3 replies to this topic

[Lobotomy Lobster]

So, my GTX 280 just fried itself so I need a new GPU and I'm pretty clueless at this stuff so I'm here to shill for advice.

For clarity, what happened was this: I switched the computer on and instead of hearing the GPU fan start up, I got two beeps and the machine shut down with no image on the screen at all. I took the card out and cleaned around it then tried again, same result. The computer will start up with the card removed and does not beep, though obviously I can't see what's going on as the screen isn't plugged in. On closer inspection the card smells pretty smokey, though I didn't see a flash or any smoke. While I am no expert, I take it to mean that the card is now fucked.

I would like advice on what is actually compatible. My mobo is an XFX Nforce 780i SLI which uses DDR2 memory
and has 3 PCI-E slots. The card itself is PCI-E obviously and uses GDDR3 RAM (as far as I know).

I will post again when I've done more research but if anyone can think of a good card to get (prefferably new) then post away please

Edited by Lobotomy Lobster, 27 January 2012 - 05:54 PM.

[mosi]

Running a 780i mobo you'll be able to take any pci-e GFX card. Just got to make sure your PSU is up to the job.

What I'd do is find another graphics card, either pci-e or pci as long as it fits, and just make sure the pc actually boots fine with that in. What else do you have in the case + what psu.

[Lobotomy Lobster]

The PSU is 850 watts. To my memory the specs are:

850 watt PSU
1TB HD
2GB DDR2 RAM x 2
Intel Core 2 Duo CPU
network card of some sort (this was for diagnosing a problem I had with connectivity and I intend to get rid of it and go back to the mobo jacks instead)
DVD drive

The PSU is the thing complaining when the GPU plugs in. The light on the back turns red and it beeps twice repeatedly which according to the manual means 1) Power supply is abnormal and protection circuit is activated, and 2) that the connector terminals are short-circuited. With the GPU removed it starts up fine.

I'm going to dig around for an old card but I suspect the only thing I have lying around is AGP. All things considered its probably time I got a new GPU anyway, so once I know that the comp won't fry anything I put in I plan on getting something decent that's under £100

[Armgas]

PSU's are divided into rails. I suggest you take a look at which items in your computer draw power from which cable.
It could be as simple as a single rail being overloaded while another is unused.

As for replacement GPU, no idea. That really comes down to money I suppose.