New GPU problem

[sharkcellar]

My mobo is an Intel D915PBL.

http://www.intel.com/support/m...15pbl/sb/cs-010606.htm

I just got an EVGA 9800GTX RT to replace my old nVIDIA GeForce 6600.

When I installed the card I got a long beep and 8 short beeps, which apparently means that my board isn't talking to my GPU correctly. I'm pretty sure that my mobo can utilize this card. What else could be wrong?

 

[sharkcellar]

Dammit! I guess the D915PBL is PCI-E 1.0 not 2.0.

Can someone suggest a cheap card replacement please? I guess this new card goes in my new rig, yet to be built...

 

[toyota]

2.0 gpus should be backwards compatible with pci-e 1.0 boards. did you really buy a 9800gtx to put in a system with a P4? if you did then that was very foolish.

 

[sharkcellar]

Color me foolish then. Why so? I'm into learning from my mistakes. Also, besides calling me a fool, can you suggest a replacement card for my 6600? That would be most helpful.

 

[Arkaign]

Dude, instead of dumping the 9800, get this :

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16813186167

Should support your existing DDR2 (is it at least DDR2-667?), and will run your Prescott P4. You'll also be able to drop in a cheap dual-core or even a quad a bit later if you want.

^^ Anyway, that's a $40ish solution that's a world better than sticking with a 4 year old mobo.

Edit for typo Also, the above solution is just the cheapest solution. If you really want to start a really nice foundation to move forward on, try this :

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16813131393

$80 shipped.

Now the LGA775 is technically a dead end, but there are loads of great CPUs out there, and the other choice would entail buying both a board and CPU at the same time, and to avoid not getting another dead-end setup, one would really have to move to a DDR3 setup to be sure (LGA1156/1366/AM3), which would mean new cpu+ram+DDR3.

Economically, I think one of the above boards makes sense, and maybe a little while down the road you can drop a quad in.

 

[sharkcellar]

I'm not planning on dumping the 9800, like I said, it will go in my new rig that will be built soon. I don't wanna buy a new mobo, just a new card. I'm going to keep this old rig to do audio work with, so replacing the card, which is failing, is my plan. I'm not a gamer concerned with staying on the bleeding edge in order to play the newest games. I'm just a graphic artist who will keep using my rig long after you guys will have moved into using FTL drives and are inhabiting a new galaxy.

 

[Arkaign]

Ah, well why a 9800? That's a huge amount of overkill in both power draw, heat output, and budget

http://www.newegg.com/Product/..._-14-121-310-_-Product

$35 w/free ship, it *should* work in that mobo, as PCIe 2.0 is supposed to be backwards compatible, but then the 9800 should have worked as well.

This isn't as new or as fast, but it probably doesn't matter, will be at least as good as a vanilla 6600, and is PCIe x16 1.0.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16814187087 $25

 

[sharkcellar]

I got the 9800 initially to replace my old GPU. I'm a noob at configuring a system. Like I said, I'm not a gamer who spends my life poring over tech specs. I'm an artist. I got my 9800 today via UPS, looked on the box and saw immediately that I SHOULDA had a power supply of 450+, the one I have is 350. I thought "Ok well it'll run a bit hot. I'm not gonna be gaming anyway, so pfft!" So I put the card in anyway. Like you said PCIe 2.0 is supposed to be backwards compatible, but I get BIOS beeps and no joy. I don't know why. I'll try putting the card in again, but for now I'm just looking for a cheapy to replace my 6600, so on that thanks for your help Arkaign.

 

[Arkaign]

Not all PSU's are created equal. Can you find the 12v+ rail info? For a 9800 you'd want to see 20amps or higher, I would think.

I've seen quality 350W Psus (Antec, etc) that have better real-world output than generic/OEM 500w+ guys.

It sounds indeed like it may be the PSU tripping you up.

That $25 8400GS should have negligible power draw, I've used 8600s on HP/Dell units that have 300w or less junk stock power supplies.

 

[toyota]

Originally posted by: sharkcellar
I got the 9800 initially to replace my old GPU. I'm a noob at configuring a system. Like I said, I'm not a gamer who spends my life poring over tech specs. I'm an artist. I got my 9800 today via UPS, looked on the box and saw immediately that I SHOULDA had a power supply of 450+, the one I have is 350. I thought "Ok well it'll run a bit hot. I'm not gonna be gaming anyway, so pfft!" So I put the card in anyway. Like you said PCIe 2.0 is supposed to be backwards compatible, but I get BIOS beeps and no joy. I don't know why. I'll try putting the card in again, but for now I'm just looking for a cheapy to replace my 6600, so on that thanks for your help Arkaign.

well why didnt you ask questions before making your purchase? a 9800gtx is a waste of money if you have an old single core cpu. if you are not gaming then you dont need a card like that anyway. just get the cheapest modern card you can find such as an 8400gs as Arkaign as already pointed out.

 

[sharkcellar]

Thanks. You live and you learn.

 

[toyota]

Originally posted by: sharkcellar
Thanks. You live and you learn.

well I cant argue with that. I know I did some silly things the first year I had a computer. :beer:

 

[betasub]

Looks like the choice is either invest in a decent PSU (that will drive the 9800, and can be carried over with the 9800 if OP eventually makes a platform upgrade), or return the 9800 for a modern low power card (like the 8400GS above, which should be perfectly adequate for the tasks OP has in mind).

 

[dflynchimp]

9800 at this point is a mid/low range gaming gpu. If you want something for HD video/audio and multimedia you're better off with 9600GT or ATI 4650.

That P4 of yours is a dinosaur. I completely agree with the person who recommended you get a newer 775 socket motherboard for a possible future cpu swap. If you don't game then what you need is cpu power.

That and a new PSU. You should get a quality 500W (check the anandtech reviews) psu which for a non gamer should do you well for a long while.