GPU causing PC to not start.

[Sauromayne]

I was using my PC and mid gaming session my PC just shuts off, no blue screen or anything. Tried to turn it back on and it would not turn on.

I originally thought it was my PSU so I put a spare PSU on and connected only the CPU and MOBO and it worked, but when I tried turning the PC on with the GPU connected it wouldnt turn on again.

Then I plugged DVI into the mobo and was getting through POST but none of my SATA's were being detected. I cleared CMOS by pulling the battery and same thing, no SATA was detected I looked at the Board Explorer option in my BIOS and all the 6 slots were labled "Empty" even though 5 slots were active. I then decided to try my original PSU with just CPU and MOBO connected and it worked, and suddenly the SATA are working.

Now, whenever I try connecting GPU to my PSU the PC wont start. My other PCI stuff is working (Sound card, wifi, etc).

I swapped my GTX 970 with my sisters 570 and hers worked in my PC. I tried my 970 in her PC and the same thing happened, PC wouldn't start.

Basically im just worried that something else is wrong with my PC and that's what's causing my SATA controller to suddenly crash like that and maybe killed the GPU. Any input is appreciated.

 

[Digerati]

Basically im just worried that something else is wrong with my PC and that's what's causing my SATA controller to suddenly crash like that and maybe killed the GPU. Any input is appreciated.

It looks like you did all you can do to narrow the problem down to your GTX 970. Both computers fail with the GTX 970 installed. Your computer works fine with her graphics card using your PSU. So the odds are good nothing else is wrong, and your GTX 970 is toast.

At this point I would not keep experimenting. If the GTX 970 has developed a short, it could cause excessive current through the PCIe slot and motherboard or the PSU or both causing further damage which would not be good - especially if you fried your sister's system too.

Any chance the GTX 970 is still under warranty?

 

[Sauromayne]

Basically im just worried that something else is wrong with my PC and that's what's causing my SATA controller to suddenly crash like that and maybe killed the GPU. Any input is appreciated.

It looks like you did all you can do to narrow the problem down to your GTX 970. Both computers fail with the GTX 970 installed. Your computer works fine with her graphics card using your PSU. So the odds are good nothing else is wrong, and your GTX 970 is toast.

At this point I would not keep experimenting. If the GTX 970 has developed a short, it could cause excessive current through the PCIe slot and motherboard or the PSU or both causing further damage which would not be good - especially if you fried your sister's system too.

Any chance the GTX 970 is still under warranty?

Unfortunately I called EVGA and the card is out of warranty :/ Its okay though, I have my eyes on a GTX 1060 6GB by ASUS. Wasn't expecting to throw the money down right now but thats life.

I just find it so weird that the SATA controller crashed like that. It was a good 30 minutes of me trying to get my computer to boot to windows without the GPU connected but my MOBO wasn't picking any of my HDD/SSD up in the SATA ports. Do you think when the GPU died, it caused a short through my MOBO causing the SATA controller to crash and taking some time to recover? I know its just speculation at this point but I'm baffled by it.

 

[Digerati]

Do you think when the GPU died, it caused a short through my MOBO causing the SATA controller to crash and taking some time to recover? I know its just speculation at this point but I'm baffled by it.

My "guess" is the graphics card failure caused the power supply or motherboard voltage regulators to choke, destabilizing the board and/or SATA controllers.

 

[Sauromayne]

Do you think when the GPU died, it caused a short through my MOBO causing the SATA controller to crash and taking some time to recover? I know its just speculation at this point but I'm baffled by it.

My "guess" is the graphics card failure caused the power supply or motherboard voltage regulators to choke, destabilizing the board and/or SATA controllers.

That seems like a pretty good guess lol. I really appreciate all your help, thank you!