Graphic card (9800gt) unrecognized on motherboard (asus) - Challenging

[mmalix]

Hi,

Recently I have bought ASUS motherboard (P5G41T-M LX) and when I've physically inserted 9800gt card to PCI-E slot, all I have is a black screen. I can hear that Windows is loading, but nothing appears on the screen. I know that there are plenty of things that I could try to make it run, so I've started my own troubleshooting:

1. Graphic card works fine on different motherboard
2. Motherboard works with different NVIDIA Cards (not GIGABYTE)
3. All BIOS settings are correct, such as disabling integrated graphic card, setting VGA priority to PCI-E, etc
4. Excluded motherboard issues with ASUS support, confirmed that BIOS should recognize 9800gt cards
5. When geforce is connected to motherboard i saw that fan on it was spinning
6. 6-pin cable was also plugged to graphic card

no signal...

Did anyone had similar issue? It's my second week of troubleshooting and research. I don't have much more options. I thought that upgrading chipset on graphic card could resolve the problem. But this problem makes another problem. How to upgrade it?

details:
Gigabyte Geforce 9800GT model GV-N98TZL-512H

I will be grateful for any ideas.
 

[Dark Mantis]

Hi and welcome.

I think you would do better to be asking on the Asus website for help to be honest but we will do anything we can. Have you made sure that you have the latest motherboard BIOS installed ?

Are you using the newest graphic card drivers ? If so try going back a couple of versions and see if that helps.

Is there any newer firmware available for the graphics card ?

[mmalix]

Thank you for reply. Yes I've asked on ASUS website, forum, technical support form + I even called to US Asus support center.
Version of motherboard BIOS is the newest
I'm unable even to install graphic card drivers, the problem starts when I turn on my computer, before BIOS & Windows starts.

Let me describe the issue again. When I cold start my computer I don't have any signal on my screen, so installing nvidia drivers is pointless, as drivers are installed on hdd. Screen should display anything after I turn on my computer.

for me looks like motherboard and graphic card doesn't like each other on hardware compatibility way. As I wrote in subject, this is/will be challenging.

[Dark Mantis]

If you have onboard graphics try using them rather than the dedicated card. You can then load the drivers before inserting the card again.

[mmalix]

Let me explain something. Nvidia drivers are installed on hard drive, not on graphic card. Simple scenario:
1. I'm turning on power switch on my computer.
2. My screen is connected to DVI port on 9800gt.
3. First what should appear on my display is short BIOS diagnostic screen. Displaying information on about: how much memory I have, what are my slave/master devices (DVD/HDD). Then moving forward: show me the line "Press Del to ENTER Setup"
http://lajfmajster.pl/images/2008/12/post-496x315.jpg

4. and after all that happen Windows loading screed should appear.
http://www.bokeboke.co.uk/data/blogimg/200901111505_01_full.jpg

I'm stuck at number "3" - because I do not see anything on my computer screen (black) - like graphic card was disconnected

I've successfully excluded drivers, power problems, mainboard issues.
 

[Ben]

Just of the cuff what PSU are you using, plus what is it wattage?

Ben.

[mmalix]

Thank you for reply. PSU is cheap 500W. I was able to use this PSU with the same graphic card on another motherboard. I know that 9800gt needs some power to run properly, but I can confirm that it gets enough of it.

Once I was able to test this graphic card with unplugged 6-pin power connector on different motherboard. VGA was just powered on from PCI-E slot - it worked. I was even able to run simple games.

Mainboard is ok, different VGA works on it normally. Problem is only with Gigabyte 9800gt.

[Dark Mantis]

Let me explain something. Nvidia drivers are installed on hard drive, not on graphic card. Simple scenario:
1. I'm turning on power switch on my computer.
2. My screen is connected to DVI port on 9800gt.
3. First what should appear on my display is short BIOS diagnostic screen. Displaying information on about: how much memory I have, what are my slave/master devices (DVD/HDD). Then moving forward: show me the line "Press Del to ENTER Setup"
http://lajfmajster.pl/images/2008/12/post-496x315.jpg

4. and after all that happen Windows loading screed should appear.
http://www.bokeboke.co.uk/data/blogimg/200901111505_01_full.jpg

I'm stuck at number "3" - because I do not see anything on my computer screen (black) - like graphic card was disconnected

I've successfully excluded drivers, power problems, mainboard issues.
 

Thank you for the lesson on how the boot cycle works on a computer....I'm not sure how I have managed all these years without knowing!  and to finally find out where the drivers are installed is brilliant . Is that the same on my Revodrive X2?  

OK seriously my questions still stand in that are you running the latest version of the BIOS and have the newest driver pack installed (on the hard drive!) ?
Also have you installed the latest version of the firmware available for your GPU ?

[mmalix]

 
Yes, I have drivers and newest BIOS.  I dont know how to install firmware on my geforce. I dont know if this is possible. But this could be it, new firmware on geforce could resolve it.