new system build....speed bump

[xplicid001]

So a buddy of mine is having some troubles with his new system build.

RAM: G.SKILL 4GB PC2 8500
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16820231166

MOBO: GIGABYTE GA-EP45-DS3L
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16813128345

GFX CARD: VisionTek 900241 Radeon HD 4850 512MB
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16814129112

CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo E8500 Wolfdale 3.16GHz
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16819115036

PSU: Antec EA650 650W
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16817371015

From the get go have been kinda unlucky with the build (deja vu from my own recent build) as he was sent a bunk psu. He choice to kinda skimp on the psu, but either way it should do its job and i dont suspect it to be the problem anymore.

the problem: Turn on the computer, all lights turn on, but nothing is displayed to the monitor(monitor is fine). Personally, it sounds like it is a graphics problem. But it also sounds like it could perhaps be a mobo problem. The mobo does NOT have onboard graphics so we cant bipass the card and check for sure. From your guys professional experience what do you guys think? He does have the thirty days return policy no questions asked and i suggested he just RMA them both. basically any ideas or suggestions you guys would have if this was your own machine.

Thanks in advance.

 

[DSF]

I don't think I'd jump straight to it being a graphics card problem. Do the fans spin up when you press the power button?

 

[cusideabelincoln]

This could easily be a motherboard (or processor) problem as well as a video card problem.

In fact, I just put together a new build with a Gigabyte motherboard, and it was very picky with the RAM I used. When I first booted it up I experienced the same thing your friend is: The lights came on and that was it. I cleared the CMOS, turned it off/on numerous times, changed some of the front panel connectors, and unplugged it countless time. After a few hours of toying it finally, magically, turned on. Even after that, it had problems properly restarting, shutting down, and coming on from standby mode. I narrowed down my problem to my motherboard not particularly liking the RAM I bought for it, because I stole some different sticks and used only a single stick of my RAM and it worked fine. After a few BIOS updates the board has been working properly.

First, have your friend make sure all connections (power and data) are correct (a common oversight is the 4/8-pin CPU power connector on the motherboard)
Make sure the heatsink was installed correctly.
Make sure the video card is pushed all the way into the slot.
Make sure he hooked up the 6-pin power connector to the video card (a common oversight)
Only try to boot up with one stick of RAM.
If there are any parts you or he can swap out, then do so one at a time. E.G. I'd try swapping out, in this order, the PSU, video card, processor, and RAM. If the board doesn't work after swapping out those four things, then it needs to be RMA'd.