PC fails to restart following the installation of a new GPU.
PC fails to restart following the installation of a new GPU.
A short while ago, I switched from a GTX 1080 to a 6900XT. Everything functioned smoothly; before that, I used DDU to clear all NVIDIA drivers and then installed the Radeon software directly from the site. All the games I tested ran well and I anticipated better performance. On Wednesday, after upgrading to Windows 11 and installing a new GPU driver, I’m uncertain if this problem started before or after that change. Since I rarely restart my PC—typically shutting it down overnight and turning it back on—I don’t think it’s related to the reboot process. The issue seems to appear during the system POST phase, not once the OS is loaded.
The main challenge is that I can’t restart the computer. If I do, the motherboard, fans, and GPU lights stay active while the fans keep spinning, but I don’t see anything on the screen. My keyboard and mouse also don’t light up. The motherboard’s VGA light turns on during these moments.
To resolve it, I have to disconnect power and perform a cold boot several times until everything recognizes itself. Once that happens, Windows loads normally and everything works as expected. My components—CPU, motherboard, RAM, and power supply—have remained consistent over the past few years. I’m very close to getting a 3080ti, but I can’t rule out similar problems. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!
Have you attempted to start without the GPU installed? Remove it, connect the display cable to the motherboard, and observe its behavior. If it functions, the issue likely lies with the GPU; if not, the Windows 11 installation may have failed. If you purchased it new, consider requesting a refund or swapping it for another unit. Also, check for slow memory performance, particularly with a Ryzen processor—ideal speeds are around 3200MHz, which represents a loss of over 5%.
It seems the system couldn’t generate an image properly. I recall a GPU failure forced me to use only my 2700X, which ran at about 2 frames per second in Windows—still manageable. My CPU performed much better.
It's not feasible if the CPU lacks a GPU, as there would be no components connected to the display ports.