I'm building a new PC with an ASUS ROG STRIX Z790-A WiFi II motherboard, an Intel Core i7 processor, a be quiet! Dark Power 13 1000W PSU, and an MSI Ventus White RTX 5070 Ti 16GB. The graphics card powers on and its fans spin, but it doesn't appear in the BIOS or in Windows 11 Device Manager. Windows only shows the integrated graphics, although the card may appear as an unknown device when installed.
I've updated the motherboard BIOS, reset the CMOS, reseated the card twice, inspected the PCIe slot, set the slot to Gen 4 and x16, and checked that the power connections are secure. I also tried a different RTX 4060 Ti and had the same detection problem, so I'm starting to suspect the motherboard or its PCIe configuration. I switched from the PSU's direct 12VHPWR connection to the GPU's included adapter, but that didn't help either. This is the first discrete GPU in the system, so I don't have an older working card for comparison. What else should I check to get the GPU recognized?
4 Answers
The most useful next test would be installing the card in a known-working system, or testing a known-working card in this motherboard. Without that comparison, it’s difficult to separate a defective GPU from a motherboard or PCIe-slot problem. Fans spinning and lighting up do not rule out a faulty graphics card.
If Windows lists an unknown device when the card is installed, it may be detecting the hardware but failing to identify it properly. Check Device Manager for the device’s hardware IDs and remove any failed display-device entries before rebooting. However, NVIDIA drivers generally cannot install until the card is detected correctly, so drivers probably aren’t the root cause here.
Since two different graphics cards behave the same way, the motherboard is a strong suspect. Check whether the card is fully seated in the top x16 slot and test another full-length PCIe slot if available. It may also be worth trying an older BIOS version if the latest update introduced a compatibility problem. Look at the motherboard’s diagnostic LEDs during startup for a VGA or PCIe error.
Try the GPU’s included power adapter with separate PCIe power cables from the PSU, using the PSU’s VGA/PCIe outputs rather than a single shared cable. Lights and spinning fans only confirm that the card is receiving some power; they don’t prove the power connection is correct under initialization. Also try another display cable and monitor or TV, although the card should still normally appear in the BIOS or Device Manager.
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