Hello Acer Community,
Amateur computer tinkerer, here, and I am having a real problem with my desktop after trying to install a new video card.
First, here are my computers specs:
-Operating System: Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit (6.1, Build 7601) Service Pack 1 (7601.win7sp1_gdr.130828-1532)
-Language: English (Regional Setting: English)
-System Manufacturer: Acer
-System Model: Aspire M3985
-BIOS: BIOS Date: 03/12/12 09:47:18 Ver: 04.06.05
-Processor: Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-3770K CPU @ 3.50GHz (8 CPUs), ~3.5GHz
-Memory: 10240MB RAM
-Available OS Memory: 10188MB RAM
-Page File: 2345MB used, 18029MB available
-Windows Dir: C:\Windows
-DirectX Version: DirectX 11
-DX Setup Parameters: Not found
-User DPI Setting: Using System DPI
-System DPI Setting: 96 DPI (100 percent)
-DWM DPI Scaling: Disabled
-DxDiag Version: 6.01.7601.17514 32bit Unicode
-Card name: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 550 Ti
I am trying to install this video card:
-ASUS GeForce GTX 750 Ti Directx 11 GTX750TI-OC-2GD5 2GB 128-Bit GDDR5 PCI Express 3.0 HDCP Ready Video Card
The problem:
So, when I put that video card in, I get the usual one quick-beep (like it's booting correctly) and then it stays on the ACER boot screen (where it asks me to boot to BIOS or my Boot Options) for a very long time, three minutes or so. It will beep again every 30 seconds, which for the life of me I cannot find in any handbook what that means. Then after the three minutes, I am deposited onto a a black screen with a blinking cursor or underscore in the upper left. If I restart it and try to boot to BIOS, it does the same thing (even after saying "initializing BIOS. Please wait...").
If I take the new video card out and put the old one in, it boots up just fine as if it never even left.
Here's what I have done:
-Checked all of my memory sticks. They're all good.
-Reset my CMOs (a few times now in this process).
-Replaced the CMOs battery on my motherboard.
-Upgraded my power supply from 300w to 450w (Corsair, too).
-Updated every feasible driver I could.
-Downgraded from a 1050ti graphics card to a 750ti (the 1050ti was giving me the exact same issue).
-Bought a McRib (honestly not all it's hyped up to be).
-Tried several different connection options from my power supply to the PCIe slots in the graphics card (just in case I hooked it up wrong, no change).
-Double, triple, quadruple checked all of my connections.
-Searched my motherboard for any spark marks or "bulging". Spotless.
Here's what I know:
-The blinking cursor is most likely* a HD issue.
-Since the brand new 1050ti I bought was giving me the exact same problem, I can reasonably assume** that the card I am trying is probably not a dud.
-My desktop situation is kind of a dinosaur at this point, but I've never had any sort of "obsolete" issues with it until now.
*But, I mean, what do I know? I've seen so many forum posts now that I could be pixie dust at this point and I'd believe you.
**It is used and in really good condition, I don't have another desktop to try it on, though.
So, Acer Community, what should my next step be? I am out a couple hundred bucks if this goes down the drain and my pride is a little wounded. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
-Slamboozle
