1st Build / Blank Screen / Please help!!

[mikelieber]

I'm running a 600W power supply.
Asus P5NSLI
80GB Maxtor HDD From old computer.
PNY GeForce 7900 GS Video Card
Intel D 940 CPU
Sound Blaster X-Fi Fidelity Sond Card
(2) 1GB Kingston Memory Ram

I have a 400GB Seagate HDD coming in the mail. Could that be the problem?

But I tried building the computer inside the case, and outside with the instuctions to only hook up the motherboard, power supply, cpu, video card, and monitor, and they said i should get something on the screen. But nothing. I have no idea whats wrong.

Is something shorted out?

This freaking sucks.

When it was inside the case I quadrupple checked that everything was hooked up fine. Someone please help. I'm lost. Terribly.

I just want to computer to run.

[Cricket]

What brand is that power supply?

Does the power supply have a 24 pin main power connector?

Do you have both the 24 pin and the 4 pin motherboard power connectors plugged in?

Cricket

[minsonngo]

Originally Posted by mikelieber But I tried building the computer inside the case, and outside with the instuctions to only hook up the motherboard, power supply, cpu, video card, and monitor, and they said i should get something on the screen. But nothing. I have no idea whats wrong.

Did you buy the right kind of memory for the board? That board takes DDR2 667 memory.


You did not say that you installed the memory when you hooked everything up. If so... make sure you install at least one stick.

[mikelieber]

Yes I have the 24 pin and the 4 pin plugged in.

And the power supply is ATX. and I've triple checked that the memory is the right memory for the motherboard.

I just put everything back into the case, hooking it up one by one, triple checking everything and turned it on again, and I got nothing. I mean BIOS should definitely at least come on. I don't actaully care right now if the computer works, I just want SOMETHING on the screen. Some form of life to flow through the computer. Some sign of a pulse prancing through my processor...

What if the processor isn't working?

And would it be bad if I turned on the computer a long time ago with everything hooked up without a memory stick in it?

[glc]

Without a memory stick, it will just beep at you, no damage. Read and follow carefully:

http://forum.pcmech.com/showthread.php?t=132409

What is the BRAND and MODEL of that power supply? "ATX" is just a type.

[mikelieber]

I've been double checking all of my conncections and I haven't found one thing that is misplaced or wrong.

It could be my old HD, and I guess that could be it, I'll just have to wait for the new HD to come in.. but BIOS should come up and count memory right?

I think it might be my CPU.. The lights on my MOBO are on.. everything is working. Any ideas out there?

[mikelieber]

The power supply is an Ultra X-Finity came with the barebones kit I bought.

Before I decided to get the barebones, I have a 2.0 500W Smart power that I loved.

[mikelieber]

I also did the Hal thing last night, and got nothing on my display. My fan on my video card wasn't running and I thought it was weird that it wasn't.

AND Theres been no beeping of any kind from my computer.

[Cricket]

Originally Posted by mikelieber It could be my old HD, and I guess that could be it, I'll just have to wait for the new HD to come in.. but BIOS should come up and count memory right?

Yes, you should at least get the first BIOS boot screen if everything else is working properly.

Originally Posted by mikelieber I think it might be my CPU..

When troubleshooting computer problems never assume anything. Going through the proper troubleshooting steps will help you determine exactly where the problem is.

Originally Posted by mikelieber The lights on my MOBO are on.. everything is working.

No, everything is not working. Just because the LEDs on the motherboard are on only means the motherboard is getting some power from the power supply. It doesn't mean everything is working properly.

Originally Posted by mikelieber The power supply is an Ultra X-Finity came with the barebones kit I bought. Before I decided to get the barebones, I have a 2.0 500W Smart power that I loved.

Ultra power supplies are rubbish. Try the Antec with just the core parts assembled (motherboard, CPU, CPU heatsink, 1 stick of RAM, video card, keyboard, monitor, PC case speaker and power supply).

Originally Posted by mikelieber I also did the Hal thing last night, and got nothing on my display. My fan on my video card wasn't running and I thought it was weird that it wasn't.

That's because something is wrong with your computer.

Originally Posted by mikelieber AND Theres been no beeping of any kind from my computer.

Do you have the PC case speaker hooked up?

Cricket

[mikelieber]

Okay. So basically, I returned the Antec, and I'm kind of pissed I did now. I have no idea if there is a case speaker in this mug. I hooked up the 4pin speaker to the MOBO, but other than that I don't know.

I did not think building a computer is this frustrating.

So where do I go from here..?

And will the computer work without the heatsink. Its kind of in the mail on the way here.

[Cricket]

Do the out-of-case troubleshooter with just the core parts assembled and then tell us exactly what happens when you power up the system. List the core parts that are assembled.

When you try to power up does the power supply fan start to spin? Does the CPU heatsink fan spin?

If you have a 4 pin speaker hooked up to the motherboard then you should be getting BIOS beeps if the motherboard is working properly.

Try to start just the motherboard and CPU up with no RAM or video card and see if you get any beeps out of the speaker. If you don't, you may have a dead motherboard on your hands.

Cricket

[mikelieber]

Originally Posted by Cricket Do the out-of-case troubleshooter with just the core parts assembled and then tell us exactly what happens when you power up the system. List the core parts that are assembled. When you try to power up does the power supply fan start to spin? Does the CPU heatsink fan spin? If you have a 4 pin speaker hooked up to the motherboard then you should be getting BIOS beeps if the motherboard is working properly. Try to start just the motherboard and CPU up with no RAM or video card and see if you get any beeps out of the speaker. If you don't, you may have a dead motherboard on your hands. Cricket

Okay, when the case and parts were assembled, I tried again and there were no beeps, I tried my dvd/cdroms and they did not open, and they were plugged in properly as well. I'm about to go out to lunch right now, but will definitely do the out of case again, and tell you exactly what happens later this afternoon.

IF it is a dead motherboard, does that happen often?

Plus, I just unhooked everything except the CPU and MOBO and tried to run it and did not receive any beeps.

[Cricket]

Originally Posted by mikelieber IF it is a dead motherboard, does that happen often?

Depends on the motherboard brand. Cheap low quality motherboards have a higher DOA rate than high quality motherboards. ASUS motherboard are high quality with a low failure rate, but there is always a chance you'll get one DOA.

Originally Posted by mikelieber Plus, I just unhooked everything except the CPU and MOBO and tried to run it and did not receive any beeps.

Was the motherboard in or out of the case? And are you sure the speaker connector is on the correct pins on the motherboard?

Cricket

[mikelieber]

Still in. I'll take it out when I get back and do an evaluation on each part and try to run them piece by piece building up to find out what doesn't work. I'll get back to you in a couple hours. Thank you for the help. And the speaker is definitely on the right pins, it came with a sub connector to align everything them to put in on the motherboard. So I'm pretty sure.

[minsonngo]

Originally Posted by mikelieber And will the computer work without the heatsink. Its kind of in the mail on the way here.

That is your problem there. You will definately need to have a heatsink/fan installed on top of the processor.

[Cricket]

Originally Posted by mikelieber And will the computer work without the heatsink. Its kind of in the mail on the way here.

Geez, you're trying to run the computer without the CPU heatsink installed? minsonngo is right, that's the problem. You should have mentioned that in your first post.

Cricket

[mikelieber]

So thats it? Just the heatsink? How can a fan have so much effect on a computer..?

[Cricket]

Originally Posted by mikelieber So thats it? Just the heatsink? How can a fan have so much effect on a computer..?

You're lucky you have a newer processor and motherboard that have built in thermal protection. The motherboard sensed that there was no heatsink fan installed and it refused to power up to keep the CPU from getting damaged. In the past if you tried to run the computer without the heatsink on the CPU you'd fry it to a crisp in a few seconds.

Cricket

[mikelieber]

Wow.. I definitely just learned something. Thanks for the tip, and good thing I learned this through sudo-experience.

Well.. I will wait for the heatsink to come in, and the build and I will get to some business. Thank you for the help. I really appreciate it. This is my first build, and I'm learning and growing.

Enjoy the days guys, this case is closed.

[minsonngo]

Originally Posted by Cricket In the past if you tried to run the computer without the heatsink on the CPU you'd fry it to a crisp in a few seconds. Cricket

A lesson many techies have learned the hard way in the past.

[minsonngo]

Originally Posted by mikelieber Wow.. I definitely just learned something. Thanks for the tip, and good thing I learned this through sudo-experience. Well.. I will wait for the heatsink to come in, and the build and I will get to some business. Thank you for the help. I really appreciate it. This is my first build, and I'm learning and growing. Enjoy the days guys, this case is closed.

Awesome. I hope you enjoy your new build!

[Hazaro]

Wow, yea... I'm not sure what the shut off point is, but CPU's can get up to 60C, 140F, WITH A FAN. Hope everything works ok after.