what's the absolute bare minimum to get something to display on screen

[BlahBlahYouToo]

by displaying on screen, i mean perhaps seeing the video card manufacturer and model, or the mb info show up on screen. doesn't need to POST or go into BIOS.

can you get there with just a cpu, mb and video card? or do you need RAM as well?

 

[mnewsham]

cpu with IGP(integrated graphics processor), ram, Motherboard with video out. power supply.

 

[BlahBlahYouToo]

cpu with IGP(integrated graphics processor), ram, Motherboard with video out. power supply.

ok, so RAM is required?

 

[mnewsham]

yes.

 

[Twista]

RAM- CPU- powersupply- some type of GFX system (card or onboard) =bare min.

thats it.

Nothing else.

 

[Zap]

RAM- CPU- powersupply- some type of GFX system (card or onboard) =bare min.

thats it.

Nothing else.

I'd recommend a heatsink of some sort on the CPU. Not needed to POST, but you don't want to cook it either.

 

[MentalIlness]

Listen to Zap.

I wish my younger brother would have listened to me six months ago. Damn boy....

He had a AMD 5000+ that the fan went bad on. So he figured he'd just boot up and take a chance of it working with no fan or heat sink. The CPU got extremely hot extremely quick...started to boot...he touched it 2 seconds later, and it left a blister on his finger tip and shut off. LOL.....didn't ruin the CPU though. Still worked.

 

[corkyg]

What Twista/Zap said, but add a cable link.

 

[zCypher]

Listen to Zap.

I wish my younger brother would have listened to me six months ago. Damn boy....

He had a AMD 5000+ that the fan went bad on. So he figured he'd just boot up and take a chance of it working with no fan or heat sink. The CPU got extremely hot extremely quick...started to boot...he touched it 2 seconds later, and it left a blister on his finger tip and shut off. LOL.....didn't ruin the CPU though. Still worked.

That feature comes in handy eh? 😉