Whole new computer-hooked up myself-NO picture...

[WasteOfFlesh]

Hello, everyone, and thanks in advance for any help I receive. I bought all the parts to a system and installed it myself, using the handy guides on this site, but I have a problem. My monitor stays black when everything powers up. These are the specs on my computer(right off the invoices):
PC CHIPS 920LR 478Pin 400FSB DDR Motherboard
Pentium 4 2.4Ghz 512k 478Pin 400Mhz processor w/ Intel Direct Heatsink&Fan
Maxtor 80GB 133/7200rpm Hard Disk Drive
2X 512MB SDRAM Memory
Albatron Ti4280 8xAGP 128 DDR GeForce 4 video card
Samsung 52X CD-Rom drive
Artec 48x12x48 CD-RW drive

Thanks,
Waste of Flesh

[Budfred]

Welcome to http://www.pcguide.com/ubb/pcgubb.gif

First thing that strikes me is that PCChips motherboard. People around here have indicated that these are very unreliable boards.

That said, have you tried a barebones boot? Disconnect all the drives. Leave the case speaker, keyboard, video and one stick RAM attached and try a boot. Do you get a POST beep? As a matter of fact, are you getting a POST beep now?

If the barebones doesn't produce at least a POST beep, you will probably need to go to testing out of the case on a nonconductive surface (like cardboard). Leave everything attached as it is with barebones, but out of the case.

Even before these procedures make sure that all connections are right and cards are well seated. Make sure the CPU and heatsink/fan are placed properly and that the CPU fan is plugged into the motherboard. Make sure the Clear CMOS jumper is on the right pins to operate. Check capacitors for any sign of leakage/bulging.

Let us know what you find and we can look for more ideas.

[WasteOfFlesh]

I turned it on once again before disconnecting the drives as you said. I could have sworn I heard a beep(I really hope I'm not hallucinating).

I did as you said and disconnected power to all the drives, but kept power running to the motherboard and system blower. I disconnected the IDE cables for the harddrive, cd-rom, cd-rw, and floppy drives.

I left the heatsink and fan connected to the motherboard, the audio cables from the cd-rom to the motherboard connected, 1 stick of 512 ram, and the powerbutton(etc) connected. When I powered it up, everything started running, I could see the fans running, but I heard no beep.

I had previously checked all the connections, re-plugged the video card into the AGP slot. I had tried the CMOS jumper already. I tried switching it once, and then the computer would not power up, so I switched it back and it powers up. So I think it is in the right place.

[Budfred]

AGP video cards can be very difficult to seat properly, you will usually hear 2 clicks if you got it right and if it has the toggle on the back, it will lock in place. If you are not certain, try again.

If that still doesn't do it, it is probably necessary to test out of the case. Let us know what happens.

[WasteOfFlesh]

I have my motherboard out of the case sitting on the cardboard box it came in. I have these case plugs in: power switch, reset switch, green LED indicator, HDD LED. I have the processor fan plugged into the motherboard. 1 stick of 512 ram. The AGP video card with monitor plugged into it. Also, a keyboard and mouse plugged into the motherboard. Power cables are running to the motherboard from the case, and from the monitor and case to the surge protector.

That's how it is all set up. When I turn it on, I don't get a POST beep, but power runs to everything. The fan on the processor turns on, the fan on the AGP card turns on, the monitor turns on, and I still get no picture.

[WasteOfFlesh]

Update: I had disconnected the audio cables from the CD-rom to the motherboard, and reconnected. No POST beep. I pulled out the case speaker plug and turned it around, then re-plugged it in. Both ways. Neither way produced a POST beep when I powered the computer on.

[bigdutch]

It sounds like memory incompatability, and with a questionable board made by PC Chips (never actually heard of them until now), you should probably check the manufacturer's listed compatible memory modules.

If you have some other memory hanging around, give it a try. But make sure it is of the same type as the one you bought.

By the way, did you get DDR memory? If not, then I guarantee it will never work. You only said SDRAM, so that doesn't mean it's DDR SDRAM.

[Budfred]

bigdutch, Welcome to http://www.pcguide.com/ubb/pcgubb.gif

If he installed SDRAM instead of DDR RAM not only will it not work, he would have had to damage the board to do so. DDR RAM uses a different slot and will not fit in a SDRAM slot and vice versa.

WOF,

If you have the case speaker properly plugged in and you are not getting a POST beep, that suggests that either your motherboard or CPU is no good. Given that the mobo is PCChips, I would guess that is the problem. The only way that I know to test it is to swap with a compatible motherboard and CPU that you know works. It isn't likely to be the RAM since you should get an error beep message if it is. You could try the boot with no RAM and see if you get beeps that way, if you do, then it probably is the RAM. I am guessing that you are going to need to RMA the mobo and/or CPU....

[drewbob]

I have had this problem twice in a new build - once with a Soyo board and once with a PC Chips. It stumped me for a little while. I would be willing to bet that your problem is the jumper to clear the bios. Try switching it to short pins 1&2.

[WasteOfFlesh]

Drewbob, when I switch the pins for the CMOS jumper, I can't even turn the computer on, so I assume it started in the right position?

I took the other RAM strip out and started it up. The first time it didn't turn on. The second time, after switching the connection around on the case speaker, it POST beeped 3 times.

[Budfred]

Ok, then leave the speaker connector where it is (and note that position in case it gets disconnected) and go back to the boot with a stick of RAM. If you have more than one stick, try that. If you get POST, try the first one again. If you get POST again, try with both. If you get POST, but still nothing on the monitor, it is probably either your monitor or video card (most likely), so check them again. The easy way to check the monitor is to try it on another computer. You can also try the video card the same way, it is just more hassle. Let us know what happens with the tests and particularly if you don't get POST.

[WasteOfFlesh]

Okay. I reattached one strip of RAM to my motherboard first, and turned it on. I didn't get any POST beeps, but there was still no video. I turned off the computer and reattached the second RAM strip, and received no POST beeps when I powered the computer on. Again, I got no video.

Would it be wise to try returning my 8xAGP video card for an advertised 4xAGP connection? Albatron TI4280TDP GeForce 4 TI4200 Chipset 128MB DDR AGP 8X w/ CRT+TVP+DVO - RETAIL BOX (The advertisement says Bus Standard:
AGP 8X/4X)

Also, I know the monitor works on other systems in the house. I also tried an LCD monitor on the new system, and received a "no signal" message before the screen went black.

[Budfred]

If your motherboard is not rated for 8x AGP that may be the problem. Earlier versions of AGP were generally backward compatible, but apparently that isn't as true with 8x AGP... So yes, it may be worthwhile to swap...

I just looked up your manual and it looks like it is a 4x AGP slot, so I would go with the change.

[WasteOfFlesh]

Thanks, Budfred, and everyone else. That's what I'll do, then. If that's not it.... Oh, I'll be back. ;)

Thanks again, guys, I couldn't do this without you.

Oh, can anyone recommend a good 4xAGP card? I've heard Gainward is a good company.

[Budfred]

You may want to post a question in the Upgrade forum to get ideas for that. Provide the specs for your system so people know what to look at and some idea of what you can afford (are willing to spend)....

[drewbob]

WOF your video card will support 8x agp but it will most certainly run in a 4x agp slot. specs here (http://www.albatron.com.tw/english/it/vga/specification.asp?pro_id=41) .

[WasteOfFlesh]

Okay, update. I'm not buying a new video card yet. A friend is going to see if he has a converter for my monitor plug, or a different monitor to plug directly into the motherboard.

If it gets a picture, it's the video card that's the problem..?

[Grumper]

Get a Gainward Ge Force 3 great card and reasonable Ive installed 6 of them all great

[WasteOfFlesh]

Update(for anyone using this to help themselves or others)

The problem was the connection on my video card. It does not work in my motherboard(4xAGP connection). I tested the video card on another system and it works fine. I tried an old TNT 2(from my old system) and the system I put together worked!

Thanks again everyone for the help.