Member Avatar for ainkut

Title.
We boot it up with the video card in, it beeps once like it should, but there's no display. Remove it and run off the motherboard's onboard, runs and displays with same number of beeps..

defective video card? if so I'll get something faster. I'm trying to get it to work though. The onboard isn't cut out for gaming..

Thanks.
need more info just ask. 4 Gigs of RAM and a 2.6 ghz dual core cpu.

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  • Latest Post Latest Post by jbennet

Dani AI

Generated

A few focused checks that are easy to miss — and a likely explanation tied to this board/card pair.

The Intel DG43GT has one legacy PCI slot plus a PCI Express x16 slot and an integrated Intel GMA X4500; the board’s firmware treats PCIe x16 add‑in graphics differently from a conventional PCI card, so a 32‑bit PCI card will not necessarily force the board to switch output away from the integrated video automatically. Review the board guide for the expansion-layout and BIOS/clear‑CMOS options. (Intel DG43GT product guide). (manualzilla.com)

The GeForce 8400 GS was sold in both PCI and PCI‑Express flavors (vendors made PCI 32‑bit versions for older systems). Confirm the exact model you have (look at the PCB/part number) and make sure the card’s connector and bracket actually match the DG43GT slot and your monitor cable (DVI, VGA, HDMI). (BFG / 8400 GS product listing showing PCI variant). (bhphotovideo.com)

Those two tiny pins on the card are very commonly an S/PDIF / audio pass‑through header used for HDMI audio — they don’t affect video POST. Many 8400 GS cards expect a small cable from the motherboard or sound card S/PDIF header to enable audio over HDMI; that connector won’t make the card drive the display if the BIOS is still preferring the onboard adapter. (see vendor user guides and forum notes on SPDIF pass‑through). (es.scribd.com)

Practical checklist (try in order)

  • With the card installed, connect the monitor to the card’s video output(s) (try both DVI and VGA or DVI+adapter).
  • Enter BIOS and set the primary display / video init to the PCI slot (or to “Auto” and disable IGD explicitly), then save and reboot.
  • Clear CMOS (use the board’s jumper) and retry if BIOS options look stuck. ([Intel manual shows headers/options and clear‑CMOS).] (manualzilla.com)
  • Swap the card into a known‑working machine (already done) and swap a known‑working PCI card into the DG43GT slot to test the slot.
  • If the board still shows no output from that card after the above, try a BIOS update for the DG43GT (Intel’s update tools are documented in the product guide). (manualzilla.com)

Notes: ’s PSU reminder is sensible for big upgrades, but most 8400 GS boards are low‑power and don’t use auxiliary PCI power. ’s slot‑type point was important — confirm PCI vs PCIe. If all checks fail the fault is either a BIOS/compatibility quirk or a board/card electrical mismatch that only shows up on this motherboard.

Recommended Answers

All 21 Replies

Member Avatar for ainkut

and yes the onboard is turned off in the BIOS and within windows. it's not getting enough power. bad PCI slot maybe? the card worked in another computer, though.

Member Avatar for gatzaraki

Maybe an insufficient PSU? How much wattage does ir require vs. what it has?

Member Avatar for caperjack

are we talking about pci-e cards ,or older pci card

Member Avatar for gatzaraki

I'm meaning the power supply unit, maybe its not dealing enough power for the hardware you have. If you're going to troubleshoot the pci slot, try maybe inserting other pci, pci-express device and see if it works. :)

Member Avatar for ainkut

Older PCI slot and card.
Power supply gives 480 watts total. There was no requirements on the boxes.

Member Avatar for gatzaraki

Well, usually if you're gonna upgrade your system, you need to take in consideration the power the pc is currently using. When upgraded, the power supply must support the new hardware, so lets say your pc ran smoothly at 480, quoted from Nvidia "GeForce 8400 GS cards have a maximum power draw of 71 watts" so now you have to consider, if your computer used the whole 480w then you need to upgrade the Power supply.

Member Avatar for caperjack

Older PCI slot and card.
Power supply gives 480 watts total. There was no requirements on the boxes.

nvidia 8400 GS,is a pci-e card not a older pci card

Member Avatar for caperjack

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/BFG+-+NVIDIA+GeForce+8400+GS+512MB+DDR2+PCI+Graphics+Card/8990666.p?id=1218007087696&skuId=8990666&st=bfg%208400%20gs&cp=1&lp=2

PCI. the slot is PCI; doesn't have that tab to fit in the PCI-E. Also doesnt fit in the placement of the PCI-E slot on the motherboard.

ok yours is a BFG- with nvida chipset sorry ,
this nvida one says pci-e
http://www.nvidia.com/object/geforce_8400_Gs_faq.html

have you tried it all available pci slots ,im sure you have !

Member Avatar for ainkut

yes i have; only one slot will fit in on this motherboard.

Member Avatar for caperjack

yes i have; only one slot will fit in on this motherboard.

whats you motherboard make and model #
not sure use .cpu-z to tell you .

Edited by caperjack because: n/a
Member Avatar for ainkut

Intel motherboard DG43GT. That's it.

Member Avatar for caperjack

gotta be a bad card

Member Avatar for jbennet

Well, usually if you're gonna upgrade your system, you need to take in consideration the power the pc is currently using. When upgraded, the power supply must support the new hardware, so lets say your pc ran smoothly at 480, quoted from Nvidia "GeForce 8400 GS cards have a maximum power draw of 71 watts" so now you have to consider, if your computer used the whole 480w then you need to upgrade the Power supply.

Should be fine. My stock Dell 305w OEM PSU runs a (v. power hungry) Pentium 4, and a geforce 8600 fine. Then again, i know that some cheapass PSUs which claim to be 450w cannot power the same configuration.

Member Avatar for ainkut

The card works in other computers. But it might be a bad card. Or incompatible.

Member Avatar for ainkut

Course I double post.
It's incompatible for some reason. Other weaker cards work in that slot.
I noticed there are 2 thin pins sticking up at the top left of the card. What would they be for? No documentation came with it, only "plug, play, and update drivers."

Member Avatar for jbennet

I noticed there are 2 thin pins sticking up at the top left of the card. What would they be for?

Either fan or for a SLI-Bridge?

Edited by jbennet because: n/a
Member Avatar for ainkut

fan's already plugged in and dont use SLI so it's not that.

Member Avatar for jbennet

Is it in roughly the place for doing this:

Member Avatar for caperjack

Is it in roughly the place for doing this:

its only a pci card .not positive but i don't think pci support SLI do they

Member Avatar for jbennet

Nah.

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