• Welcome to TechPowerUp Forums, Guest! Please check out our forum guidelines for info related to our community.

Should I get a new video card?

Joined
Jul 7, 2011
Messages
24 (0.01/day)
So I woke up the other morning, turned my PC on and it gave me 1 long and 3 short beep.
It also showed that I should "Check the signal cable". I found out that this can be caused by the video card, RAM or BIOS right? So I opened up my PC and took the video card out and put it back in, tried rubbing the contacts with some paper (dont know if this is a good idea throught). Nothing happened. So I tried removing RAM's (I got 2 RAM cards by 1GB). Still nothing. I dont want to go any futher with dismanteling my PC because I dont have expierience in this. But I suspect its the video cards fault. Right? And basicaly what Im asking is should I buy a new video card? Should I try something else to fix the problem?


Dont know if this is of any help but here goes my video card and motherboard:
My video card: GeForce 8600GT
My Motherbord: M2N-E SLI ASUS
This is the card Im considering getting:http://www.asus.com/Graphics_Cards/NVIDIA_Series/ENGT240DI1GD3A/#specifications

So should I risk getting a new video card?

Looking forward for quick responses.
 
Joined
May 23, 2010
Messages
507 (0.10/day)
System Name Home Theatre
Processor i5 750
Motherboard Gigabyte P55 USB3
Memory 4GB ADATA 1333
Video Card(s) Sapphire 1GB ATI 5670
Storage 32gb Kingston SSD (Os)/ 1TB and 640GB Caviar Blue (Storage)
Display(s) Sony KDL40HX800
Case Cooler Master HAF 922
Audio Device(s) HT Claro Plus
Power Supply Corsair HX650
Software Windows 7 64-bit
Well, s similar problem like yours that I encountered before was that I simply removed the battery from the motherboard, and the computer booted up fine. I don't know what it exactly did, but it worked for me.
 
Joined
Jul 7, 2011
Messages
24 (0.01/day)
The battery in the lower part of motherbord? Isnt it for the buzzer to do beeps?
 
Last edited:
Joined
May 23, 2010
Messages
507 (0.10/day)
System Name Home Theatre
Processor i5 750
Motherboard Gigabyte P55 USB3
Memory 4GB ADATA 1333
Video Card(s) Sapphire 1GB ATI 5670
Storage 32gb Kingston SSD (Os)/ 1TB and 640GB Caviar Blue (Storage)
Display(s) Sony KDL40HX800
Case Cooler Master HAF 922
Audio Device(s) HT Claro Plus
Power Supply Corsair HX650
Software Windows 7 64-bit
The battery in the lower part of motherbord? Isnt it for the buzzer to do beeps?

Well there should only be one battery in the motherboard.
 
Joined
Jul 7, 2011
Messages
24 (0.01/day)
Theres alot of wires I thought they might be covering one idk. Anyways its near the buzzer which makes me think its used for that. And its tightly put in there so I couldnt manage to get it out.
 
Joined
May 23, 2010
Messages
507 (0.10/day)
System Name Home Theatre
Processor i5 750
Motherboard Gigabyte P55 USB3
Memory 4GB ADATA 1333
Video Card(s) Sapphire 1GB ATI 5670
Storage 32gb Kingston SSD (Os)/ 1TB and 640GB Caviar Blue (Storage)
Display(s) Sony KDL40HX800
Case Cooler Master HAF 922
Audio Device(s) HT Claro Plus
Power Supply Corsair HX650
Software Windows 7 64-bit
Theres alot of wires I thought they might be covering one idk. Anyways its near the buzzer which makes me think its used for that. And its tightly put in there so I couldnt manage to get it out.

First, I suggest that you remove the psu plug from the outlet. Then use something sharp like a pen or something and try plucking it out. Be careful not to pluck it out so hard as you might accidentally damage other things with the sharp object.
 
Joined
Jul 7, 2011
Messages
24 (0.01/day)
Well I removed it and I got the same beeping. I guess thats not the problem. Thanks anyways.
 
Joined
May 23, 2010
Messages
507 (0.10/day)
System Name Home Theatre
Processor i5 750
Motherboard Gigabyte P55 USB3
Memory 4GB ADATA 1333
Video Card(s) Sapphire 1GB ATI 5670
Storage 32gb Kingston SSD (Os)/ 1TB and 640GB Caviar Blue (Storage)
Display(s) Sony KDL40HX800
Case Cooler Master HAF 922
Audio Device(s) HT Claro Plus
Power Supply Corsair HX650
Software Windows 7 64-bit
what type of cable are you using, HDMI, DVI, VGA?
 
Joined
Oct 10, 2008
Messages
3,471 (0.61/day)
System Name Acer Aspire V3-771G-53218G75Maii
Processor Core i5 3210M (2,5-3,1Ghz)
Memory 8GB DDR3 SODIMM
Video Card(s) Geforce GT650M
Storage Samsung 830 256GB - 750GB Toshiba drive
Software Windows 7 x64 Home Premium (non-acer-bloatware)
One short, three longs is a RAM error. Reseat your RAM, unplug your PSU, remove the BIOS battery, hold the power button for a couple of seconds, put the BIOS battery back in and the power back on. Good chance this will fix your problem, otherwise you're in a dire position.
 
Joined
May 23, 2010
Messages
507 (0.10/day)
System Name Home Theatre
Processor i5 750
Motherboard Gigabyte P55 USB3
Memory 4GB ADATA 1333
Video Card(s) Sapphire 1GB ATI 5670
Storage 32gb Kingston SSD (Os)/ 1TB and 640GB Caviar Blue (Storage)
Display(s) Sony KDL40HX800
Case Cooler Master HAF 922
Audio Device(s) HT Claro Plus
Power Supply Corsair HX650
Software Windows 7 64-bit
If it is showing the "Check Signal" on your screen, I believe it has to do with the cable, as my cables come out easily.
 
Joined
Jul 7, 2011
Messages
24 (0.01/day)
One short, three longs is a RAM error. Reseat your RAM, unplug your PSU, remove the BIOS battery, hold the power button for a couple of seconds, put the BIOS battery back in and the power back on. Good chance this will fix your problem, otherwise you're in a dire position.

Nope. Same beeps. You see I got no problem with buying a new video card but I really need to know it is its fault. Is it safe to assume that right now? Or should I try something more?
 
Joined
Oct 10, 2008
Messages
3,471 (0.61/day)
System Name Acer Aspire V3-771G-53218G75Maii
Processor Core i5 3210M (2,5-3,1Ghz)
Memory 8GB DDR3 SODIMM
Video Card(s) Geforce GT650M
Storage Samsung 830 256GB - 750GB Toshiba drive
Software Windows 7 x64 Home Premium (non-acer-bloatware)
If it shows "Check Signal", the monitor is not receiving a signal. This can be due to a faulty GFX card or a broken cable. You could also try reseating the GFX card.
 
Joined
Jul 7, 2011
Messages
24 (0.01/day)
If it is showing the "Check Signal" on your screen, I believe it has to do with the cable, as my cables come out easily.

I guess if the video card is not passing signal to the motherbord from the monitor it could also show check signal cable. Couldnt it?
 
Joined
Jul 7, 2011
Messages
24 (0.01/day)
If it shows "Check Signal", the monitor is not receiving a signal. This can be due to a faulty GFX card or a broken cable. You could also try reseating the GFX card.

Tried it. I also tried cleaning its contacts. Nothing.
 
Joined
Oct 1, 2010
Messages
2,361 (0.48/day)
Location
Marlow, ENGLAND
System Name Chachamaru-IV | Retro Battlestation
Processor AMD Ryzen 9 5900X | Intel Pentium II 450MHz
Motherboard ASUS ROG STRIX X570-F Gaming | MSI MS-6116 (Intel 440BX chipset)
Cooling Noctua NH-D15 SE-AM4
Memory 32GB Corsair DDR4-3000 (16-20-20-38) | 512MB PC133 SDRAM
Video Card(s) nVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 FE | 3dfx Voodoo3 3000
Storage 1TB WD_Black SN850 NVME SSD (OS), Toshiba 3TB (Storage), Toshiba 3TB (Steam)
Display(s) Samsung Odyssey G5 27" @ 1440p144 & Dell P2312H @ 1080p60
Case SilverStone Seta A1 | Beige box
Audio Device(s) Creative Sound Blaster AE-7 (Speakers), Creative Zen Hybrid headset | Sound Blaster AWE64
Power Supply EVGA Supernova 750 G2 | 250W ASETEC
Mouse Roccat Kone Air| Microsoft Serial Mouse v2.0A
Keyboard Vortex Race3 | Dell AT102W
Software Microsoft Windows 11 Pro | Microsoft Windows 98SE
Don't bother with that GT240, it's a pile of crap. Buy a GTX 460 at the very least.
 
Joined
Oct 10, 2008
Messages
3,471 (0.61/day)
System Name Acer Aspire V3-771G-53218G75Maii
Processor Core i5 3210M (2,5-3,1Ghz)
Memory 8GB DDR3 SODIMM
Video Card(s) Geforce GT650M
Storage Samsung 830 256GB - 750GB Toshiba drive
Software Windows 7 x64 Home Premium (non-acer-bloatware)
I would suggest finding someone with a backup GFX card you can test before buying a new one, or buy it at a shop where you can make sure you can return it if the GFX card is not the problem.

You might have a bigger problem at hand though. I'm suggesting motherboard, or PSU.
 
Joined
May 23, 2010
Messages
507 (0.10/day)
System Name Home Theatre
Processor i5 750
Motherboard Gigabyte P55 USB3
Memory 4GB ADATA 1333
Video Card(s) Sapphire 1GB ATI 5670
Storage 32gb Kingston SSD (Os)/ 1TB and 640GB Caviar Blue (Storage)
Display(s) Sony KDL40HX800
Case Cooler Master HAF 922
Audio Device(s) HT Claro Plus
Power Supply Corsair HX650
Software Windows 7 64-bit
I would suggest finding someone with a backup GFX card you can test before buying a new one, or buy it at a shop where you can make sure you can return it if the GFX card is not the problem.

You might have a bigger problem at hand though. I'm suggesting motherboard, or PSU.

I agree, might be the PSU or motherboard.
 
Joined
Oct 10, 2008
Messages
3,471 (0.61/day)
System Name Acer Aspire V3-771G-53218G75Maii
Processor Core i5 3210M (2,5-3,1Ghz)
Memory 8GB DDR3 SODIMM
Video Card(s) Geforce GT650M
Storage Samsung 830 256GB - 750GB Toshiba drive
Software Windows 7 x64 Home Premium (non-acer-bloatware)
Why PSU, motherboard? Is the chance of it being video card so small?

Because any properly seated GFX card *should* give a signal to a monitor cable, but the 1 short, 3 long beep code refers to a RAM problem.

Usually if there are conflicting symptoms pointing to different components, one of the components that governs all other components (so the PSU or the motherboard) is the problem.
 
Joined
May 23, 2010
Messages
507 (0.10/day)
System Name Home Theatre
Processor i5 750
Motherboard Gigabyte P55 USB3
Memory 4GB ADATA 1333
Video Card(s) Sapphire 1GB ATI 5670
Storage 32gb Kingston SSD (Os)/ 1TB and 640GB Caviar Blue (Storage)
Display(s) Sony KDL40HX800
Case Cooler Master HAF 922
Audio Device(s) HT Claro Plus
Power Supply Corsair HX650
Software Windows 7 64-bit
Why PSU, motherboard? Is the chance of it being video card so small?

I have yet to encounter any problems with video cards. Whether the video card is old or new, I have never had any problem with them. This is my experience with problems I have encountered when troubleshooting my computers though. I don't know if it will apply to yours, but I am just sharing my experience with you that I have faced before.
 

Benetanegia

New Member
Joined
Sep 11, 2009
Messages
2,680 (0.50/day)
Location
Reaching your left retina.
That MB has Award BIOS, so 1 long 3 short beeps means something related to GFX card definately.

I would suggest the same as above, see if you can borrow a GPU from someone and try it out before buying anything.

At this point the fault is either on the GFX card or the MB IMO. afaik the 8600 does not need aditional power, so the PSU I'd rule out PSU for the time being. You would get another kind of error if the MB itself was not getting enough power.

BTW have you tried to put the GFX card in another PCIe slot?
 
Joined
Oct 10, 2008
Messages
3,471 (0.61/day)
System Name Acer Aspire V3-771G-53218G75Maii
Processor Core i5 3210M (2,5-3,1Ghz)
Memory 8GB DDR3 SODIMM
Video Card(s) Geforce GT650M
Storage Samsung 830 256GB - 750GB Toshiba drive
Software Windows 7 x64 Home Premium (non-acer-bloatware)
That MB has Award BIOS, so 1 long 3 short beeps means something related to GFX card definately.

I would suggest the same as above, see if you can borrow a GPU from someone and try it out before buying anything.

At this point the fault is either on the GFX card or the MB IMO. afaik the 8600 does not need aditional power, so the PSU I'd rule out PSU for the time being. You would get another kind of error if the MB itself was not getting enough power.

BTW have you tried to put the GFX card in another PCIe slot?

Whoops, I misread and assumed an AMI BIOS:ohwell:
Award:
1long, 3short No video card or bad video RAM Reseat or replace the video card.

so I'd say, get another GFX card to check :)
 
Joined
Jul 7, 2011
Messages
24 (0.01/day)
Because any properly seated GFX card *should* give a signal to a monitor cable, but the 1 short, 3 long beep code refers to a RAM problem.

Usually if there are conflicting symptoms pointing to different components, one of the components that governs all other components (so the PSU or the motherboard) is the problem.

Well thank you all for the help. I guess Im gonna try to find a shop which I could return the video card to if thats not the case... But if the problem is motherboard wouldn't it be smarter to get new PC?

Mine has 2GB RAM and 2,4 GHZ Dual core
 
Joined
May 23, 2010
Messages
507 (0.10/day)
System Name Home Theatre
Processor i5 750
Motherboard Gigabyte P55 USB3
Memory 4GB ADATA 1333
Video Card(s) Sapphire 1GB ATI 5670
Storage 32gb Kingston SSD (Os)/ 1TB and 640GB Caviar Blue (Storage)
Display(s) Sony KDL40HX800
Case Cooler Master HAF 922
Audio Device(s) HT Claro Plus
Power Supply Corsair HX650
Software Windows 7 64-bit
Well thank you all for the help. I guess Im gonna try to find a shop which I could return the video card to if thats not the case... But if the problem is motherboard wouldn't it be smarter to get new PC?

Mine has 2GB RAM and 2,4 GHZ Dual core

If your going to buy a new pc why not just build a cheap rig and you could salvage some parts like the PSU, 2GB RAM and save about 150 bucks.
 
Top