Computer hardware question

[AVI_8]

My brother in law has given my wife his base unit pc as hers has died, HP Pavillion HPE H8 1150uk
It has sat in a cupboard for a few years, I think the graphics card is not working, no output to the monitor from the DVI output and no output to the TV when I used an HDMI cable. The monitor works when I connect it to my laptop so it’s not that and I’ve selected DVI on the monitor.
Prior to connecting it up I’ve hoovered out the dust (that might not have been a good idea with hindsight), I’ve checked all of the connections and removed then replaced the memory and fitted a new battery to the motherboard.
The graphics card is a PCI express 16
Specs as follows

• Interface: PCI Express x16
• Maximum resolution:
  • HDMI resolution: 1920x1080 (1080p)
  • DVI resolution (dual-link): 2560 x 1600 x 32bpp at 60Hz
  • VGA resolution (with adapter): 2048 x 1536 x 32bpp at 60Hz
• 2 GB onboard memory
• Supports Blu-ray
• Supports two displays at the same time* Up to 2 displays at the same time in these configurations: HDMI +DVI and HDMI +VGA (VGA through included adapter cable)
  * Up to 2 displays at the same time in these configurations: HDMI +DVI and HDMI +VGA (VGA through adapter cable)

Ive found a replacement online for £20 so I think it’s worth a gamble but its a PCI express 3.0 16
Is this 3.0 card backwards compatible with the above old graphics card
Thanks in advance

 

[Fastdruid]

3.0 was 2010, that model was released 2011 so it'll probably be 3.0 anyway but at worst it'll be PCI Express 2.0.

PCI Express is backwards compatible, if it fits it will work.

A 3.0 card will work in a 2.0 slot with some caveats. Some more details here: https://pcguide101.com/motherboard/can-i-use-a-pcie-3-0-card-in-a-2-0-slot/

​

 

[AVI_8]

Ok many thanks for your quick reply, the physical dimensions look identical, I’ll give it a try.

 

[dyno-tron]

Just a thought, that machine may also have built in graphics (socket on the motherboard), if yes then unplug the graphics card and connect monitor to the motherboard instead.

 

[AVI_8]

Just a thought, that machine may also have built in graphics (socket on the motherboard), if yes then unplug the graphics card and connect monitor to the motherboard instead.

It doesn’t unfortunately

 

[Fastdruid]

FWIW the original was probably a 2.0 card which would suggest that it was a 2.0 system. https://www.techpowerup.com/gpu-specs/geforce-gt-530-oem.c630

 

[Fastdruid]

It doesn’t unfortunately

Interesting. The specs say it does. Although also says not available if a graphics card is installed.

System specs

HP Pavilion HPE h8-1150uk Desktop PC Product Specifications | HP® Customer Support

Looking for upgrade information? Trying to find the names of hardware components or software programs? This document contains the technical details for this product.

support.hp.com

And the motherboard

HP and Compaq Desktop PCs - Motherboard Specifications, IPISB-CH2 (Chicago) | HP® Customer Support

Specifications for the Chicago motherboard

support.hp.com

 

[dyno-tron]

If the sockets are there then they will probably work, but will be auto disabled when a graphics card is installed

 

[gaz1]

you can test the mainboard if you want to do via its beep codes

unplug the memory and power up it should give you a code warning not all do though

its harder to check with beep codes when they have onboard graphics

 

[AVI_8]

Thanks for taking the time to look that up, I had already found the specs from the HP site, picture attached of what’s there, one HDMI socket and one DVI socket bits on the graphics card

you can test the mainboard if you want to do via its beep codes

unplug the memory and power up it should give you a code warning not all do though

its harder to check with beep codes when they have onboard graphics

It was beeping 5 beeps when I first powered it up re seating the memory modules fixed that.
All 3 fans are running including on the graphics card, the HDD is powering up and seems to be running normally and quietly, just no output to the monitor

 

[AVI_8]

The blue circuit board graphics card is the same as the one fitted now, the other the one I’m planning on replacing it with.

 

[Seadog]

If you remove one of the plastic covers you'll find a vga connector lurking.

 

[Fastdruid]

If you remove one of the plastic covers you'll find a vga connector lurking.

DVI not VGA but yes. Remove the card from the machine, remove the plastic covers there should be a DVI-I and a DVI-D

 

[AVI_8]

Well I feel a bit stupid now, thanks guys, you are of course correct.
Removed covers and card and connected the DVI at the computer end and the other end of the cable is a HDMI, plugged into the TV ……. And still nothing so the problem must lie elsewhere, you’ve saved me £20 on a graphic card though

 

[qwakers]

Not nessesarily. A lot of the oem boards have the hardware there but the ports disabled in firmware, worth trying a gfx card anyway. If you have another pc nick the card out of it. It doesn’t matter what the spec is as long as it’s pcix, which would be any card on the market afaik.

 

[Seadog]

It's simple enough to look at the BIOS to see if it's disabled. My recollection is that they auto-disable if there's another graphics card installed. But I think that that's a configurable setting too.

 

[Fastdruid]

It's simple enough to look at the BIOS to see if it's disabled. My recollection is that they auto-disable if there's another graphics card installed. But I think that that's a configurable setting too.

Well not if you don't have any screen output it's not!

Probably worth removing the old graphics card then doing a BIOS reset on it. Some times I have had issues with old boards when the battery has discharged, replaced it but the CMOS has become corrupted. A reset has brought it back to life.

Also worth trying both the DVI-I and DVI-D.

 

[AVI_8]

Probably worth removing the old graphics card then doing a BIOS reset on it. Some times I have had issues with old boards when the battery has discharged, replaced it but the CMOS has become corrupted. A reset has brought it back to life.

Here is a couple of pics of the card, I don’t see the cmos, it it possibly under the fan?

 

[ukracer]

I am not am expert but I think he means CMOS on the motherboard.
I stand to be corrected though.

Motherboards have a backup battery. Coin style mostly some older ones had soldered in ones.

The information about your hardware disk drives , DVD ,CD and such like are stored so it will boot quicker. So if battery goes flat it often defaults to default......BUT if that has become corrupt it might not boot at all.

Hope that helps.

 

[Fastdruid]

Here is a couple of pics of the card, I don’t see the cmos, it it possibly under the fan?

View attachment 332765 View attachment 332766

Not the video card.

Remove the video card. Place it on one side.

Locate the CMOS reset (looks to be bottom right-ish.) and reset it according to the instructions I posted before (they're taken from the HP site for your board).

Now plug everything back in (leaving the video card to one side) and try both DVI ports (it's possible one may not work).