Graphics card madness!

[Nick]

Greetings!

As you might've guessed by now, I'm having some issues with my computer! Specifically, issues related to installing a new graphics card.

So, to start off, I recently bought a new GPU; an ASUS (Nvidia) GeForce GTX 560 Ti 1GB. Paid the man, got home, opened the computer and plonked the GPU in there. Gave it its two 6-pin PCI-E connectors and, within moments, started up the computer...

Blackness...
Okay, then. Restart the computer! Okay, it's starting up fine! I got it to start loading up windows and, soon after the keyboard starts up (the num lock LED lit up), the windows logo stops moving and the computer sits there and does nothing...

Very well, maybe the old drivers are kicking windows around a little... So I install my old card again, start up the computer and uninstall everything Nvidia related. Shut down the computer, install the 560 Ti, manage to start it back up after multiple black screens of nothingness, and even get into windows!

So, I'm in windows now. I download and start installing the latest drivers for the GPU. A couple seconds in the installation, I get more artifacts on my monitor than I ever want to see again and decide the GPU must be broken so I take it to the shop. Guy behind the counter says he'll take a look and I'll hear from him tomorrow (yesterday).

A day passes... I'm called up by the shop only to hear the GPU works exactly as intended (which I'm assuming means he had no issues since ASUS aren't pricks like that) and I can go pick it up. Sooo... Today I pick up the GPU and try to install it again...

I start in safe mode without issues. Kick off the old drivers and plug in the 560 Ti. Start it up in safe mode, still no issues, and install the latest drivers. Between this, I even went as far as clearing the CMOS just to make sure that wasn't messing with me. I restart the computer in normal mode. BAM! Freeze on the exact same spot as before. I attempt a restart; black screen. Clear the CMOS again, start up and freeze on windows loading screen.

So, since I'm finally out of ideas (safe for formatting windows though, seeing as it's giving issues before windows even starts, that shouldn't be the issue), I now turn to the CoTH community to humbly ask for your assistance in this matter. Do any of you know how to get this fixed?

Some probably important info:
OS: Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit
PSU: Antec High Current Gamer 620W
Mobo: MSI 870A-G54
RAM: 16GB
CPU: AMD Bulldozer FX-4100
Current GPU: MSI Nvidia GeForce GTX 550 Ti
New GPU: ASUS Nvidia GeForce GTX 560 Ti
Sound: Trust 5.1 Surround PCI card... I forgot the exact model...

Safe for a DVD writer and two HDD's, there's nothing else in there if I'm not mistaking...

[Norael]

...Is your PSU even powerful enough to handle all of that?

I'm not a wizard when it comes to PC's but the PSU often seems to be the root of everyone's problems.

I have a 1000w PSU, so I've yet to have it be the cause of my problems.

[Nick]

The PSU should have enough power to run all of that, yes. As said in the OP, it's a high current 620W PSU that gives about 48A if I'm not mistaking. In fact, I was running a 27A, 500W PSU before this one and, safe for the GPU being the older one (the GTX 550 Ti), the rest of the system was exactly the same.

To prove my point even further, I unplugged both case fans, my DVD writer and one of my HDDs (since I have a laptop and a desktop HDD here, I left the laptop one plugged in) and it gave exactly the same problem. Even asked the guy at the shop and he told me that it should be enough and, just to make sure, to unplug everything not necessary for startup.

So to make a long story short:
Yes, my PSU is strong enough to run this system.

[Jaella]

Did you had to update the driver from one single file or update it with several files?

Also, if you had a system restore image on the HDD from a point -before- the hiccups then it might work out well. (Or not)

[Nick]

I updated the driver (well, installed the driver since I made sure everything driver related was gone) with the one executable from the Nvidia site.

As to system restore, the problem isn't that I'm having issues once the system has started up. The problem is that, after plugging in the new graphics card, either the system simply doesn't start up (black screen) or freezes when loading up windows. As far as I know, this is definitely related to my hardware and not my software... I just have no idea what the problem is exactly.

[Jaella]

What PCI slot does your motherboard have and what does the new video card have?

[Nick]

Both have PCI-Express 16x slots... Well, the mobo has the slot... And, since it's the exact same as what my 550Ti has, I'm assuming that won't be the issue either.

[Jaella]

Can you tell me what versions of PCI-E you have for all the components you mentioned? (Concerning mobo, video cards)

[Nick]

Mobo: 1 PCI Express x16 slot (PCI_E2) with x16 operation (PCI Express Bus SPEC V2.0 compliant) - Which I believe is the one I'm using at the moment.
1 PCI Express x16 slot (PCI_E3) with x4 operation (PCI Express Bus SPEC V2.0 compliant)

GPU: PCI Express 2.0

That's what I could find about both on the internet, anyway. So, as far as I can tell, those shouldn't be giving me issues.

[Jaella]

I am pretty much at a blank here.

Since all I can find on the endless consultancy called, GOOGLE.

Is that no matter which version you have, it is loaded with issues.
Some get fixed, others do not.
I also read somewhere that it's a BIOS error that may or may not be around on your graphics card.

[Nick]

Guess I'll just have to bring it to the shop then and have it installed there... I'd be surprised if he can't get it working either.

[Jaella]

Any update Rokhjin?

[Nick]

Still not solved... However, being the cheap jerk that I am, I still haven't taken the computer to the shop and have taken my question to a forum that seems to be specifically there for tech support... If I still can't get it fixed with the help they'll hopefully provide, I'll probably have to pay money to get the issue fixed. Will probably post again when it's fixed... Or on confirmation that my computer just doesn't like me.

[Jaella]

Alright Rokhjin, good luck!