GA-EX58UD5 - Black Screen

[thud]

Last night after supper when I went to wake up my computer with my mouse all I got on the monitor was a black screen. No response from the key board at all (ctrl/alt/delete). I unplugged the computer and after about 10 minutes restarted it. I got the normal codes on the motherboard (as fast as I could write and look) - C1/25/36/49/50 (held for a little bit)/75/89/96/FF. After a long period of time (5 minutes?) I heard the Windows music and load. Monitor still black. Doesn't sound like the video card fan is running.

This morning I talked to the Custom-builder tech support. He went thru the list of things that could cause video problems, but after hearing my complete discription (as above) agreed that it was probably the card. He offered an RMA for either the card or the whole system. I opted for the card (don't really like the $65+ shipping each way for the whole system).

I'm now having second thoughts. If it isn't the card, I can visualize a month or more without my primary computer if I have to subsequently send in the whole system. Also, while I'm not "afraid" to remove/replace a video card, knowing me to be the "ham-fist" that I am, I don't relish the thought of handling sensitive electronic parts either.

Does it sound to you experts like a video card? In light of the lack of visual queing, is there anything else I can do before sending in the card? (I have tried a different monitor - same result - and I don't have another PCI-E computer/video card.)

My System is:
Intel i7-920
WD Veloci-Raptor 300GB HD
WD SATA-II 1.5TB HD
Corsair 2GB/1600Mhz RAM (3each)
EVGA Nvidia GTX 280 1GB PCI-E
Thermaltake - ToughPower 850 Watt PSU
GIGABYTE GA-EX58UD5
VISTA Home Premium 64 BIT
BIOS - new a couple months ago - don't remember the #

Thanks - Ron

[wayout44]

Re: GA-EX58UD5 - Black Screen

1st, check to make sure that 1 of the videocard's power connections hasn't come loose.

2nd, try another video cable.

I take it that you've already checked that the monitor works on another system but if those suggestions don't help then it'll be the videocard.

[wazza300]

Re: GA-EX58UD5 - Black Screen

its quite easy to install a video card,it will click into the top blue pci-e slot on motherboard,did you try clearing cmos at the rear? the blue illuminated switch??it seems to me to be a bios issue,newer bios's have fixed the s3 sleep resume problem

[thud]

Re: GA-EX58UD5 - Black Screen

Thanks Guys,

wayout - Yes I checked the power chord and connectors - no change. And yes, I did check another monitor on my computer (no video) and my monitor on another computer (good video).

Wazza - I had an s3 problem a couple of months ago. The BIOS that came with the computer was f7 something. I flashed in something in the f9 series and everything was good. After your suggestion I did clear the CMOS. No change.

Could there be a BIOS reason why the video card doesn't start? I can hear Windows start and right now it's going through a virus scan (I assume by the sound). The only thing that bothers me about my determination of video card failure (no fan sound at all) is the long length of time between the boot (FF on the mob) and the point where Windows loads. Perhaps explained by the fact I have to "turn off" the computer by pulling the electrical plug?