I've been tinkering with my PC since I built it in 2015, and while I've upgraded a few parts like RAM and motherboards, I still feel pretty clueless about computers at times. Recently, I replaced my NVIDIA 4060 with a 5070. I thought swapping the graphics cards would be a breeze, but I ran into trouble with the power connectors. The 5070 has a 16-pin connector, so I used the 8-pin split connector that came with it. Unfortunately, I couldn't get any display on my monitor; the PC powered on, but nothing showed up on screen.
After fiddling with the power supply where the two 8-pin connectors are plugged in, my PC completely stopped powering on. Now, when I connect everything, I see a red light on the graphics card, but pressing the power button does nothing. I realize this sounds vague, but I really appreciate any help. Could my power supply be the issue? It's rated at 750 watts, so it should be sufficient, right? I'm feeling quite overwhelmed and frustrated right now.
5 Answers
What exactly did you do with your power supply? Is the PC at least attempting to power up now?
Could it be that I messed up some of the cables going into the power supply and now I need to replace it completely?
Make sure you're using two separate 8-pin cables from the PSU to connect to the adapters of the GPU. You shouldn't use just one cable that splits into two, as that might not deliver enough power to the GPU.
You might be onto something! I just checked, and it turns out my power supply only has one 8-pin connector that’s actually split with another going into a different VGA plug.
Just a heads up, a 16-pin connection actually needs two 8-pins. Also, did you accidentally dislodge the power button cable? Try removing the GPU and connecting the monitor directly to the motherboard to see if it powers on. What PSU are you using with your new GPU? If it’s underpowered, it might prevent the PC from starting up.
Here’s my PSU model: https://www.evga.com/products/product.aspx?pn=110-bq-0750-v1. The GPU I got is a three-fan 5070.
Most power supplies have a switch on the back; double-check that. Also, ensure your surge protector (if you're using one) is on. Do any of the fans spin when you try to turn on the PC? Recheck all connections on the motherboard and make sure they're secure.
I verified all connections, even on the motherboard. Is it common for a PSU to fail out of the blue like this?
I don't think I did much. I just made sure all the connectors were properly plugged in, but now it won’t turn on at all.