Only one GPU working on 295GTX.

[Juusuhako]

Hello,
I have a 295GTX where only one GPU seems to be working. The one not working is the one plugged directly into the motherboard and has HDMI output, but I cant get a signal from HDMI at all.

Few days ago I had a signal from both DVI-D and HDMI. However, after receiving a BSOD about "nvlddmkm.sys" I lost the signal from HDMI. This morning the signal randomly came back from HDMI (after the resolution had for some reason reset itself), but after a restart of the PC it was gone again.

I noticed the Blue LED was not on (Blue LED indicates the main gpu is on, the one with HDMI). So I disassembled the GPU and checked the sli cable; it was thoroughly attached. Some good news is that the Blue LED is back after assembling it again, but I still dont have a signal from HDMI. Programs such as Nvidia Control Panel and Precision X is also only showing 1 GPU.

Nvidia Control Panel not showing the HDMI output
Precision X only showing 1 GPU

Im not sure what the problem could be, after all I have had a signal that I lost because of a BSOD, and the Blue LED is on (but for all I know it could be gone when I turn it on tomorrow).

Any suggestions or ideas? I would accept it, if it was simply dead; but the fact that I get the Blue LED, and that I doubt a BSOD can "destroy" a GPU, im thinking its still working but for some reason just isnt recognized.

 

[RamboOC]

Bsod does not destroy anything. It gives a sign that something may be wrong. Post your full spec, maybe your power supply is not giving enough power. Also have you tried swapping gpus?

 

[Juusuhako]

Bsod does not destroy anything. It gives a sign that something may be wrong. Post your full spec, maybe your power supply is not giving enough power. Also have you tried swapping gpus?

Gigabyte Z77X-D3H
i5-3570K
8GB Corsair Vengeance
750W Thermaltake Toughpower

Before my upgrade i had an E8500, Asus P5N-E Sli Motherboard and 8GB Ram, same GPU.

If the PSU werent giving enough power it shouldnt have worked at all, but it has worked before but has been having a dead HDMI output since the BSOD. Green LED also indicates its getting the power it needs.

The PSU is from October 2008, GPU from June 2009.

 

[Juusuhako]

I tried enabling the onboard GPU (it was set to Auto in Bios, so I set it to Enabled), as I wanted to use one of the onboard outputs to use my 2nd monitor - whenever I do this I cant get past the Windows load screen. The login screen is just black (no difference if I use onboard or external GPU), all I can see is my cursor when I move the mouse, and some random blinking once in a while.

To get a signal back I have to reset CMOS and let the onboard GPU stay on "Auto". However this doesnt let me use the onboard outputs, as I get no signal from them when its set to Auto.

I know for a fact I've used the HDMI output from the motherboard when I first got it (without fiddling with BIOS), so I dont understand why it doesnt work now.

 

[RamboOC]

I tried enabling the onboard GPU (it was set to Auto in Bios, so I set it to Enabled), as I wanted to use one of the onboard outputs to use my 2nd monitor - whenever I do this I cant get past the Windows load screen. The login screen is just black (no difference if I use onboard or external GPU), all I can see is my cursor when I move the mouse, and some random blinking once in a while.

To get a signal back I have to reset CMOS and let the onboard GPU stay on "Auto". However this doesnt let me use the onboard outputs, as I get no signal from them when its set to Auto.

I know for a fact I've used the HDMI output from the motherboard when I first got it (without fiddling with BIOS), so I dont understand why it doesnt work now.

to answer first paragraph: That may be problem with the onboard graphics drivers, go ahead and reinstall the drivers

as to the psu, are both gpu's powered from the same 12v rails? try swapping pci-e slots and the power plugs for the gpus

 

[Juusuhako]

to answer first paragraph: That may be problem with the onboard graphics drivers.

are both gpu's powered from the same 12v rails?

I've never installed any graphic drivers for the onboard GPU, it worked fine the first time I used the HDMI output (some weeks ago). I did try and install the drivers that I got from motherboard (gigabytes) website, but whenever I run the .exe it says "This computer does not meet the minimum requirements for this software".

I could say that with the external GPU in use maybe the onboard "disables" itself and therefore the setup cannot "find" the onboard graphics, hence the error... But like mentioned, I have used both the external and onboard at the same time for dual monitors some weeks ago, without having to install anything or fiddle with BIOS, so it disabling itself doesnt really make sense.

I think you are misunderstanding in regards to my GPU - the 295GTX is a 2-in-1 kind of GPU. I dont actually use 2 PCI-E Slots, only one. 295GTX is simply 2 of 260GTX attached together on 1 cooler. The whole thing runs on 1 8-pin and 1 6-pin. The sli cable is even internal. Heres a picture. As you can see it looks pretty much like a single GPU, but two are hiding inside the case.

 

[RamboOC]

I've never installed any graphic drivers for the onboard GPU, it worked fine the first time I used the HDMI output (some weeks ago). I did try and install the drivers that I got from motherboard (gigabytes) website, but whenever I run the .exe it says "This computer does not meet the minimum requirements for this software".

I could say that with the external GPU in use maybe the onboard "disables" itself and therefore the setup cannot "find" the onboard graphics, hence the error... But like mentioned, I have used both the external and onboard at the same time for dual monitors some weeks ago, without having to install anything or fiddle with BIOS, so it disabling itself doesnt really make sense.

I think you are misunderstanding in regards to my GPU - the 295GTX is a 2-in-1 kind of GPU. I dont actually use 2 PCI-E Slots, only one. 295GTX is simply 2 of 260GTX attached together on 1 cooler. The whole thing runs on 1 8-pin and 1 6-pin. The sli cable is even internal. Heres a picture. As you can see it looks pretty much like a single GPU, but two are hiding inside the case.

I know that gtx 295 is a dual gpu on single pcb. I though you meant 2 physical gtx 295, and now I know you have a single gtx 295.

Did you see any slight burn marks by the mofsets, does the card have a smell

 

[Juusuhako]

I know that gtx 295 is a dual gpu on single pcb. I though you meant 2 physical gtx 295, and now I know you have a single gtx 295.

Did you see any slight burn marks by the mofsets, or does the card have a smell

Not really no, but I wasnt exactly looking for them either. It does not have a smell. The card worked perfectly before I replaced the motherboard for the upgraded parts.

Since the new mobo I feel like im living on hope when it comes to this GPU. Sometimes it works perfectly, sometimes its harassing me... I guess if it was burnt it wouldnt work at all, but its been working flawlessly for several weeks until I got that BSOD, and since then I havent had a signal from the HDMI output (except for the few minutes I had this morning until I rebooted PC and lost it again).

Im afraid I've also lost the Blue LED now since having the PC turned off (to reset CMOS to disable onboard GPU that gave me the black screen). So yea, sometimes its on, sometimes its not, sometimes I get a signal, sometimes I dont... But I have no idea how to correctly troubleshoot this issue, nor what parts other than the GPU could cause this.

 

[RamboOC]

Not really no, but I wasnt exactly looking for them either. It does not have a smell. The card worked perfectly before I replaced the motherboard for the upgraded parts.

Since the new mobo I feel like im living on hope when it comes to this GPU. Sometimes it works perfectly, sometimes its harassing me... I guess if it was burnt it wouldnt work at all, but its been working flawlessly for several weeks until I got that BSOD, and since then I havent had a signal from the HDMI output (except for the few minutes I had this morning until I rebooted PC and lost it again).

Im afraid I've also lost the Blue LED now since having the PC turned off (to reset CMOS to disable onboard GPU that gave me the black screen). So yea, sometimes its on, sometimes its not, sometimes I get a signal, sometimes I dont... But I have no idea how to correctly troubleshoot this issue, nor what parts other than the GPU could cause this.

The VRMs for 2 gpus are separate, therefore if mofset for one gpu blown the other gpu would work

 

[Juusuhako]

The VRMs for 2 gpus are separate, therefore if mofset for one gpu blown the other gpu would work

And I would consider that a possebility for why it doesnt work if it wasnt for the fact that I sometimes get the Blue LED, and that it worked fine few days ago, not to mention the several weeks it worked as it should when I first installed it onto the new motherboard, and that it worked this morning.

Im guessing if those were blown it would NEVER work and wouldnt decide to randomly work sometimes?