First time build - No Signal

Velexis · 16 Jul 2009 at 13:29

So last night I manage to finish building my rig. I decided to boot up for the first time with relative success. MoBo lights came on, the fans came on (Including CPU fan) and I could hear the HDD spin up. But, when I connect my GPU to my monitor I do not recieve a signal!

Here are some pictures to show. Excuse the quality from my phone.

The FF on the LED display means 'Power on and first inirialize CPU' in the manual.

mp260767 · 16 Jul 2009 at 13:41

check the first pic you only have one pci-e power into the card it needs 2.

Venares · 16 Jul 2009 at 13:55

Well spotted there MP

Velexis · 16 Jul 2009 at 14:45

Oops. I wondered why I had an extra cable with my PSU >.<

mp260767 · 16 Jul 2009 at 14:47

Velexis said:
Oops. I wondered why I had an extra cable with my PSU >.<

hopefully a nice easy solution, instead of having to test most of your kit.

decent posting with the pics helped as well so good on ya.

Velexis · 16 Jul 2009 at 15:17

Well I connected the extra cable and the boot-up was fine, but still no signal on the monitor

There are 4 LEDs on the GPU, but only three are lit. Does anyone know if this means anything at all and what each LED means?

I am going to have to post pictures/test later as I have to head to work in the next 15 minutes.

mp260767 · 16 Jul 2009 at 15:37

what graphics card do you have ?

Takanta1 · 16 Jul 2009 at 15:56

looks like a 4870 512mb version

skippy2421 · 16 Jul 2009 at 15:57

have you plugged in the 4/8 pin cpu power cable? common mistake which gives the results you are getting. Also what's the specs of the rig?

matthewhotdude · 16 Jul 2009 at 16:10

Used standoffs? connected both the power cables to motherboard?

Anymore pics of the whole motherboard?

daniel_bourton · 16 Jul 2009 at 16:34

really need more info to be able to say exactly wat is wrong with it atm

doug17 · 16 Jul 2009 at 17:02

I had the same problem with my first build, turns out i hadn't plugged in the second 8pin power connector into the mobo.

As Skippy2421 has already said make sure that the second power connector is plugged in and try again

Mattus · 16 Jul 2009 at 19:21

skippy2421 said:
have you plugged in the 4/8 pin cpu power cable? common mistake which gives the results you are getting.

Yep - the last picture looks like you haven't connected it. It's a black 4-pin connector to the left of the DrMOS heatsink - needs a lead from the PSU.

Velexis · 17 Jul 2009 at 03:58

Thank you guys and I'm sorry for my late reply. I have just got home from work and have set it up correctly straight away (I saw all your messages on my iPhone at work). It runs and displays fine now. I was also wondering why one fan did not work either when I booted up previously, but now with this connector it spins like the others.

Anyway, thanks guys (Skippy for the most part)! It would have taken me forever to find this problem, it wasn't even in the manual either (I don't think). I will run my BIOs and install my OS lunctime tomorrow when I wake up.

My specs for my rig are:
AMD Phenom x4 955
ATi Radeon 4890
MSI 790x (I can't remember the rest) MoBo
4GB Corsair Dominator
500GB WD
1TB Samsung F1
OCZ 700W PSU
and the case is a CM ATCS 840

So far it has been a great experience for my first build. I feel quite proud