Help! - new build driving me nuts :(

Soldato
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I need some help, my system just isn't showing anything on the monitor. No Bios, post screen or anything... its just black :(

Over the last month I've ordered a new PC for myself. I bought; E6550, 2gb Geil Ultra, 320gb sata HDD, 8800 GTS 640, sata DVD, Samsung Pebble, Asus P5N32-E Sli Plus, 620w Coolmaster PSU and an Antec 182 case.

The fans spin, HDD fires up, DVD drive opens/closes, GPU speeds up... everything but no signal to monitor.

I would occasionally get it to boot (it was totally random. It wouldn't boot for ages, then it would just come on, perfect.) I originally thought i was my old PSU I was using (due to it not having a full 8pin connector.) However one day it just stopped booting, no matter what I did. Even after getting a new PSU.

I started a thread awhile ago about this problem and everyone basically settled on it being a GPU fault (myself included.) So I ended up sending it back to OCer's RMA where it is now :rolleyes:

So all I know now is:

Its not the monitor, as I'm now using it now on my old P4, 6800 ultra system. Same DVI cable too.

I get a new GA P35C DS3R motherboard, the same thing, everything fires up, but no signal at all.

Today I got a new GPU (8800 gt) and was convinced it would work... but again no signal! :mad:

The only thing left is the CPU and RAM. I've tried re-seating it all, and tried using only one stick of RAM at a time. I've had bloody murder with the stock intel HS. Whoever invented that thing needs shooting... really they do. :mad:

Wtf? Any ideas? I feel like putting my foot through it all considering the amount of time, effort and money I've put into it... :o

As you can see I'm pretty... upset...:rolleyes: I even took a week off work so I could set everything up and try all the new games I've missed out on. I dont want to spend more money, well at least until I can sell a few things. If any of you have any ideas, I would really appreciate your help.

EDIT: Sorry I forgot to mention that non of my friends have the parts I could try out. Some of the dont even have PC's (I'm the only nerd.) Same with family, most have old Dell type systems...
 
is there any beeps when the computer is starting up? if not then its likly the motherboard is faulty.. unless you have not connected *** system speak ofcourse!
 
I'm sorry to hear about your woes. Unfortunatly, the nature of the beast is process of elimination.

Reading what you have done so far, it sounds like it could only be the CPU, RAM or PSU.

The PSU is easy to check. Grab a mulitmeter and follow this:

http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=17757782&highlight=PSU+guide

Do have both the 24 and 8pin power connector fitted?

Next call is your RAM.

If your system isn't working, then do you know someone who can check the RAM for you? Run memtest86 on each stick.. If the both pass then the finger points to the CPU I'm affraid. edit - sorry reading the OP again, you have done this by trying one at a time anyway.
 
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The only thing you ain't tried is the ram, I would try again, using only one stick in all four slots. If that fails, try the other stick in all four. If you get it to boot, give the ram more juice, + .3
 
No there are no beeps. I have triple checked every wire, making sure its in the right place and getting rid of any unnecessary components (like DVDs, soundcards etc.)

Would it likely be a faulty motherboard?? Even after trying a different one?

Edit: Ahh no I havent checked the RAM in each slot, only one at a time in the first slot. I'll give it ago
 
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"Have you Tried Switching it off and on again" :P

Might be worth resetting the cmos, and reseat the battery also, check that nothing is shorting out.

does the motherboard have more than 1 pci-e slot if so just trying the graphics card in the other slot see if u get any post.

although to me sounds like a dead mobo :/
 
Thanks for the replies guys :)

Well I've just checked the guide Admiral and used my brothers mulitmeter . Both my old and new PSUs seems fine to me. But I didn't expect my new one to be the problem tbh

The Asus board had an 8pin connector. At the time I was using an older PSU which only had a 4pin connector. The mobo guide did say that it still worked, but I read around the internet that it gave it gave boot problems to some people.

When I got the new Coolmaster RealPower PSU, I also got the new Gigabyte board. This board only has a 4pin CPU connector. Yes I have connected both the 4pin and the 24 pin connector to the motherboard.

I have also just tried booting the system trying one stick of Ram in each slot a time. Again nothing no boot. However I didn't place the stick in the second slot incorrectly in one attempt, and the system would keep rebooting. At first I thought it was working, but then realized what I had done :rolleyes:

Yes I've tried switching it on and off :p
The Gigabyte board only has 1 PCI graphics slot. The Asus has two but its all wrapped up ready to be sold.

I'm beginning to think its the CPU... I've tried re-seating it and, well its a pretty hard thing to mess up seeing as it can only go in one way. I did have trouble with the heatsink, but its down firmly and everything seems connected correctly.

I just have no idea what else to do...
 
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