Installing a new Nvidia GTX 660 into an HP Pavilion HPE h8-1050

[CM88]

A while back I asked the HP community about upgrading the GPU in my old HP Pavilion HPE h8-1050 desktop PC. Based on the responses I believed an Nvidia GTX 660 might be the best option because it should work with my existing power supply and it should also be compatible with the Legacy Bios on my PC. I finally got around to getting a GTX 660 from this place for a decent price:

https://h30434.www3.hp.com/t5/Desktop-Video-Display-and-Touch/h8-1050-graphics-upgrade/td-p/5991198

Once I removed the old AMD GPU and put the new Nvidia GTX 660 in I started up and all I get is the HP blue screen with the Green Hand and the text "Press the ESC key", but it never goes into the Windows startup- it just hangs there on the HP screen indefinitely.

The only Bios update that was available for this machine was the 7.12 Rev A dated Feb 6, 2012- which I have already downloaded and installed (after putting the old AMD GPU back in- which still works fine as far as starting into Windows btw)

Any ideas on something else to try with this?

Thanks!

[wb2001]

@CM88,

Shutdown and removing power cord from chassis

You need to re-install the old AMD card, and then go into Control Panel:

1) Programs and Features  -   Remove all programs that pertain to the AMD card.

2) Device Manager - Uninstall the driver.

Shutdown and removing power cord from chassis

3) Remove AMD

4) Install GTX 660 card and PCIE power plug to card.

5) Make video connection then add power cord to chassis

6) Boot and report back.

[CM88]

With the AMD GPU in the PC:

-I uninstalled 1 AMD Application (the only one I saw)

-I uninstalled the AMD driver in the Device Manager

Shut down the PC

Took out the AMD GPU, put the Nvidia GTX 660 in and connected power to it

Rebooted- and I'm still hanging on that blue HP screen with the green hand- can't get past that to Windows. All I can do at that point is power off.

[wb2001]

@CM88,

The motherboard has default video output. If you remove the GTX 660, what happens?

[CM88]

I have my monitor plugged into the HDMI on the GTX 660 (it was previously plugged into the HDMI on the AMD GPU).

I see that the motherboard has what looks like 2 onboard DVI ports on the the back but they appeared to be covered with 2 plastic covers with screws- I suppose they came that way when I first had the machine. Are you saying I should remove the GTX 660, plug my monitor into one of those motherboard onboard DVI's and try restarting without any actual GPU in the PC?

Thanks for all your suggestions btw!

[wb2001]

@CM88,

Yes, I am suggesting you test the motherboard versus the GTX card.

I sent you a PM.

[CM88]

Ok- so I removed the GPU- now there is no GPU in the PC at all. The monitor is plugged into the onboard DVI attached to the motherboard. I booted up and the machine boots into Windows 10 just fine.

[wb2001]

@CM88,

So I was right, you do have onboard video. That means the following:

The video card needs a 450W minimum PSu with 12v/24 A service.  Your PSU has 450W, and 3 separate 12v lines, ie 15A, 18A and 10A, called line 12vA, 12vB, and 12vC. I can not tell you which lines are which. 

1) Try a different 12V source line.

2) It is a used card.  It was guaranteed to work ?  How do the contacts appear?  Remember that contacts are cleaned with contact cleaner, and gently wiped downward. Never side to side across contacts.

3) never was a fan of that style PSU. Prefer single line.

[CM88]

Unfortunately the current power supply cable 6-pin that is being used for the AMD GPU (and the GTX 660 when I put it in) is the only one of it's type which looks like this:

The only other available plug/pin I see that my power supply has available and that is actually long enough to reach is this one (which I think is SATA?):

So if the Power Supply cable is the problem does that mean my only option is getting something like this to convert that one SATA to the 6 pin which is the only plug that both GPU's have on them? Something like this:

Is this ok to do? Will it then work?

As for the Nvidia GTX 660- I am led to believe it's a new/unused card- it arrived in a protective/sealed anti-static wrapper. I believe it was originally made by/for a Dell.

Here is the link to where I bought from:

https://www.partscube.com/FPDH3-dell-nvidia-geforce-gtx-660-gddr5-pcie-video-graphics-card/

There are no guarantees as this is an older card and pretty much the only other ones I've seen online are only available on ebay or Amazon and are usually used or ridiculously overpriced since they are rare. I found this one and took a chance.

I have not cleaned the PCI connectors as it seems to be a new card- I have never done that before anyway and probalby don't have the right cleaning supplies for it. I have made sure the PCI connection is strong when putting the cards in and the release button clicks into place so the card is definitely in.

So do you think the 6pin to SATA cable will possibly solve the problem?

[wb2001]

@CM88,

I called NVidia in CA. They are of the option that you either have UEFI, or the BIOS has Secure Boot enabled. As illogical as the latter part might be, please check.

Please run this program to confirm Boot Environment.

Got a nasty suspicion after reading this item.