Re: GTX660 in Acer Predator AG3620-UR308 "no signal" ?

Vengaence
Vengaence Member Posts: 8 New User
in 2014 Archives

   I have worked with an acer predator AG3620 as well with the GT630 video card, and tried installing 3 different video cards, an 8800gt, a 6570, and a gtx650ti and none of them worked (black screen, no video signal, computer appears to boot to windows as recognized by hard drive activity but no video signal).  All of these video cards work in another machine and worked in other machines after this test.

 

   Clearly acer has done something specific with their motherboard to lock out changing the video card, and it defaults back to the integrated video.  

 

   This is not a video card manufacturer issue, this is an acer issue.   I'd like acer to provide a suitable response here and not ignore the issue at hand.  A large set of video hardware has been tested in your system that is proven to work in other systems, meets the PCI-e spec of your system and the power supply requirements, but does not work.

 

   

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Answers

  • dhart2123
    dhart2123 Member Posts: 2 New User

    Im having the same problems....Can anyone help plz?

  • Tommy-Acer
    Tommy-Acer VIP Posts: 6,317 Seasoned Specialist WiFi Icon

    Predator G3620 supports:

    1 * PCIE x16 (PCIE V3.0)

    3 * PCIE x1 (PCIE V2.0)

     

    The PSU is a 500W power supply.

     

    You are stating that you have attempted to install the following cards in the system:

    GTX650Ti - requires 400 watt or greater power supply

    GT630 - Minimum of a 350 Watt power supply

    8800GT - Required Power Supply: 400 Watt/450 Watt

    6570 - 400 Watt Power Supply is required

    -- EVGA cards (nVidia) / Sapphire Radeon HD 6570 for reference

     

    Do the cards you installed require extra power connectors?

     

    Please understand that we do not offer support for third party hardware or software.

  • Vengaence
    Vengaence Member Posts: 8 New User

       the 6570 does not have PCI-e 6 or 8 pin power connectors.  The 650ti has one, as does the 8800gt.  Yes they were plugged in as appropriate.  The 500W power supply included with the G3620 predator has 1 PCI-e connector available. 

     

        I realize that acer does not provide support for different video cards, but acer does advertise that the system is compatible with other video cards, and the predator system is sold in with similar configurations up to the gtx660 video card using the same motherboard as far as I know.  With a known good card that works in other systems I have, which is compatible spec wise with the acer computer in question, there's no valid reason this shouldn't work.

     

       The issue I suspect is with windows 8 and UEFI.  Secure boot is most likely enabled and is locking down the hardware, and refuses to recognize the "foreign" video card.  Since secure boot is very new, it doesn't surprise me that this isnt the first answer that comes out of the mill.  

     

       If I can get back into bios with the GT630, I'm going to try disabling secure boot and run legacy mode and see if that helps.

     

        

  • davidadino
    davidadino Member Posts: 2 New User

    Hi,

     

    Recently i got a G3620 at Sep 2012, it comes with GT630.

    I thought of changing a graphic card as GT630 does not meets the standard of gaming PC.

     

    Was looking for a upgrade precaution and i found this, i wonder if there is any suitable graphic card that is compatible to the G3620? As most search i found is regarding the Watt issue. I will want to hear acer reply to "Vengence" too

     

     

  • StevieEdge
    StevieEdge Member Posts: 1 New User

    I'm having the same issue after trying to install the gtx 660. I'm getting a black screen and no signal.

     

    Please tell me if you find a solution. I don't want to have to return my computer and graphics card. :l

  • Vengaence
    Vengaence Member Posts: 8 New User

       I've decided to give up on this issue and moved everything to a new motherboard.  The new motherboard posted instantly with the GTX-650ti as you'd expect.  What I didn't expect, the machine managed to boot off of the old acer windows 8 UEFI GPT partition from the 2TB hard drive without modification.  It switched to debug/generic drivers for hardware automatically on first boot.  I was able to manually update the drivers for the new motherboard and all is well.  I think your success rate will vary depending on how close the motherboard is to the stock B75 chipset (this board is actually based on the Z77 ethusiast chipset MSI  Z77MA-G45).   

     

       This clearly isnt the best option for everyone, but hassling with a pre-built motherboard from acer that's locked down with no technical support isn't my idea of fun, or productivity.

     

       The machine is back up and gaming with higher frame rates and having fun again.

     

       Good luck guys.

  • davidadino
    davidadino Member Posts: 2 New User

    ... then arnt alot cheated by the so called "Gaming PC" of Acer.

    Hate to admit, a wrong choice was made, i should have get the Asus the last round.

  • Vengaence
    Vengaence Member Posts: 8 New User

       Building your own PC is actually quite fun and not terribly difficult.  If you can make a friend or two online or locally that is a technical and can help you if you get in a pinch, you are all set.  Pre-built machines from all brands cut some corners (usually on power supply and motherboard) as well as other areas to stay competitive.  If you build your own, you can make the absolute most of your budget and put your money where it belongs.  Gamers should always put most of their money on their video card.  This particular machine, with a 3770 i7 but a moderate/weak video card is better suited for office use than gaming.  

  • Ranier
    Ranier Member Posts: 5 New User

    Hi there, It seems like the only solution is disabling the Secure Boot that comes with Windows 8, which doesn't allows to upgrade a graphic card that the system doesn't recognize.

     

    Here are the instruccions

    http://nvidia.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/3156/~/when-installing-an-after-market-graphics-card-into-a-certified-windows-8-pc

     

    Here's a review from someone who purchased the AG3620-UR318 "Overall it is an outstanding computer. However, when attempting to upgrade from the GT 630 video card to an hd 7950. It wouldn't display video thru the 7950 because there were no signed drivers on the computer yet. Once I disabled Secure boot in the bios, everything worked fine."

     

    So it should work on this one as well. I'm really interested in buying this computer, but if it doesn't allow a GPU upgrade then I don't think I'll buy it. Please, tell me if you try it and if it worked, thank you!

  • Ranier
    Ranier Member Posts: 5 New User

    Hi, wanted to know if you tried disabling secure boot, and what were your results. I'm really interested in buying this PC mostly for HD video editing on APremiere and AfterEffects, so I don't know if the G630 is good enough for that. Assuming that It isn't, I'd really like to have the option to upgrade whenever I want. Thank you!

  • Vengaence
    Vengaence Member Posts: 8 New User

       In my case, after swapping in and out video cards a few times, the machine would only make it to the acer BIOS splash screen with even the stock video card.  

     

      I could get into bios, but the screen turned solid green and you couldn't see anything and had to operate the BIOS blind.  I knew the machine was not locked up as I could hit F10 enter to save bios and exit and it would reboot.  I could also let the system boot into windows and watch the hard drive light booting windows and hear the chime through the speakers once in windows, but there was no video at that point either with the stock video card.

     

      In my case, booting once without a video card somehow corrupted or changed the UEFI configuration and it was then acting as if it was locked to the integrated video and would not recognize the GT630 stock card either.

     

      I reset the BIOS through the motherboard jumper, and by removing the battery, and neither helped.  I also attempted to turn off UEFI blind in bios by using the comput'er's service manual and looking at the BIOS screens in the manual and operating the BIOS blind (without video).  This did  not work either.

     

      Honestly, I'd advise avoiding this machine if you plan to upgrade video.  I am 100% certain I damaged nothing in this machine, and in a previous post I mentioned changing the motherboard and having no issues (and even having luck getting the old windows 8 install to work on the new board without a reformat or repair install).   The issues are definitely tied to this OEM acer motherboard.

     

  • cheshirefox
    cheshirefox Member Posts: 3 New User

    strange that this thread is an Re:

    to a thread i had started 2 weeks ago

    anyway, i shall repost here....

     

    the solution seems to be

    http://acer--uk.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/27071/~/how-to-enable-or-disable-secure-boot

     

    disable secure boot And enable launch csm

     

    note: i had upgraded bios {though this may not be necessary}

    the update is available on an acer page, then i followed the instructions on the page above

    after doing this, i removed the original gpu, inserted the 'third-party' gpu

    the computer, with its new gpu, is now fully functional

     

    i hope this solution works for everyone

  • Das_Dan
    Das_Dan Member Posts: 4 New User

    You need first to enter the bios when the graphics card that comes with the computer is still installed.

    Just press the del key on startup.

    Then makes the 2 following change in the bios:

     

    1- Change Authentification to: disable secure boot.

           This enables the bios to manage equipment not installed originally.

     

    2- Change Launch CSM to: always.

     

    Then save your new settings.

    The computer will reboot.

    Shut it down to install your new graphic card or SSD, HDD...

    Reboot and everything should be fine.

     

    I have changed the graphic card to GTX 660 TI 2 GIG, the power supply to 500 W and also installed a SSD drive.

    This makes it a much more powerful machine, like in gaming. 

     

    This works except that the computer now does not recognize any additional disk drive, including the 2 Terabytes HDD drive installed.

     

    I have tried 2-3 HD, connecting them directly inside the computer but to no avail.

    The computer takes a very long time to boot, if I press F12 to choose the loading drive, I can see the additionnal drive, then I load my SSD drive where my WIN system is, again a very long time before it finally boots.

    Around 5 minutes.

     

    If I then go into explorer to view the disks, the new drive does not appear.

     

    I did not find any documentation on the meanings of the settings in the bios.

     

    Any solution would be appreciated. 

  • breadwilliams
    breadwilliams Member Posts: 1 New User

    For those looking to upgrade cards, was space an issue? According to some, some of the more high end cards that would work with the PSU may be too big. Does anyone have the information regarding space for a new card once the older is replaced? Most of the cards I'm looking at now are between 8-10.3 inches tall. 

     

    For example, both the AMD 7850 and 7870 are 10.2 inches tall, double slot, and 4.5 inches wide.

    The Nvidia 660GTX is 10.2 inches tall, double slot, and 5.2 inches wide.

     

    Should I expect any problem fitting these? 

  • Das_Dan
    Das_Dan Member Posts: 4 New User

    I did install GTX660 TI and its operational.

    Can overclock with great performance on FC3.

    The card fits tight, cables are to be carefully push aside.

    Recommends purchase and installation.

     

  • bearbear607
    bearbear607 Member Posts: 1 New User

    hit Delete when the acer screen pops up, and then disable secure bot and then and then Launch CSM its all in this video on youtube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5nG4zMdrHKs I plan on upgrading to a GTX 660 myself for I am a hardcore PC gamer

  • Das_Dan
    Das_Dan Member Posts: 4 New User

    I got the same problem that is how to change bios to recognize legacy mode and disable secure mode in order to bring in my GTX 650 TI. After many tries (when the GTX card was installed), I removed it and put back the original video card supplied with the computer. Then I could have video mode on my screen and access the BIOS on start-up.

    I made the changes stated above in the BIOS.

    I reinstalled my GTX card and the computer reccognized it on start-up and is working great graphics through it.

    I also improved the supply to 600 Watts, but its not necessary as the video card will draw no more current then available, in other words if supply is too low, the video card will still work but with diminished performance. 

     

    My problem remains unsolved as the computer wont recognized additional disk drives input.

    The computer will take 10 minutes + to boot, the available drives to load from on start-up will show that the drive is there, but no programs under WIN 8 can find it.

    I tried different power suppplies and disk drives, to no avail.

     

    Honestly, I played a lot with cables, changing video cards, instaslling the new power supply and its cables.

    It occupies far too much space to my confort, and I do not mind about voiding the Acer warranty.

    Its my computer and I want to boost its performance to max according to my means.

    I did not find proper documentation on these subjects.

     

    Also its impossible to overclock this machine.

    It still remains a good installation and overclocking the GPU makes this computer a very performant system for gaming.  

     

  • Das_Dan
    Das_Dan Member Posts: 4 New User

    To finish the story, I use the computer with the GTX 660 Ti, which is easy to overclock, and the only drive is a SSD of 240 GB.

    Win 8 as system.

    This is very fast for all programs, specially gaming.

    Accepts well new equipments like gamepads, advanced mouse.

    Wont change anything else, not worth or not possible.

    Should be good for a couple of years hopefully. 

  • marcheenek
    marcheenek Member Posts: 5 New User

    I'm having the same problem right now with GTX760 or even bigger problem, since I have Win7 (its UR20P) on my machine and there is NO option for Secure Boot in BIOS nor UEFI available. I upgraded to 650W / proper amperage on 12V PS, but it didn't help. I replaced the card with Amazon to eliminate the possibility that the card itself is broken.

     

    Reading the above I suspect that the card was fine - I could see both of its fans turning, but the computer was stuck at the Acer/bios screen and woulnd't boot. I just updated BIOS and I'm waiting for the card replacement...

     

    Is there a way to get to Secure Boot option from Win7? 

     

  • Steven1
    Steven1 Member Posts: 2 New User

    Has anyone been able to find a real solution to this issue? I have upgraded bios, disabled secure boot, changed launch CSM to always and cannot get the Acer Predator G3620-UR308 to properly install a NVIDIA GTX 460 card. Original NVIDIA GT 630 started giving me issues with pixels flashing all over screen and then a "your computer needs to reboot message"-so thought I would try the 460 card? Would appreciate any help or advice!

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