Struggling with your PC not detecting the NVIDIA graphics card? Learn how to troubleshoot this issue and get it fixed quickly and easily.Discover the main solutions to this problem in this guide. Do you already know what to do when your PC does not detect the Nvidia graphics card?.
Are you having a problem with your GPU? Is your computer not detecting your NVIDIA graphics card? If so, you’ve come to the right place. In this guide, I’ll tell you the most effective solutions , as well as the recommended procedures, when this problem occurs on your PC. If your computer is not detecting your NVIDIA graphics card, it will most likely be solved after reading this post. Let’s get to work!
First of all, was your NVIDIA graphics card working fine?
In the event that your NVIDIA graphics card was working fine and then suddenly your computer no longer detects it, it’s crucial to ask yourself what has changed on your computer . For example, have you installed a second GPU? Have you added new storage or installed another expansion card? Have you reinstalled the operating system or added any new programs to your computer? Have you changed a critical GPU setting?
If you have detected the change that has caused your graphics card to stop working , try to reverse it. Uninstalling incompatible programs, reinstalling NVIDIA drivers or restoring the system to a previous point with Windows System Restore may solve this problem.
When a PC does not detect the NVIDIA graphics card, check the hardware connections
What if your PC doesn’t detect the NVIDIA graphics card you just installed? In this case, you’ll need to do some checking, especially in the hardware department. Note that, if everything is working properly, Windows will assign the video output by default to the new GPU once it’s installed . If that doesn’t happen, there are a few things you need to check.
Check the connection slot
First things first. The connection slot is the first critical point I recommend you check. Where should you plug your graphics card? Well, in most cases, you’re going to have to insert it into the first PCIe slot. There are only two cases where you’re going to have to install it in the second one.
First, you need to install the GPU in the second slot if there is a small form factor PCIe slot above it . Your card should go in the first full x16 slot you see, although due to the inclusion of a previous slot, we can technically say it’s the second one.
The other assumption is that your motherboard has multi-GPU options. If so, your graphics card will also work in the second slot, although ideally you should prioritize the first one when making the connection. In the image above you can clearly see which is the first slot on a motherboard.
Check the wired connections
Remember this: the moment you install a new discrete graphics card, Windows defaults to using it to output the video signal. That means that if you keep the monitor connection cable plugged into the integrated graphics port on your processor , you won’t see anything on the screen.
The solution is quite simple. All you need to do is disconnect the video cable from the current port, which is usually located at the top because it comes out of the motherboard, to the bottom one, which is the one that provides the NVIDIA graphics card . After doing this, the video output should return to normal.
Software checks for when Windows does not detect the NVIDIA graphics card
Generally, the fixes suggested in the previous section should already fix your NVIDIA graphics card issues. However, if they don’t, there are still a few more things you should try. All of them are software-related.
The first thing you can try is to perform a Clear CMOS . The link above explains how to reset the motherboard to factory defaults so that, using the default settings, it will correctly detect any connected components, such as the NVIDIA GPU.
Another possibility is that the BIOS is not configured correctly. As I said, clearing CMOS should change the situation, but if that doesn’t happen, it’s best to go into the motherboard configuration panel. Then, in the graphics section, select the PCIe option as the default video output . Here is a guide that explains how to enter the BIOS .
Finally, it is highly recommended to make sure you have updated the BIOS for both the graphics card and the motherboard. Check out the link where we explain how to update the ASRock BIOS step by step , as well as the equivalent guides for Asus , MSI boards and boards without RAM or processor .
As for updating the GPU BIOS, if this procedure is available and works, it means that the component is actually detected by the PC. Finally, once you know which graphics card you have , try uninstalling the drivers with DDU and then reinstalling the official software for the card.
If nothing seems to solve the problem…
Have you come this far and all the methods I have suggested have been ineffective? It is time for you to consider other possibilities. If the component connection is being made correctly and your computer has all the necessary software to “understand” the GPU, but the PC still does not detect the NVIDIA graphics card, it is possible that you are facing a much more serious fault . What is happening?
If nothing seems to fix this situation, there is probably a problem with the graphics card itself, an internal error that prevents the computer from detecting it. One way to verify that the fault really is with the graphics card is to connect it to another computer . I realize that it is not always easy to have another computer on hand to test, but it is one of the most effective ways to apply a diagnosis.
In the event that the graphics card works fine on another computer , you should consider that your computer, and more specifically the motherboard , has a hardware fault that causes this situation, namely that it does not detect the NVIDIA graphics card. Of course, I assume that you have followed all the steps mentioned in this guide and that, therefore, there is no configuration problem in the BIOS or something similar.
If you are convinced that your graphics card has a serious fault, it is best to contact the manufacturer, especially if the component is new. All products you buy in Spain have a 3-year warranty and, during that period, serious faults are covered. Another option is to contact customer service so they can provide you with a more specific solution than the ones I have mentioned here.