How to install video card correctly, and setup BIOS, on eMachines W3653?

MrFlibble
MrFlibble Member Posts: 10

Tinkerer
in Legacy Desktops
I've put in a new video card. Made sure it was low enough wattage for the power supply, but it still won't boot right. It is a PCIe card, an Nvidia GT 1030. I think I just don't know how to install it correctly.

If I just put the card in, and try to start the computer normally after that, there's a little drive noise, but the fans don't turn very fast, there's no beep, and nothing on screen.

If I use the CMOS reset jumper, it will start after that, but with issues. The CPU fan runs on high constantly, and doesn't idle. The BIOS settings can't be changed, or it returns to the no boot condition. Computer cannot restart, or it similarly won't boot. Either the jumper to reset the BIOS, or running it with no CMOS battery and unplugging it each time, is required to get it to boot.

When it does start up after reset, it acts odd, even then. It comes on for a second, the power led goes off for about two, then things light up again, and it brings up the screen where it says the CPU was changed, and suggests hitting F1 to continue, or F2 to enter setup. Can't pick anything other than F1 to continue. If BIOS setup is entered with F2, even if exited without saving any changes, the system winds up back in the no boot situation.

It can load up Linux Mint after skipping setup, and most things basically work. The main exception is audio. The audio feature of the video card may be blocking onboard audio. The monitor is connected to the video card with a DVI-D to VGA adapter with no audio output, so that's not great.

Are there specific BIOS settings required, before installing the card or after resetting CMOS, to avoid the no boot condition? If not that, then what?

Best Answers

  • billsey
    billsey ACE Posts: 34,565 Trailblazer
    Answer ✓
    Most of the newer cards, like the 1030, require an UEFI boot environment in order for the card to get initialized correctly. IIRC your eMachines came originally with Vista, so well before they started doing UEFI (UEFI was introduced around the time of Windows 7 sp1 and required from Windows 8 on). You'll have to find a much older card for it to work.
    Click on "Like" if you find my answer useful or click on "Yes" if it answers your question.
  • billsey
    billsey ACE Posts: 34,565 Trailblazer
    Answer ✓
    Yes, the latter sound like they will work. You need to move the switch from the default UEFI position to the Legacy position. And, of course, any cards that are older than these should work as well. Remember the cards listed are all from 2012...
    Click on "Like" if you find my answer useful or click on "Yes" if it answers your question.

Answers

  • billsey
    billsey ACE Posts: 34,565 Trailblazer
    Answer ✓
    Most of the newer cards, like the 1030, require an UEFI boot environment in order for the card to get initialized correctly. IIRC your eMachines came originally with Vista, so well before they started doing UEFI (UEFI was introduced around the time of Windows 7 sp1 and required from Windows 8 on). You'll have to find a much older card for it to work.
    Click on "Like" if you find my answer useful or click on "Yes" if it answers your question.
  • MrFlibble
    MrFlibble Member Posts: 10

    Tinkerer
    That is a surprising disappointment. Thank you for the reply.

    How can it be determined if a specific card will work with the computer?
  • MrFlibble
    MrFlibble Member Posts: 10

    Tinkerer
    A card was suggested to me elsewhere. It has a physical switch on it that allows changing between legacy or UEFI. The one on this ebay page was suggested. If I get one like this one, can I be fairly sure it will work with my system?

    A page at MSI's site about the "Hybrid BIOS" cards with switches on them. Would all of the cards on this page work, or just some, or none? If any of these would work, do you have any suggestion of which may be the best to get?
  • billsey
    billsey ACE Posts: 34,565 Trailblazer
    Answer ✓
    Yes, the latter sound like they will work. You need to move the switch from the default UEFI position to the Legacy position. And, of course, any cards that are older than these should work as well. Remember the cards listed are all from 2012...
    Click on "Like" if you find my answer useful or click on "Yes" if it answers your question.
  • MrFlibble
    MrFlibble Member Posts: 10

    Tinkerer
    True, they're pretty old, but I couldn't be sure. The system is even older than those, after all. Thanks for your comments!
  • MrFlibble
    MrFlibble Member Posts: 10

    Tinkerer
    To update on the situation, got a video card just like the one previously mentioned, an MSI GTX 750 Ti. It's in, and is working okay. The switch position doesn't seem to matter much. Videos play back better, without tearing or excessive frame skipping, which addressed my main issue with the onboard graphics. So, it's pretty good. :)

    A minor gripe, which may be due to the relatively spotty support on Linux, can't use both the HDMI and DVI ports simultaneously, but can run a second monitor using a combination of one of those in conjunction with the VGA port.

    Overall the outcome is a positive one.

  • billsey
    billsey ACE Posts: 34,565 Trailblazer
    Good to know, thanks for the report!
    Click on "Like" if you find my answer useful or click on "Yes" if it answers your question.

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