Wife's Build: No Video: New Motherboard: New CPU En Route...

[b0r]

Happy 4th everyone! My wife is getting pretty stressed out over this build so I figured I would ask in advance in the event the new CPU doesn't fix our issue.

Her build is as follows:

ASRock Z77 Pro3
CX600M Corsair PSU
Intel i5 3350P
Stock Cooler
G.Skill Sniper series RAM (2x4GB) (This RAM is guaranteed working as of yesterday. Pulled out of my current build to replace with 16G's. She took my 8G set.)
Gigabyte 7870 GHz Edition 2GB

I threw the parts into an old Antec 900 case we had lying around. We didn't have the PSU on build night, so I figured I'd get everything else done and just install it when it got here.

PSU gets here, plug everything in (including CPU P4) One thing to note is the 24 pin on this CX600M is very tough to put in. This is true with TWO (2) different motherboards and I have noticed others mention it. Power on: All fans, LED's, keyboard lights, everything works. No video. Unplugged HDMI from video card and put it into Mobo: Still no video.

Double check front panel headers, clear CMOS, use VGA from monitor to Mobo: No video. (GR! shouldn't have tried to save a few bucks on a mobo and go with ASRock when I have never used them. Start RMA for ASRock board, order MSI GD55 as the replacement. I use the GD65 in my current build. Solid board)

New board comes, install everything with the new board on it's box to rule out case grounding: No video. Clear CMOS again for good measure, remove everything but 1 stick of RAM, CPU and PSU power: No video. Once again the 24 pin was rough to get it all the way seated, but people have noted this with no other issues.

Based on this, I ordered a new 3350P and RMA'd the other one. I have nearly $350 floating in RMA's because of this no video issue. I am hoping the processor resolves the issue. If not: I have to blame the P4 on the power supply and maybe pick a new one up if the processor doesn't work when it gets here tomorrow.

TL;DR/Things I have tried:

Processor WAS INSTALLED CORRECTLY. Only goes in one way. Never had an issue. Stock heatsink was mounted correctly with thermal compound already installed. No plastic covers were missed.

SECOND GUARANTEED WORKING monitor was tried, still no video from pc.

PC does not restart or shut down, just sits and spins very quietly. I do not have a mobo/case speaker for errors.

Motherboard COULD have been grounded in case but did not work outside case on box with 2 different mobo's. I am not sure the screws are correct and will replace them but was definitely not a beginning issue.

Have been building PCs for a long time. My GD65 3570k build is currently OC'd to 4.2 running at 42C under medium loads. Have never experienced this issue in all my 15+ years with computers.

HAS to be the CPU/PSU. I do have a DMM, and may look up how to get readings to see if the P4 is working. I don't like how aggressive I have to be to get the 24 in and out. I may replace the PSU regardless of issue due to this fact.

Any troubleshooting experts on situations like these would be greatly appreciated. I am far from novice, and I have tried all of the obvious/feasible steps to rectify this issue. I blamed the mobo because it felt very cheap and I just couldn't stomach saving $30 for such cheapness. I am hoping the CPU failed and it comes tomorrow afternoon. Worst case the CPU is fine and I go to best buy and price match a PSU from newegg/amazon and be done with it. Thanks again in advance.

 

[Steltek]

ASRock makes good boards, but you'll always see a higher number of DOA boards with them out of the box as they have to cut somewhere to hit their price/feature levels.

However, in this case, the i5-3350p processor doesn't have integrated graphics support. As a result, before you go any further you need to consider that you may have a dead video card (i.e. without integrated graphics support on the processor, the motherboard video ports are useless). I'd try swapping in a known good video card to be sure before you go buying a new power supply.

I hate to point out the obvious, but this is a situation where you really need a case speaker to get beep codes as it might have saved you a lot of time and money. Maybe you can pick one up at Radio Shack or a local computer shop for a few bucks?

 

[denis280]

I hate to point out the obvious, but this is a situation where you really need a case speaker to get beep codes as it might have saved you a lot of time and money

Totally Agree.

 

[crashtech]

I have a tiny little speaker attached to a jumper that works good to get beep codes. Before that I had an old one out of a cannibalized case. Also it helps to have a variety of old video cards laying around, too, and a spare PSU for that matter. Without some known good bench testing parts, diagnosing becomes almost impossible for the average enthusiast.

 

[b0r]

I am once again reminded why I do not buy "budget" parts. How could I miss that this thing didn't have integrated graphics? When I initially set everything up, the card was installed AND the fans were spinning. It seemed to work just fine. The video card could be dead, but the pci-e power connectors on the PSU could also be defective/the PCIE on the original mobo. I did not plug the video card into the MSI mobo because I ASSSSSSSSSSUMED the processor supported graphics.

I feel retarded. So, tomorrow, I am going to install the new processor and video card and see what happens. If I don't get a picture, I am going to get a new PSU/take my working card out of my rig and try it. I still want a new PSU because of that 24 pin. I made this post because I was afraid I was missing the obvious, and I was. As soon as I had no video, I decided to break the rig down to the minimum's for troubleshooting and left the video card upstairs on the desk until it was sorted. Thanks!

 

[Ketchup]

Hello b0r, one thing that concerns me is the chip you are using. It was a fairly late release for Ivy Bridge (Q3 '12). For example, on your MSI GD55, their web site says you need BIOS version 1.5 to support that chip, and that version wasn't released until the summer of last year. Considering motherboard manufacturers generally don't bother to update the BIOS chips they ship very often, I am wondering if this is the cause of your issues.

 

[b0r]

So, the new processor came in: Popped it in, no video. I grabbed a 600W Rosewill I've had for 3+ years and plugged everything in: Video for the first time. Went to best buy and got a Thermaltake Smart 850W and price matched Newegg. Completely overkill for my wife's system, but I did not want the Corsair GS series which is not modular. $20 was worth modular. Thanks for everyone's help. I am blaming the PSU all along.

 

[crashtech]

I guess it pays to exhaust all testing options at your disposal.

 

[b0r]

I guess it pays to exhaust all testing options at your disposal.

This recent build has forced me to order budget z77/z78 parts and compatible peripherals. I've always been the type to have a working test bench and used to order 2 of the volatile type parts (RAM/HD/Etc).

I love computers, and I especially love the hunt when an issue arises, but my geographical situation has caused me some grief. No microcenter or anything like that for 75 miles. Just a Best Buy and they don't carry processors or mobo's.

I intend on building a solid sandbox out of budget parts. May even re-test that ASRock and keep it as the bench board if the PCI-e slot was good. I really didn't come to a conclusion on which part was actually the problem because I swapped the mobo out first. I really appreciate pointing out the obvious because to be honest, I probably would've sent everything back and rebuilt with my parts because I believed there was graphics support from the processor.