Video card dead? DVI cable issue?

[Matty D]

I recently built my friend a nice new computer with all the fixings. However he was having some video issues. I decided it would be a good idea to bring my functioning 8800GTS 640mb card with me to test his system.

I took my card out of my system, put it into a bag (bag was used to ship a mobo so it should be static free) and then placed it in a safe secure box. I never ended up needing to use my card and so I returned it to my computer and fired it up. I plugged in in the power and DVI cables just as before but my monitor now is saying no signal! I tried re-seating the card several times, switched between the two outputs, checked that the fan is still working and nothing helped. I tried putting the card in my second PCI-E slot.

The only thing I can figure is that I somehow messed the card up on removal (static charge but I have never fried anything before with my methods) or that when I moved the case around the DVI cable broke internally? I get nothing on screen (not even a logo screen or BIOS load) at all, but the fan is running and the system sounds as if it is going through all the normal processes. The card has worked fine for a year, no heat issues.

Any thougts? Do DVI cable just break? Does static fry a card that easily?

[DurkaDurka]

Do you have a VGA cable you can try it with? That's what I would suggest.

[Matty D]

I will have to check to see if I have a vga cable lying around. Anyone ever had a DVI cable just die on them?

[sswilson]

Also check to see if you've got "auto detect source" selected on your monitor. Could be it's defaulted to the VGA port.

I suppose it's possible for a cable to go bad, but if you haven't done anything with it other than disconnect it, I'd be looking elsewhere first.

[Matty D]

Yeah it just makes no sense to me. To have a fully functioning card and monitor, remove card and then put it back in within 6 hours and poof nothing. Plus there seems to be power to the card as the fan on it runs fine. If the card was fried would the mobo (Lanparty Ultra D nf4) beep a code?

[Matty D]

Update:

Did some testing last night with my old CRT monitor and my DVI cable + adapter. My video card is fine my LCD is not responding to the input. I have done a bit of research and apparently my Viewsonic vx2025wm is bad for having DVI problems.

I will update if I can fix it or if I end up RMA'ing.

[Babrbarossa]

I had a similar problem with my LG when I switched to DVI from VGA- I think I reinstalled my video drivers and it worked. You could also try disabling the video adapter, rebooting, then reenabling.

[Matty D]

Ok so I fixed the problem. Apparently my monitor has problems dropping the DVI connection.

The solution is to plug in both the dvi and vga cable into both the card and monitor.
Power down the comp, turn off the monitor and unplug it from the wall. Push the power button on the monitor to drain any power.
Unplug the vga cable and leave the DVI plugged in
Leave for 5 minutes and then power everything back up. Viola!

However anytime I unplug my cable now I have to do this

[sswilson]

Heh....

Glad to hear you found a fix, but that's a lot of hoops to jump through! I guess you're not going to be disconnecting that monitor without good reason. :)

[stoanee]

Originally Posted by Matty D

Update:

Did some testing last night with my old CRT monitor and my DVI cable + adapter. My video card is fine my LCD is not responding to the input. I have done a bit of research and apparently my Viewsonic vx2025wm is bad for having DVI problems.

I will update if I can fix it or if I end up RMA'ing.

I also have a Viewsonic vx2025 that will not work on DVI...from new. I have an RMA in place but need the monitor still. At least it has a 3 year warranty.