Non-Booting PC After Radeon R9 270X Upgrade

[Gildencrantz]

Hey guys, I'm going insane over installing an upgraded GPU in my system. For a little background, here are my basic specs at the moment:

PC Model: Gateway FX6860-UR21P
OS: Windows 7 64-bit
CPU: i7-3770 @ 3.40Ghz
GPU: Radeon HD 7770 2GB
RAM: 8GB DDR3
PSU: 500W
Motherboard: Acer IPISB-VR, Rev. 1.01
BIOS Version: American Megatrends P03-A3, 4/18/2012

So I recently bought an ASUS Radeon R9 270X 4GB to upgrade my graphics. I ran through the usual driver uninstall, and ran an additional sweep with AMD's tool to make sure I got everything. However, after I switch out the cards, my system refuses to boot. When I power on, all my PC's components start up, and I can hear the hard disk running through its usual boot-up noises. The R9 itself seems to operate, too -- the fans run, and the indicator lights on both 6-pin power plugs are lit green. Despite that, though, I just get a black monitor that doesn't even get to the initial BIOS screen. The problem goes away when I put the old 7770 back in.

Unfortunately, I don't have another computer to test the R9 in to tell whether the issue is my setup or the card itself. So my question is, is this most likely a hardware compatibility problem, a software issue, or did I get a bum GPU? And if it is a hardware issue, how far can I update my GPU with the motherboard I have?

[_I_]

seagate power supply?

check again

[PowerHaus930]

Maybe try clearing the CMOS using the jumper or button on the MB.
Edit: I did a google search and came up with a post about the power supply wattage of your pc. It has a 500w oem PSU. http://forums.evga.com/tm.aspx?m=1669395 these are the specs of it http://forums.evga.com/download.axd?file=1;1673078&where=&f=best PSU pic.jpg
Maybe someone else can answer if it is powerful enough because i'm not sure.

[Air]

Not even the BIOS shows? Try using one of the other display ports on the card if you have some other types of display cables around. It might not solve your issue, but it might be worth a shot.

[Gildencrantz]

Originally posted by PowerHaus930:

Maybe try clearing the CMOS using the jumper or button on the MB.
Edit: I did a google search and came up with a post about the power supply wattage of your pc. It has a 500w oem PSU. http://forums.evga.com/tm.aspx?m=1669395 these are the specs of it http://forums.evga.com/download.axd?file=1;1673078&where=&f=best PSU pic.jpg
Maybe someone else can answer if it is powerful enough because i'm not sure.

As far as I know, 500W is sufficient for the 270X. Would it be wrong to assume that the system just wouldn't power up if there wasn't enough wattage output? Also, I've never tried clearing my motherboard's CMOS -- I'm willing to give it a shot, but are there any serious risks to using the jumper? And do I clear the CMOS before or after placing the new GPU in the mobo?

Originally posted by Air:

Not even the BIOS shows? Try using one of the other display ports on the card if you have some other types of display cables around. It might not solve your issue, but it might be worth a shot.

I've tried using both the DVI-D and DVI-I ports, neither of which change the blank screen, unfortunately, and I don't have HDMI or Display Port cables around.

[PowerHaus930]

You should install the GPU first and then clear the CMOS. There are no risks of using the jumper to reset the CMOS as far as i'm aware. I always turn the PC off, switch off the power supply, disconnect the power cord, and wait for any lights on the Motherboard to go off first then I open the case and move the jumper over and let it sit that way for 10 seconds or so then put it back. Once you get the power hooked back up you can try turning on your PC. Clearing the CMOS only sets the Bios settings back to default and it may help recognize the new GPU since it after resetting it the MB should detect that there was a hardware change. Just make sure when you move the jumper you have it on the correct 2 pins to reset and put it back on the correct 2 pins. My jumpers are hard to reach and one time I thought the jumper was on the pins but it turned out that it wasn't.

[Rabby]

My first suspicion is that your 500W PSU is challenged. What does AMD recommend for a PSU? I believe that your R9 270X requires at least two power taps. Try reseating them, but even then I believe you're pulling quite a haul on your 500W PSU.

[PowerHaus930]

I did a calculation on this website and came up with 376w with the 270x. It was just under 300w with the 7770. http://www.extreme.outervision.com/psucalculatorlite.jsp

[Gildencrantz]

Okay, reporting back post-CMOS reset, and no dice there. I get the same non-result. So on to other theories...

Originally posted by BDK:

Clearing CMOS basically reverts the motherboard back to default settings, including any bios settings you might have done. Just be sure to unplug any power before doing it.

Can you try a regular vga cable and see if it works? You might also need a bios upgrade before it'll work, however I couldn't find anything at all for that motherboard. Super strange.

I know, I've been searching everywhere for any sort of documentation about GPU compatibility with this mobo, and have found next to nothing. From what I gather from the Gateway site, my BIOS version is the most recent for this board (there were only two BIOS downloads available, and only one for non-Windows 8 machines, which was lablled P03-A3, the BIOS version I currently have). I was able to find a listing of its general specs, though: http://www.findlaptopdriver.com/acer-ipisb-vr-rev-1-01/

Given the info in that link, one of my thoughts is that there may be a hardware incompatibility here -- according to the site, my mobo's PCIe x16 slot is a 2.0, while the 270X uses PCIe 3.0. I don't know a lot about the difference, but are PCIe 3.0 devices backwards compatible with 2.0?

Originally posted by BDK:

A 270x isn't exactly the most power hungry card in the world lol, 500w is fine and dandy.

Also my understanding, but I did realize something after my latest boot with the 270X failed and I replaced the 7770. I forgot to connect a 6-pin to the 7770, yet the fan still worked when I tried to boot up. So the fact that the fans on the 270X run on power-up may not actually mean that it's amply powered. For reference, here's a picture of the two 6-pin connectors I'm using on the 270X: http://imgur.com/UkIxXYL

See how all the wires in one of the connectors seem to emanate from the other? I'm not sure if that means that the two together aren't actually supplying the card with enough power, but maybe it's worth mentioning.

[PowerHaus930]

Your PSU has a split 12v rail and each rail has a power output of 18amps. so 12v x 18 amps gives you 216 watts of power per rail. Since those two 6 pin connectors you're using are on the same wire they will be drawing power from the same rail. If there is another 6 pin connector on a seperate wire you should try that along with one of the current connectors that you are using.

[Gildencrantz]

Originally posted by PowerHaus930:

Your PSU has a split 12v rail and each rail has a power output of 18amps. so 12v x 18 amps gives you 216 watts of power per rail. Since those two 6 pin connectors you're using are on the same wire they will be drawing power from the same rail. If there is another 6 pin connector on a seperate wire you should try that along with one of the current connectors that you are using.

Ugh, now THAT is frustrating as hell. The 270X only requires 180W according to Game Debate, but my PSU doesn't have any other 6-pins to speak of, so I can't test whether that could be the issue. No other plugs to hook a 2x3 adaptor up to, either.

Originally posted by BDK:

Yeah pci-e 1/2/3 are 100% compatible with each other. Might also be a locked bios motherboard which prevents you from actually upgrading certain stuff. Not entirely uncommon with pre-built pc's.

Of course it's pretty hard to test if you don't have a 2nd system around. Call a buddy and see if it works there, and if it does, it's most likely a locked motherboard.

I'm the only one around with a desktop, sadly. I VERY much hope that's not the issue. The GPU is obviously the weak link with this box, so if I'm locked into a 7770, that's a serious waste of an Core i7 in the long run. For what it's worth, I can't find find any other complaints about that issue.

I guess given that there's no obvious solution here, my next step is to return the 270X, go half a step down to a 270 that only needs one 6-pin connection, and hope for the best. Many thanks for giving it your best, lads -- here's hoping I won't need to come back and bump this thread.

[PowerHaus930]

You could always upgrade the powersupply if you have the money. A decent one would cost you about $50-60 and you would have alot more room for expansion when it comes to power cables. If in fact it is the MB not allowing you to upgrade you can always get a new MB. That would be a pain just to get a graphics card working and you may even have to reinstall windows but it all depends on what you want to do with your PC.
Here's a good PSU for cheap - http://pcpartpicker.com/part/corsair-power-supply-cx600m
It's $45 and has modular cables which means you can use just the ones you need and you can add more if you need them.

[Emerald]

Legacy Mode?

[Gildencrantz]

Originally posted by MR-EMERALD-IGR:

Legacy Mode?

I've read around about that, but only for the card manufactured by MSI. I don't know anything about how to run the ASUS card using a legacy setup.

Originally posted by PowerHaus930:

You could always upgrade the powersupply if you have the money. A decent one would cost you about $50-60 and you would have alot more room for expansion when it comes to power cables. If in fact it is the MB not allowing you to upgrade you can always get a new MB. That would be a pain just to get a graphics card working and you may even have to reinstall windows but it all depends on what you want to do with your PC.
Here's a good PSU for cheap - http://pcpartpicker.com/part/corsair-power-supply-cx600m
It's $45 and has modular cables which means you can use just the ones you need and you can add more if you need them.

Thanks for the tip -- I'll probably look into that down the road when it comes time to upgrade again. If nothing else, it's a good thing to keep in mind when I build my next system instead of going prefab!

[Gildencrantz]

Originally posted by BDK:

Didnt the card come with a molex to 6-pin adapter? Worth a shot.

It did, but that PSU doesn't even have a spare molex plug! This machine was built with just enough to get by, apparently.

[Bad 💀 Motha]

Replace the PSU; you can't use Molex-to-PCIE Power Adpaters if there are chained to other devices. They need to be dedicated spare plugs so the GPU gets the required power.

Get a better quality PSU that has the required 6 and/or 8 pin PCIE Power Plugs already. As it's best to use them and not any molex adapters. If budget it tight, a Corsair CX-600 should suffice.