New build, No video

[MPTech]

Building a new PC.

I've had these components for awhile:

• Phenom X4 9950 Black AM2+ 2.6ghz (quad, 64-bit)
• Saphire Radeon x800 Pro, PCI-E
• OCZ DDR2 PC2 6400 RAM
• Seagate 10k SATA HDD
• 500w PSU

I just bought:

• Asus M3A78-CM Motherboard
• LG 22X DVD-RW SATA

Assembled everything last night and when I powered it on, no video.
I first tried the on-board video (vga). I disconnected the HDD & DVD drives.
I also tried the graphics card.
still no luck.

I've built and rebuilt many PCs, and use a KVM, so I'm relatively confident it's not a monitor issue.

I rechecked the connections and everything appears to be getting power.

[themanwhowas]

I think the BIOS should warn you in other ways of hardware failure. If POST fails you will get a series of beeps which you can use to detect the problem. I once had a graphics card die and used this to determine that it was the graphics card before I did anything else.

http://www.pchell.com/hardware/beepcodes.shtml
http://www.biosflash.com/e/bios-beeps.htm

[MPTech]

I'm not hearing any beeps. I checked and the PC speaker appears to be connected correctly.

I did change the PSU. I noticed that the ATX plug from the PSU was only 20-pin, but the mobo is 24-pin. So I found a PSU with a 24-pin, but no change.
(btw, what are the additional 4 pins for?)

[SuperSparks]

If you don't get any beeps, then the graphic card is the main suspect. It performs it's own POST sequence first, before handing over to the motherboard BIOS - if that POST never completes, then the rest of the boot sequence won't occur.

[themanwhowas]

and the beeps don't come through the sound card so speakers/no speakers won't matter. It would be system beeps from the Motherboard.

Also, far be it for me to contradict SuperSparks, but i had a graphics card die and i got the Bios warning beeps. Maybe it is BIOS or Motherboard specific?

[Train]

The viseo card was not quite totally dead, but dead enough not to work.

But guarantee, if it is totally dead, nothing works!

[SuperSparks]

but i had a graphics card die and i got the Bios warning beeps

It is perfectly possible for a graphics card to die but for it still be able to complete it's POST and hand over to the mobo. It just depends on the particular mode of failure.

[MPTech]

I first tried it without the Graphics Card. (no beeps there either)
I have the PC speaker hooked up.

I tried it with the bare minimum installed:

• CPU
• CPU fan
• chassis fan
• Ram
• system panel connections (Pwr, Reset, Spkr, HDD Led)

[SuperSparks]

If you're getting no beeps without a graphics card installed then it's a dead mobo or CPU. It is nearly always the motherboard, CPUs rarely fail.

[MPTech]

Hmmm, I just got the mobo from TigerDirect on Friday.
Is there any way to check before I return it to them?

I'm assuming that I'm doing something wrong, but I've built 25+ PCs and never had a bad motherboard / CPU / Ram, so I don't know what to check.
I've gone thru everthing twice and can't find any problems.

[SuperSparks]

There is no way to check a mobo or CPU other than by a process of elimination, which you have done. Believe me, DOA motherboards are not unheard of. But before you RMA it, try clearing the CMOS by removing the battery for a few minutes, it's unlikely to be the problem here, but there's no harm in trying.

[MPTech]

Well, I'm happy to hear that I tried everything that has been recommended. I tried removing the battery on Saturday. No difference.
I just wanted to make sure I exhausted all options before I call them back to RMA it.
bummer, guuess I'll take it back apart again tonite.

just a question, what is the bare minimum you can attempt to startu-up (Post) with?
will it post without Ram / CPU?

nuts, I hate removing the cpu HS fan. no more thermal paste!

what is a Gigabyte equivalent of this mobo?

[Steve R Jones]

Have you tried running the machine with the mobo outside the case?

[MPTech]

Haven't tried that, but since I have to take it apart anyway if it is DOA, I'll give it a try. What is the difference, in-case vs out-of-cas? (grounding?)

[Train]

Yes gounding can be a problem, whether it is a stand off or a shorted USB connector on the back.