Just built new computer... and I'm going insane

[meangreen]

I just finished building a new computer and powered it on for the first time and it came up with the message that there had been a change to the CPU or BIOS and needed to be hard booted(can't remember the exact message). I did just that and now nothing comes up at all, as there is no signal to the monitor. I know that this question has probably been asked a thousand times, but if anyone could help me out I would greatly appreciate it. This machine is about to drive me insane.

By the way, it powers on fine. LED on front comes on and all fans and everything fire up. Just doesn't boot up and no signal to monitor. I've un and replugged the monitor up multiple times, but it worked the first time, just not any time since then. Would the message I recieved the first time it started up be indictative of any particular kind of problem? Thanks again, guys.

 

[MustISO]

Try to clear the bios, power it back on and see what happens.

 

[RallyMaster]

Resetting CMOS usually does the trick.

 

[meangreen]

Originally posted by: RallyMaster
Resetting CMOS usually does the trick.

Tried this and it is still doing the same thing... any other ideas?

 

[montag451]

Reseat RAM and grafix card, try again.

If still no joy, disconnect EVERYthing from mobo and psu except cpu/fan and case speaker/pwr switch.
Any beeps then?
If yes, add in RAM - same again?
Then grafix card

 

[meangreen]

I unplugged everything but the memory and video card and it started up. So I plugged in everything else and got Windows installed and thought everything was fine, until I installed the drivers for my video card(evga 8600gt) and then the screen went black again with no signal to the monitor. Now it is doing the same thing and I can't do anything to get a signal to the monitor, even unplugging everything but the memory and video card again. I really don't know what to do now.

 

[cprince]

It seems like there is a problem with your BIOS settings. Are you overclocking? If not, make sure that the CPU speed is correct, RAM speed and timings are correct, PCI-E clock is correct(100MHz). Also check for BIOS update. By the way, is your power supply capable of handling the load?

 

[meangreen]

Originally posted by: cprince
It seems like there is a problem with your BIOS settings. Are you overclocking? If not, make sure that the CPU speed is correct, RAM speed and timings are correct, PCI-E clock is correct(100MHz). Also check for BIOS update. By the way, is your power supply capable of handling the load?

I reset the BIOS originally when there was no signal to the monitor and then again after everything seemed to be going fine. I barely installed Windows and just installed the video card drivers when the signal to the monitor was cut again, so there has been no overclocking and I haven't had a chance to update the BIOS. My PS is 450w Cooler Master. Everything is stock at this point, just can't get a signal to the monitor.

 

[cprince]

I think that it's either a bad power supply or memory problem that prevents the motherboard from successfully POST. What type of CPU, motherboard, and memory do you have? The 450W power supply seems to be a little small.

 

[RadiclDreamer]

Originally posted by: cprince
I think that it's either a bad power supply or memory problem that prevents the motherboard from successfully POST. What type of CPU, motherboard, and memory do you have? The 450W power supply seems to be a little small.

450watt psu is plenty unless you are doing multiple hard drives and sli. More likely seems like a very dodgy connection between the video card and the motherboard

 

[meangreen]

my components

mobo: EVGA 122-CK-NF66-T1 LGA 775 NVIDIA nForce 650i Ultra ATX Intel Motherboard
CPU: Intel Dual-Core E2160 Allendale 1.8GHz LGA 775 Processor Model BX80557E2160
vid card: EVGA 256-P2-N751-TR GeForce 8600GT 256MB GDDR3 PCI Express x16 Video Card
HD: Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 ST3320620AS 320GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive
memory: Crucial Ballistix 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel
PS: COOLER MASTER Real Power RS-450-ACLY ATX12V 450W Power Supply

No multiple HDs or SLI, so PS isn't the problem. I have reseated the video card innumberable times as I figured that it would most likely be the problem. Unfortunately, I don't have another PCI-E card to try as I built this computer to replace my old comp that had AGP. I've been thinking about buying the cheapest PCI-E card I can find to test with, but I really don't want to find out that is the problem and have to buy a whole new video card that is good enough to do what I want to do.

 

[btcomm1]

I have a feeling it's your video card. You said that you were able to get everything installed, then you installed the video driver and it went blank. Try another video card.

 

[meangreen]

Update.

I removed the CPU and reinstalled it and the heatsink and the computer started up. Figuring I solved the problem I installed all my drivers and when I changed the resolution I lost signal to the monitor. That sealed the deal of me thinking that my video card was to blame for all my problems so I ordered a new one. It came in today and I installed it and wouldn't you know, I still had no signal to the monitor. I, of course, yelled a few expletives. Now I have no clue what the problem is. Anyone have any ideas??

 

[JustaGeek]

If you can, install a PCI Video Card.

I have a feeling it is your PCIe slot, e.g. your chipset.

I think you'll have to RMA the motherboard.

 

[meangreen]

Originally posted by: JustaGeek
If you can, install a PCI Video Card.

I have a feeling it is your PCIe slot, e.g. your chipset.

I think you'll have to RMA the motherboard.

No PCI video card, and I really don't feel like spending any more money on this thing. Is there any other way I can check this out? Too bad my mobo doesn't have onboard video.

 

[RadiclDreamer]

Originally posted by: meangreen

Originally posted by: JustaGeek
If you can, install a PCI Video Card.

I have a feeling it is your PCIe slot, e.g. your chipset.

I think you'll have to RMA the motherboard.

No PCI video card, and I really don't feel like spending any more money on this thing. Is there any other way I can check this out? Too bad my mobo doesn't have onboard video.

Thats the bad part about troubleshooting, not everything can be easily tested without actually trying a known good part. Like I stated earlier, if it isnt the card its the connection

 

[hoodsy]

Hi,

I was also having the same problems and was pulling out my hair - I tried many things and finally came across a post that mentioned a problem with the driver and the DVI port in digital mode - If your monitor has a analog connection, use that and connect it to the card with the included adapter - It should then recognize the monitor and you should be good to go.
I'm just hoping that they will come out with a new driver that takes care of this problem soon...