Dell XPS 720 does not boot 1

[lvk5950]

Hi all

I have XPS 720 desktop machine for almost 2 years now. Recently I found the problem with the graphics card(Geforce 8800 GTX dual card with SLI). some coloured lines on screen all the time and wrong characters on the screen.

So I read somewhere about resetting the graphics card and tried to find how to physically reset the card. but couldn't find anything on the card. Then I reinserted the cards, but There is no display at all this time. I thought I should get the new cards and bought two Geforce GTX 460.

But still there is no display at all on the screen. I tried removing all the peripherals, clearing the CMOS but No joy.

Please help me if you can.

Thanks

 

[goombawaho]

Do you have a cheap PCI graphics card that you could try? Unfortunately you jumped to the conclusion that it was a video problem (which it certainly might be), but I wouldn't have bought any new video cards until I had 100% proof of that.

Have you tried a different monitor?

Can you see any of the POST messages?

Can you try to boot with a boot CD (linux or otherwise) to see if you can get any video on the screen.

 

[lvk5950]

Yes I certainly tried a different monitor, Linux ubuntu. There are no POST messages or signals. In fact I suspect the POST itself does not finish. Because keyboard light flashes at the start up but keyboard doesn't work after that. and no display at all.

 

[goombawaho]

Pull all the memory out. If the machine doesn't do a beep code - it's the motherboard, as long as you trust the power supply.

Last effort: You COULD pull the motherboard out of the case and leave only memory, processor/fan, video card and power supply connected and try it that way.

Then try a different power supply out of the case. If no joy with all that testing, then motherboard is dead.

 

[lvk5950]

You are right. the motherboard is dead. I have already tried these steps.
Thank you.

 

[goombawaho]

I keep a PCI video card (relic that it is) and a laptop in my bag of tricks that I can use to test for video issues. I guess pretty soon, I'll need a PCI-E video card. But, yeah, sounds like it's dead.

Odd because normally the "colored lines on the screen" symptom is related to a video card croaking.

 

[lvk5950]

This might be the result of faulty graphics cards. Because both cards goes to very high temperature, one couldn't imagine. I couldn't touch the cards for 10 min after shutting down the machine. Is that a normal?

 

[BadBigBen]

the 8800's will get hot, but not so hot that you cannot touch them 1 min or 2 after powerdown, except perhaps right after playing a graphic intense game, in that case it should only take 5 min...

Ben
"If it works don't fix it! If it doesn't use a sledgehammer..."
How to ask a question, when posting them to a professional forum.
Only ask questions with yes/no answers if you want "yes" or "no"

 

[goombawaho]

If my graphics card was getting that hot, I would certainly want a model that had a built-in fan. That seems way too hot though for normal conditions.

 

[BadBigBen]

Goom,

afaik all 8800 have fans... mine certainly does, and yet I replaced it with a more effective one...

Ben
"If it works don't fix it! If it doesn't use a sledgehammer..."
How to ask a question, when posting them to a professional forum.
Only ask questions with yes/no answers if you want "yes" or "no"