Graphics Card Issues: Alienware Aurora R4

Hello

Make sure you are connecting the video card to the bottom slot and as well you can try to reset the hard drive.

After that, restart the computer and start tapping the key F12 and if you are able to get into a menu select the option that says PSA or Diagnostic and run hardware the test.

Let us know how it goes.

Hi,

Having tried your advice, I can say that the issue is still there. I checked the graphics card and ensured it was in correctly. When I turn my system on, the logo appears before a 'beep' sound is made, indicating that it's turned on, and the LED lights switch on. I am still having the same issues, and the F12 seems to do nothing.

Thanks.

Thank you for the reply.

I have now tried taking out and re-inserting the RAM sticks to the system. When I press F12 now, it turns white on the screen before, once again, the screen turns black and a flashing underscore appears on the top left.

I will now try to connect the video card as best as possible and update you.

Thanks.

If it was my pc with this problem, I'd remove the onboard coin cell battery for 1-5 minutes, in the hopes it clears the bios settings. While it was out I would check the batt w/a volt meter for 2.5-3v (under 2.5v I would replace it w/a new one). I would reinsert the batt (of good charge), I would put the old card back in for the time being (to make sure my system still works), then turn on pc & hope to be able to get into my bios. If I was lucky enough to get into my bios, knowing all its settings reverted to default, I would make sure my SATA controller was set to ahci mode & then make sure my hdd was listed as the boot device. Save, exit, & see if Windows loads. If it loaded, I would shut down, then retry new card.

I don't own an Aurora, but when things get dicey with my pc's over the years, I've learned to umplug pc & hold the power button down for 10 seconds to a minute, to remove any residual charge from the power supply. You could optionally try that before or after you remove coin cell batt. I'd also move the cmos jumper onto a different pole. If you've taken your cmos batt out for 1-5 minutes, & it doesn't help?, I'll try n brain storm more here, & hopefully some other member can chime in. Let's see if the cmos batt trick won't help get you into your bios and back into Windows 1st ...

When DELL-Milena M said to reset your hdd (did she mean reseat the cables?) .... uh ... you can also unplug your hdd sata cable & power cable entirely, try to boot up with your hdd unattached, try to get into your bios that way; you don't need a hdd hooked up to get into your bios, see if having it connected in the 1st place is why tapping your keyboard can't get you into your bios right now. If you can reach bios with hdd disconnected, then power down, reseat it, power up see what happens, see if black screen w/cursor resumes ... if it does ... there night be a problem w/your hdd you need to figure out ... let us know how it goes.  

The specs I'm getting on the GTX 770 say it needs a 600watt psu minimum, so you're good there, but it also requires 42amps on the 12v rail. Hmmmmm. Alienware usually uses psu's w/multiple 12v rails, on the 875watt units I'm seeing specs rated at 18amps per rail. You could back your psu out & check its specs of course; I see people have gotten away with installing a 770 in their Aurora , but, I also know that pc hardware can fail & will fail in situations it isn't "supposed to".

You're there & I'm here, so my trouble-shooting here would include testing my power supply to make sure it's still ok, using my power supply tester. Why? I wouldn't want false trouble-shooting to lead me down the path where I thought the mthrbrd needs replaced, when if after a new mthrbrd got here it too failed to come to life because the psu wasn't tested out 1st.

I'd think that if you're still stuck by Friday & no closer to a solution, I'd track down a $5 psu tester to rule out the 770 install didn't adversely affect it. As I say, testing the psu out stays on my top 5 trouble-shooting list here ... especially since the 770 is a 12v rail amp hog.

In a "who knows if it's what you need" type world, here's an old thread regarding the use of a neat little device to boost power in your pci-e slot w/the evga power boost:

http://en.community.dell.com/owners-club/alienware/f/3746/p/19346132/19823360.aspx#19823360

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N9SLjiR7Q4s

You can put these tips in the forefront of your trouble-shooting, or think of them as plan-z if you're still stumped as time passes & no closer to an answer.

Hi there. I have what I believe is a very simple question, just want to make sure before I invest the money.

Can I use any Nvidia GTX 780 card on my Alienware Aurora R4? I see there are different brands (Asus, EVGA, Gainward, Gigabyte) and I'm wondering if all of these would work ok. Are there any noticeable differences between these brands and, if so, which would you recommend?

My current specs are exactly the same as the original poster:

Intel Core i7-3820 (Four Core, 10MB Cache) 3.60GHz
Alienware Aurora : Matte Black 875W Chassis
Memory : 8192MB (4x2GB) 1600MHz DDR3 Quad Channel
Hard Drive : 1TB SATA 6Gb/s (7200RPM) 32MB Cache 
Graphics : 1GB GDDR5 NVIDIA GeForce GTX 555

Thank you!

Thanks a lot for the info Tesla1856!