No Video No beeps

[casenovab4]

I'm having some big trouble building up my new pc from scratch: whith these parts:
Motherboard: gigabyte MA790X-DS4 (2x Pci-e 2.0)
CPU: Amd Phenom x4 9950
Video: Sapphire HD 2600 PRO (Pci-e 16x) / (very old Pci-e card that works, just for replacement test)
Memory: OCZ DDR 2 2x2gb
Powersupply: 450watt
All of the components accept for the test videocard are new.
When I tried to start it up in the system case it wouldn't give any sense of life, accept for the vents. I tried a barebone set up wich had the same problem. Then I tried an other videocard (Pci-e) and that one also dindn't work. Also tried one RAM memory unit but it still had the same problem.
I've checked the site of the mobo to look if my mobo supported my cpu and there stood, next to my cpu: F5C, this referred to the bios version.
I don't really know the biosversion of my mobo because I can't get any display out of my pc, and if the problem is the bios version then how do i get it updated without spending much money.

[casenovab4]

I'm having some big trouble building up my new pc from scratch: whith these parts:
Motherboard: gigabyte MA790X-DS4 (2x Pci-e 2.0)
CPU: Amd Phenom x4 9950
Video: Sapphire HD 2600 PRO (Pci-e 16x) / (very old Pci-e card that works, just for replacement test)
Memory: OCZ DDR 2 2x2gb
Powersupply: 450watt
All of the components accept for the test videocard are new.
When I tried to start it up in the system case it wouldn't give any sense of life, accept for the vents. I tried a barebone set up wich had the same problem. Then I tried an other videocard (Pci-e) and that one also dindn't work. Also tried one RAM memory unit but it still had the same problem.
I've checked the site of the mobo to look if my mobo supported my cpu and there stood, next to my cpu: F5C, this referred to the bios version.
I don't really know the biosversion of my mobo because I can't get any display out of my pc, and if the problem is the bios version then how do i get it updated without spending much money. But I also think it can't be the mobo version b'cause this one was recommended by a online computerhardware store.

Please Help

[mjc]

Double post...

Without knowing the BIOS version your motherboard shipped with it is hard to say...you need a CPU that is covered by the initial release BIOS version.

Also, what is the behavior of the board when assembled outside of the case?

[casenovab4]

It behaves the same as inside the case. About the bios version, this mobo was recommended by a guy of a hardware store sow I don't think that that's the problem. But could be.

[mjc]

The problem is until you boot it up for the first time, there is usually no way of knowing the exact BIOS version on a specific board...some boards do have a sticker...but not nearly enough of them do.

How long was it sitting on a shelf somewhere before you bought it?

Considering that the BIOS release date for the revision that handles your CPU is June 2008, I'd say the board was made before that...2 1/2 -3 months is not too long to get from manufacturing to sold. Your board has a better than 50% chance of having F3 BIOS release on it (F4 was released in March...I'd say, 65% for F3, 30% for F4 and only a 5% or less for F5.)

So, if the board doesn't want to work correctly with the chosen CPU and that CPU isn't covered in the initial BIOS release, I often suspect that first...

That's not to say things like RAM and power problems aren't worth checking out...

So, how does it behave without any RAM at all installed?

Are all the auxiliary power connections connected?

[casenovab4]

Without Ram installed I still heve the same problems and I double checked the supply and all the connections are fine. The board was ordered last month on an internet store.
Could it be that the videocards I tried aren't compatible with the board. In other words could it be that the board is 'suspecting' a PCI-e 2.0 card?
Thanks for the quick answer btw.

[mjc]

No...without any RAM at all it should give some indication of an error. It checks RAM before the video card...but after the CPU. So, if it isn't giving an error with the lack of RAM, then it probably isn't finishing the CPU check.

[Sylvander]

Unless the internal speaker isn't functional, and that's why no warning beeps heard...

Or the POST doesn't even begin due to a serious problem with the few hardware items connected.

Do the fans run?
Any sign of the POST running?

Does the on-switch work?
Tried shorting the pins?

Which type of video card do the BIOS's default config settings support?

[casenovab4]

All of the fans are working, even the cpu fan.
With the system in barebone set-up I used a screwdriver to short the power pins.

I don't know if the post is running.
How can I check that?

[Sylvander]

"I don't know if the post is running.
How can I check that?"
Normally you'd try to make sure the internal speaker is functional, then Startup with all RAM removed, and if the POST starts, runs, tests, warns, you should hear the beeps warning of the failure of the 1st RAM test.

If the speaker is functional, but you still hear no RAM test failure warning beeps...
As suggested by MJC, the other possibility is that the POST begins, but halts on the failure of some test [CPU check] before the 1st RAM test.

But you might see some sign of the POST running...
Like the odd LED blinking [keyboard, optical drive, HDD controller].

Bare essentials:
PSU, mobo+CPU+heatsink+fan, internal speaker, keyboard
[Failure to initialize the keyboard controller might cause a POST halt-with-no-beeps prior to the 1st RAM test]

Here's the early part of a generic Phoenix POST:
Code_Beeps_POST Routine Description
02h Verify Real Mode
03h Disable Non-Maskable Interrupt (NMI)
04h Get CPU type
06h Initialize system hardware
07h Disable shadow and execute code from the ROM.
08h Initialize chipset with initial POST values
09h Set IN POST flag
0Ah Initialize CPU registers
0Bh Enable CPU cache
0Ch Initialize caches to initial POST values
0Eh Initialize I/O component
0Fh Initialize the local bus IDE
10h Initialize Power Management
11h Load alternate registers with initial POST values
12h Restore CPU control word during warm boot
13h Initialize PCI Bus Mastering devices
--------------------------------------
14h Initialize keyboard controller
--------------------------------------
16h 1-2-2-3 BIOS ROM checksum
17h Initialize cache before memory Auto size
18h 8254 timer initialization
1Ah 8237 DMA controller initialization
1Ch Reset Programmable Interrupt Controller
20h 1-3-1-1 Test DRAM refresh

[mjc]

If the BIOS doesn't recognize the CPU, POST most likely will fail at...

04h Get CPU type

[casenovab4]

Thanks a lot for the answers, but it''s still not functioning.

I've tried to connect my dvd-roms (to see if their leds where flashing) and after waiting a minute or so the speaker gave a beep for memory-error (because it wasn't inserted).
But after a while I still didn't get any display so I turned it off. I installed a memory and than it had the same problems again.

I tried to get the error beep again and then I got another beepcode: only a long one. This one didn't stood in the manual of my mobo. And after a tried to get the errors again I didn't get one.

The only thing is that the opticals that are connected are trying to open but every try they only make a sound and after a moment they repeat it (sound of spinning of a dvd and moving of the laser and the sound of starting to open)

[mjc]

Well, that brings another possibility into the equation...an inadequate power supply.

What is the brand/model of your PSU?

[Sylvander]

1. "I installed a memory and then it had the same problems again"
Not absolutely certain, but I think...
Whenever you change the RAM arrangement you should reset to the BIOS default configurations so that the presently connected RAM arrangement will be re-detected and configured by the BIOS.

2. Your gigabyte MA790X-DS4 motherboard (http://www.gigabyte.com.tw/Products/Motherboard/Products_Overview.aspx?ProductID=2695)...
It's manual (http://europe.giga-byte.com/FileList/Manual/motherboard_manual_ga-ma790x-ds4_e.pdf)...
Says the BIOS is made by AWARD.
Do these AWARD beep codes agree with the beep codes in your manual? (http://www.computerhope.com/beep.htm#05)
I'm attempting to download & read the manual right now.

[casenovab4]

Its a x-gear: cps4510c8f1
It gives 450 watt and has short circuit and power surge protection.

I don't think this one is wrong because it worked fine on my older pc.

[casenovab4]

The beep codes aren't the smae so i posted them down here:

1 short: boot succesfull
2 short: CMOS setting error
1 long 1 short: memory or motherboard error
1 long 2 short: monitor or graphics card error
1 long 3 short: keyboard error
1 long 9 short: BIOS ROM error
Continuous long beebs: graphics card not inserted properly
Continuous short beebs: power error

I hope this helps.

[mjc]

That 450W is close to not enough that I'd feel more comfortable with a slightly larger PSU...but it should provide enough power for what you have listed, and some drives.

[Sylvander]

You said:
1. "I got another beepcode:....a long one" [Was there RAM still in place?]
And the manual says:
2. "Continuous long beeps: graphics card not inserted properly"

If there was RAM in place when you got the repeating long beeps it means your POST had successfully got past all the RAM test to the video initialization [a fairly advanced stage], which then failed because there was no video card fitted.
Gives cause for hope! :)

Fit the video card and RAM, and reset to the BIOS config defaults.

[casenovab4]

The beep was not repeated and was given without any memory. It was just a long beep.

When I had the first error (long, short) the graphics card geban to operate more active, the fan started spinning at full speed but it didn't gave any display.

I've asked at a hardwarestore what kind of psu I needed for my pc and he sold me this one.