Problems installing new graphics card

[R360]

I got a new graphics card at the weekend but having real difficulty in installing it. Once the card is installed in my PC and I start the PC, the Dell screen is shown and then the screen goes blank and it stays like this. The windows start up screen does show up at all. I have changed the cables from PC to monitor and this does not solve the issue so I know its got to be something to do with the graphics card, could it be knackered?
The new graphics card is a GeForce GT220 and the PC is a Dell Vostro 200 with Vista.
I have also checked to make sure that the graphics card was installed into the slot properly and its fine its seated perfectly, but still no joy, still get the same thing.
I have now put my old graphics card back in and all is working fine; old car is a Geforce 7300 GS.
Any idea what the issue might be and how I go about solving it?

[strudel]

Does it need additional power cables?

[Mr_S]

If your monitor is made by Dell then I would imagine that is just the screens startup display you're seeing and actually getting nothing output from the graphics card.

Did you attach the internal power supply to the new card?

have you tried reseating it?

[eps]

Rollback the drivers before installing?

[R360]

I am pretty sure it does not need any additional power supplies.
I have tried on 2 monitors and getting the same outcome, the first was a Dell the second was Samsung.

[R360]

eps said:

Rollback the drivers before installing?

I have not installed the drivers for it yet as i didnt even manage to get into windows. Do you mean i should install the drivers first and then install the new graphics card?

[spitfire-ian]

Sounds like the graphics card is outputting a resolution that your monitor can't handle.

Have you tried starting Windows in safe mode?

[R360]

Tried to press f8 but nothing is shown. The only thing I can get into is the bios setup thing when you press f2. But don't really have the knowledge to make any changes to that.

[Mandat]

R360 said:

I am pretty sure it does not need any additional power supplies.
I have tried on 2 monitors and getting the same outcome, the first was a Dell the second was Samsung.

I'm pretty sure that a high end card like the GT 220 will require it's own power source.

If you post up the card make and exact model, we can check the specs to confirm.

Edited by Mandat on Tuesday 23 February 12:13

[Mr_S]

Is your BIOS the latest version?

[R360]

Mandat said:

R360 said:

I am pretty sure it does not need any additional power supplies.
I have tried on 2 monitors and getting the same outcome, the first was a Dell the second was Samsung.

I'm pretty sure that a high end card like the GT 220 will require it's own power source.

If you post up the card make and exact model, we can check the specs to confirm.

Edited by Mandat on Tuesday 23 February 12:13

The grpahics card is a Nvidia Geforce GT220, specs can be found here:
http://www.nvidia.com/object/product_geforce_gt_22...

The card does not have anywhere you can plug power into it, i have taken some pictures to show you:

[R360]

Mr_S said:

Is your BIOS the latest version?

Good questoin, and the simple answer is i dont know, how do i check?

[UncappedTag]

Take it back to PC World and get a refund.

HTH

Edited by UncappedTag on Tuesday 23 February 12:47

[eps]

R360 said:

eps said:

Rollback the drivers before installing?

I have not installed the drivers for it yet as i didnt even manage to get into windows. Do you mean i should install the drivers first and then install the new graphics card?

The old card works with the old drivers.. The new card doesn't work with the old drivers, they're expecting to see the old card.. I would suggest trying to uninstall/rollback the drivers to something like the base windows drivers and see if they work with the old and new card.

ETA : Actually which version of the drivers have you got installed currently?

Nvidia lists :

GeForce/ION Driver Release 196



Version:

196.21 WHQL
Release Date:

2010.01.19
Operating System:

Windows XP
Language:

English (UK)
File Size:

112 MB

Which should work with the 7 series card and the GT220.. If you haven't got a fairly recent update of the drivers, I would download these first and install.

Edited by eps on Tuesday 23 February 12:55

[Mr_S]

The OP says that after the initial Dell screen the display stays black, therefore i doubt it is driver related.

I would visit the dell website support page http://support.euro.dell.com/ and put in your service tag

Bios will be available there, when you install it you will show you your current BIOS version before it installs.

Probably worth setting defaults in BIOS aswell

Edited by Mr_S on Tuesday 23 February 13:04

Edited by Mr_S on Tuesday 23 February 13:05

[R360]

Thanks, i will check to see if i can update the Bios later on tonight.

I have just done a google search and it seems like this is a pretty common fault with this graphics card so tempted to try and return it. Thing is if i do return it i am unlikely to be able to get another card with similar specs for similar amount of money.

http://www.w7forums.com/nvidia-gt220-blank-screen-...

http://forums.nvidia.com/index.php?showtopic=15196...

An example of some of the other issues.

[Mr_S]

if all else fails try it in another PC

[Dick Sternum]

What was your original graphics card? Was it a plug in card like the one you have or is it on board graphics where the VGA / DVI socket is soldered to the motherboard?

If you have on board graphics, you will need to enter the BIOS, and locate the option to disable this.

Just a thought.

[trooperiziz]

The Geforce GT220 requires a PC with a minimum of 300w power supply, Your Dell Vostro 200 has a 250w power supply.

I would imagine this is causing the problem

[Gnits]

Yep sounds like Trooperiziz has the right idea to me.
The other problem you may find is that DELL hates everybody else and they can be a pig to try and get other hardware to work with theirs. I have even had probs trying to use other makes of RAM!