Set up the GPU in G3-710 but it isn't generating any output.
Set up the GPU in G3-710 but it isn't generating any output.
Installed GTX 660 into Acer Predator G3-710, it starts but doesn’t display anything from DVI, HDMI or screen. PC makes one beep so it’s ready to boot, otherwise it’s likely still loading. With GTX 1650 it functions fine on another machine. I’ve tried booting without RAM or GPU, only getting different beeps and no start if either is missing. Clearing CMOS by disconnecting cables and holding the power button for several minutes has helped so far. Now I’m unsure what to do next—should I remove the CMOS battery? Is this related to the BIOS?
Initially, using the motherboard's display output won't function with a dedicated GPU. It might seem like I'm being too critical, but many people overlook this detail. Make sure your cable is properly connected to the right port—specifically on the GPU. I've noticed some unusual problems in recent years. In 2020, I upgraded a prebuilt system (MSI B450M Bazooka / 1700 Ryzen) with DDR4-3200, PCie3 M.2, and a GTX1650 Super. The board would start up and boot normally using the included GT1030, but it would repeatedly display a VGA error light without any video output until it crashed after about twelve tries, refusing to power on and demanding an RMA. MSI didn't clarify what caused this or how they resolved it, which made things stressful. More recently, I experienced random POST failures with no video every 8-12 cold starts. At first, troubleshooting led to returning the Asus Tuf B550-PLUS board. Testing with an ASRock B450M-HDV and a 3600X uncovered some quirks: one DIMM failed to boot, another displayed a persistent hourglass cursor in Windows, and another had intermittent audio-only or video cutouts after a week. It turned out the root issue was that all three machines used the same RAM, which wasn't properly QVL'd for any of them. The Asus and ASRock boards received RAM from their respective QVL lists and now function correctly. The MSI configuration still needs attention, as its DIMMs show inconsistent speeds. In summary, don’t assume anything—always verify connections and consider all components. RAM often plays a surprising role here.