Hardware problem

joegrundman · 02-27-08, 02:12 AM

Don't know where else to post this, so sorry.

My graphics card stopped working. It worked fine one day, next day when i turned on the PC it didn't. Wouldn't even be recognised. It's a japanese card based on the 256MB ATI X800XL, about a year old. I turn on the PC and it shows the page which gives the option to load windows in safe mode. But even if i accept, the loading hangs after a few seconds. Now i recognise this screen can mean that not all the contacts with the card are good - so i have tried reseating the card and making a support for it, but it's no use.

I took the card out and the PC works fine using the onboard graphics (which are 4MB) = so no games.

The card looks fine, no scorch marks or smells.

Windows loaded successfully with the card in one time, but was very jerky, and then not again.

Reading up on the subject it seems it may be the PSU that has given up, rather than the card. Unfortunately all my friends here (in japan) have laptops so i can't see if the card works in their machine.

How can i find out whether the problem is the PSU or the card?

In the meantime I can't play SH

thanks

joe

Takao · 02-27-08, 06:07 AM

Well, if there is a computer parts store near you, you can go get a new PSU. See if that works, if it does not, return the PSU to the store that you bought it from. Just check with the store first so that you know said store's retutn policies.

A similar incident happened to me last year. My PC would not finish its boot up sequence. The symptoms all pointed to a dying PSU. I went to BestBuy because it was late in the evening and every PC shop closes at 5pm. I bought a new PSU, got home, installed it, and had the same problems. I returned the PSU the next day. Further investigation of my PC problems revealed that the motherboard was failing, and that was what needed replacing not the PSU.

02-27-08, 02:12 AM	#1
joegrundman Ocean Warrior Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 2,689 Downloads: 34 Uploads: 0	Hardware problem Don't know where else to post this, so sorry. My graphics card stopped working. It worked fine one day, next day when i turned on the PC it didn't. Wouldn't even be recognised. It's a japanese card based on the 256MB ATI X800XL, about a year old. I turn on the PC and it shows the page which gives the option to load windows in safe mode. But even if i accept, the loading hangs after a few seconds. Now i recognise this screen can mean that not all the contacts with the card are good - so i have tried reseating the card and making a support for it, but it's no use. I took the card out and the PC works fine using the onboard graphics (which are 4MB) = so no games. The card looks fine, no scorch marks or smells. Windows loaded successfully with the card in one time, but was very jerky, and then not again. Reading up on the subject it seems it may be the PSU that has given up, rather than the card. Unfortunately all my friends here (in japan) have laptops so i can't see if the card works in their machine. How can i find out whether the problem is the PSU or the card? In the meantime I can't play SH thanks joe __________________ "Enemy submarines are to be called U-Boats. The term submarine is to be reserved for Allied under water vessels. U-Boats are those dastardly villains who sink our ships, while submarines are those gallant and noble craft which sink theirs." Winston Churchill

02-27-08, 06:07 AM	#2
Takao Officer Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Reading, PA Posts: 244 Downloads: 1 Uploads: 0	Well, if there is a computer parts store near you, you can go get a new PSU. See if that works, if it does not, return the PSU to the store that you bought it from. Just check with the store first so that you know said store's retutn policies. A similar incident happened to me last year. My PC would not finish its boot up sequence. The symptoms all pointed to a dying PSU. I went to BestBuy because it was late in the evening and every PC shop closes at 5pm. I bought a new PSU, got home, installed it, and had the same problems. I returned the PSU the next day. Further investigation of my PC problems revealed that the motherboard was failing, and that was what needed replacing not the PSU.