New PC build not displaying image.

bonfirey2k6

Hi folks,

I hope somebody in here can help me. I am building a new pc but having issues. I will start by listing the hardware.

Antec 302 case
Intel i5 3570k Ivybridge
Asus Sabertooth Z77
Corsair Vengeance DDR3 2x4gb, CMZ8GX3M2A1600C9B
OCZ 750 watt psu
Corsair H60 liquid cooler
Kingston 60gb SSD
Seagate 1tb hdd
No graphics card at this stage, using onboard fro now.

Okay so this is a complicated one, to me anyway. I have built pc's before and never had an issue like this.

Everything is connected, 24 pin motherboard, 8 pin cpu power cables. Ram is in slots A2 and B2 on mobo. CPU is mounted correctly and liquid cooling also. All fans connected as well as SSD and CD drive.

So when I first turned it on the main mobo green led comes on and stays lit. Each components red led on mobo circulates, cpu, pci, memory. I believe this is POST. No built in speaker on mobo. At this stage all fans are working, integrated fans on mobo and also case fans. They appear to be doing as they should. Power to cd drive is there, USB 3 ports on case are working and the main power on\off switch and reset buttons on case are also working. Mouse and keyboard are plugged in.

At no time is there an image displayed on the tv, not using a monitor at this stage as don't have an adapter that suits.

As far as I am aware the onboard graphics are primary once a graphics card is not fitted.
I used the MemOK button beside the memory led. That is supposed to configure the memory for use on the system. No joy.

Then randomly after another boot I did get a screen advising to enter a bootable medium. At this stage no SSD or HDD attached. I got this twice. On the second time I connected the SSD and put in the windows installation cd. This loaded up the installation. I could not however use the SSD as it said it needed to be configured in the BIOS. As of yet I have not got into the BIOS.

I then left it for the night and tried again this morning, on first attempt it booted straight to the windows installation. Installation cd in drive from night before. This time I could select the SSD and it went through the process of installing Windows. It then got to the stage where the pc needed to restart. It restarted itself as is supposed to but did not display an image on screen.

I have tried both memory sticks individually and together in all possible combinations. I have taken the mobo out of the case so it is on its own and tried booting that way. Still no picture. I have also cleared the CMOS, this is done by moving the jumper from pin 1-2 to pin 2-3 for 5 to 10 seconds and moving it back.

I have tried booting with just the SSD, just the HDD without the cd drive. All those combinations.

Oh and nearly forgot, I was wondering if it was an overheating issue. I removed the liquid cooler and attached the stock fan that came with the processor. I also reseated the cpu, the cpu and the socket looked fine and undamaged. I did notice only about 3/4 of the cpu had thermo paste on it when removing the liquid cooler. I removed the liquid cooler twice with the only 3/4 of cpu covered in thermo paste even though the heatsink on the cooler was fully covered.

Also I have never been able to get to the Bios. If anybody can help it would be greatly appreciated. Started to go bald from all the hair pulling, lol.

Cheers

BloodBath

If you can't get into the BIOS then there has to be something wrong the mobo.

Connect the speaker and see if you are getting any beebs.

Did you select ultra fast boot? This skips the BIOS completely and you can't access it without resetting the BIOS or selecting an option inside windows. It only works with windows 8 though.

I doubt it's the processor overheating. No matter how badly the cooler was installed it should still boot and get to BIOS.

bonfirey2k6

Thanks for the reply,

Not sure about ultra fast boot to be honest. I will look into that though. I might try updating the BIOS as well. With the sabertooth it can be done direct from a USB.

Right now I am putting the pc back together. I have been looking all over the internet and there is plenty of people out there with a similar issue. Most resolved it and all seemed to be a simple thing.

I have tried connecting my headphones and have not heard any beeps so that could be bad. I will try speakers.

thanks

BloodBath

No there should be a speaker for your motherboard in the box. My Asrock which is made by Asus had the speaker in the box. You have to connect it to the motherboard.

You won't get any BIOS beeps without it.

bonfirey2k6

I thought this strange as well but the Sabertooth Z77 does not come with a speaker. I looked online and everybody says the same. I even checked in the instruction booklet on the Package Contents page to see if it was just left out of the box, no speaker listed there. No sure why they do not use one but there you go.

BloodBath

Crazy that a high end board like that doesn't have a speaker.

I'd expect it to tell you exactly what's wrong with it in English for that money.

Alltherage

Thinking on it most of the internal speakers I've had came with the chassis not the board. Perhaps somebody on boards in your area might have a spare.

bonfirey2k6

Ok so I have since updated to the latest BIOS version from the Asus website. That went through fine, one hickup not knowing I had to rename the file. Upon booting the issue is the same.
Do I just install the most recent Bios update or should I go through them all?

I have now noticed that the vga led is now constantly lit. I am pretty sure this used to go out but could be wrong.

Not sure how to check the "ultra fast boot" as I cannot access the BIOS.

I have emailed Asus so awaiting there reply, if any.

srsly78

Read motherboard manual, there may be a small display on the board itself that shows error codes. Either a little screen (on more expensive boards) or individual leds that light up showing a problem. Example: there might be an LED for DRAM error.

bonfirey2k6

I have read the manual, it is worn out at this stage lol. I have since noticed that the vga_led is now constant. I think it used to flash and then go off but I could be wrong. kinda hard to see it underneath the armour.
I realize that it could be something to do with the cpu but it has displayed an image this morning so to me that rules out the cpu or the socket from being damaged. maybe it is a faulty board.

If the socket or the cpu was damaged, would the motherboard splash screen still appear? I have not seen that screen at any stage.

Any opinions or advice is very welcome.

srsly78

You mean the vga led error light? Does it light with a graphics card in, does it light with graphics card out? Do you have a second card to test with? Am assuming you don't want to use the onboard coz it's crap.

bonfirey2k6

I do not have a compatible graphics card at the moment.
When up and running I will be using a graphics card. The only card I have is 6 year old from an old HP Elite. It is a pci express but an early one.
I am using the onboard graphics on the motherboard at the moment.
it goes through what I believe is POST.
The CPU, Memory and Boot Device led's cycle through normally until it gets to the vga led. This led then stays lit.
The manual says this system is to increase user friendliness, not sure I would agree with that. Leaves to many possibilities unanswered.

bonfirey2k6

Have an update on this. I couldn't get my hands on a graphics card. I brought it to a local pc repair store. Turns out the issue may be with the onboard graphics chipset. It worked fine with a graphics card.
Anybody see this before. I would be fine if the internal graphics didnt work as I will be getting a graphics card but the tech guy did say that it could cause screen freeze down the line. Has anybody experienced this before?
If I RMA the board it will take weeks before I get one back. I am tempted to just leave it and buy a graphics card but not really sure. I will be buying a graphics card anyway but don't want to have trouble down the line.

srsly78

The onboard graphics is in your cpu, not your motherboard.

bonfirey2k6

You need to have the cpu to utilize the onboard graphics, but the motherboard itself does contribute a lot. They work together, not independently. Without both there is no onboard graphics.