my PC starts to restart by it self after I installed second PCI graphic card
I have a problem guys, 6 month ago I built a PC with
320 GB HDD
Gigabyte motherboard(AM2+ 940) MA770-DS3
AM2-940x2 Dual Core 6000+
Gigabyte graphic card PCI-E 512 MB 8500GT - Nvidia
4 GB RAM
and the PC was working fine and I use it for the church, so on the graphic card I connect a monitor and on the DVI I connected a projector to display songs.
then last week I decided to get another Projector as foldback for the singers on the stage, so on my Motherboard has only one PCI-E so I searched the internet and I got a PCI graphic card Radeon 9250 64-bits 128MB and I installed it and since then the problem started which is my PC start to restart by itself, so I thought it could be bc of a conflict between Nvidia & ATI chipset.so I bought another PCI-E graphice card 256MB Radeon HD2400 pro and I installed it ..so now I can see both of the driver on the display settings ( which I couldn't first with Nivida to see the driver for the PCI ) but still restarting..so may be the power supply so I bought a power supply ..still restarting ....so I decided to formatt my PC..so I kept the PCI-E HD 2400 and formatted my pc ...all good and tested it for hrs...once I installed the otherPCI card starts again to restart...I made sure I have the latest updated driver from ati.com for both of them...but didn't make any different.
so really I need your help guys...what is wrong ...I need to use another projector..and I read a lot of articales about people using 4 monitors and they are having 2 graphic cards
please advise
Thanks so much in advance
320 GB HDD
Gigabyte motherboard(AM2+ 940) MA770-DS3
AM2-940x2 Dual Core 6000+
Gigabyte graphic card PCI-E 512 MB 8500GT - Nvidia
4 GB RAM
and the PC was working fine and I use it for the church, so on the graphic card I connect a monitor and on the DVI I connected a projector to display songs.
then last week I decided to get another Projector as foldback for the singers on the stage, so on my Motherboard has only one PCI-E so I searched the internet and I got a PCI graphic card Radeon 9250 64-bits 128MB and I installed it and since then the problem started which is my PC start to restart by itself, so I thought it could be bc of a conflict between Nvidia & ATI chipset.so I bought another PCI-E graphice card 256MB Radeon HD2400 pro and I installed it ..so now I can see both of the driver on the display settings ( which I couldn't first with Nivida to see the driver for the PCI ) but still restarting..so may be the power supply so I bought a power supply ..still restarting ....so I decided to formatt my PC..so I kept the PCI-E HD 2400 and formatted my pc ...all good and tested it for hrs...once I installed the otherPCI card starts again to restart...I made sure I have the latest updated driver from ati.com for both of them...but didn't make any different.
so really I need your help guys...what is wrong ...I need to use another projector..and I read a lot of articales about people using 4 monitors and they are having 2 graphic cards
please advise
Thanks so much in advance
You said you got another PSU, but did you get one strong enough? Modern VGA cards require quite a lot of power, so you need a PSU with enough wattage.
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It is more likely the low wattage power supply so you may need more power full power supply.
Also its complicated to have two display cards so you may by cards that support multi display.
try NVIDIA Quadro NVS 290 if your system supports that, I am using it and it is brilliant.
Also its complicated to have two display cards so you may by cards that support multi display.
try NVIDIA Quadro NVS 290 if your system supports that, I am using it and it is brilliant.
As I sais originally, and I agree with tyro7866, it is most likely the power supply being under wattage. Also his suggestion of the NVIDIA Quadro NVS 290 is a great choice for video cards.
ASKER
sorry I forgot to mention that my first PSU was 720 W and I the new one also is 720, also I want to mention that on last sunday when was the first time the PC starts having this problem, before I changed the PSU the PC started by it self once but all the day was fine so I can use 3 output displays without a problem, but on Monday starts to be crazy.
I will try to installed the old driver and let you know
also Tyro 7866 for NVIDIA Quadro NVS 290 how can I know if my system supports that or not?
I will try to installed the old driver and let you know
also Tyro 7866 for NVIDIA Quadro NVS 290 how can I know if my system supports that or not?
Your system should support the NVIDIA Quadro NVS 290 if you can handle a PCI Express x16 card.
You mention the problem started last Sunday, was that before or after you installed the second video card. If it was before you have a different problem, perhalps cooling or something similar.
You mention the problem started last Sunday, was that before or after you installed the second video card. If it was before you have a different problem, perhalps cooling or something similar.
ASKER
all of hs after I started to to use a graphic one PCI-ex16 & PCI. first PCI-ex16 was Nvidia & I got the PCI ATI. so pc couldn't read the driver for PCI ( 9250 ), so I replaced the PCI-ex16 with Radeon ATI 2400 now both visable on the display settings and I used the monitors for 2 hrs without a problem and then start to restart.
I want to ask my PC has 2 PCI slots, doesn't matter which one I install the PCI card into it?
I want to ask my PC has 2 PCI slots, doesn't matter which one I install the PCI card into it?
Yea, the best solution will be to replace the two video cards with the NVIDIA Quadro NVS 290.
You say your computer has 2 PCI slots, do you mean PCI or PCI-E because there is a difference. Assuming they are PCI-E slots you should be able to use either of them however it is best to use the one closest to the power supply first. Some motherboards may only support the use of the first slot when you are using only one PCI-E card.
You say your computer has 2 PCI slots, do you mean PCI or PCI-E because there is a difference. Assuming they are PCI-E slots you should be able to use either of them however it is best to use the one closest to the power supply first. Some motherboards may only support the use of the first slot when you are using only one PCI-E card.
ASKER
I have 2 PCI slots, not PCI-E, last update is that I uninstalled the driver for the PCI and removed the PCI graphic card, so now I use only the ATI 256 MB HD 2400 Pro, and all good till I get the another graphic card with 3 output
still I wonder what was wrong, there is something missing, because before I go and buy those 2 ATI I read a lot of fourms about people they are using 4 monitors, 2 on PCI-E & another 2 on a PCI
still I wonder what was wrong, there is something missing, because before I go and buy those 2 ATI I read a lot of fourms about people they are using 4 monitors, 2 on PCI-E & another 2 on a PCI
I still believe that Power supply in the machine and may be system board is not bearing the load of two graphics card, but 720W is a high wattage supply, I would definetly go for one card option and that would solve the purpose for good, I have this card on client site and they use it for plasma and other big displays all works fine.
Running 2 video cards on PCI or one on PCI and the other on PCI-E can be a bit of a challenge. There are a number of incompatibilities and driver issues that can and do crop up. Especially where older drivers are concerned (this will be the case with many PCI cards).
You may be able to get it to work if you use the exact same hardware (including hardware and firmware versions) and the same exact drivers.
There may be no easy explanation to what is happening. The conventional wisdom is that you are overtaxing the Power Supply. You have a large Power Supply but we still do not know what else is installed in your computer, so it is a distinct possibility that you are just not supplying enough power.
The other big possibility is related to heat. The more you stuff into a computer chassis, and the more power you draw, the higher the likelihood that heat is building up. This may be the problem. Some of the things you would check include:
The simple rule that we should follow here is to keep it simple. The simpler the solution the less there is to do to get it working and to keep in working, Most important of all, simple is also very easy to maintain and generally much more reliable.
You may be able to get it to work if you use the exact same hardware (including hardware and firmware versions) and the same exact drivers.
There may be no easy explanation to what is happening. The conventional wisdom is that you are overtaxing the Power Supply. You have a large Power Supply but we still do not know what else is installed in your computer, so it is a distinct possibility that you are just not supplying enough power.
The other big possibility is related to heat. The more you stuff into a computer chassis, and the more power you draw, the higher the likelihood that heat is building up. This may be the problem. Some of the things you would check include:
- The condition of the heatsink and fan on the video cards. If there is a fan is it working and is the heatsink nice and clean?
- The condition of the heatsink and fan for your processor. Is the fan working well and is the heatsink free of dust and lint?
- The condition of the fan/s in the Power Supply. Are they working well? Also is the Power Supply clean inside?
- Is the inside of the computer neat and tidy, or do you have a massive number of wires and devices stopping airflow?
- How many chassis fans are installed, are they venting in or out and what is the condition?
- How close are all of the components in the chassis? Is this preventing airflow?
The simple rule that we should follow here is to keep it simple. The simpler the solution the less there is to do to get it working and to keep in working, Most important of all, simple is also very easy to maintain and generally much more reliable.
I just noticed something and I have a couple of quick questions.
What Operating System are you using, including any service packs?
The video card drivers you are using, are they the correct versions for your Operating System?
What Operating System are you using, including any service packs?
The video card drivers you are using, are they the correct versions for your Operating System?
One more thing to recommend, just to exclude that your Radeon 9250 is in working condition, is: try to use just this card, remove 2400PRO. Also, again: try to uninstall all video drivers and install just old ones (you got with 9250 card). This will diminish performance of 2400PRO for sure, but might solve your problem.
ASKER
I have Win XP SP2, the new power sppuly has dual fan, I don't have anything else on the PC. I tried to keep 9250 and was working fine by itself, also I started the PC on self mode and uninstalled all the video drivers..all done, one graphic card by it self no problem, but once I install two of them the PC starts to restart
Maybe lame, but have you tried to insert PCI card in another slot? I have solved similar problem this way but with modem. :D
Yea, AdnanKurtovic may have an idea, try the PCI card in a different slot.
Also make sure you have more cooling in that computer than just the fans located in the Power Supply and on the Processor Heatsink.
One additional thought., although it is a long shot. You have 4GB of RAM running with Windows XP SP2 (only 3GB is supported). Take out some of that RAM (so there is 2GB or 3GB installed) and see if there is any difference. This very well may not make any kind of difference, however I have seen stranger things.
Also make sure you have more cooling in that computer than just the fans located in the Power Supply and on the Processor Heatsink.
One additional thought., although it is a long shot. You have 4GB of RAM running with Windows XP SP2 (only 3GB is supported). Take out some of that RAM (so there is 2GB or 3GB installed) and see if there is any difference. This very well may not make any kind of difference, however I have seen stranger things.
I strongly agree heat could be a problem. Try to take off one side of case and then monitor temperatures (if you have some monitoring software).
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Very nice to hear you found a solution.
This should resolve your problem.
I would also try to simplify the video card situation. There are cards that will support quad (4) monitors on a single card. I would opt for one of those cards if you can find one that meets the rest of your needs. If you must use 2 cards try sticking with a single manufacturer, possibly identically matched cards.