I recently received a shipment of parts and assembled a computer. I got to the point where everything lights up when I plug it in and turn it on (i.e. I get power to everything correctly). But when I plug in a monitor...nothing happens. I can't get an image on the screen. I think an issue might be that my video card (an ATI Radeon 4870) is a bit loose due to a slight issue with the case. Any ideas? I REALLY need help on this one, please get back to me as fast as possible!
New computer issues, help ASAP!
- Thread starter Endiment
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- Jul 5, 2008
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well, if it doesnt power on the monitor, (and you already know the monitor works)
Try another video card in the system, that will single out your video.
Go down the list singling out as much as you can
PSU
Video card,
It might even be the processor (i've had broken processors that wont post, but the fans will still spin up)
try the video card first.
Try another video card in the system, that will single out your video.
Go down the list singling out as much as you can
PSU
Video card,
It might even be the processor (i've had broken processors that wont post, but the fans will still spin up)
try the video card first.
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- Feb 18, 2008
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Pics?
Did you plug in the power connections?
~Gooda~
Did you plug in the power connections?
~Gooda~
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Pic plx.
Stupid question, but it's in a PCI-e x16 slot, right? You didn't try to shove it into an AGP slot or PCI slot?
~Gooda~
Stupid question, but it's in a PCI-e x16 slot, right? You didn't try to shove it into an AGP slot or PCI slot?
~Gooda~
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- Jun 22, 2007
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- 650
If the card is loose, and it doesn't fit, then you probably have the incorrect moboard for that card. There are different form factors, etc. Maybe I'm overstating, but that's what it sounds like. Every computer I've ever built has had a very snug fitting graphics card. It's probably not that, but it's definitely something with your video card, as you have no video. It might not be the card, per say, but something about the physical interface not syncing up right.
Try another card you may have around, or a different motherboard. That will determine your problem I would bet.
Try another card you may have around, or a different motherboard. That will determine your problem I would bet.
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That's what I'm thinking...
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Pics...
Will help enormously.
~Gooda~
Will help enormously.
~Gooda~
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its impossible to diagnose your problem from the info that you have provided without actually being there trying out different combonations
anyone in your situation would use the process of elimination to determine the cause, and then fix it
we cant know what the problem is because we cant physically take peices out, and put peices in
it might be the cpu, video, motherboard
its 1 of those 3, (unless the monitor cable went bad somehow)
you can easily eliminate the monitor
the video card,
and that leaves you with the motherboard, and processor
(also, your power supply might not have enough juice to run the card)
(also, i've had cards that had plenty of juice to run, but they dont work correctly with my motherboard, and my motherboard works just fine)
anyone in your situation would use the process of elimination to determine the cause, and then fix it
we cant know what the problem is because we cant physically take peices out, and put peices in
it might be the cpu, video, motherboard
its 1 of those 3, (unless the monitor cable went bad somehow)
you can easily eliminate the monitor
the video card,
and that leaves you with the motherboard, and processor
(also, your power supply might not have enough juice to run the card)
(also, i've had cards that had plenty of juice to run, but they dont work correctly with my motherboard, and my motherboard works just fine)
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you've mentioned several times that the card doesn't fit snugly into the slot, so go with your guy and eliminate that problem first. Get yourself a card that will fit in your case and see if that's the problem. If not, then as nOOb-=Ketchup=- said, you need to do some more trouble shooting. But start with trying out a card that fits in your case first.
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- Feb 18, 2008
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- 1,253
Still waiting for pictures.
~Gooda~
~Gooda~
I think I found the problem. My case has two 1-pin connectors each labeled 'POWER LED'. I found a 2-pin connector near the F_PANEL header on my motherboard (an unlabeled connector) and plugged them in. About half an hour later I turned on my computer for the first time. I left these cables untouched. This morning I was rooting through my motherboard documentation and found the label for that two pin connector: CLR_CMOS. The correct connector for POWER LED was a 3-pin connector next to CLR_CMOS. CLR_CMOS is a jumper to clear your CMOS data; typically one will plug in a jumper head for one or two seconds to create a quick short circuit. Not only was this short circuit maintained for a significant period of time before even turning the computer on, but we applied 5V to this socket. This was not supposed to happen.
Long story short, I fried my CMOS. Hence no hardware beeps, hence I need to purchase a new motherboard. This is also causing a very tight loop in my processor, causing abnormally high temperatures (I doubt the processor sustained any heat damage however).
Pics wouldn't have helped on this one, Gooda. =P
Long story short, I fried my CMOS. Hence no hardware beeps, hence I need to purchase a new motherboard. This is also causing a very tight loop in my processor, causing abnormally high temperatures (I doubt the processor sustained any heat damage however).
Pics wouldn't have helped on this one, Gooda. =P
