PC build help...

mountainman · Post by **mountainman** » Sat Feb 21, 2009 12:13 pm

Well, I got everything plugged in and such. I turn the PC on and nothing on the screen using DVI or VGA, using either of the DVI plugs on the video card.

I see nothing on the screen and then the thing just turns off. Obviously I can't see the POST, so I can't diagnose what it could be.

Thoughts?

YARDofSTUF · Post by **YARDofSTUF** » Sat Feb 21, 2009 12:28 pm

Make sure the CMOS jumper is set correctly, could try clearing it too.

Check that the video card and RAM are seated correctly, try with just 1 RAM stick in there.

Make sure all power connectors are connected.

mountainman · Post by **mountainman** » Sat Feb 21, 2009 1:02 pm

Checked and OK.

Reseated and tried.

Checked and tight.

Ugh...

I think I may just return this and buy something premade. I knew I should have done that from the start.

Thanks, yard.

Post by **YeOldeStonecat** » Sun Feb 22, 2009 8:41 am

Unplug peripherals, attempt booting up with the very basics.

The Dude · Post by **The Dude** » Sun Feb 22, 2009 8:52 am

What YeOldeStonecat said, start with just Video card, one stick of RAM, processor and heat sink. You could even go with no RAM or Video card to see if you then get a beep code. All those secondary power connectors on your motherboard have power cables plugged into them?

mountainman · Post by **mountainman** » Sun Feb 22, 2009 4:31 pm

OK, I'm going to give it another go tonight. I pulled everything apart the other day in disgust.

Question... can I just lay the mobo down, plug in the PSU, CPU and RAM and start it up without putting it in the case? I'll be sure to stay grounded, but the only thing I think of causing a problem is the on/off. I'm assuming I could use a flathead screw driver to hit the contacts.

Thoughts?

mountainman · Post by **mountainman** » Sun Feb 22, 2009 5:03 pm

OK, I have hooked up...

Motherboard, CPU, heatsink/fan, one stick of RAM in the first slot, video card, PS/2 keyboard, USB mouse and all the power plugs into the vid/mobo that I can see.

When it turns on, it makes no sound, but the CPU fan and vid card fan turn on. The monitor doesn't have the "no signal", but it doesn't go from orange (stand by) to green (on).

Thoughts?

Humboldt · Post by **Humboldt** » Sun Feb 22, 2009 5:20 pm

Try another monitor?

mountainman · Post by **mountainman** » Sun Feb 22, 2009 5:26 pm

I know this monitor works as it's the one I use on my main PC. I unhooked it and took it over to where I'm working.

Not getting any beep when I turn on the system worries me.

Sava700 · Post by **Sava700** » Sun Feb 22, 2009 5:27 pm

Humboldt wrote:Try another monitor?

yeah my suggestion too but he didn't say he had a post beep

Sava700 · Post by **Sava700** » Sun Feb 22, 2009 5:27 pm

are all the parts compatible with each other?? Tried a different type of ram?

Mark · Post by **Mark** » Sun Feb 22, 2009 5:29 pm

try resetting the ram in the slots, sometimes they can be picky and need to be inserted firmly.

does the mobo BIOS support the CPU ?

knightmare · Post by **knightmare** » Sun Feb 22, 2009 5:31 pm

I have had issues with seagate drives installed with a Intel motherboard, not sure if it applies to you. But if you have a different hard drive you can try?, maybe you could at least know it isn't some type of drive issue.

mountainman · Post by **mountainman** » Sun Feb 22, 2009 5:33 pm

Tried a VGA cable with DVI converter.

I tried both sticks of RAM by themselves in different slots. They are definitely all in.

I think they're compatible. Here is what I got:

mobo - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6813128358

cpu - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6819115037

ram - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6820220334

See any issues?

mountainman · Post by **mountainman** » Sun Feb 22, 2009 5:35 pm

I'm not even to the HDD yet.

I just want to get something on screen!

Thanks.

Dan · Post by **Dan** » Sun Feb 22, 2009 5:36 pm

mountainman wrote:OK, I'm going to give it another go tonight. I pulled everything apart the other day in disgust.

Question... can I just lay the mobo down, plug in the PSU, CPU and RAM and start it up without putting it in the case? I'll be sure to stay grounded, but the only thing I think of causing a problem is the on/off. I'm assuming I could use a flathead screw driver to hit the contacts.

Thoughts?

YES ! try it out of the case,it will work that way too,

maybe one of the screws or screw sleeves is in the wrong place ? causing a short to case ground?

YARDofSTUF · Post by **YARDofSTUF** » Sun Feb 22, 2009 5:39 pm

If your video card has 2 dvi ports have you tried both?

Does the cpu and heatsink look to be seated properly?

mountainman · Post by **mountainman** » Sun Feb 22, 2009 5:39 pm

Currently set up on the mobo box/plastic. That ain't it.

mountainman · Post by **mountainman** » Sun Feb 22, 2009 5:40 pm

Yes, I've tried both with VGA and DVI.

I don't know how else I could seat the CPU since it has notches and a missing "pin" to only go in one way. When I closed the clamp, it was pretty snug, which I'm sure is normal.

Humboldt · Post by **Humboldt** » Sun Feb 22, 2009 5:42 pm

Obviously you need more beer.

Duh

mountainman · Post by **mountainman** » Sun Feb 22, 2009 5:47 pm

I have about three six packs of microbrew in the fridge. I'll start on them at dinner.

I'd love to be loading Vista tonight, but it ain't looking good.

Sava700 · Post by **Sava700** » Sun Feb 22, 2009 5:49 pm

Every power hookup on the motherboard plugged in? Unplug any USB extra cables,firewire, etc.. cause you may have crossed something so only go with the main hookups for now.

Dan · Post by **Dan** » Sun Feb 22, 2009 5:49 pm

mountainman wrote:I have about three six packs of microbrew in the fridge. I'll start on them at dinner.

I'd love to be loading Vista tonight, but it ain't looking good.

did you clear cmos? and is the cmos battery good ?

The Dude · Post by **The Dude** » Sun Feb 22, 2009 5:49 pm

mountainman wrote:OK, I have hooked up...

Motherboard, CPU, heatsink/fan, one stick of RAM in the first slot, video card, PS/2 keyboard, USB mouse and all the power plugs into the vid/mobo that I can see.

When it turns on, it makes no sound, but the CPU fan and vid card fan turn on. The monitor doesn't have the "no signal", but it doesn't go from orange (stand by) to green (on).

Thoughts?

Is there a little PC speaker mounted on the motherboard? If not you won't here a any beeps unless you connect an external one to the header.

mountainman · Post by **mountainman** » Sun Feb 22, 2009 5:54 pm

The only power plugs I see is the big 24 pin one and another 8 pin. I got those both hooked up. I have nothing connected in way of USB, reset, etc.

Not sure how to clear CMOS as they don't have a jumper. I might have to find one on an old HDD or something. I'll try to clear that next.

I don't see a speaker on here. Hmm. The case doesn't have one either.

Not sure how to check the battery.

Testing CMOS...

Post by **YeOldeStonecat** » Sun Feb 22, 2009 5:59 pm

2.1v RAM, perhaps the mobo needs to have some basic RAM installed...allowing you to go into the BIOS..bump the RAM voltage, power down...then swap RAM. I had to do this on one of my Gigabyte boards.

The Dude · Post by **The Dude** » Sun Feb 22, 2009 5:59 pm

mountainman wrote:The only power plugs I see is the big 24 pin one and another 8 pin. I got those both hooked up. I have nothing connected in way of USB, reset, etc.

Not sure how to clear CMOS as they don't have a jumper. I might have to find one on an old HDD or something. I'll try to clear that next.

I don't see a speaker on here. Hmm. The case doesn't have one either.

Not sure how to check the battery.

Testing CMOS...

Ah, that may be why you don't hear any beeps! Is there a header marked PC Speaker on the motherboard?

mountainman · Post by **mountainman** » Sun Feb 22, 2009 6:04 pm

OK -- Reset the CMOS... nothing.

I pulled the battery and reseated it as you can sometimes get a little more juice out, but the thing is new and highly doubt that's it. (I know... you never know.)

Anyone see anything that's not compatible?

The Dude · Post by **The Dude** » Sun Feb 22, 2009 6:04 pm

What is mounted on the motherboard may not look like a conventional speaker. The one in my current case is a little round plastic bit about the size of a twist off bottle cap. Looks more like the element out of a microphone than a speaker.

YARDofSTUF · Post by **YARDofSTUF** » Sun Feb 22, 2009 6:05 pm

The clear CMOS jumper is at the bottom right corner under the sata ports.

Do you have the CPU_Fan header plugged in?

mountainman · Post by **mountainman** » Sun Feb 22, 2009 6:06 pm

What is actually needed to get something to show on screen? Just CPU? CPU and RAM?

I just don't have any extra parts or anything to test stuff with. What a PITA.

Yes, there is a pin for PC speaker.

YARDofSTUF · Post by **YARDofSTUF** » Sun Feb 22, 2009 6:09 pm

Cpu ram and video

mountainman · Post by **mountainman** » Sun Feb 22, 2009 6:12 pm

Threw a jumper on the CMOS thing for about ten seconds. The book says "a few".

The book doesn't mention anything about being a speaker on-board. I'm assuming "no".

mountainman · Post by **mountainman** » Sun Feb 22, 2009 6:13 pm

I tried with two sticks of RAM since mobo book calls for either two sticks or four. No joy.

The Dude · Post by **The Dude** » Sun Feb 22, 2009 6:15 pm

mountainman wrote:What is actually needed to get something to show on screen? Just CPU? CPU and RAM?

I just don't have any extra parts or anything to test stuff with. What a PITA.

Yes, there is a pin for PC speaker.

Any small 8 ohm speaker should work connected to pins 1 and 4. If you have another case with a speaker in it, it shouldn't be too hard to remove it temporarily.

The Dude · Post by **The Dude** » Sun Feb 22, 2009 6:22 pm

I think it has to post with no errors (a single beep) to get to the bios menu. That would be Processor, RAM, and video card. Thats been my experience, any time I got anything but the one beep I ended up with a blank screen. I believe the first screen that displays is actually the Video Card BIOS splash screen then the motherboard BIOS screen.

mountainman · Post by **mountainman** » Sun Feb 22, 2009 6:24 pm

I have no speaker. Crap.

I'm getting nothing.

Time for dinner and a beer.

Thanks for all the ideas! Any others are appreciated, but I think we're running out.

The Dude · Post by **The Dude** » Sun Feb 22, 2009 6:32 pm

You don't happen to have an old PCI video card you could try? That or try that video card in another PC.

Sava700 · Post by **Sava700** » Sun Feb 22, 2009 7:01 pm

You need another stick or ram to test with....

According to this pdf for memory supported for that board I don't even see Patriot on it.

http://www.gigabyte.com.tw/FileList/Mem ... 5-ud3p.pdf

The CPU looks to be on the list... a bios flash might help once you get it to post which is why I suggest another stick of ram that might be on that list.

Bios looks up to a F8F as of 4 days ago which is beta..but the latest official is F7 from 1/13/2009
http://www.gigabyte.com.tw/Support/Moth ... uctID=2919

mountainman · Post by **mountainman** » Sun Feb 22, 2009 7:02 pm

Thanks for the thoughts, but the only other PC I have (other than my laptop) is a PC from 2002 and the video card is AGP. No AGP slots here.

****!!!