Hardware

Ask something
Discussion Locked

No Video Signal

0 helpful
7 replies

by comphelpnj

Closed to new repliesThis discussion is closed. It stays readable, but it takes no new replies.

I just installed a geforce FX5200 graphics card into a Dell Optiplex GX240 mini-tower. Upon rebooting, I had no video signal - it was as if the monitor was not even connected to the computer. I shutdown and reinstalled the original card and everything worked fine. Yes, I uninstalled the old drivers first before installing the new card. Could it be the power supply is not powerful enough? There is a very small power connector on this new card that is not present on the original card - does this new card require an additional power source?

Any suggestions?

7 replies

by jc2it

You are probably correct in that it requires the auxilary power. This should be easy to determine. Try it.

Also, Your Bios might need to be upgraded, check Dell's site and have your service tag ready. You may need to change where the BIOS looks for the video card if you were using MoBo Video before. It has been a while since I messed with our GX240s so I don't remember if it auto detects and switches this BIOS setting, the newer ones do.

Is it possible that you shifted the MoBo on its mounting pegs during install and shorted it out? Is it loose?

I am sure you tried a different monitor and checked your monitor connections to the video card.

by comphelpnj

After spending far too much time on this "simple" project, I bought another new card (without a separate power plug), set the bios to auto detect, and everything worked fine. Whenever I have a chance I'll swap out the first board again and see if the problem was a bad card or bad bios setting. Thanks for all the input.

by bfilmfan

It is most likely a lack of power. Most of the Dells do not have gigantic power supplies.

by hal 9000

If you still have the original M'Board/CPU you have an Intel 845 Chip Set M'Board so it should accept the FX5200 but you'll need to connect the additional Power adapter. These generally speaking are the same connectors for a 3.5 inch floppy or if they are a specialized connector there should be a Power adapter supplied with the Video Card to plug into an existing connector.

However bear in mind that Dell Power Supplies are [b]Marginal[/b] at best.

Col

This discussion is closed to new replies.