Assembling new rig, computer turns up, fans spin, no video...

Sulaco

Diamond Member
Mar 28, 2003
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Hey guys,

I'm building a new rig.

Basics are Asus X52 Sabertooth Mobo, I7 950, 6 Gb Corsair XMS3 DDR3, and GeForce GTX 570.
Powered by a 700W Corsair "Gaming Edition" PSU.

I have the basics connected inside the case....motherboard in place, CPU w/Heatsink+fan, RAM installed, and Video card. Both PCI-e power connectors are connected the the video card.

Upon powering it on, all the fans spin up, including the video card fan, the lights come on, but I'm not getting any signal from the monitor.
I've tried two different monitors, and every other open PCIe slot.

Still nothing.

I hope I'm just overlooking something very basic, but no matter what, I SHOULD get a signal to the monitor at this point, right? I should be able to at least see a BIOS screen by now, no?

Thanks for any ideas!
 

Maverick6969

Member
Feb 10, 2010
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I should be able to at least see a BIOS screen by now, no?

Most definitely.

That's an odd one. Never had that happen to me before. I know you said "new rig", but are you by chance using any "used" or "recertified" parts? Just because the video card fan spins up doesn't mean it's good.

The 570 GTX is monster video card. Have you checked to make sure you have the the 4-pin or 6-pin power connector hooked up to your video card?

Edit: Disregard that last paragraph. I re-read your post. I see you've got the PCI-e power connectors hooked up to the video card.

Is it possible for you to swap out the video card with a known good video card? If so, you could rule out a faulty motherboard fairly quickly.

These days w/ flat panel monitors being so popular, it's sort of hard to troubleshoot video card problems. With CRT monitors, I would normally check to see if the light (LED) on the monitor would turn from orange or amber color to green indicating a good video connection. If you are by chance using such a monitor (flat panel or otherwise), see if the light on the monitor is atleast an amber color. At the very minimum, this will tell you that you are getting a power signal from the video card.

Also, by saying this I am not trying to insult you in the slightest. But it wouldn't hurt to check to make sure the CPU is installed correctly in the socket.

Barring any hardware defects, there's gotta be something simple that's causing this problem.
 
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Sulaco

Diamond Member
Mar 28, 2003
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Thanks for the reply!

*EDIT FOR CLARIFICATION* It's an Asus X58 Mobo, not an X52 like I posted***



I just tested out a new video card, my brother's ATI 4870, and I have the same issue still.

Card spins up fine, both power dongles inserted, no signal to the monitor. And yes, the monitor is on, is a working LCD monitor, amber light stays on and never switches to green.

As far as the CPU goes, I'm fairly certain it's installed correctly. It can only go one way, and it dropped right it, no problem.

I suppose I'll try the other PCIe slot and see what happens. This is starting to get frustrating. Aside from testing another video card, is there any sort of "fail safe" way to see if its the mobo for certain?

Is there anything else inside the case, anything at all, that would keep the machine from displaying a signal or getting to BIOS at this stage other than the GPU or video card related issues?

Thanks again!
 

Sulaco

Diamond Member
Mar 28, 2003
3,825
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**EDIT FOR CLARIFICATION**

All the parts were purchased brand new at a local Microcenter store on friday.
 

Sulaco

Diamond Member
Mar 28, 2003
3,825
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Dumb question:

RAM/Memory errors would not prevent at least getting a signal to the monitor, right?
 

bigboxes

Lifer
Apr 6, 2002
41,885
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Off hand I would say you have a bad motherboard. First check all your psu connections (to the motherboard and periphials. Next, make sure your memory is fully and correctly seated. Make sure the cpu heatsink is properly plugged into the motherboard header. If not the fans would just spin and then shut down. I would take back the mobo to MC and exchange it. If it still doesn't boot up then exchange the cpu.
 

Maverick6969

Member
Feb 10, 2010
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Dumb question:

RAM/Memory errors would not prevent at least getting a signal to the monitor, right?

Well using incompatible RAM would definitely cause the system to fail during POST. However, it might even cause the system to fail in providing a video signal. (I'm not 100% positive about that). In my experience, some Asus motherboards I've worked on in the past were somewhat fussy about the type of RAM used - so I would go on their website and double check to make sure the RAM you bought is indeed compatible w/ that motherboard.

If you already done so, my inclination would be to do the following:

Disconnect everything inside the case except for the CPU, RAM, and obviously the video card. And don't use all 3 sticks of RAM, take out 2 and see if you can atleast get a successful POST with 1 stick. If successful, install the 2nd RAM module. See if it will post. Then add the 3rd module.

If you're able to get a successful post doing this, then add one piece of hardware at a time until you are able to replicate the problem.
 

Sulaco

Diamond Member
Mar 28, 2003
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Well guys, I guess its down to either the Mobo or the memory incompatibility.

I've tested two different cards, one brand new and one I KNOW works just fine, and neither gave a signal. So it's not the new card, I guess.

Second, I tried two working monitors, neither showed anything, so its not a faulty cable/monitor.

So that's leaves either the Mobo or RAM, AFAIK.

I'm hesitant about the motherboard, because I tried two separate PCIe slots, neither displayed anything.

So I guess that leaves the RAM. It turns out my memory is NOT SUPPORTED (according to Asus' documents and online resource) by this motherboard. Also, Asus' "MemOK!" function has a red LED that lights up if the memory is incompatible or not working correctly, and sure enough, it's staying on solid and no amount of tweaking or resetting BIOS or changing out memory DIMMS seems to help.
I didn't think incompatible RAM would keep even a signal from reaching the monitor, but I guess I'm wrong??


So what do you guys think I should do? As of now, I'm planning on returning my RAM to Microcenter tomorrow for some that is approved by Asus to work, and see what happens?

I guess if that STILL doesn't work, take the whole damn motherboard back and try another one?

I'm just glad I don't have to wait weeks and do this all online. That's one plus out of all of this...
 

Maverick6969

Member
Feb 10, 2010
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So I guess that leaves the RAM. It turns out my memory is NOT SUPPORTED (according to Asus' documents and online resource) by this motherboard. Also, Asus' "MemOK!" function has a red LED that lights up if the memory is incompatible or not working correctly, and sure enough, it's staying on solid and no amount of tweaking or resetting BIOS or changing out memory DIMMS seems to help.
I didn't think incompatible RAM would keep even a signal from reaching the monitor, but I guess I'm wrong??

Yes, getting different RAM would definitely be the next step. If you decide to get the RAM from MicroCenter, have them do a bench test for you. Take your motherboard, CPU, heatsink, and the new RAM; the techs at MicroCenter will do a bench test for you. It's usually like $20 bucks or so. They might have gone up in price but I can't imagine it being more than $40.

I am only mentioning this option because if in the off chance it happens to be the motherboard, then it will save you a trip back to the store to get a new motherboard. However, the fact that Asus' "MemOK!" function has a red LED that stays lit is telling you that there is definitely an issue with the RAM. I'm tellin' ya like I said before, I've worked on some Asus mobos that are fussy about the type (brand name) of RAM used.
 

jojoyay

Junior Member
Dec 25, 2010
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i had the same problem with the same motherboard, but mine was really simple. i didnt plug in the 8-pin connector right above the cpu heatsing/fan. take off the little 4 pin black cap and plug in the 8-pin connector if you havent already. hope this helped at all.
 

Sulaco

Diamond Member
Mar 28, 2003
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Well guys,

Got home today with some new OCZ RAM, verified with Asus website and manual that it works with this mobo.

Same problem.

Red LED MemOK light stays on, no matter how many DIMMs are used, no matter what order.

More importantly, still no signal to the monitor. Nothing.

I guess I'm just going to return it and have them test the next one before I leave the store.

Thanks for the replies to everyone, but hey, at least I don't have to RMA.

I'll post back with an update in case this happens to anyone else.
 

Sulaco

Diamond Member
Mar 28, 2003
3,825
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Well guys, just got back from Microcenter.

I went ahead and swapped the motherboard out for the Gigabyte X58A-UD3R motherboard.

Got it home, hooked everything up as I had before. And BOOM...


Everything works!

It was beautiful seeing that BIOS screen come up right after powering on. So I'm guessing the last motherboard was just shot, and this pretty much proves it.

Thanks to everyone who helped, it was much appreciated!
 

BoomerD

No Lifer
Feb 26, 2006
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Congrats. I just finished my first "solo" build in more than 10 years. I was happy as hell when the mobo went through all the POST checks and booted to the BIOS screen. My heart stopped a couple of times as each red LED lit up...then went out as the system checked itself...<phew>