[bmapc]

I just bought a XFX GeForce 6200 for my computer (I'm not a gamer but wanted a basic upgrade from the onboard video). Problem is when I seat the card in the AGP slot and connect, the screen is blank when I restart the computer. Then I disconnect everything and start up using onboard again and get an error message that "Overclocking failed!". From there I can just continue without changing anything and Windows loads as normal.

Here's my set up:
Pentium D 2.66GHz
Biostar P4M800 MB
2 GB RAM
335 W PSU
Windows XP

I know the PSU and fans that I have are low end, so I'm wondering if that might be the problem. Any help is appreciated!!!

[Compiler]

The 6200 is a very low-powered card. 300watts shouldn't be an issue - even on the low end.

When you installed it, did you have the computer plugged in. Even if WindowsXP is shut-down, there is a bit of power in the system... that allows you to SOFT power up the system with the on button.

[Jordster]

Where did you buy the card? Maybe it's damaged or not working? I bought a Radeon 9500 off ebay (big mistake! - why it was so cheap!) and it didn't work on my system. I ended up concluding that it was damaged.

[bmapc]

The computer was completely unplugged when I installed it. I bought it new from newegg.com. The card install instructions recommend disabling the onboard video through BIOS or changing the graphics adapter priority from the setting for "Init Display First" from PCI to AGP (which I did). Would disabling the onboard video through Hardware Manager make difference? Is there a way to determine if the AGP slot is malfunctioning? Thanks!

[Jordster]

Disabling the onboard video wouldn't make a difference, as you can normally install a normal graphics card when your onboard video is enabled.

There is one way you can see if it's malfunctioning, but I don't know if it will work.

Go Start > Control Panel > System > Hardware Tab > Device Manager

Find System Devices I think (I have vista, trying to remember it off-by-heart)

There should be a device about AGP, if it's not there, try the all the drop-down boxes.

When you find it, you should be able to click properties on it. Then it should say if its working properly or not.

[crjdriver]

The very first thing you need to do is read your manual and find out how to disable the onboard video. With some mb you disable the onboard in the bios, others [older] use a jumper, still others disable when you insert a video card.

[bmapc]

The manual does not specifically outline the process for disabling the onboard video, but there are no jumpers that would control this function, so I'm guessing that it is only done through BIOS. I also checked the system devices in my Device Manager, which says that the "CPU to AGP Controller" is working properly.

[bmapc]

Is it possible that the graphics card that I am trying to use is not compatable with my motherboard?

[crjdriver]

I downloaded your manual and I have to say that is about one of the worst motherboard manuals I have ever seen. There is not even a section on bios settings????

Have you gone through your bios menu to see if there is anything that enables/disables onboard video? If not, then it would be disabled when you insert the card.

[knucklehead]

Biostar P4M800 bios settings manual direct download:

ftp://ftp.biostar-usa.com/manuals/P4...M80-M7bios.pdf

[bmapc]

So I was getting ready to ship the card back and I thought I'd try one more thing that I read about. I reset the default settings in BIOS, and restarted the computer with the card plugged in. The system worked and loaded windows, but as it was installing the drivers the screen went blank and would not start again, so I'm back to the onboard video... The one difference I see this time was that the system had been off all night and was cold to start. Any ideas on what I can try now? What about underclocking the video card - I know about underclocking but never needed to try it?