Member Avatar for firewall200

I've had the card for a couple of years and have had to take it out after about a week of perfect operation. The problem is that when I turn on my computer all of the fans run allout and the computer won't even boot. I have an HP a420n desktop. Please help!!!

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Dani AI

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Brief expert note tying together and and a focused test plan you can run without guessing.

The pattern described in the thread points to three likely classes of fault: a marginal or failing power supply, an intermittent short or failed component on the Radeon card (caps, solder joints, VRMs), or a motherboard/slot problem that shows up after thermal cycling. Cooling alone is less likely if the card initially ran for days, as observed, so prioritize tests that isolate the card, the PSU, and the motherboard.

Try these steps in order (stop and report any smoke, burning smell, or visible damage):

  1. Visual check: unplug power, remove the card and look for bulging/leaking capacitors, dark spots, loose heatsink or fan, bent pins, or foreign metal.
  2. Minimal-boot test: with the card installed, disconnect all drives and nonessential cards, use one RAM stick, and try POST. Note any beep codes or front-panel LED patterns.
  3. Swap test: install the Radeon into a known-good desktop (or install a known-good GPU into the HP). Consistent failure in another PC = bad GPU; success there = suspect HP PSU/motherboard.
  4. PSU check: if possible, test the HP power supply under load with a PSU tester or a spare known-good PSU. Intermittent or low 12V rail can allow short-term operation then fail.
  5. Reseat and clean: clean the PCIe/AGP slot with compressed air and reseat the card firmly. Try different PCIe slot if available.
  6. CMOS and BIOS: clear CMOS and check BIOS for any video or power options; only consider BIOS updates if you can follow the vendor procedure exactly.
  7. Last-resort repairs: failed solder joints or BGA faults can cause thermal-cycle failures; professional reball/reflow is possible but not guaranteed.

If the card fails in another system, retire or replace it. If the card works elsewhere, replace or test the HP PSU and consider motherboard diagnostics.

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Member Avatar for MatEpp

Does it boot when you put another card in? I don't see why a defective card would cause the problems that you are describing. It sounds like it isn't getting to the BIOS, at least with your fans running all out.

Member Avatar for firewall200

It boots just fine when I have the stock card in. THe problem seems to arise after about a week or so after putting in the card. Do you think it might be a cooling or powersupply problem?

Member Avatar for MatEpp

Ok so you have booted it fine with the stock card since the problem started happening?

Member Avatar for firewall200

Sure did. The stock card works fine.

Member Avatar for MatEpp

Well then I don't think it is a cooling problem since the card ran fine for a while. That shouldn't effect boot up unless it the overheating shutdown thing on the motherboard was still triggered, which I don't think is the case since you can boot it fine with the other card.

It could be not getting enough power to boot up, but again it is strange that it worked fine for a week without problems.

The card could be dead. Besides that I am out of ideas. Hope you can find some useful info from someone.

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