Finally built the computer.. but no image

[Stroud]

I'm beginning to worry that something may be seriously damaged.

I have an ASUS p4b533-E motherboard, a Radeon 9700 Pro graphics card, and a Samsung SyncMaster 955df monitor (I don't believe that the floppy drive, processor, etc. are relevant). Both the monitor and computer are plugged in, the monitor is connected securely to the video card, and the video card is connected properly to the power supply, but when I turn everything on there is no image on the monitor. The fans start going, there's a little "beep," but all the monitor does is start that green light blinking.

I know there is a signal, however, because when the monitor is turned on but not connected to anything, there's a "screen saver" saying that there is no connection.

I've tried using both of the connectors on the card to connect the monitor (the card came with an adapter), and fiddling with the brightness and contrast, and I really have no idea what the problem could be.

 

[Stroud]

I just realized I may have answered my own question in that post..

The P4B533-E, by default, uses voice messages during the POST instead of beeps. I haven't changed any of the jumpers or switches (it also uses "jumper-free mode" by default), so it shouldn't beep when I start it up. At one point while I was putting the computer together, I took the heatsink off of the processor, and the stock thermal stuff (a little black square) may need to be replaced now (I have four tubes of thermal compound lying around, luckily).

My questions now are.. could removing the heatsink once make the original thermal stuff stop working correctly, and if so, could that be the cause of the beep immediately after I power on the computer (apparently the p4 stops working when it gets too hot, and the motherboard is supposed to make a beep when that happens, but I imagine overheating would take more than a fraction of a second)? Finally, could the processor not working prevent any image being sent to the monitor?

 

[BPiersol]

When you assembled your pc did you use an old graphics card? I had that problem with mine. My old card that i was going to re-use had "married" my old pc somehow and just would not work on my new system. I put it back in the old one and it worked like a charm. Bought a new GeForce for my new pc and it's been smooth sailing.

Also, does your board have on board video? you need to move a jumper to disable it if it does. Check your manual.

 

[Stroud]

The graphics card I have is an ATI Radeon 9700 Pro.. I just got it in the mail today. When I came upon this problem I tried using an old nVidia GeForce2 mx from a different computer, and the problem remained, so I don't believe it's the video card.

There is nothing about on-board video in any of my motherboard documentation, or on any website I've seen, but there is also nothing about the absence of on-board video, so I'm not entirely sure. There isn't a connector on the motherboard that matches my monitor's wire.

 

[KingofFah]

Your PSU is?

 

[Stroud]

Turbo-Cool 350 ATX (from PC Power and Cooling)

edit : I would try the power supply from the other computer (it's also ATX), but it's a Dell, heh..

 

[BPiersol]

Check your video card out- this is a cut and paste from ASUS website:

Question :

My P4B ran out of order suddenly with my SiS305 AGP card. It was just working fine before I replaced the other AGP4X card. What happened to my P4B?

Answer :

Intel 845 chipset supports 1.5V signaling AGP cards only and the AGP slot on P4B got 1.5V key in it following the AGP specification in order to prevent a 3.3V AGP card from being plugged in. However, it turned out some AGP adapters such as SiS305 based cards, though operate at only 3.3V signaling level, were notched at the 1.5V key on the golden-finger interface. When using these cards, if the Vddq and VCC3.3 signals are shorted on them, will break up the 82845 memory controller hub as the Vddq is raised from 1.5V to 3.3V instead. In other words, the P4B mainboard will be permanently damaged as a result as soon as the system is powered up with such an AGP card. According to AGP specification, AGP4X mode will work at 1.5V signaling level only. If your AGP card has the 1.5V notch as illustrated in the user's manual but it cannot support AGP4X, please check with your card provider or manufacturer whether it can operate at 1.5V signaling level before it's used in combination with P4B.

 

[BPiersol]

Link to the FAQ page:

http://usa.asus.com/mb/socket478/p4b/faq.htm

 

[Stroud]

Nevermind about the processor and the beep.. it only beeps when the hard drive is plugged in, so it's some kind of HD thing. I think all that's left now is that the motherboard must be damaged..