Question:
I have a strange problem or should I say a strange fix. My computer is
"handcrafted" shall we say. I bought an AGP X1600 pro. My motherboard
is a AX4SPE MAX (aopen) There is no on-board graphics. If I put in a
different graphics card other than the x1600 pro my computer boots up
and works just fine. If my x1600 pro is put in another computer it
works fine. If the X1600pro is in my computer it won't even post...
but i found out.. IF i turn on my PC without the graphics card in
it.Then put in the X1600pro and hit the reset. It works just fine!
(YES, I just said that and i've done it for a good six months at
least.) I was just wondering WHY? Is there a fix short of buying new
hardware? Are my devices not compatable?(they seem to work just fine
together) The power supply fully supports the size of graphics card.
I've even tried another power supply. The computer won't even post
when the x1600 pro is in it. Its just like when you got a bad
motherboard. I've tried a new motherboard too. Same problem. (In
hindsight i should have bought a different brand motherboard). So...
Should I buy another graphics card? How do I know its won't happen
again. The Graphics card that works just fine with it is OLD. Any
insights?
Answer:
Are you absolutely certain that AOPEN board did not come with onboard sound?
I vaguely recall that line of motherboard did, in fact, come with onboard
sound (although I admit I may be wrong about that). In any event, check it
out again.
If onboard sound *is* present you might have to disable same in the BIOS in
order for the auxiliary sound card to work its magic.
Yes, you're right. I obviously misread the OP's post. Sorry for that...
(My only excuse - and admittedly a flimsy one at that - was that I've been
working on a PC all morning with a seemingly intractable sound problem so
I've had sound card problems running around in my head!)
Doesn't this video card need an aux power connection when used in a
standard AGP slot? And if so, have you checked to see if that connector
on your PS is actually working?
You have just described hot popping. Hot popping is not acceptable
and can be hardware destructive when a design does not include 'hot
popping' circuits.
Welcome to an analog world where (for example) a master reset line
on some designs is too short. Or that video card requires a reset
that is longer. One motherboard outputs a normal reset line; another
outputs longer. Or the power supply issues a 'system good' too
quickly. Or ... well I can probably list 100 reasons for you failure.
Just more examples of why defective hardware can be declared good when
using part swap methods.
Your replies will only be as good as information provided. Your post
even implies 'hot popping'. Hardware can only be installed or removed
when power cord is completely removed from an AC wall receptacle.
Power off is not sufficiently safe.
So when you load video card manufacture's comprehensive diagnostics,
then what happens? Just another example of how to make a more
informative post to attract better technically educated replies.
How do you know power supply is sufficient? Did you trust its
numbers? Where are those numbers located? On a long list (a full
page or more) of manufacturer numerical specs? A power supply is not
sufficient until you have seen those numbers for that power supply
with that particular motherboard and only that one video card. Again,
one cannot speculate a power supply sufficient. Even if power supply
works for another video card, still, it may not be sufficient. To
know it is sufficient, first get numbers.
Another asked about a power cable directly from power supply to
video card. Was cable installed or connected? Just another reason
why something would work sometimes when voltages always were too low.
Just because something works here but not there does not mean that
something is functional. Such testing results in "maybe it is good".
Your testing must report 100% known good or 100% known bad. That third
state - maybe - is time wasted.
Manufacturer comprehensive diagnostic is one way to break a problem
down into parts - then perform isolated analysis. Comprehensive video
diagnostics without so many complications (unknowns) created by XP is
how we simplify the analysis. However some computer parts marketed to
the naive don't provide free diagnostics. Every unknown makes a
problem exponentially more complex.
In one venue, a video card would not work with this one
motherboard. He swapped the motherboard. New board / same model
still would not work only with that higher AGP bandwidth video card.
Manufacturer quickly and quietly stopped making or listing that
motherboard about one month later - without comment. Welcome to an
analog world where part swapping can only lead to more confusion.
