PC build won't start.

[Bryan]

I have built a PC and thought I had done so correctly. Upon start up, all fans work and system lights come on. I used an 8GB Ram from another PC and know it is OK. I have tried it in all 4 slots!
 When I power on, I get a message that there is no signal getting through to the monitor. All I am getting is a periodic clunk from the optical drive. I have put a WIN 11 OS DVD in the Optical drive and it is not being read. Consequently, the fail is before BIOS. Has anyone ever struck this problem before?

[king1]

only with dead hardware or the obvious monitor/connection issues

Power supply could do that...

One of the gotchas is plugging the video cable into the mainboards connector when you are using a graphics card, that could do what you are seeing.

Also check the input selector on the monitor, some of the older ones didn't switch inputs automatically reliably.

The other thing I would do is unplug everything not needed ie all drives, they are not needed to see something on the screen

ALso check the graphics card if you have one has a power connector and is connected, the CPU power connector is connected

and if its a ryzen note some of them don't come with onboard graphics and will require external card - but these should still work (on VGA at least) albeit badly... (and try with VGA if you're not already)

usually these situations are check the basics, then unplug the unnecessary and swap out components to identify the failed part...

HTH

[Bryan]

The PC is initially recognized on the monitor and then reports that there is no connection. I have replaced the CMOS battery. I do not have a GPU on this and have also tried a VGA.

The M/B is a Gigabyte B460M-D3H and the CPU is an Intel i5 7500. It has worked previously until I scrapped parts to use in another rig. All I have on board is a new CPU fan and chassis fan. The existing SSD with its OS, an 8cb RAM stick, a 600w that worked in the old setup and that's about it. I have visually removed and checked the CPU.

The only things I can detach are the SSD and optical drive which I have done without any change.

All I can think of doing is to completely remove the parts from the case and rebuild it again - might be an earthing problem (not likely).

[king1]

The PC is initially recognized on the monitor and then reports that there is no connection. I have replaced the CMOS battery. I do not have a GPU on this and have also tried a VGA.

if you see some actual bios text on the screen , this might suggest it might be flicking into a mode/resolution that the screen can't handle, seems odd though. Have you another monitor you can try?  

You could also try reloading bios optimised/defaults

[Bryan]

Can't get as far as BIOS. Somewhere I have a Pentium CPU, if I can find it I will give that a try.

---

A correction, the mb is a gigabyte B250M-D3H. 6/7 Generation LG1151.

[king1]

try some different ram as well, although when ram fails you get a beep code.
No beep code is usually power supply or mainboard

reasonably rare for a CPU to fail

[king1]

All I can think of doing is to completely remove the parts from the case and rebuild it again - might be an earthing problem (not likely).

That has happened before so could be worth a try... 

With the dead ones I usually end up taking the mobo out and powering it up on a test bench with an antistatic mat and/or a antistatic bag underneath it

[Wainuitech]

Could be the CPU is NOT compatible with the motherboard.
Looking on Gigabytes specs and what you provided, the  i5 7500 Is not listed as compatible.


Edited: Wrong info given 1st time around -- Tisk tisk.


Where mentioned "All I am getting is a periodic clunk from the optical drive." is it one single clunk or reappears regularly, if its regular that's a power related problem. Could either be a Power Supply (Sometime cause) or even a DOA Motherboard. Happens sometimes.

[Bryan]

There is a clunk then a hum then back to a clunk and then a hum on a loop of about 5-10 seconds.

One other thing, when I first turn on the power, the PC does show on the monitor so I can select it IE it shows as DVI2. When I select it, I then get the non-connection.

---

This is history repeating itself. Below is a copy of the same problem I had 27/06/2024 and was fix with another PSU.

I should have left well alone. I have just upgraded to an Asus Z490-v motherboard. All went well having removed the older motherboard and installed the Z490. I decided to put the older board in another case. I believed I installed everything correctly. When connected all fans run but I cannot get a monitor signal. The optical disk seems to be operating but keeps closing down, listening carefully I can detect that the other fans shut down and then start again, this is continual. I tried another case with a third board but same PSU, same result, has the PSU failed? I am wondering if the 8 pin plug has a problem (just looking at the pins they appear OK). Testing is beyond me and I don’t have another PSU to change to and I don’t want to upset the new setup. Am I missing a fundamental here?

[Wainuitech]

DVI2 is the graphic output. Are you using DVI or HDMI ( or even VGA) ?? ( gotta ask as most times its something that I could see without asking if at the location).

Just trying to remember Seen this before - could be wrong - but once a customer had a problem and for some reason, the monitor wasn't picking up the correct port, had to manually select on the monitor to use HDMI. As a test do you have a spare monitor to attach to see if it picks up on that.

[Bryan]

Using HDMI, have tried VGA. The monitor has two ports and both work. Tied swapping the ports and I do have another PC that uses the monitor port happily.

I have ordered another PSU and will see what happens.

[king1]

Using HDMI, have tried VGA. The monitor has two ports and both work. Tied swapping the ports and I do have another PC that uses the monitor port happily.

I have ordered another PSU and will see what happens.

wouldn't be the first time a PC didn't like a particular monitor while others are quite happy with it, I would try and find another monitor as well... just in case... especially given the Déjà vu moment...

[Bryan]

Thanks for the hint but I am sure that it isn't the monitor. Will report back after I install the PSU.

[Bryan]

Update: Amazed that another PSU arrived this morning about 16 hours after ordering it. Well done NZPOST.

However, although the PSU appears good, the PC still has a problem. When turned on, I still have no signal. I have tried both the onboard HDMI and VGA ports with variety of cables and then installed a GPU with the same result. At least I now have the PC running all fans and optical drive for 25 seconds before stopping, restarting and running again for 25 seconds in a loop etc. I did try another RAM stick too.

I can only think either the MB or CPU is at fault. The PSU should have nice, golden pins (?) but the top and bottom edges appear brownish as though over heated. I don't think I have another and at this stage I am not going to get another.

Your thoughts would be very welcome but, as I see it, this might just be the end of the query,

[king1]

do you happen to have you a mobo post analyser - similar to
https://www.trademe.co.nz/a/marketplace/...4903474293

not this is an older pci version i assume there are newer pcia versions

Basically they can give you an idea about which stage of the post that the hardware fails, with my older version 00 and FF means all OK and every other code means something is wrong with hardware, which you can look up in the chart

[king1]

i'd still try on another screen as well, just to eliminate all possibles...

[Bryan]

Tried another screen, no go. I found squirrelled away a Pentium G4560 that is compatible with the motherboard. I have tried to run the startup but the same loop problem. The more I look at this I am now beginning to think it is a MB problem so it will be shelved for now.

[Wainuitech]

As it was suggested before, try starting the board outside the case.

All you need is the motherboard on a bench, with CPU and Memory installed attach ONLY the basics, PSU, Keyboard, Mouse, and monitor -- You don't even need an HDD. You can start the PC by shorting with a screwdriver the + & - on the pwr pins. Its very rare for CPU's to cause a problem.

When it's out of the case as described, and IF it boots into the BIOS and stays there - the problem is possible somewhere there's a short. If it boots, then turn it off, add one thing at a time ( HDD) try again see what happens or if one particular item causes it to fail.

If its still not booting, good chance it is the motherboard

Actually had that happen several years ago, Built a brand new PC there was "Something" about the case, when it got bumped it wouldn't start, or would then shut down within a few minutes, went through and changed Every single component, wasn't till the case was changed the problem disappeared -- (Had spare parts then)

[Bryan]

Removed the board as you suggested with nothing other than the CPU, RAM and kb/mouse. Same problem.

I have a Z77 stored away and used the same config as above, started perfectly. Although it is very old, I might very well get a case to take ATX and replace the B250M-D3H.

Being completely stripped down, I believe that there is a problem with the MB.

[king1]

sounding like the motherboard... have you tried the clear bios jumper on the board? assuming it has one, it's about the only other thing I can think of