HP Z1 - "Unsupported" Graphics Card Install Success

[altfx2]

Hi All,

I have purchased the Nvdia Geforce 675m graphic card as suggested in this forum.

Unfortunately, when install the graphic (with HP heat sink/fan module) on my HP Z1 PC the system cannot boot.

There is a beeping sound (6 beep) indicated that the graphic card is either not supported or malfunction. I have also try many time to ensure that the card is fix properly in the slot but has no luck....

Can anyone help to provide some suggestion? Is really upset with spending on the card and cannot work......

Please Help!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[aeneas1]

have you updated to the latest bios? also, what's your memory sitch, how many sticks, how many slots used? when installing the video card, it's important that the card not only slides perfectly into the mxm slot (oddly, this can be a little tricky, it's easy to slide it under the slot and think that it's actually in the slot), but it's also important to ensure that the end of the video card module, where the module fan is, is "snapped" into its socket as well, it's easy to think it has been snapped in when it actually hasn't.

[altfx2]

Hi Aeneas,

Thanks for your reply.

Yes I did update bios to the below version but still cannot work.

HP Z1 Series Workstations System BIOS  - 02.61 Rev. A 25 Sep 2013

I'm actually confuse with the three bios version make available on the HP download site. Am I actually update to the correct version? Below are the three option available........

• HP Workstations ME Firmware Update and Utilities (International) - 8.1.40.1416 Rev. A 27 Sep 2013
• HP Z1 Series Workstations System BIOS  - 02.61 Rev. A 25 Sep 2013
• HP Workstations ME Firmware Update and Utilities (International) - 8.1.0.1265 Rev. A 11 Apr 2013

I'm have 24GB RAM and below is my memory configuration.

I have check very carefully if the card is slot in properly. I guess if the card slide under the slot it will not prevent the bios to boot. Somehow the system must have detected the card and for some reason it cannot boot.

Any other idea??? Please help........................

[RogerWilco]

If the card is not supported at all, you get no BIOS warnings and a black screen. I'm not sure what it could be apart from a faulty card. Can you test it in another machine?

[aeneas1]

i'm afraid i have some bad news for you - the reason i asked if you had updated your bios is because i think there's a chance that the latest update (2.61) is blocking the card from working. here's my story, i'll try to be brief -  a few months ago i decided that i just didn't need a dedicated card for what i do, especially considering that it ran hot when i used dual monitors, which i do daily, not anything serious mind you, but additional heat that i just wasn't benefiting from - both of my cards ran hot, the 1000m and the 675m, but well below warning levels of course, and probably normal to most, but i didn't like it, it's the nature of the beast, the all-in-one build, it's a like laptop, even tho hp did an incredible job with the air-flow design. anyway i decided to see if the integrated graphics on my cpu would meet my needs and, to my surprise, it worked just fine, and my z1 ran much cooler (and quieter). so i put my cards on the shelf, updated my drivers and bios, and was a happy camper. 

i decided to sell my cards but before i did i wanted to make sure that the integrated graphics would really be enough, so i prepared to run some graphics test using the type of stuff i usually do, big photoshop files, streaming hd, etc... but when i installed my 675m again, nothing, black screen. i then uninstalled the drivers and tried my 1000m. same thing, nothing but a black screen. i tried everything but to no avail. i finally called hp and they believed it was most likely a faulty system board based on what i described, however i'm thinking it had something to do with the bios updates. anyway i gave up, no big deal for me given i had pretty much made up my mind to go with the integrated graphics, but it still kind of bugs me. also, apparently, it's not possible to roll back bios versions, although i think you may be able to get past bios files from hp, but from what i understand it can be a risky thing to do, trying to roll back.

a couple of things before you give up tho: when you install your card does the gpu fan seem to spin at a normal speed, are you getting plenty of power to it? after i updated my bios the fans on my gpu modules were very lazy, as if they weren't getting enough juice. in fact i wondered if the card was getting enough power. also, have you tried inserting your card without heatsink module, to see if you get anything, by doing this you can be absolutely positive that it's seated properly and securely, albeit you have to be careful.

the more i think about it i wonder if i would have had any problems if i had updated the bios while my card was installed, i updated after i removed the card, and uninstalled the drivers. perhaps the other gents using a gtx card can chime in and let us know if they're using their cards with the latest bios update.

[altfx2]

This is really a shocking news.....

I did tried to run the gtx card on the previous bios before I update and it is the same blank screen. That’s why I decided to update the bios and give it a try. I realise the different between the previous and latest bios is the beeping sound. The previous bios does not give any indication other than blank screen, but the latest version did beeping indicated that is the graphic issue.

I did thought of if it could be the power supply issue and did monitor on the gpu fan if running normally. Nothing unusual. I have also tried to insert the card without the heatsink module…….but still no luck……….

I’m surprise that you have mention even the 1000m is also not running after the bios update. The quadro 1000m is the official supported graphic card from HP, it has no reason for them to release a new bios that is not supported on the card.

Anyone else have the same experience that can be shared? 

[RogerWilco]

It still may be the card. Can you try it in another machine? I previouslt had a 680M that did the same. Turned out the card was faulty. Replacing it worked.

[altfx2]

Thanks for reply Roger.

I do not have any other machine to try. Anyway I have send in the card to claim for warranty. Let keep the finger cross it will work after the replacement.

I will keep you guys update once I receive the new card.

Cheers...

[RogerWilco]

No problem altfx2.

Please, post how you do get on.

[Chelseaman08]

I installed and changed out my quadro for a 770m mxm and it works grea thanks to the guys on here. I am trying to see if i can overclock it or if i need to, im not really sure. But for folks that arent sure if gtx mxm's work, i can tell you they do well. My 770 does give off a lot of heat and im looking to go up to a 780m so hoping i can do that sometime next year. Is there a site i can go to for overclocking the 770m? Thanks for all your help with setting up the mxm. Im gonna add 1TB SSD's and upgrade the memory also