Multiple Dell Precision 7875 dead after switching GPU to 5070Ti

I wonder if the bios got somehow corrupted, did the tech try also to reflash in emergency mode ?.

Also not worth testing it, but I wonder what would happen leaving the original A400 and adding the 5070 in the 2nd slot.

Secure boot was off ? ( since you use linux ) 

Almost identical issue here:

**HARWARE INVOLVED**
- Precision 7875 Tower Workstation (https://www.dell.com/en-us/shop/desktop-computers/precision-7875-tower-workstation/spd/precision-t7875-workstation/xctopt7875mtus_vp)
- NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 32GB DDR7 (https://marketplace.nvidia.com/en-us/consumer/graphics-cards/gigabyte-windforce-geforce-rtx-5090/)

**PRIOR CONDITION**

- Machine booted successfully and was imaged via standard imaging process. **All updates (including firmware) applied prior to installation of GPU**

**SYMPTOMS**

- No output to peripherals
- No output to screen
- No Dell error codes (white and amber power light sequences)
- No audible error codes (onboard speaker beeps)
- No Dell splash screen
- No BIOS access
- Computer turns on and remains on as long as it is plugged in
- Power light is solid white, when held down for ~20 seconds, it SOMETIMES flashes 4 times, turns off briefly, then turns itself back on (both when the power button is held down continuously or released during the brief shut down)
- PSU indicator light is solid
- Fans spin up
- GPU fans spin up
- Network card indicates attempts to contact from network (device does not return ping)

**ATTEMPTED TROUBLESHOOTING**

- Replaced new GPU with stock GPU (there is no discrete graphics functionality on this model)
- Performed a Hard Reset outlined by dell (https://www.dell.com/support/kbdoc/en-us/000139016/how-to-perform-hard-reset)
- Reset RTC as outlined by Dell (https://www.dell.com/support/kbdoc/en-us/000126023/how-to-reset-real-time-clock-rtc-to-recover-your-dell-desktop-system)
- Reset CMOS/NVRAM as outlined by Dell (https://www.dell.com/support/kbdoc/en-us/000124377/how-to-perform-a-bios-or-cmos-reset-and-clear-the-nvram-on-dell-systems)
- Removed all RAM to attempt to force an error code
- Removed HDD to attempt to force an error code
- Removed WLAN card to attempt to force an error code
- Attempted to connect to computer via network
- Attempted all relevant BIOS recovery options as outlined by Dell (https://www.dell.com/support/kbdoc/en-us/000132453/how-to-recover-the-bios-on-a-dell-computer-or-tablet)
- Changed power source
- Changed power cable
- Changed peripherals
- Changed RAM configuration
- Left running overnight in a vain attempt to get any output of any form

**REPLICATION**

- This has been replicated on 3 of the same Dell systems
 - Used different GPUs from different manufacturers (MSI and Gigabyte)
- As soon as the new GPU is inserted, computer exhibits the symptoms listed above, even after changing of hardware configuration (almost every possible combination)

Hi,

OK, so we are on the same boat (your description is more complete but I did in fact all the same (except for the 24 hour, and I just tested different gpus but same model (msi 5070Ti).

Apparently some other research teams in our center did order the same model (7875) and had other issues. I contacted our Dell customer representative (we're part of public research) and waiting to get contacted....

We had a motherboard replaced on one of them, however the issue returned as soon as the GPU was installed again. The hardware tech did not do any onsite testing and did not offer much in the way of hypotheses. We're also reaching out to to our rep.

(Not sure if you meant to, but my response is marked as a solution, which unfortunately, it is not. Anyway to remove that to keep the thread alive?)

I'll post here if we get any more information or a clear path to resolution.

Thanks!

@bootwoes​ 

ok, found out we had 4 others 7875 we had bought end of 2024 that had been upgraded with MSI 4070 TI Pro (Ventus 2x) and are working fine.

I thus tested this GPU on the last working 7875 (same batch as the 3 that turned dead as soon as I put a 5070 Ti). No problem, works fine. 

Again, the MSI 5070 Ti GPU is working fine on other PCs (both a recent one at home, and older Dell precision at work).

So maybe there's some hardware/electrical issue between the 7875 and the nvidia 5xxx cards (that rolled out in February or March) ?

The last working 7875 was with bios 1.8.1. I upgraded to the latest (1.13.0 instead of 1.8.1) but looking at all the updates details, nothing mentionned about power/pci/gpus .... mostly DSA.

PG

Will have a chat with Dell support on Thursday

Oddly enough I added a PCIe M2 Expansion Card in the 2nd x16 PCIe slot and I get the same symptoms of no display....stock 4090 in the 1st x16 slot has been there for over 12 months.

Hello,

I am so glad to actually find people with the same issue as we have. I am working in a public educational environment, and we got 31 Precision 7875 Workstations. Since Dell's prices for graphics adapters are outrageous, we purchased them without any gfx card and provisioned them using older GTX1080, Quattro K4000 and RTX3080 cards, all of which work fine in the machines.

We ordered GeForce RTX5070 from another supplier, and when those cards arrived, we got the exact same issue reported here: From the moment the PC is powered with a RTX5070 installed, it dies. We also did the scientific approach ;-) and killed three 7875 in the process. I opened a service case at Dell Support for the first one, and it took them more than a week to actually send over a technician, who replaced the mainboard, tried out the RTX5070 and of course fried it again. The he left, leaving the PC unrepaired. Now the case is still open, for almost four weeks now, and Dell do not seem to care about our "Pro Support".

However, fixing the mainboard can't be the solution, since there seems to be a severe engineering error. I hope that we can gather more cases, so that Dell eventually feels some pressure to take action.

Best regards,

Markus

I just had this happen by installing a PNY 5060ti from Best Buy. What a disaster.