first time pc builder problem

[mooton]

Hi everyone, I am attempting to build my first PC and I really hope you can help me solve this problem I have.

I was in the process of changing my BIOS settings to what I thought they should be and so when I had set them I selected save and exit. Then, my PC switched back on again but this time my monitor did not recieve any signal and so I just get a blank screen when I switch the PC on.

I haven't loaded an O/S in yet, I have an MSI K7N2 delta series motherboard, an athlon xp 2500 and a sapphire 9600xt graphics card.

In the integrated peripherals menu I selected the 'Init Display First' section and changed it from PCI slot to AGP slot (don't know why just did!) Could this be the reason why i'm just getting a blank screen when I turn everything on?

Thanks for taking the time to read this and I hope you can help me.

[Whyzman]

Hello mooton,

Welcome tohttp://www.pcguide.com/ubb/pcgubb.gif Forums!

Initial boot-up is best done with the default settings and barebones (Video, RAM, Keyboard...mouse if so desire)...if you make it through POST then add one component at a time...

I normally start with the floppy drive and use a Win98 boot disk to get me to the A:

Then add the Hdd...etc..

Check to see if when you get into the BIOS if there's an option to load the defaults...

Sorry, with the BIOS changes you made, you may need to check your manual for the procedure to clear the CMOS which will load the default values...

[mooton]

thanks for the welcome and reply whyzman, but the sulution you suggested wont help me because I just get a blank screen every time I switch on my pc.

[Deagle]

Mooton, you can't see anything when you turn on the comp? Like the fans and HDD would be on but no signal to monitor, also the monitor is in sleep mode? If that's true, try reset the CMOS jumpers.
:cool:

[Whyzman]

I edited my initial post to include the CMOS clearing...but it was probably after you read it...:(

Deagle appears to have followed up with the suggestion...;)

Also When putting a new system together...I like to immediately run a RAM tester from floppy and then follow that up with the Harddrive diagnostics...check the manufacturer's site for the download...


http://www.simmtester.com/PAGE/products/doc/docinfo.asp

[mooton]

yes Deagle, it's just how you say. but please tell me, how do I reset the cmos jumpers?

[Whyzman]

That should be explained in the motherboard manual...or, just pull the battery from the motherboard for about 15 minutes...

[Deagle]

Ok, you're lucky bud, I have the same mobo as you and have encountered that problem before. To reset the CMOS, look in your manual, if you don't have it download it from MSI website. Look at this (http://www.newegg.com/app/Showimage.asp?image=13-130-419-02.JPG/13-130-419-05.JPG/13-130-419-01.JPG/13-130-419-04.JPG) picture.

The CMOS jumpers is between the 2 yellow IDE connectors and the battery. All you do is move it from pin 1-2 to pin 2-3. Let it sit there for 10 secs and then move it back, make sure your comp is power down during this or you'll damage the mobo.
:cool:

[mooton]

ok thanks fellas, i'll go away and try it and come back in about half an hour and tell you if it works or not.

[mooton]

where has deagle's last post gone?

[Whyzman]

Huh??

Originally posted by Deagle
Ok, you're lucky bud, I have the same mobo as you and have encountered that problem before. To reset the CMOS, look in your manual, if you don't have it download it from MSI website. Look at this (http://www.newegg.com/app/Showimage.asp?image=13-130-419-02.JPG/13-130-419-05.JPG/13-130-419-01.JPG/13-130-419-04.JPG) picture.

The CMOS jumpers is between the 2 yellow IDE connectors and the battery. All you do is move it from pin 1-2 to pin 2-3. Let it sit there for 10 secs and then move it back, make sure your comp is power down during this or you'll damage the mobo.
:cool:

[mooton]

ok guys, I tried that and it didn't work.

anymore suggestions?

[Whyzman]

You moved the jumpers back to the run position??

You've stripped the rig back to the barebones??

I would reseat the Video card...AGPs are notorious for inserting with difficulty...

You might want to just pull the battery for 15 min just in case the clear CMOS jump didn't take...

Do you have another monitor you can try??

Are you getting any beeps when booting up??

Also, are you getting a "No Signal" on the monitor??

[mooton]

its not my lucky day today, im not getting all the messages in this thread!!!!!!!!!!!!

[mooton]

Anyway, I have another question i'd like to ask.

The mainboard that I have can support up to a 400 Mhz FSB, but why is it that I can only select up to a 200 Mhz FSB in the BIOS settings, since my processor has a 333 Mhz FSB?

[Budfred]

You reset the BIOS to defaults with the CMOS Clear jumper and it still won't boot??? Do you get a POST beep when you turn it on??

If this is the situation, go back in and check all connections. Reseat the video, this can be tricky since it often is difficult to get it seated properly in the slot. Reseat the RAM if you are still having problems. It may be a good idea to disconnect all drives as you begin problem solving and you can connect them back one at a time if you can get the thing going....

Edit:

A couple more responses came in while I was putzing around...

Whatever you set the FSB to is doubles, so if you were able to set it to 400, it would run at 800, but only long enough to fry the CPU and board...

[mooton]

whyzman, i'm not getting a 'no signal' i'm just getting a blank screen and the power LED on the monitor is orange rather than yellow, which I think indicates sleep mode.

[YODA74]

Delete your temp. , and cookies and log back in, see if you get all the posts then...

[Budfred]

I think the reason you are not getting all the posts is that this thread is moving really fast. I just did an edit and 2 new posts showed up while I was typing.... It is almost like chat...

[mooton]

Budfred, yes I have reset the CMOS and no, I dont get any beep when the machine is switched on, although I didn't even get a beep when the machine seemed to work properly.

Anyway, i'll strip it down like you said.

[mooton]

Budfred, maybe thats why it wont work anymore. I set the FSB in the BIOS to 233Mhz. Do you think it may have damaged the system?

[Whyzman]

I suspect that you're not being able to reset the CMOS which would load the default values and should get you at least up and running if the basic components are not buggered...

Again, I would remove the battery for a 15-20 min and try again...

Can you test the monitor on another computer to eliminate problems there??

Also, you should get at least a beep letting you know you've made it through POST...

Do you have the case speaker properly hooked up??

[Budfred]

That could be the case... You overclocked it pretty high. The 2500+ can handle a fair amount of overclocking, but that is pretty high. Did you smell anything burning???

Edit:

For resetting the CMOS with the battery: it works best if you unplug the computer and press the power switch while the battery is out. This will discharge the capacitors and make it more likely the BIOS is reset. Put the battery back and plug it back in...

[Deagle]

Ahh, so you've overclocked your cpu. Well I did that too and have the same problem. Thankfully MSI was smart enough to do put this on the mobo. Locate the J10 jumpers and follow directions in manual to force the cpu to run at 100fsb. This options saves my butt many a times already.
:D

[Whyzman]

Deagle, as you are familiar with this board...won't clearing the CMOS force the same thing by resetting the defaults???

Or, is this a special workaround that is not dealt with in the BIOS??

"Curious" in Minnesota... :)

[Deagle]

No, for some weird reason it doesn't work. The J10 jumpers have two options, 100 and 133/166. If you leave it 133/166, clearing CMOS will make it default back to 133. I know this because I own a 2100+ and it did revert back to 1733(133x13) instead of 1300(100x13). Ya I think the J10 override the CMOS but sometimes both have to be clear in order for it to boot again. Learn that the hardway:rolleyes:
:D

[mooton]

ok fellas, I set J10 to safe mode and J11 to short, and now it works.

so, what do you recommend I set them to for optimum performance?

do you think its the fact that I raised the FSB to 233Mhz that caused these problems?

[gwallen4]

Did I miss it, or did you post your memory specs? Some memory can be overclocked and some cannot. Please tell me what your memory is.

Setting the FSB speed to 233 MHz is a pretty big overclock. The fastest Athlon processor (Barton 3200+) has a FSB speed of 200 MHz. Double data rate (DDR) memory will double the FSB clock, outputting data at twice the FSB speed. So a FSB of 166MHz requires DDR 333 MHz (PC2700) memory.

The XP2500+ CPU normally operates at a FSB speed of 166 MHz(166 X 11=1833 MHz). To do that you need PC2700 DDR memory which will clock at twice the FSB speed or 333 MHz.

Other settings in bios may need to be adjusted from the default. The FSB/PCI ratio will need to be set at 166/33 = 5:1, so that you don't overclock the PCI bus. The AGP bus usually works at 66 MHz Overclocking the graphics card can sometimes lead to problems. There should be a setting in bios to set the AGP bus to 66 or to set the ratio of FSB/AGP/PCI to 166/66/33 or 5:2:1.

I'm not familiar with your MB, so you may have to actually read the manual to find out where you make the bios adjustments. Make the changes in bios before you move the jumper back to 133/166 FSB.

[Deagle]

<b>"do you think its the fact that I raised the FSB to 233Mhz that caused these problems?"</b>

Yes that the reason why it refused to boot it's because you've raise the fsb too far(happebs to me lots of time):D. Optimum performance is really depend on what you do. If you're an average user, just set it 166 which is default or if you're an overclocker raise it to 200.
:cool:

[mooton]

I have 512MB of corsair PC3200, which I think runs at 400 Mhz.

I have the retail version of the xp 2500, so i'm using the heatsink that comes with it. Do u think this heatsink is suitable for overclocking?

[Deagle]

As with any overclocking, you should know the benefit as well as the downside to it. What is your current temp? AMD stock HSF usually is not bad but not good either, just enough for everyday usage. The ram you've got is good though.;)
:cool:

[Quantax]

Following the discussion up till now got me curious about my own system. I have a P4 2.4 ghz. which has a FSB of 200 mhz. yet the RAM is DDR, PC2700 333 mhz. Based on an earlier comment, it should actually have a faster running DDR at 400 mhz. but everything sems to be running fine.
So would changing to the faster RAM be advisable?

[Deagle]

P4 fsb are quad-pump so if you have a 200fsb, it's really 800. Yes, the perfect ram for you would be pc3200.
:cool:

[Budfred]

Some of the downsides to overclocking:

You can burn up the CPU and other components.
You void the warranties.
The speed difference is mainly noticeable on benchmarks, some say they can perceive a difference, but that is debatable.
The system is already incredibly fast and the extra speed may not be worth the risk unless you can afford to replace components destroyed by messing around with them...

General rule of thumb, if you can't afford to replace it, don't overclock it....

And yes, the Barton 2500+ is more safely overclocked that most components...