Did you accidentally damage your RTX 3090 PCI-e connection?
Did you accidentally damage your RTX 3090 PCI-e connection?
Hey there,
Here’s the situation I’m facing:
RTX 3090 installed, but the GPU isn’t communicating with the motherboard.
On Windows, the GPU-Z or lspci/dmesg commands don’t show the card as detectable on the PCIe slot or the board itself, like it’s not even connected.
I managed to get it working after spending a long day trying various solutions, such as:
- Updating the OS
- Checking GPU-Z for PCIe presence
- Disabling the integrated GPU
- Using a mini GPU in the same slot to test the PCIe connection
- Running all three GPUs at once (the other two didn’t work)
- Resetting BIOS settings
- Testing with different BIOS modes
- Ensuring the PSU cable is secure and undamaged
Other attempts included:
- Using another PC
- Swapping the PSU cables
- Inspecting the GPU port for damage
- Running a voltage tester
- Checking for VRAM/VRM problems
- Testing with a different GPU board
I also considered deeper diagnostics like BIOS flashing, PCIe testing, and power supply evaluation.
In the meantime, I haven’t tried:
- Using another computer
- Testing with a different PSU
- Running a power quality tester
- Flashing the BIOS (though it worked before)
- Checking for VRAM or power delivery issues
My current specs are:
CPU: Core i9 12900k
RAM: 32GB DDR5
PSU: 850W Gold
GPUs: RTX 3090 (24GB), Intel UHD Graphics 770, R7 200 (1GB)
I’m still waiting to see if the motherboard is faulty or just a communication issue.
PSU is rated at 850w Gold. This indicates the advertised power output while Gold signifies the 80+ efficiency rating. The specific model, manufacturer, and age of the unit are important to consider regarding its wattage capacity. It's worth noting that with the RTX 3090, users typically require a PSU capable of delivering between 1.2KW and 12.5KW due to high power demands during intense usage.
You haven't provided details about your motherboard's make and model, nor the BIOS version you're using.
There are many RTX 3090 models available; please specify your particular GPU's make and model.
It was my previous PSU that I used with the RTX 3080. Some suggested models like the 3090, but 850W minimum should be sufficient. However, I think we shouldn't rely too much on the minimum specs. Thanks for your response. Here are the missing details:
PSU
Name = Neoeco NE850G M ATX3.1
Type = 100% Modular
Make = 2023-something
Age = Purchased in 2024, roughly one year old
Motherboard
MPG Z690 FORCE WIFI (MS-7D30)
BIOS
Date = 11/11/2022
Version = American Megatrends International, LLC. A.90
Found a Reddit thread discussing the PSU being b-tier, which might explain some of my issues. I think it would be wise to verify with another PSU as well. Your help was really appreciated.
I faced issues similar to yours after upgrading to an RTX 4090 — games with high power consumption would cause the system to freeze or restart. To manage this, I connected two 850 Watt PSUs from different outlets, using one Seasonic 850GM PSU solely for the 4090. Even with the dedicated PSU, the 16-pin HVPWR +12V lines dropped to 11.34V (as noted by afterburner), which falls short of ATX standards.
It makes more sense now, seems like PSU is coming up on the priority list with that lol, thanks a lot.
I was mainly concerned because PC boots up fine (with secondary GPU and RTX 3090 inside the motherboard, spinning, lights showing, but not detected via PCIe, probably similar to yours).
Since it's on the power prob issue list, I'll check it out at a shop with a new PSU, hoping it works. Thanks again, both of you. I'll let you know if it goes well.
I never faced any issues starting up my PC or having the BIOS recognize the 4090. My problems only appeared when attempting to run demanding games. I've experienced various oddities, including PSU-related issues. Overclocking my 1080ti would lead to SSDs and ODDs vanishing during gaming, which happened back when I used a ten-year-old 750Watt PSU that I had purchased secondhand. At that time, I pushed my CPU and GPU overclocks to their limits.
The solution came when I switched to two 850WPS and connected one of them (the one powering the 4090) to a different outlet. Having both PSUs on the same circuit caused the power panel to alert me about the AC line voltage dropping below 110V, triggering an alarm if the mains voltage fell too low.
Damn xD
It looks like your issue really threw you off, but good news—it was fixed using the two PSU methods. That’s actually pretty cool, especially with the alarm going off, which is the best part lol.
I’m similar to you in handling things; just at a random moment my GPU didn’t show up on my PCIe slot, like the motherboard can’t communicate with it. I think it might be the GPU board itself—maybe some circuit failed (that’s why I ordered the voltage meter to check if the GPU is okay).
I feel like if the GPU was fine, it should have turned on as usual before. If not, it could mean the power pins aren’t getting power properly from the PSU (or maybe a PSU change would help). There’s a chance some GPUs’ chips might be damaged and affecting communication with the motherboard.
So probably I’ll need to test both sides one by one. I’ll post a reply here once I find a solution, so others can benefit too.