GTX 550Ti problems

  • Thread starter DQuaN
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DQuaN

DQuaN

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A few months ago I bought a GTX 550 to upgrade from my old 8800 GT.

Right from the off I had problems with bluescreens. Updating and fiddling drivers seemed to get it running better but it would still crash on me every now and then. One major issue that I had was that the PC is plugged in to my LCD Tv and if I changed channels to watch TV for a bit, the card would "go to sleep". When I change back, it says no input signal.

It has been getting worse again, so much so that I have flashed the BIOS, changed the PCI-E port that the card is plugged in to, and changed the PSU (I had a better one lying around).

No joy, it doesn't bluescreen on my anymore, but just seems to turn off after ablut 5 mins If I leave it a while it sometimes it will come back but mostly i have to turn it off for a while.

It's not windowa or driver settinga either as if I reboot, I don't see the POST or anything, the card just isn't outputting the signal.

I'm starting to think the card has failed. Any suggestions?
 
Any of the other possibilities. Heat? Power issues? Have you checked the card itself and the connections on teh back (sometimes wires and connections come loose)?

I'm assuming yes, just covering all basis.
 
Could you please post the rest of your setup.
MoBo, PSU, CPU ...
 
I just put the old card back in and it wouldn't even post. I think the board has had it. :(

Asus P5N32-E SLI (775) mobo
Intel quad core Q6600
4GB RAM
 
Last edited:
I was discussing upgrade time with Vic and was quickly reminded of rent/bills/tax time. :grumpy:
 
Ok, just in case you don't want to go for a new setup.
If you have a speaker connected, are you getting any post beeps?
Try to remove the mobo and put it on a box, only with the CPU, cooler, RAM, GPU and PSU connected.
 
No post beeps with the old card. It boots with the new card but fails soon after.
 
Was the GPU the only thing you removed, or was the complete Mobo out?
Try to setup the system like a test bench, so only the essentials and outside the case on an isolating base eg a box.
 
nick09
What power supplies have you been using? Have you tried the power supply in another computer?
Click to expand...

A Hiper 630W and and OCZ 650W

Spike125
Was the GPU the only thing you removed, or was the complete Mobo out?
Try to setup the system like a test bench, so only the essentials and outside the case on an isolating base eg a box.
Click to expand...

I've tried it in most configurations. Unplugged and reseated everything.
 
You still have the TV connected or only the monitor now?
Also did you check the GPU temperature as long the system runs?
While it's working you could read the temps with GPU-Z and run Furmark to stress the GPU a little.
 
The whole thing is in bits now. I'm going to rebuild it at some point but will most likely start a new build. It was over 4 years old.

The temps never got over 60C.
 
DQuaN
A Hiper 630W and and OCZ 650W
Click to expand...

Can't get the model numbers? I know from what I can tell is that either PSU should be able to power your system but I don't know the exact details. Have you done the paperclip trick on the ground wire and the 3.3V wire in the 24pin motherboard power(Any black cable on the 24pin connector to the green wire)? It won't shock you but it will just start the power supply to make sure it at least powers on.
 
I had the exact same faults as you describe with a faulty RAM (bluescreen random and no POST).
Would be a big coincidence that it happened, the same time you changed the GPU.
If you have several RAM just go through them 1 by 1.
Also most manufacturer offer boot test programs.
I also don't think it's the PSU, 650W should be enough for a base setup to run.
 
I'd second memory; cheaper than a full upgrade and easier to test. Could be your board is letting go though; might want to see if you have a fan on the northbridge if its still working - not all boards have temp or fan sensors in this area, so it may not have shown up in temp warnings.

One last thing; yank the CMOS battery out of the board, unplug the psu (or flip the main breaker on the pwrsup if it has one) and let it sit for 10 minutes or so. I've had issues before where the BIOS was corrupted and doing this fixed the issue - it has a backup copy of the original BIOS stored which it will then load if it hasn't had power fed to it for awhile. Its a long shot but worth trying (and you may have already tried it).

If everything above fails, then unfortunately it may be time for an upgrade. I'm due for one myself.
 

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