New Build. Not displaying on start up.

[Grimm_0]

To start here's my build.

PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/sI7C
Price breakdown by merchant: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/sI7C/by_merchant/
Benchmarks: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/sI7C/benchmarks/

CPU: AMD FX-4170 4.2GHz Quad-Core Processor ($119.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: ASRock 990FX Extreme4 ATX AM3+ Motherboard ($129.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-2133 Memory ($59.98 @ Outlet PC)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Black 2TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($156.99 @ SuperBiiz)
Video Card: Sapphire Radeon HD 7950 3GB Video Card ($376.48 @ NCIX US)
Case: Thermaltake VN300M1W2N ATX Full Tower Case ($99.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Antec High Current Gamer 750W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply ($79.99 @ Microcenter)
Total: $1010.41
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2012-12-16 00:58 EST-0500)


Now that that's out of the way here is my issue. To my somewhat limited knowledge I have everything plugged in, on power up all the fans start spinning, leds light up, the HDD spins up, optical drive opens and closes. Despite this there is no display. My first thought was the GPU, but I swapped PCI slots, switched power cables (to PSU), tried different DVI and HDMI cables, switched the card out for my old (but working) GTX 260, and nothing.

Furthermore, when I plug in peripherals, namely my keyboard, it does not power up and no tone plays when buttons are pressed or even just held down.

Everything has been unplugged, replugged, I tried either sticks of RAM in all of the slots.

The icing on the cake is that the mobo doesn't have any video output option, which is somewhat mindbottling, it bottles the mind...

Any help would be appreciated, was looking forward to getting this beast running but my patience is wearing thin.

Thanks in advance for reading and any attempts at helping me get a grasp on the issue.

 

[Smoove910]

What kind of monitor? Are you using the DVI cable that came with the monitor? On the monitor, is there a way to select the input?

I am a little confused on the statement : Furthermore, when I plug in peripherals, namely my keyboard, it does not power up and no tone plays when buttons are pressed or even just held down

Do this mean when you plug something it, it doesn't power on at all; no fans spin, no leds, etc?

Almost sounding like a short... are all your standoffs positioned correctly?

 

[Steltek]

The motherboard has an HDMI header onboard, but you'd need an actual HDMI port output to plug in to it to use it (which I assume isn't supplied with the motherboard).

Since everything powers up properly, I suspect the hardware is all good. I also suspect that your memory is not compatible with the motherboard. It doesn't appear on the ASrock memory support list, nor does it show as a compatible module in the G.Skill memory configurator on their website.

What happens if you boot the machine without any memory installed? Do you get any beep codes?

The fact that the USB peripherals aren't powering up doesn't mean anything as the BIOS has to enumerate them before they'll power up, and your system isn't getting that far.

EDIT:
Smoove910 is right that you should also consider grounding issues. You can test this by removing the motherboard from the case, placing it on a cardboard box/antistatic bag, plug in the power connectors, one stick of DRAM, and the video card. Start the machine by grounding the switch headers with a screwdriver, and see what happens.

 

[Grimm_0]

Everything powers on, but Steltek pointed out it doesnt even get to bios so it wont power them up. Two different monitors, both work, a dell stock monitor from my old comp and a samsung 19" tv.

 

[Steltek]

Everything powers on, but Steltek pointed out it doesnt even get to bios so it wont power them up. Two different monitors, both work, a dell stock monitor from my old comp and a samsung 19" tv.

Do you get any beep codes when you start without any memory installed? If you do, it is almost certainly the memory. If not, I'd look at the grounding issue.

 

[Grimm_0]

Just tried with/without the RAM, and tried the grounding fix, nothing changed.

 

[Smoove910]

Is there an option in your BIOS which allows you to choose what display to boot? (i.e, boot your PCI-e first)

 

[Grimm_0]

It doesn't display, and I am fairly certain the BIOS never gets to run.

 

[Smoove910]

So I see the videocard has HDMI and DVI outputs... I'm assuming you have tried both of those... have you tried plugging the HDMI cable to the output on the motherboard?

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

You need to start at the beginning. You currently have too many variables to troubleshoot. Do a minimal install outside the box with just the GPU and one stick of ram. Try to boot. Make sure the one stick of ram is in the correct slot for that configuration.

 

[Grimm_0]

Magnus. Ive done this. Still nothing.

 

[Grimm_0]

So I see the videocard has HDMI and DVI outputs... I'm assuming you have tried both of those... have you tried plugging the HDMI cable to the output on the motherboard?

The HDMI out requires an adapter that I dont have, its an SPDIF out plug.

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

Magnus. Ive done this. Still nothing.

You've tried both sticks of ram one at a time in the correct slot for that configuration? Have you double checked your case connectors for the proper orientation to pin one? Do not rely on the wire labels. Look for the embossed triangle on each plug. Have you made sure the auxiliary power cord is plugged into your GPU?

 

[Steltek]

Magnus. Ive done this. Still nothing.

Reset the CMOS memory with no memory modules installed. Then try to start it up again. I presume the case speaker is plugged in to the appropriate headers on the motherboard?

If that doesn't work to at least get you some beep codes, I can't help but think that you may have have a bad motherboard -- the case fans spinning and optical/hard drives properly powering up would indicate the power supply is likely working, and you've used a known good video card.

 

[Smoove910]

Hmm, verify you have ram installed in white sockets... also, what slot is your videocard in? You manual says to have it in the PCIE2 slot (page 19 of your manual).

 

[Grimm_0]

Update: So, let me start off by saying, thank you to everyone for your help.

Here is where I am at. I can say its not the GPU, or PSU. As far as RAM, Disk Drive, HDD, they're irrelevant seeing as I don't even get to the BIOS. At this point do I RMA my CPU/mobo? Should I RMA one then the other, can I? Everything is from Newegg.

Thanks again.

 

[Grimm_0]

How is this reset done?

 

[Grimm_0]

Reset the CMOS memory with no memory modules installed. Then try to start it up again. I presume the case speaker is plugged in to the appropriate headers on the motherboard?

If that doesn't work to at least get you some beep codes, I can't help but think that you may have have a bad motherboard -- the case fans spinning and optical/hard drives properly powering up would indicate the power supply is likely working, and you've used a known good video card.

How is this done?

Edit : Sorry for the spam.

 

[Steltek]

How is this done?

Edit : Sorry for the spam.

Check page 37 of your user manual - that motherboard actually has a dedicated button to clear CMOS memory (such a thing is dead useful for overclockers as they don't have to mess with cracking the case to reset the BIOS settings back to defaults in event of a failed overclock attempt). The button is physically located on the back IO panel of the motherboard (it is clearly labeled as CLR CMOS).

The motherboard also has a set of pin headers which can be used to clear CMOS memory as well. You can find them as item#3 in the motherboard diagram on page 12 of the manual. It would be a good idea to locate these pins on your motherboard just to ensure they don't have a jumper installed on them in error (a state of affairs which would definitely be of the bad).

 

[mlc]

Before u go crazy with rma's, bios updates etc, double check that ALL of your PSU connectors were connected to your board as well as graphics card......including the 8 pin atx connector to the mobo.

Also double check the back of PSU to ensure the slider switch is in the correct position

 

[Grimm_0]

double check that ALL of your PSU connectors were connected to your board as well as graphics card......including the 8 pin atx connector to the mobo.

You sir, understand how much of an ass I can be.
I am up and running.

NEW PROBLEM:

When trying to boot to install windows it wont read my Win 7 disk. It says:

Reboot and Select proper Boot device
or Insert Boot Media in selected boot device and press a key

Ive done this, Ive tried switching the boot devices between my HDD and optical drive, still nothing.

This is where I am at: http://i.imgur.com/xVyoSl.jpg

Just want to say thank you to everyone that lent their collective knowledge to help me out, even though it was my foolishness that created the problem, I appreciate the efforts immensely, all the same.

Thanks so much for all of the time you've given me, and sorry to have wasted it.

 

[mlc]

Glad we could help.....trust me, we've all made similar mistakes in the past....

Now that you're over that hurdle....make sure your DVD player is being detected in bios, and make sure its listed 1st in your bios setting for boot priority.

 

[Grimm_0]

Thanks.

Everything you listed seems to check out. Although Im not hearing the audible 'whirr" of the drive spinning up.

 

[Smoove910]

LOL, do you have the power plugged into it? (Sorry, had to ask)

 

[mlc]

Make sure its set as data or ide in bios, and not raid

Make sure its an original/genuine windows disk, and not a copy

Make sure its a new install disk, and not an upgrade disk

If sata, try another cable and sata port....if side,make sure master/slave setting on DVD player is correct, and make sure if using side ribbon cable, you are using aappriate master/slave position/connector on the cable