Built a computer... no video on screen. Suggestions?

[MacAllah]

Hi, so I just built a brand-spanking-new computer. I have the Windows Vista CD in the drive, I turn it on and... nothing.

The monitor doesn't detect a signal and turns off. The mobo has no on-board video, so I don't know what to do.

Here are the components:

DFI LANPARTY DK X38-T2R LGA 775 Intel X38 ATX Intel Motherboard

HEC ACE-580UB 580W ATX12V Power Supply

Intel Core 2 Duo E8500 Wolfdale 3.16GHz LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Processor

pqi POWER Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400)

HITACHI Deskstar 7K1000 HDS721075KLA330 (0A35154) 750GB 7200 RPM SATA

LITE-ON 20X DVD±R DVD Burner With 12X DVD-RAM Write Black SATA

VisionTek 900241 Radeon HD 4850 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express

Any suggestions?

 

[JN]

Are you getting fans spinning up at all? Here's a few things to try:

1. Reset the CMOS. This can be done on DFI boards by holding the Power+Reset buttons down for 10+ seconds (iirc)

2. Try with only one stick of RAM

3. If you've got any old RAM, try booting with that

 

[ionicle]

could be graphics card

if the system starts up but the moniter just isnt showing anything

need more details..

 

[MacAllah]

I just tried with one stick of RAM, still didn't work.

It's not the vid card. I put a vid card that I know works (from another computer) in the computer and it still got no video.

I don't have any other DDR2 800 RAM laying around. Can I put in slower RAM or try starting with no RAM?

 

[ionicle]

you can put slower ram in, yes, aslong as its the same type..

trying with no ram will just give you the "no ram" beeps from your motherboard

 

[mrapoc]

any fans spinning?

 

[MacAllah]

Yes, all of the fans spin.

This is the sequence of events:

1) Turn on PSU - lights on mobo turn on.

2) Hit power button on comp - fans turn on (case fans / CPU heatsink fan / vid card fan)

3) Turn on monitor - blank for about 15 seconds, displays "No Video Signal" and turns off

The monitor does work, it's from my other computer.

 

[ionicle]

video card

is what i would say would be the fault

failing that, the chipset, it seems data isnt getting from the motherboard, via the video card to the moniter..

 

[MacAllah]

I've installed another video card from my old computer that I know works. And in this new comp it doesn't, so it's not the video card. That's pretty much the only thing I know for sure.

 

[ionicle]

and you've tried the moniter on another pc?

if so, then, its looking more likely to be your motherboard..

 

[MacAllah]

Yeah, the monitor works with my other computer.

Right now the only thing I'm thinking is that:

1) There is another power cable I didn't plug in on the mobo

2) Some sort of short somewhere

3) Maybe bad RAM

4) Maybe mobo doesn't like 45 nm CPUs

If it is #4... lord knows how I'm gonna update the BIOS. I don't have the scratch to buy a 65 nm CPU and update the BIOS even if I'm going to immediately return the thing.

 

[Jeddy]

I had a similar problem once.

I would suggest:

1) Reseating Video Card/Proc etc to ensure good connections

2) Try with a different Power Supply (turned out to be the culprit in my case)

My symptoms were almost identical to yours.

I think that it is worth trying a different power supply to see if that solves the problem.

 

[JN]

Sorry I'm gonna be lazy and ask without looking first. Does your DFI board have a diagnostic LED readout anywhere on it?

Also give that lower speed DDR a whirl. DFI's are pretty notorious for not booting if they dont like the ram.

 

[MacAllah]

@ Jim

I am still at work, but I just realized it DOES have the LED readout. When it's off it looks like 88, correct?

I'll be sure to look at that first thing once I get home.

It sucks about the RAM. ><

@ Jeddy

I didn't even think about the power supply being the problem since lights and fans turned on, but I'll canabalize the one from my old computer and see if that'll run it. The funny thing is that my old power suppler was a built-in one that came with the case. I ahd heard these suck, but it's lasted 4+ years.

Now I had the dough to buy a separate power supply and I researched what's supposed to be a "good brand" and now it might be the problem. Heh.

Keep the help comin' guys! Thank you so much to those who have already posted!

 

[JN]

^ Yep thats right. If its anything to do with the RAM you'll get a C1 readout on the LCD. Try swapping for a lower voltage/slower speed memory kit. If it lets you boot with that, enter the bios and bump up the vdimm voltage before rei-installing the proper memory kit.

If it gets stuck anywhere else, let us know the code and we'll see if we can dig otu what it means.

 

[Hassan]

Or prepare for the worst as it could be a dead motherboard like I experianced once. But lets not jump to conclusions

 

[Silentsnake]

Or prepare for the worst as it could be a dead motherboard like I experianced once. But lets not jump to conclusions

I second that ordered a brand new mobo from ebuyer once after spending like 3 hours hooking it up and trying to keep cables as tidy as possible it just wouldnt work

Got the board Sent of to ebuyer and had to wait 2 weeks for a replacement

 

[Rastalovich]

Change the way u power the gfxcard. i.e. instead of using the psu`s pcie connector, use a molex->pcie connector supplied from the gfxcard box. Some psus, aren`t capable to pcie even tho they have the connector.

To see if it`s purely the gfx in relation to the mobo, u can startup the pc and w8 as if u were w8ing for windows to boot or something - even tho u can`t see anything - then try pressing the caps-lock and/or numpad on the keyboard. If the lights react then the mobo is ok up to the point of doing graphic stuff.

*hugs and kisses £6 pci fx5200 from the shelf*

 

[Bungral]

Also check you have the 4 pin power connected as well as the 20 pin... That very nearly caught me out today when rebuilding my dads comp as they were nowhere near each other.

Simple lapse in concentration nearly caused me a headache.

 

[Silentsnake]

Also check you have the 4 pin power connected as well as the 20 pin... That very nearly caught me out today when rebuilding my dads comp as they were nowhere near each other.

Simple lapse in concentration nearly caused me a headache.

loool... its almost happened to me plenty of times