I recently bought an inexpensive HP PC from a thrift store, and after testing, it seems to be functioning well. It has an i3-1010 processor, 4GB of RAM, and originally came with a 180W PSU, which my brother replaced with a 400W PSU that operates perfectly. The problem arises when I connect a graphics card to the x16 slot; Windows 11 fails to detect it. The fans on the card power up, but there's no signal or detection in Windows. I've checked BIOS settings (which had none to adjust), and I've updated the BIOS, yet the issue persists. I've tested an Nvidia 750 Ti 2GB and a 1650, but neither was recognized. However, an older RX 430 2GB x8 card works fine, with Windows detecting it and installing drivers without issue. I'm beginning to think it's related to PCIe lanes, possibly limited to x8 3.0. Is this a common limitation for this PC? Also, are there any decent, inexpensive x8 cards that need power?
3 Answers
It could be an issue with the motherboard rather than the CPU. Depending on your motherboard’s configuration, you might not be able to use a full x16 lane and are stuck with an x8 lane instead. Remember, each CPU has a limit on how many PCIe lanes it can handle, which is influenced by the southbridge. You should also double-check that the PCIe slot is in good condition. If you want more info on this, look up 'Jayz2cents bifurcation' for a good explanation.
Have you checked if the PCIe slot on the motherboard has all the pins? Sometimes the slots can be partially damaged or not fully populated, which can lead to detection issues.
Before making any changes, always back up your data. Changing BIOS settings can sometimes lead to unexpected results. Just a thought!
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