Computer freezes with no display while GPU is connected
Computer freezes with no display while GPU is connected
Hello everyone! This is my debut here, and it's been a while since I've been active on forums. I recently purchased this new refurbished PC and will share the specifications shortly:
https://postimg.cc/gallery/fZFzj8j
The graphics card I have is a Radeon R5 430 with 2GB low profile memory. If necessary, I can send a photo of the card, but it appears to be in good condition with no visible shipping damage.
I've been operating the system for a few days now, and everything seems to be functioning perfectly. I've performed many software tasks on my own before.
The issue began when, on the first day it arrived, I connected all the cables, pressed the power button, and... nothing appeared on the screen. I assumed the problem might be with the monitor—its fans were running, the power indicator was on, and even the disk activity light was lit. I attempted to use a different monitor with a VGA cable instead of the DVI used by the GPU, but the screen remained completely black. I also tried entering BIOS, but the fans became noticeably quieter than before. I was convinced the GPU was still operational since its fan noise was audible. I plan to verify this later.
After carefully unplugging it, the system booted up without any issues.
The only unusual observation was a small cable near the GPU when it was unplugged. It had a "P4" label on one of its connectors, and it was removed. I couldn't find any pins that matched the original setup, which made me cautious about damaging my motherboard. It felt like a disconnection from a larger cable.
I reached out to the seller, who even provided a video showing the same PC with the same card working perfectly.
Could there be a solution to this problem?
Also, please forgive any errors—I'm open to suggestions.
Sure, here are the actual full specs you requested. If you need more details, just let me know.
Absolutely, I'll share more information later because I'm currently busy, though I already asked the seller if this GPU would fit their system and he confirmed it could. It seems this CPU (and even the i5-4570) with a GPU was a typical setup some years back. It's definitely not the latest hardware, as I live in an area where finding quality parts is tough and expensive. I'm just looking for a PC to run some lower or mid-range games. I'm not sure if the cable is labeled "P4," but it has "P4" printed on one side. I'm new to computer hardware and don't know its exact purpose yet.
Fair enough said. You'll come around to this stuff in a few months or years to come. But with that said: Welcome to Hardware Troubleshooting..................
Thanks, I've enjoyed hardware and software for a long time, but I haven't had the chance to buy a new PC that's more than 40 years old. This is my first one. Also, do you have any suggestions for GPUs that would work well with a system like this?
Well, actually looking at the options here, from my side the best choices would be Red Team to Green Team. The top pick is the RX 590 Nitro+ Special Edition, offering good value with two free games, though it uses more power and produces more heat. The GTX 970 or 980 are strong GPUs that won’t limit your CPU, but might be hard to locate or may be outdated. The GTX 1660 XC Black Gaming is a solid 1080p option with a free Fortnite bundle, though it doesn’t support ray tracing or DLSS. The RTX 2060 is the best GPU for your i5-4690 in 2023, but it’s also the most expensive on the list. If none of these fit your budget, I’d recommend going for a GTX 1070 Ti—it’s in the middle ground, not yet a low-end junk card, and has enough power to get you through the day.
Thank you for the response! I'll attempt this again later in the evening and let you know if there are any updates.
Last time I checked, it worked! After cleaning the pins, nothing changed. I kept checking inside the case and searching online, which led me to a DELL page about resetting the BIOS. All I had to do was plug in the GPU again, hold the power button for 30 seconds, and turn it on. The card is now working and recognized properly. Thanks a lot for your help!
Common Power Cycling Situation . . . Haha . . . always works