New motherboard and CPU - no video

[Jarod]

Hello all,

I recently purchased a DFI P4X400-AL mainboard and a Pentium 4 2.6 Ghz
CPU to replace my older slower Athlon. I also purchased two 512MB
PC2100 DDR 266 memory sticks; I was very careful about making sure
they're compatible with the mainboard. I set everything up and when I
try to boot the system I get no video. I've tried 2 AGP cards (a
GeForce2 Ti 200 and a newer GeForce FX 5200) and an older PCI card (a
Trident 3D) all of which I've used in other systems and I know to be
working. I tried the newly configured system on two monitors, both of
which are also known to work with other systems, and all I get is the
"NO SYNC INPUT" message that I would get if the monitor wasn't hooked
up at all. Does anyone have any suggestions as to what I might try
next?

 

[user]

Hello all,

I recently purchased a DFI P4X400-AL mainboard and a Pentium 4 2.6 Ghz
CPU to replace my older slower Athlon. I also purchased two 512MB
PC2100 DDR 266 memory sticks; I was very careful about making sure
they're compatible with the mainboard. I set everything up and when I
try to boot the system I get no video. I've tried 2 AGP cards (a
GeForce2 Ti 200 and a newer GeForce FX 5200) and an older PCI card (a
Trident 3D) all of which I've used in other systems and I know to be
working. I tried the newly configured system on two monitors, both of
which are also known to work with other systems, and all I get is the
"NO SYNC INPUT" message that I would get if the monitor wasn't hooked
up at all. Does anyone have any suggestions as to what I might try
next?

Is the case speaker hooked up? Any beeps, or is it totally silent? Is
the processor fan running? Are the HDs powered up and spinning? Is
this the first time this MB has been installed in the case, or is the MB
outside of the case when you tested it? Sometimes the mounting
operation can cause shorts to the underside of the MB if you are not
careful. Try removing the MB from the case and powering it up. That
will exclude this possibility.

Lastly, the P4 might use an additional power lead from the PS. Is it
attached?

 

[Jarod]

Is the case speaker hooked up?

Yes.

Any beeps, or is it totally silent?

No beeps.

Is the processor fan running?

The processor fan is running.

Are the HDs powered up and spinning?

Actually, I haven't connected any drives yet. I wanted to get it
working with the simplest possible configuration first.

Is this the first time this MB has been installed in the case, or is the MB
outside of the case when you tested it? Sometimes the mounting
operation can cause shorts to the underside of the MB if you are not
careful. Try removing the MB from the case and powering it up. That
will exclude this possibility.

I will try that.

Lastly, the P4 might use an additional power lead from the PS. Is it
attached?

I assume you mean the additional 4-pin +12V lead? Yes, I got a new
P4-ready power supply and that's hooked up.

I read somewhere that it might be bad memory modules. I have no way to
test either of the modules in other systems, but I did try each module
alone (thinking "What are the odds that I got two bad modules
together?") and that didn't help.

 

[Jarod]

Try removing the MB from the case and powering it up. That

will exclude this possibility.

Okay, I removed the board from the case and powered up. Still no video and no beep.

 

[user]

No beeps.

When there are no beeps, it means the bios data has not yet loaded
enough to interpret your error. This could be due to no recognized RAM
in the first 64 KB, a faulty processor chip, critical power missing from
the MB, or a faulty MB. In other words, you have a fatal error. Of
course you knew that.

The processor fan is running.

This at least says the PS is working somewhat. You might try shorting
the RESET pins on the MB to see if it starts your MB. Sometimes (but
rarely) the reset created by the PS fails to occur in the correct timing
window. A manual reset would establish if this is the case.

Actually, I haven't connected any drives yet. I wanted to get it
working with the simplest possible configuration first.

Good, leave them out of the picture for now. Also, make sure all data
cables (i.e. IDE and FDD) are also disconnected. It is possible for a
reversed IDE to ground out the data bus.

I will try that.




I assume you mean the additional 4-pin +12V lead? Yes, I got a new
P4-ready power supply and that's hooked up.

I read somewhere that it might be bad memory modules. I have no way to
test either of the modules in other systems, but I did try each module
alone (thinking "What are the odds that I got two bad modules
together?") and that didn't help.

Your thinking is probably correct, but it is possible that the RAM is
faulty, but unlikely like you said. Unplug ALL unnecessary cables and
plug in cards. Any one of these could be a problem. Once something
works, add one item at a time. Install ONLY the case speaker, a video
card, processor chip and RAM. An error beep is a GOOD omen.

Some MBs require a fan sense lead to be attached or the processor shuts
down. It senses the fact that the processor fan is moving. Does your
MB require such a lead???

 

[user]

Okay, I removed the board from the case and powered up. Still no video and no beep.

Work with it out of the case until you get some sign of life. The
above message has some more suggestions.

 

[jamotto]

Hello all,

I recently purchased a DFI P4X400-AL mainboard and a Pentium 4 2.6 Ghz
CPU to replace my older slower Athlon. I also purchased two 512MB
PC2100 DDR 266 memory sticks; I was very careful about making sure
they're compatible with the mainboard. I set everything up and when I
try to boot the system I get no video. I've tried 2 AGP cards (a
GeForce2 Ti 200 and a newer GeForce FX 5200) and an older PCI card (a
Trident 3D) all of which I've used in other systems and I know to be
working. I tried the newly configured system on two monitors, both of
which are also known to work with other systems, and all I get is the
"NO SYNC INPUT" message that I would get if the monitor wasn't hooked
up at all. Does anyone have any suggestions as to what I might try
next?

What kind of power supply do you have. Intel based Motherboards
require large amount of power on the 12V and 5V rails. It could be
that your PSU is not good enough for the motherboard you are using.
Most of the Mobo I have used have a MIN power supply need. Like my
new computer requires a MIN of 350 Watts. If it does not get that it
will not post but the fans will spin, as do the hard drives etc.

hope this helps

 

[Jarod]

Grrr! Grrr!

The maximum FSB speed the motherboard supports is 533Mhz. That's
supposed to be the FSB speed of the processor that comes with the
bundle, but the idiots at the store (Tiger Direct) gave me the 800Mhz
FSB version.

Begin rant: I have never had problems with anything I've ordered from
Tiger Direct online, but their outlet store (at least the one in
Naperville, IL) is a nightmare. They gave me the wrong item and I've
had to truck back there three times before the DFI tech support guy
pointed me towards the FSB incompatibility. None of the Tiger
employees know what's going on -- when the Tiger tech support line
told me it was a bad motherboard and that I should take it back to the
store, one store employee tried to tell me that they couldn't do an
exchange on a defective motherboard, but they could give me a refund
minus a 15% re-stocking fee. I asked him why they would try to re-sell
a defective motherboard and he just stared at me blankly. Another time
I went in, this time having been told that it's the CPU that's
defective, and it took them an hour just to get me the replacement.
This in a store with maybe ten customers tops. Avoid that place like
the plague. End rant.

Anyway, thanks to everyone who posted with advice!

 

[kony]

On 31 Dec 2003 18:55:22 -0800, (e-mail address removed) (Jarod) wrote:

Begin rant: I have never had problems with anything I've ordered from
Tiger Direct online, but their outlet store...

Tiger Direct is best avoided online too... half-truths on the website,
spamming and rumors of selling customer data... the more exposure you
have to them the further you'll stay away. Their rebates seem less
likely to be fulfilled too.