GPU suddenly dead?

[Nicknizzard]

Hello everyone!

 

A friend of mine very kindly gifted me his old GPU (a GeForce GTX 960). This motivated me to upgrade my PC’s old parts and move everything into a new case — which turned into quite an odyssey and about $300 spent.

 

After securing all the parts and assembling the system, I discovered the graphics card wasn’t working. The previous owner never had any issues with it, but even when I tried plugging it into another system, it still wouldn’t work — in fact, it caused a pretty nasty and persistent blue screen.

 

PSA: All of my parts were either bought used or reused from my old system, so they’re from around 2009–2014. I’ve checked the motherboard, PSU, cables, and everything else, and they all seem to be working fine.

 

My first instinct (and probably yours) was that the GPU might have been mishandled, but I made sure to handle it with the utmost care. My friend also gave it to me in person, securely wrapped and well protected.

 

Thank you in advance for any help and tips!

[Tetras]

Issues with CSM/UEFI would be the most obvious thing I can think of, but the GTX 960 isn't that old, so not sure it would have a problem.

[Eighjan]

1 hour ago, Tetras said:

GTX 960 isn't that old

... close to 11years old, so...

[Mumintroll]

An easy test would be if you have another GPU to test in your pc, and if you can test the 960 in another pc.

Just to pinpoint if it is the 960 that is faulty or not.

 

9 hours ago, Eighjan said:

... close to 11years old, so...

 

Yes it is old, but Nvidia drivers still supports it.

[jaslion]

Whats the specs of the system? Got an igpu?

Its old enough to just die from well being old.

 

Also 300usd? You couldve bought a far better used gaming pc for that but well we are here now lets see if its salvagable. Worst case another used card will have to be gotten but gtx960 level performance is dirt cheap luckaly

[Nicknizzard]

32 minutes ago, jaslion said:

Whats the specs of the system? Got an igpu?

 

Also 300usd? You couldve bought a far better used gaming pc for that but well we are here now lets see if its salvagable. Worst case another used card will have to be gotten but gtx960 level performance is dirt cheap luckaly

Specs:

Core: Intel i7-4790

Motherboard: msi b85m-e45 (got igpu afaik)

Ram: 4 Sticks of 8GB Sk Hynix

PSU: Cooler Master Real Power M850

 

Also: Without the gpu the pc will turn on via the cases power button, but with it installed it's not even starting up.

 

And my mistake: I spent around 300€ not usd. Prices here are not great and I bought pieces from people in my area, which meant maybe not getting the best parts for the money...

[jaslion]

1 hour ago, Nicknizzard said:

Specs:

Core: Intel i7-4790

Motherboard: msi b85m-e45 (got igpu afaik)

Ram: 4 Sticks of 8GB Sk Hynix

PSU: Cooler Master Real Power M850

 

Also: Without the gpu the pc will turn on via the cases power button, but with it installed it's not even starting up.

 

And my mistake: I spent around 300€ not usd. Prices here are not great and I bought pieces from people in my area, which meant maybe not getting the best parts for the money...

Are you using the original cables of the psu? That psu is proper qncient and I wouldnt be too surprised if that or the gpu is acting up.

 

Does the computer boot when using the onboard video output and the gpu not being in it?

[Nicknizzard]

52 minutes ago, jaslion said:

Are you using the original cables of the psu? That psu is proper qncient and I wouldnt be too surprised if that or the gpu is acting up.

 

Does the computer boot when using the onboard video output and the gpu not being in it?

I've tested two different, new cables that are compatible with the psu, both didn't work. Yes, the computer boots over the onboard graphics without the gup installed.

[jaslion]

10 minutes ago, Nicknizzard said:

new cables that are compatible with the psu, both didn't work.

Where did you get these? They arent for the rm series i hope? Cables for this psu wouldnt have been made for the last 15 years.

 

Any chance a different pc is available to try the gpu?

 

[Nicknizzard]

38 minutes ago, jaslion said:

Where did you get these? They arent for the rm series i hope? Cables for this psu wouldnt have been made for the last 15 years.

 

Any chance a different pc is available to try the gpu?

 

I ordered the cables from the official cooler master spare parts site...

I've tired the gpu in another system and it didn't work either.

[Mark Kaine]

13 hours ago, Nicknizzard said:

I've tired the gpu in another system and it didn't work either

Well it's dead (probably) and I'd be careful with the cables... I don't really understand the need to use different cables either, what plugs does this 960 have?

 

Just because someone (even the manufacturer) says cables are compatible doesn't make it so... as a general rule you should never use different PSU cables than the ones that came with the PSU or an *identical* model (and there it begins, sometimes manufacturers change parts, but not the model numbers... so even that isn't really advisable even though probably 90% safe)

 

I did that once, "compatible" GPU cables from be quiet... sure they were "compatible"... except my GPU suddenly had crazy coilwhine and random crashes...

 

Changed back to my old (original) be quiet cables, problem fixed, no more coilwhine, no more crashes!

 

[Mark Kaine]

16 hours ago, Nicknizzard said:

Specs:

Core: Intel i7-4790

Motherboard: msi b85m-e45 (got igpu afaik)

Ram: 4 Sticks of 8GB Sk Hynix

PSU: Cooler Master Real Power M850

 

Also: Without the gpu the pc will turn on via the cases power button, but with it installed it's not even starting up.

 

And my mistake: I spent around 300€ not usd. Prices here are not great and I bought pieces from people in my area, which meant maybe not getting the best parts for the money...

Hey at least you upgraded your PC a little bit, maybe you could get a cheap intel arc GPU (preferably current gen) or something, that'd be still worth it imo 

[jaslion]

12 hours ago, Mark Kaine said:

intel arc GPU (preferably current gen) or something, that'd be still worth it imo 

Don't!!!!! Arc performs like GARBAGE on non pcie 4.0, no rebar and no decent performant cpu. Like easy 50% performance dip. A 4790 would max at about a rx580 8gb anyway for performance which are incredibly cgheap these days

[Mark Kaine]

2 hours ago, jaslion said:

Don't!!!!! Arc performs like GARBAGE on non pcie 4.0,

Oh I keep forgetting that... Then a 3060 or whatever is AMD equivalent 

[jaslion]

59 minutes ago, Mark Kaine said:

Oh I keep forgetting that... Then a 3060 or whatever is AMD equivalent 

You can but if op is low on cash a older used card is plenty as a 4790 really does max out at most at 1070 level performance before its always the holding back part. Op should be able to pick up some cheap still driver up to date stuff then