Kill-A-Watt, which isn't too costly and is useful if you construct many systems; otherwise, spending might be better on a superior power supply. We’d begin by examining everything, like applying artificial load to the GPU and observing its performance. You can evaluate your CPU using Intel's Processor Diag tool https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/...-tool.html. It’s unlikely to be the issue, but it’s wise to ensure all components are in good shape. Check your drive's condition with CrystalDiskInfo. If needed, test your RAM health with MemTest86.
You need to simulate a real-world scenario where the GPU is under stress, even if it's not actively being used. The device manager should reflect this by showing the GPU as unplugged, but you can still run benchmark tests to see how it performs under those conditions.
This configuration was purchased when I was 15 and it broke, I didn’t really consider upgrading because I was lazy, but it still performed its job well for the way I use it today. Still, I’ll try it out and let you know the results once I’m done. Thanks for your help so far!
I completely grasp that idea. Components degrade over time, so maybe upgrading is the best option. Let's begin with the fundamentals and build from there.
Check if the system starts with built-in graphics. Navigate to BIOS settings, select Advanced, then Integrated Graphics Configuration. Look for options like IGD Multimonitor and enable the relevant settings. You may need to switch from PEG to a different boot method to set the GPU as the primary device. Confirm this change and verify in Device Manager for any errors.