no video signal PC won't post after re-installing Noctua NH-D15 cooler (metal clips touched the GPU?)

[Vinicius Silva]

Hello, how are you?

My PC was running fine and then I've noticed one of the two fans of the Noctua NH-D15 was not spinning. I've opened the case and just tried to figure out if the connector was not plugged well, but in the process, I think one of the clips just touched the back panel of my GPU (with no backplate) and the PC instantly lost the video signal.

Now everytime I turn on the PC all the coolers run fine but there's no video signal, no post screen. The GPU fans spin for some seconds and then stops, but the system keeps working.
Is there any chance I've damaged the GPU? 

I'll try to reinstall all components when I came from work, but I'm pretty sure it is all plugged well (PSU connectors), cause it was running fine before.

I tried clearing the CMOS with no luck too.

Thank you very much!

[PCO77]

Yikes I did something similar a few weeks ago on my older AM3 motherboard. Had no graphics output whatsoever. Well it turned out the gpu was fine but the pcie x 16 seemed to be toast. If you have the option I'd slap it on another Mobo to rule out or in whether it's your gpu or motherboard. Simplest way to troubleshoot I'd think without breaking out my meter. 

[jj9987]

It's possible that the clip (which conducts electricity) actually connected two parts on the GPU that shouldn't get connected. As said above, try the GPU in another motherboard.

 

There is a reason why it is recommended to not physically debug hardware with the PC running.

[Vinicius Silva]

11 minutes ago, jj9987 said:

It's possible that the clip (which conducts electricity) actually connected two parts on the GPU that shouldn't get connected. As said above, try the GPU in another motherboard.

 

There is a reason why it is recommended to not physically debug hardware with the PC running.

Of course, my fault 

 

I was just trying to check the cooler cable, and accidentally that metal clip touched the GPU. But if the cooler spins (even for 2 seconds), isn't it a good signal? If it was a short circuit, the GPU wouldn't turn on at all.

 

I don't have a second motherboard to test it, but I'll try to reinstall it later when I come from work. Thanks!

[PCO77]

Put it in the lower pci-e slot.  Worth a shot

 

[Vinicius Silva]

3 minutes ago, PCO77 said:

Put it in the lower pci-e slot.  Worth a shot

 

I'll try it! 

[PCO77]

Have a great day guys. Happy Friday! 

 

[Vinicius Silva]

5 hours ago, PCO77 said:

Put it in the lower pci-e slot.  Worth a shot

 

Tried it, no luck

[jj9987]

9 hours ago, Vinicius Silva said:

I was just trying to check the cooler cable, and accidentally that metal clip touched the GPU. But if the cooler spins (even for 2 seconds), isn't it a good signal? If it was a short circuit, the GPU wouldn't turn on at all.

That depends what exactly short circuited. It might just be a single component out of 1000s that affect the die, but not the cooler.

[Kilrah]

9 hours ago, Vinicius Silva said:

But if the cooler spins (even for 2 seconds), isn't it a good signal?

Nope, doesn't tell anything. Likely initially tries to start, detects a fault somewhere and shuts down.

[Vinicius Silva]

Great news!

I've reinstalled everything and didn't work. Then I tried to change the DVI cable to the another output and WORKED! Seems like it just damaged one of the GPU's output.

Working normally now. Well, lesson learned. ;-)

[Whiro]

15 minutes ago, Vinicius Silva said:

Great news!

I've reinstalled everything and didn't work. Then I tried to change the DVI cable to the another output and WORKED! Seems like it just damaged one of the GPU's output.

Working normally now. Well, lesson learned.

Just advice for future, if you playing with components in your system always switch it off and unplug it, this way there is no power so less chance to damage anything.

[Vinicius Silva]

UPDATE:

Today when I tried to power on the PC after using it normally last night, the problem returned. There was no video signal on boot.

But after trying turning off and on, unplugging and pluggin it from wall a few times the video worked again. May the PSU be damaged too?

[PCO77]

I'd start shopping. Even if it isn't the PSU it doesn't hurt to have a spare. I have been into this about 5 months now and I have 2 PSUs, 3 GPUs and a couple motherboards with CPUs and spare RAM. I've gone a bit overboard though. Lol

[Vinicius Silva]

I think it died completely now, the GPU won't display video signal no matter how many times I try to unplug it and plug it.

Time to buy a new one, I'll try to buy a new PSU first too.  

 

Thanks!

[Vinicius Silva]

Hello,

 

I just bought a new GPU and it's working perfectly now (turned off everything first this time ). Definitely the old GPU is dead.
One thing I did this time, that I read somewhere else, was inserting a cardboard of the same size of the GPU as a backplate. It worked perfectly!

 

Is it safe to put a cardboard on it?

[Whiro]

15 minutes ago, Vinicius Silva said:

Hello,

 

I just bought a new GPU and it's working perfectly now (turned off everything first this time ). Definitely the old GPU is dead.
One thing I did this time, that I read somewhere else, was inserting a cardboard of the same size of the GPU as a backplate. It worked perfectly!

 

Is it safe to put a cardboard on it?

Tbh I don’t see reason why you would need a cardboard backplate, it may increase temps as well. If you not gonna touch pcb of that card while it’s plug in you will be good.

[Vinicius Silva]

2 minutes ago, Whiro said:

Tbh I don’t see reason why you would need a cardboard backplate, it may increase temps as well. If you not gonna touch pcb of that card while it’s plug in you will be good.

The new GPU is actually touching the metal clips, it's a big bigger than the older card... The cardboard was necessary. Should I buy a proper backplate instead of cardboard? I found this: https://www.ekwb.com/shop/ek-fc-rtx-2080-ti-backplate-classic-black

[Whiro]

1 minute ago, Vinicius Silva said:

The new GPU is actually touching the metal clips, it's a big bigger than the older card... The cardboard was necessary. Should I buy a proper backplate instead of cardboard? I found this: https://www.ekwb.com/shop/ek-fc-rtx-2080-ti-backplate-classic-black

Can you take pic of your system please? I want to see what exactly is touching 

[Vinicius Silva]

Sure, I'll post a picture when I get home

[Zando_]

Why not just put the card in a lower slot on the mobo? That's what I did with mine when I ran an NH-D15S on my board (EVGA put the top PCIe slot really close to the CPU socket so the cooler couldn't clear the GPU at all), if you're worried about toasting your new GPU, you should do that here as well. On another EVGA board I run an L12S, that also gets very close, but never actually makes contact with the GPU:

Cuts close, but I had no issues running it like this. 

[Whiro]

2 minutes ago, Zando Bob said:

Cuts close, but I had no issues running it like this. 

Wow that’s really close but if you not gonna shake your pc when running it it’ll be alright. 

[Vinicius Silva]

Hello,

 

Here it is. I'm using the cardboard as shown, that little metal clip would touch the pcb... And it's touching the cardboard now.