When it's not got HDCP (High Defintion Content Protection) as a feature on the chipset.

I recently upgraded my GeForce 7300 low profile HDMI graphics card for the newer 8500GS version from the same company (MSI NX8500GT MTD256EH). Once installed I could never get the BIOS or boot screens to show until Windows (Vista 32bit) had loaded up the drivers when connected via the HDMI interface.

After a little asking around and digging I had found that unless the card has HDCP onboard (as my last one did) then it is almost useless. The picture is also of a 'lesser' quality than the 7300 it replaced. Looking at the MSI site reveals that HDCP is *optional* on this model. Bugger. I brought this card to decode Blu-Ray when I invested in a drive during the summer. Looks like I'll have to shop around again.

My advice is that should you need a graphics card with a HDMI interface make sure it has HDCP or else you will have no end of niggly problems.

Additional content:-

It gets worst. This blog from the Firing squad lays out in easy to follow detail why you really NEED a card with HDCP on board for HD and Blu-Ray content!

http://www.firingsquad.com/hardware/ati_nvidia_hdcp_support/