no info to monitor

[euknemarchon]

I recently built a new computer. Once I got everything except the DVD burner and wireless in it I decided to try it out. All of the fans and LEDs come on perfectly when I start the computer, but the monitor doesn't seem to respond when I turn the computer on. It receives some sort of signal though because it looks just like a monitor looks when it is connected to an off tower and the power to the monitor is still on - the green light blinks and the monitor is black. I'm worried I may have shorted the mobo or video card.

mobo: ASUS A8N-SLI Deluxe nForce4 SLI
video card: eVGA Geforce 6800XT 256 mb
RAM: 2x512 meg
hard drive: 200 gig SATA 150 seagate
processor: athlon 64 3700+ san diego
PSU: 420 watt

 

[sieistganzfett]

hi, here are a few things you can try, let us know about the results.

1. if you have a "pc speaker" connect it to the motherboard and hear for any beep codes since "only fans spin up", then act accordingly by making sure parts are seated right, etc.

2. do you have the extra power cables plugged into both the motherboard (correct connector for the 4pin one) and the additional power cables plugged into the video card?

3. try connecting the computer or the monitor to a know working device.

 

[euknemarchon]

Could you describe making sure parts are seated right? I don't have a pc speaker (or at least it's not hooked up) but I don't think it boots at all if that's what you mean.

What do you mean "correct connector for the 4pin one"? I just put one of the basic 4-pin connectors in the one 4-pin thing, the bigger connector with 20 pins or whatever, and the litte 4-pin thing in there. The processor fan comes on, and its power comes from the mobo. The fan on the video card comes on when I start the computer, and I can't see any connectors on it, so I don't *think* there is a power connector for it separate from the PCI-express slot - though I will try plugging it in to the other PCI express slot to see if I put it in the wrong x16 vs. x1 slot.

I'm currently on my "old computer" using the same monitor I planned to use for my new computer, so it's not the monitor's functionality. The computer itself does the same thing on my mom's monitor, so I really don't think the monitor is the issue.

Any help is greatly appreciated. My current system is 600 mhz p3, 128 meg ram, 10 gig hard drive, so every extra hour spent on this machine when I've *GOT* the new machine right there is crazy stressful.

 

[sieistganzfett]

a "pc speaker" is a little speaker that would could connect to the motherboard's "speaker" jumpers right near where you connected the front panel power button to. The speaker can be used to see if there are any beeps, which would be helpful in troubleshooting this problem. Just because the fans spin up doesnt mean much other than there is some sort of power. it still could be anything causing the problem from something loose, to something bad..

mechBgon has an extremely great site that shows pictures and details that can help you see which connectors, etc are correct. http://www.mechbgon.com/build/benchtest.html

for the different card to be installed properly, it means that they are seated all of the way down, not on an angle for instance, not where some of the contacts are out. your actually best off testing with only 1 stick of memory in dimm 3 of the motherboard, with just the cpu and the video card, preferably with this outside of the case. now that we know the monitor is fine, its probably that something is loose or not connected, etc. is this your first build by the way? Im just curious..

the memory you have, what brand and model is it? is it something like corsair, etc. that has activity lights on it? are both sticks the same exact brand/model that came in a dual channel kit? make sure that when your testing the memory is properly seated, and try it out first with just one stick at a time in the 3rd dimm slot (that sometimes gets it to boot)

make sure the cpu was properly seated also, take it out and put it back it.

the power cables, there is two kinds for atx, the 20 pin and a 4 pin atx 12volt square looking connector that has a lever on one side that sort of snaps onto the motherboard, and you may have another that is similar to it but has rail like things on the one side that would get it to attach to the 20 pin connector which would make it atx2.0's 24 pin connector, your setup will use the 20pin and the 4 pin square looking connector that has a lever, without rail like things on the side. http://www.mechbgon.com/build/cables.html can be used as reference. your video card, i dont know about the 6800xt, but my "6800" needs a power cable connected to it, you may have connector on the card, on the side that faces the front of your case, you can see that also on mechBgon's site.

 

[euknemarchon]

I took out the stick of RAM I had in the first DIMM slot and moved the video card from the slot I'd had it in to the slot below it. It's on now. The only problems I have now are trivial and probably involve me taking a hammer to that chassis.

Yes, this is my first build. That eVGA book that came with the video card lied to me. It said
I wanted the PCI Express slot closest to the PSU, but it was the one just below that I wanted.