Can a bad video card stop a computer from coming on?

my computer just shut down - so i installed a new power supply - and it still won't start up - if i disconnect power to the video card it runs - is this a video card problem or a motherboard problem ?|||#1...Yes, a "bad" video card can stop a computer from booting up.



#2...Since the computer will boot-up when the vid card is unplugged, what is likely happening is that the PSU can not supply enough power for the total system. If the unit you have *is* rated to have the required number of watts, it may not have a high-enough efficiency rating...meaning that it *does* produce the required power level, but it can not transfer-it efficiently enough to satisfy the demand of the system as a whole. Either find a PSU of the correct rating with an efficiency rating of 90%+, or a high-efficiency PSU that supplies MORE power than your system draws. (i.e.: a 500-600w PSU for a non Crossfire/SLI system.)



#3...there is also the possibility that the card itself is having connection issues, so that the computer is sending signal to the vid card, but it isn't received. If this is the case, the computer *is* booting up, but it simply is not seeming to, because the vid card is not processing the signal.



EDIT: BIOS updates are available for free from the Hardware Provider (i.e.: Manufacturer).

Incidentally, the likelihood of it being a BIOS issue is rather slim, unless you're putting a new vid card into a really old mobo.|||Could be either...or maybe you haven't installed the driver. All things being equal, I vote for bad card.



Good call GTX, I forgot about the bent pin thing, although it's pretty hard to screw up a PCI pin. Our friend needs to get a flashlight and teeny weenie needle nose pliers.|||motherboard - bios chip = get an update from manufacturer, it's like 20 dollars.



OR



motherboard - cpu "sitting area" (pins may be broken/missing/bent) = bad motherboard, get a new one.|||Some possible causes and troubleshooting steps are below:



1. Check your bios settings.



2. Try another video card in the computer. If the other video card does not work its most likely the motherboard. If the video card works the other card is most likely bad.



3. Try the video card in another computer. If it does not work or has similar problems then its most likely a bad video card. However, I have seen a bad video card work in one computer and not in another. So keep this in mind.



4. Is your power supply large enough for your hardware setup and specific video card? Card could be pulling too much power from everything else.|||Is the graphics card overloading the PSU perhaps ?



What graphics card is it ? And what wattage is your PSU meant to be throwing?|||Sounds like your video card is bad. If you leave it connected your PC will try to use the video card. When you disconnect it, it resorts to integrated graphics.