I just bought a €1,100 desktop with an MSI GeForce RTX 5060. When I started it, the monitor stayed off and the graphics card did not appear to power on. The monitor cable is connected directly to the GPU, and I have already unplugged and reconnected the visible GPU power cable several times with the seller's help. I'm not sure whether the card is fully seated or whether its power cable is properly connected to the power supply, since that end is hidden among the other cables inside the case. What should I check next?
2 Answers
First, don’t panic—many GPUs keep their fans stopped when they’re cool, so no spinning fans doesn’t necessarily mean the card is dead. Make sure the monitor is set to the correct HDMI or DisplayPort input and that the cable is connected to the GPU’s ports, not the motherboard. If the PC itself is running but there’s still no signal, try another port or cable if available.
Turn the computer completely off, switch off and unplug the power supply, then hold the power button for a few seconds. The GPU should be firmly seated in the long PCIe slot, and its power connector needs to be pushed in all the way until it is secure. The other end of that cable should be connected to the power supply inside the case, but don’t force anything or unplug random cables if you’re unsure. Since the PC is newly purchased, it may be safest to have the seller inspect or replace it rather than risk damaging a connector.
I can reach the GPU end of the cable, but the power-supply end is buried with the other cables and I’m not confident opening it up. I’ll ask the seller to verify the connection and seating.
The cable is definitely plugged into the GPU, and I’ll check the monitor input and another cable before opening the case further.