NEW GT630 Graphics not work. Is it COMPATIBLE with my PC?

[HercC130]

Hello Again,

My PC m7377a Media Center.

http://support.hp.com/us-en/document/c00590930

My Gigabyte GT630 New Graphics card:

http://www.gigabyte.com/products/product-page.aspx?pid=4218#ov

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814125426

My PC Present build:

Upgraded PSU to 500W (431W continuous)

Upgraded the RAM to 2GB (max supported on this PC)

Upgraded the BIO's from HP site, from 3.05 to 3.24

There are no additions to this PC, extra drives etc.

I have purchased a Pentium D dual core 945 CPU for it as an upgrade (listed by HP spec's), CPU NOW INSTALLED AND WORKING.

Original was the Pentium 4, 524  (HT) single core.

Problem:

This Graphics Card will not work in my PC. When it is installed and I start the PC it freezes at the HP (blue) start screen and will not progress into windows? This blue start screen is running through the new card on the DVI output. The VGA output on the new card, has the same result, a frozen HP screen.

I can access BIOS if I press F1 before it freezes or that's it, and I must restart to access BIOS again.
In BIOS the card does not seem to be recognised? As it does not list the GPU's 1GB onboard memory. BIO's used to list the original graphics cards 256MB own built in memory.

When you remove the card the PC works again and boots through to windows (onboard graphics 64MB). NOTE, when the New card IS INSTALLED the onboard graphics will not work either. It freezes again at the same screen (HP). I have to remove the card before the PC will work again.

I have tried allsorts, not much you can do in BIO's, I have even tried to do a factory reset (boot from disc's) with the card installed in the hope it will be recognised. But cannot boot from a disc with the card installed.

One other to Note, A fan speeds up when the screen freezes. I seems as if there is a lock up of communication? But I am full out of ideas.

I have seen some forum posts, with this card (GT630) and others, where they have EXACTLY the same symptom's. Freezes at the same place, remove the card and PC will boot as usual and use onboard graphic's.

1/ Is this card just incompatible with this PC? If so what's wrong with it?

    I checked everything and read a lot and Spec's etc it should work (?)

2/ On Gigabyte website It has DRIVERS for download, but what are the BIOS for that they offer. BIOS for what? PC or the Card?

3/ Have there been any Chipset updates to this PC? If so, are they needed for a graphic card upgrade?

Ideas as to the problem/solution please.

Cheers!

Sid.

[jaco1x4]

Hi,

Have you set the primary video adapter slot to PCIe in the BIOS after installing the graphics card and before booting with the new card installed?

Look in the "Advanced Menu"-" Plug and Play" section for this setting when in the BIOS.

You should also uninstall the original onboard graphics drivers prior to installing the new card and enabling the PCIe slot in the BIOS.

I can't think of anything else to check.

Jaco

[HercC130]

Hi,

Thank you very much for getting back to me.

1/ Yes I have set the adapter to PCI-E it was the first thing I did, on the first of many install attempts.

2/ I believe that the Drivers are removed. I went to Add/Remove programs found NVIDIA and removed from there. Because nothings listed in Device Manager.

In Device Manager, there is no Display Adapter icon, so I thought " there are no drivers" initially. I had to reset my PC back to factory with the recovery disc's (with no card at all installed). Before I purchased my new graphic card.

There is nothing in Device Manager to remove/uninstall.

To Note,

When the new card is installed, you can connect either the VGA or DVI from the card to the monitor. With the PCI-E slot/adapter selected in BIOS.

Then start the PC, The HP (blue) start screen is being provided by the new card. But it freezes and will not progress to windows. Also to note that a Fan speed increases when it freezes (not sure which one). I assume the CPU?

I just tried reset configuration data NVRAM to YES and rebooted as I had not tried this one. I did not know what it was - NO CHANGE.

With boot diagnostic screen enabled. Gets to - Checking NVRAM ..... Update Okay!     Then Freezes on this boot diag. screen.

I have got to the point, I am sick of fitting and removing the card (done it so many times). How many times restarted?

I have even tried a factory reset with the card installed, but it will not boot from the disc's.

Should I try another factory reset without any card installed? As I have done that much, I can not be certain if the old (not working) card was in or out at the last reset from disc's.

Does it make any difference having a graphics card fitted or not, when resetting a PC from factory disc's?

You would think the manufacturer would supply all the required information to determine if it will be compatible or not? Before I bought this card, I did much reading, even asked on this site to see what I should be looking for (the Critical Spec's in a card).

Checked as much info as possible. Till i was tired and sick of looking at graphic cards and information.

I have contacted Gigabyte to ask them if it will or will not work with my PC,  I supplied spec's and links to my PC. Full info. If they, cannot provide enough info on the card, I thought if I provide my PC detail they should be able to tell me?

Initial response assumed that I have access to a spare card or PC or both (fair). So I am still waiting on a further response as I Do not have these.

Surely all the specifications either match up or not, and will work or not, how can it be such a problem that no one can say from the information that it is okay with this PC or not?

I have contacted ECS motherboard manufacturer. Provided links to my PC mobo @ HP, plus a link to my Gigabyte card.

I have had no reply.

I have this Quandary now:

I did as much research as I possibly could before purchase. I have paid postage on top of the purchase price.

The seller has offered a full refund if I want to return it at my expense (p&p). If it's faulty?

So if I send it back and it is not faulty, just incompatible 25% restocking fee.

I think it is incompatible??? It's fan works and it produces a picture on the monitor both VGA and DVI outputs (so it runs/operates). It just locks up/freezes at the HP screen (not boot to windows). Thing is Onboard graphics will NOT work either whilst the card is installed. You have to remove the card to get windows with onboard graphic's.

If it is not compatible i need to know why or else how are you supposed to buy in confidence that it will work. ANY graphic card for that matter. The only way you can find out if anything will work, is to read the requirements and check specifications. If they are not providing all the necessary information, who should end up out of pocket (Postage both directions). Can't keep sending for graphic's cards that may not work. It all seems ridiculous.

It could be faulty? But someone (Gigabyte/Mobo maker/seller) should be able to tell me Exactly what the card requires. Then I would know if compatible or not. Then you know if need to look for a fault or not. If not compatible you should know why, so as to avoid cards with that incompatibility.

I have got very cheesed off and worn out now with this saga. But if the card has to go back, theres no time to leave the job for a while. I reckon I am going to suffer a loss if it goes back, so i do not want to send it back if it works.

I don't see why I should be at a loss, after all the reading and checking I have done. Plus after all, I still will not know what card will work for certain.

If you have read this far Thanks! for your interest.

Cheers!

Sid.

[HercC130]

Another thought,

Is UEFI anything to be concerned about on newer cards fitting to older PC's

Grasping at straws!

Sid.

Update got the Pentium D 945 CPU today (dual core), Fitted it, Works well.

Refitted Graphics GT630 and still will not work, just the same.

[HercC130]

Just to remind and bring around again.

Thanks!

[jaco1x4]

Hi,

It could be a UEFI problem.

Some newer graphics cards may not run on non UEFI systems.

The graphics card requires DirectX 11.1. Maybe that is the problem. I may have missed this in your previous post but what operating system are you using?

@Big_Dave might be able to pinpoint your problem.

Jaco

[Big_Dave]

Hi,

If the PC will not boot up with the card installed and  when the video support in the BIOS is set to on board then the card is either dead or not compatible with your PC.  It's definitely not a Windows or driver issue if you can't get past the HP splash screen. The Windows loading process is indicated by the HP splash screen disappearing and Windows will then use basic VGA driver support until the operating system drivers are fully loaded.

I have heard of rare cases where DVI wasn't supported by the BIOS and VGA had to be used.

Use known good native cables without adapters.

[HercC130]

Hi Jaco,

Thanks again for your assistance.

My old PC is running Windows XP Professional. Which has DirectX 9c as well.

This GT630 I purchased required Min. DirectX 9.0 to be pre-installed. Which I believe it should be installed? I did a factory reset from Disc's with no graphic card installed at all.

This card was released during the windows 7 period, so thinking about it UEFI probably not an issue(?).

Just that Gigabyte had a BIOs download that mentioned them.

Sending this card back now today.

I noted that this GT630 has had the same issues, for others on this forum. Also GT210 and GT610 are problems.

Check this other post I started for what I found if you like:

http://h30434.www3.hp.com/t5/Desktop-Hardware/ECS-RC410-M-Asterope-GL8E-Graphics-Card-Compatability/...

I found this Radeon card on ebay from about 2009, old yes but still 3 years newer than my old MSI NVIDIA 6600 256MB. It also has 1GB Memory. I is local for me to fetch too (no postage, but no return either). It also has HDMI output ????    My other post says they can be issue on my motherboard????

What Do You Think! will it work, being quite a bit older, with my mobo (compatible)?

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Gigabyte-ATI-RADEON-1-GB-DDR3-SDRAM-PCI-Express-Video-Card-GV-R4850C-1GH-...

http://www.gigabyte.com.au/products/product-page.aspx?pid=2901#ov

Appreciate Mate!

Thanks

Sid.

[HercC130]

Hi Big Dave,

Thanks for the info.

If the PC will not boot up with the card installed and  when the video support in the BIOS is set to on board then the card is either dead or not compatible with your PC.

I believe this too after all i have tried.

I have heard of rare cases where DVI wasn't supported by the BIOS and VGA had to be used.

I can get the HP (splash screen) running from the GT630 card, as can the other people I have read about, with either one of the DVI or VGA cables from the card to the monitor. Also can get the BIO's screen. So the card creates a picture on screen to the HP screen then Freezes there.

The cables are okay.

Would you please look over the Radeon card for me as well, that i posted in reply to Jaco, as another opinion would be good. Just to see if you are both in agreement.

As we have no idea what makes the incompatibility. Hard to make sure it does not happen again. My old project PC is worth peanuts. So I can not keep making mistakes, already out of pocket P&P on the other card.

Thanking you for your assistance.

Cheers!

Sid.