Help with GeForce 7600 GS

[Kandie187]

Ive had this computer for awhile and i wanted to upgrade so i install:

agp geforce 7600 gs (512mb)
1 gig of ram
and logisys(total power 330w | max output 480w) ps480d powersupply

I install the parts and install the drivers. The cpu resets itself as soon as the drivers get done after the restart I get a black screen with no boot, so i return it for the geforce(the first one was visiontek)

I install the card and then get a black screen everytime i try to log in from windows account screen and agp440.sys freezes when i try safe mode so i system restore

I restore and everything is looking good so i install the drivers and the computer restarts as soon as setup completes again....now everytime windows starts i get the windows error saying the my graphics card device is failing.1 minitues after being logged in to windows the computer completely locks up. So I install xp fresh and assuming the cards defective i take it back and get a new one.

Brand new xp I install ALL the windows updates ALL the new drivers for my computer predownload driver update for the card(unfortunately the card had to be in to install the drivers)
So I put the card in and install the drivers no problem update them no problem but now my computer only lasts for around 15 minitues before freezing,or in some cases if too many programs attempt to run at once,to make that worse sometimes all it does is instead of starting up...

Heat sink is fine
Ram is not bad i checked
Motherboard spacers are in properly
Power supply IS plugged into my card
My card is sitting in the slot properly as is my ram
Fan on case,motherboard,graphics card,and psu are all working properly and the cpu does not feel to overheat at all

And to top it off when the card is out the computer works PERFECTLY.

[simple_inhibition]

we sure can help, but could you please tell us your system specifications? also welcome to the forums!

[Reloadron]

Originally Posted by Kandie187

Ive had my computer for a while but it didnt have a graphics card in it, I wanted to install Hellgate on it but of course i needed a graphics card. Well I went out yesterday and bought a Nvidia Geforce 7600 GS card but ever since i installed it the computer screen shakes the sides kinda caved in a little bit(of the screen), it wont run for more then 15 minutes before it crashes and sometimes it dosent want to start up at all. I thought it was the card so ive exchanged it 3 times but all with the same result. I tried reinstalling windows XP, then installing the drivers...it seemed to work for a minute then it froze. I can't run more than 1 thing at a time when it is working. Please help me and my boyfriend have tried everything we spent all day trying to fix it!

Hi and welcome to the HL Forums. OK, you mention you never had a video card, so we can assume you have been using onboard graphics, meaning the graphics were part of the motherboard? Now if that is true you want to get into the BIOS and find out where to disable the onboard graphics. Also, full system specs would be a help. We know what your new card is but don't know your system.

On another note. The new card should have an aux power connector on it. Generally a 6 pin connector. You did connect power to that connector correct?

Ron

[Widjaja]

Have you plaugged in the power connector?

[polobunny]

You say you have checked the RAM. May I ask you how?

[screwballl]

ok, dumb question but did you plug in the 4pin Molex power from your power supply? All of the AGP 7600GS cards I saw had the 4 pin molex power connector (same plug as what goes into the back of your hard drive and CD/DVD-ROM drive(s)).
Also make sure the BIOS is set to "Boot display" or "first display" as AGP instead of PCI/Auto.
Also that 330W may be a bit low for a system with extra hardware in it, usually the "Max output" on these type of power supplies is a surge rating, not a sustained rating. If it is a custom build, then you may want to look into a higher rated power supply of at least 500W or better from a trusted brand. If it is a OEM (Dell, HP, Compaq, etc...) then your options are limited for new power supplies as many OEMs use a custom set power supply but luckily many vendors offers power supplies setup for these OEM situations.

[Widjaja]

Do you have the latest chipset driver?

[Jokerswild]

It's not clear weather you had onboard graphics before the 7600gs or another video card. If you had a different video card did you remove the previous drivers? If you had onboard then you need to disable it.

[Kandie187]

I honestly dont know much about computers and do not know how to check or perform most of these tasks.
I dont know how to check my full specs...But I can tell you that the psu IS plugged into the video card,I checked the ram by taking the video card out and trying a stick at a time.Both worked fine as does the computer without the graphics card.I wiped everything clean and reinstalled windows so no old drivers could bother the new ones..NO CLUE how to view or change BIOS..The computer was owned a relative before me so im unsure if it had a graphics card at one time.

But I installed a new power supply Dynex -400w- (product # DX-400WPS)
and I can now get the computer to not freeze for around a half hour at times
at other times complete lockup almost immediately!

[Jokerswild]

Sounds lie it has on board graphics and if that is the case you will need to go into the BIOS to disable that for the graphics card to work.