8800GTS DVIs not working?

[grottobill]

Hello there. So I decided to build a new system, everything was going ok until I tried to hook up a monitor.
The video card the eVGA 8800GTS 320mb and the mobo is a Gigabyte GA-P35-DS3. The power on the card works, nothing beeps, it starts up fine, but I simply cannot get a monitor to work with it.
I'm using an adapter (VGA to DVI) because my monitor is only VGA, but the adapter works (as I just tried it on this system). The video card worked fine in my friends computer an hour earlier, this is killing me. I can't get to BIOS, can't do anything. I've tried different monitors, I've only had one result, nothing except an orange light. I can't imagine anything physically being wrong with the card, as it was shipped in the nice anti-static bag, wasn't harshly handled, and like I said worked fine earlier. If anyone could point me in the right direction to fix this problem it would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Bill

 

[robisbell]

okay, your motherboard has a vga plug on it, perhaps?

 

[grottobill]

Nope, no VGA anywhere =(. The card has 2x DVI and the board has PCI-E and PCI only. No internal video.

 

[robisbell]

where's your old card?

 

[grottobill]

This is a totally new system, I just put it all together yesterday. I have another system I'm on now that has an AGP card with one DVI and one AGP port, both work. I tested the DVI adapter from the monitor I'm using now to my old computer and it worked, but when I try it on the new system... nothing.

 

[robisbell]

okay, try reseating the ram, processor, video, and plugs again. one at a time. make sure they are securely in place.

 

[grottobill]

Alright, I will. But wouldn't the motherboard do the beep if something wasn't in correctly? I tried unplugging the PCI-E power to the card and starting the computer, and in result came the loudest beep I've heard from an internal speaker. I'll try what you said and give it another shot.

 

[robisbell]

not if it's slightly contacting. what's the manufacturer and model of the PSU?

 

[grottobill]

I just re-did it all. To no avail =(.

DuoCore E6550
Gigabyte GA-P35-DS3L
Corsair 2x1GB 6400
eVGA 8800GTS 320mb

 

[robisbell]

do you know what the manufacturer and model of PSU?

and you've hooked up the monitor to another pc right?

 

[grottobill]

Ya it's a Corsair 550W, it's a nice one. I'm coming to think this has to be faulty hardware, which sucks major ass due to my lack of money and patience ><. Video card bad? Something else? What would happen if the CPU was bad, and how common is it?

Yes, I've tried a few different working monitors.

 

[robisbell]

okay, we know the system beeps if the pcie powers pulled from the video card. does the HDD and etc run up and blink when you turn on the pc?

have you pulled the cmos battery and let it sit for an hour, then replace the battery and try booting it up?

 

[grottobill]

The HDD starts up fine when I press the power, I can feel it revving, but the light doesn't turn on. The pin setup for the motherboard is kind of odd, I might have it wrong. The power light does turn on, along with the ROM drive's read light (it goes off a short time later, like normal).

 

[robisbell]

okay, that tells me something, you may have a pins jumpered for the front panel.

also to double check myself. both the 4 pin 12V rail and the 24Pin power are connected on the mobo.

 

[grottobill]

Ahh thank you sooo much sir. It was the 12V power. My own fault for jumping into it thinking things are the same as 5 years ago. When did they start doing that, and what is the reason?

You are a savior, and I can't really say in words how happy I am this is resolved, instead I'm looking at my new computer!!

=)

 

[robisbell]

they started about 4-5 years ago, I'd have to point you to tech articles as to why, mainly because CPU's needed a stable level of power.

glad it's up and running, enjoy.

 

[PurdueRy]

Good work robisbell troubleshooting his problem. As a fairly new member, welcome to the forums.

 

[robisbell]

oh, it's nothing, 99% of the time it's hardware. most young techs don't think that or will not take the time to fix the problem.