HELP - New PC build not booting!!

[MarcLister]

Just put a new PC together today. Used a Q9650, Asus P5Q-E, 4Gb OCZ DDR RAM, 4870 1GB etc.

Plugged DVI cable into monitor and graphics card. Turned PC on, nothing. Checked I was on DVI mode then I got a message saying "No Input detected". This was using a DVI cable I bought as I was told the monitor didn't have one with it. It did, albeit a DVI at one end and HDMI at the other. The 4870 came with a HDMI/DVI adapter so I used the monitor supplied cable and still nothing, so not the cables. I tried the new monitor on my old PC and I got an image on the screen that I expected. So the monitor works.

I then tried using my current GPU (x1800XT) in the new PC. Still nothing. So perhaps the mobo? So to be sure I tried the 4870 in my old PC. Nothing. More likely to be the GPU now instead of the mobo? Then I decided to resurrect my old PC so I could go online and find some help. Uh oh! Now this won't boot. My old monitor saying no signal coming from PC which surely implies static discharge as it was working before I put it in new PC but not after. However the new PC had the PSU in and plugged into the mains.

I then used my Mum's laptop (am using it now) and realised that there should be some BIOS beeps if there were errors. So I plugged the speaker back in so I could listen for any beeps on power up. Nothing. A check of the manual and a successful boot should result in a single short beep. No beep at all. Does sound like the mobo has gone.

The manual also says that if no RAM or GPU is detected then there will be a pattern of beeps. So I remove RAM and the beep pattern expected for no RAM doesn't occur. Same for removing GPU. Sounding increasingly like the mobo has gone. So no BIOS beeps at all on this mobo (successful boot or otherwise) suggests the mobo is definitely gone. Either damaged in some way or I've somehow been careless and somehow caused a static discharge which could have affected the 4870. But for pretty much the whole day the new PSU has been plugged into the case and into the mains so the new case should have been earthed for most of the day. However if there has been static discharge putting the 4870 into my old PC could possibly have carried the static discharge over? And putting my x1800XT into the new PC the same. So that could explain why neither PC will boot and both PCs prompt the monitors to say "No input detected".

The only thing that makes me not believe static discharge has affected my old PC is that it was definitely earthed. So only the 4870 coming over already affected could have caused an issue with my old PC.

I've tried taking one stick of RAM out and booting with that. Nothing. Used the other stick on its on and same result. Took the sound card out and nothing. Reset the BIOS by moving the BIOS jumper over for 10-15 seconds. Still nothing. I also unplugged the Samsung 1Tb drive and the Pioneer DVD-RW drive from their SATA sockets leaving the WD640Gb disk on its own. Nothing.

So after a long ramble can anyone else suggest anything I can do with the two PCs I have to test. My old PC is a 939 so I can't swap the CPUs. I want to do as much testing as I can before I have to RMA anything. If I do have to RMA what should I RMA? The mobo and GPU?

Please accept my apologies for this long post but it has been a long day and I've no idea what is wrong and how I can fix it. I will post this on some other forums just to get as many opinions as possible. If you see this thread somewhere else just reply to the first version you see.

[Mark]

First things first, concentrate on the old PC and get that working again. Inspect graphics card (especially any connectors) for damage, burn marks, or debris, then inspect the motherboard socket and any power plug for the same. Firmly seat the card.

If it still doesn't work, then I'd suspect either the new PSU or the mobo have fried one or both graphics cards. Static damage is unlikely unless you've done something dumb (e.g. walking around on carpet while holding a metal part of the card).

As for the new PC, if you've been plugging stuff in with the power on then that is a good candidate for fried hardware. I fried an old games console by plugging in a cart with the power on. If you want earth protection, use a switched power socket and switch off at the socket (not the PSU). Allow at least 30 seconds for PSU capacitors to discharge.

Now, find something non-conductive that's big enough to stand the PSU and mobo on (a sheet of cardboard is a good bet, so long as it's not coated - do NOT use metal or anti-static bags!). Remove PSU and mobo from case, put them on the non-conductive material and connect those components only (no peripherals). Attempt to power on. If you succeed, you've probably got a short between the mobo and case. If you fail, at least one of the components you now have has died. Take it one step at a time from there.

[MarcLister]

How about me forgetting to plug the 8 pin power cable in!

Haven't checked on old PC yet. Playing around with Vista HP x64 atm.

[Marmoset]

Originally Posted by MarcLister

How about me forgetting to plug the 8 pin power cable in!

I did that when I fitted the 280 last week. Horrible beeping from the case speaker and I thought "OH NOES" and then checked the back of the card: little red LED = you are a muppet and haven't connected the power properly.

[MarcLister]

Originally Posted by Marmoset

I did that when I fitted the 280 last week. Horrible beeping from the case speaker and I thought "OH NOES" and then checked the back of the card: little red LED = you are a muppet and haven't connected the power properly.

Yep I did that as well. Plugged the 4870 back into new PC. Turned on and beepage ensues. Got a message on the screen to plug the PCI-E power into the card. Oh crap!

[divine]

Hahaha

I was going to suggest checking that cable, as some motherboards come with a cap over half the pins implying they only need four rather than 8 pins, however I figured it wouldn't be this if your other PC was playing silly buggers with the graphics cards too

[Stan_Lite]

Hahahahahahaha, noob

You'd never catch me making a basic error like that.

Disclaimer: The above may be a lie.

[MarcLister]

Originally Posted by divine

Hahaha

I was going to suggest checking that cable, as some motherboards come with a cap over half the pins implying they only need four rather than 8 pins, however I figured it wouldn't be this if your other PC was playing silly buggers with the graphics cards too

Mine did. There were 8 pins in all but a black cap over the left four so I didn't really notice it. Not until I checked the motherboard manual and realised the damned PC wouldn't boot unless all eight pins had some juice running through them.

Originally Posted by Bigstan

Hahahahahahaha, noob

You'd never catch me making a basic error like that.

Disclaimer: The above may be a lie.

It is always the little things that catch me out. Oh and I always fix a problem AFTER I post on the Intarwebs asking for help.

Originally Posted by Muban

Haha you n00ber!! Mind you I built my new PC yesterday and all went well except... why do I have no sound dang it?!!!!

....oh yeah ......plug in the speakers

Ding dang!

Originally Posted by leowyatt

Dopes, the lot of you!!!

This is Boat Drinks ja?

[divine]

Originally Posted by MarcLister

Mine did. There were 8 pins in all but a black cap over the left four so I didn't really notice it. Not until I checked the motherboard manual and realised the damned PC wouldn't boot unless all eight pins had some juice running through them.

I'm baffled as to the point of this cap really, unless older PSUs with just the 4 pin connector have a different output the 4+4/8pin ones which enables it to work. Otherwise, why cover half of it up, when it all needs to be connected?

[Muban]

Haha you n00ber!! Mind you I built my new PC yesterday and all went well except... why do I have no sound dang it?!!!!

....oh yeah ......plug in the speakers