Computer wont screen doesn't start up on first boot, is it because the graphics card sin't installed?

Nick Sumbot · Mar 25, 2013

I have just built my first gaming computer. I hooked everything up and when I go to turn it on an led on the motherboard lights up but nothing else sstarts, the screen doesnt start up the fans don't turn on and the led's on the case don't turn on either. I have no clue what to do is it because the graphics card isn't installed on the motherboard? and if so how would I install it? because the motherboard doesnt have an integrated graphics card

rgd1101 · Mar 25, 2013

full spec?

atomicWAR · Mar 25, 2013

we need more info about your parts.....what type of motherboard, cpu, ram, power supply, graphics card, etc

one suggestion though is to not put your motherboard in the case...put it on the static paper it came with and build the pc on it....see if it boots if so....then stick it in the case. this helps make sure your motherboard is not grounded which can happen when you screw it down.

holdingholder · Mar 25, 2013

If the motherboard doesn't have integrated graphics you need a graphic card. What did you even connect the monitor to then?

atomicWAR · Mar 25, 2013

holdingholder :

i was trying so hard to be quiet tell he gave us full specs. lol..but yeah what did you hook up to?

techgeek · Mar 25, 2013

When you say the graphics card isn't installed, do you mean that you don't have one plugged into the PCIe slot, or do you mean that you don't have drivers installed yet.

If it's the first scenario, the obvious solution would be to install one.

However if you mean you have one plugged in, but you new build isn't POSTing, that's a whole different situation. Basic tips for troubleshooting a non-POSTing computer:

1. Double and triple check that you've plugged everything into the motherboard that needs to be, 20/4 ATX power connector, 12V CPU connector, RAM is fully inserted and installed in the correct slots, video card is fully inserted into the correct slot for a single card configuration and it's PCIe power connectors are plugged into it.

2. Check case connections especially power switch and reset switch.

3. Reset BIOS as per instructions in motherboard manual.

4. Be sure you used the motherboard standoffs, and only used the ones indicated in your motherboard manual.

5. If there was protective plastic protecting pre-applied TIM on your heatsink, be sure that you removed it prior to affixing the HSF.

To get more specific help, you need to post your computer details, motherboard, CPU, RAM, PSU, case, and anything else that might be important.

Nick Sumbot · Mar 25, 2013

Asus M5A97 LE R2.0
Sapphire Radeon HD 7850
AMD FX 8350 Vishera 8-core
top power 800w
Corsair RAM 2 4GB

I am plugging the screen into the graphics card

Nick Sumbot · Mar 25, 2013

techgeek :

When you say the graphics card isn't installed, do you mean that you don't have one plugged into the PCIe slot, or do you mean that you don't have drivers installed yet.

If it's the first scenario, the obvious solution would be to install one.

However if you mean you have one plugged in, but you new build isn't POSTing, that's a whole different situation. Basic tips for troubleshooting a non-POSTing computer:

1. Double and triple check that you've plugged everything into the motherboard that needs to be, 20/4 ATX power connector, 12V CPU connector, RAM is fully inserted and installed in the correct slots, video card is fully inserted into the correct slot for a single card configuration and it's PCIe power connectors are plugged into it.

2. Check case connections especially power switch and reset switch.

3. Reset BIOS as per instructions in motherboard manual.

4. Be sure you used the motherboard standoffs, and only used the ones indicated in your motherboard manual.

5. If there was protective plastic protecting pre-applied TIM on your heatsink, be sure that you removed it prior to affixing the HSF.

To get more specific help, you need to post your computer details, motherboard, CPU, RAM, PSU, case, and anything else that might be important.

The graphics card is in the slot and everything but its not installed

Nick Sumbot · Mar 25, 2013

Ths is the enclosure and I am not completely sure how the power and reset buttons plu in
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811208020

atomicWAR · Mar 25, 2013

techgeek :

When you say the graphics card isn't installed, do you mean that you don't have one plugged into the PCIe slot, or do you mean that you don't have drivers installed yet.

If it's the first scenario, the obvious solution would be to install one.

However if you mean you have one plugged in, but you new build isn't POSTing, that's a whole different situation. Basic tips for troubleshooting a non-POSTing computer:

1. Double and triple check that you've plugged everything into the motherboard that needs to be, 20/4 ATX power connector, 12V CPU connector, RAM is fully inserted and installed in the correct slots, video card is fully inserted into the correct slot for a single card configuration and it's PCIe power connectors are plugged into it.

2. Check case connections especially power switch and reset switch.

3. Reset BIOS as per instructions in motherboard manual.

4. Be sure you used the motherboard standoffs, and only used the ones indicated in your motherboard manual.

5. If there was protective plastic protecting pre-applied TIM on your heatsink, be sure that you removed it prior to affixing the HSF.

To get more specific help, you need to post your computer details, motherboard, CPU, RAM, PSU, case, and anything else that might be important.

+ 1 this is a good way to go...

but as i also said i find it helps to "build" you pc on static paper first. you know its not grounded that way and if anything doesn't work or is defective....no need to get your screw driver out and pull it out of the case.

techgeek · Mar 25, 2013

So this is you first boot. The card is physically installed and that's all that matters for POSTing, driver installation is moot until you get it to POST.

Start with the steps I laid out. This covers the obvious missteps and problems. Hopefully one of these will get you home.

Does you case have a speaker? If so make sure it's plugged into the header on your motherboard so you can hear any POST beeps, these might help determine what is going wrong.

Nick Sumbot · Mar 25, 2013

techgeek :

So even though the graphics card isnt installed the bios should still come up on screen?

atomicWAR · Mar 25, 2013

Nick Sumbot :

techgeek :

So even though the graphics card isnt installed the bios should still come up on screen?

as long as its plugged in a pcie slot and has power yes it should

Nick Sumbot · Mar 25, 2013

atomicWAR :

Nick Sumbot :

as long as its plugged in a pcie slot and has power yes it should

ok so it must be that I don't have something else pluggied in right? I am not completely sure how the front panel connectors plug into the motherboard and how the fans plug in

techgeek · Mar 25, 2013

Nick Sumbot :

If you don't have the power switch from your case wired to the header on your motherboard, it's not going to come on. There should be a bunch of wires coming from your case. One will be power, one will be reset, one for HDD LED, one for front USB ports, one for front panel audio, etc. At a minimum you need the power one plugged into the motherboard. The power switch on the PSU isn't going to turn your computer on. The motherboard monitors the switch and when it's closed, it will allow power to supply the rest of the motherboard.

atomicWAR · Mar 25, 2013

techgeek :

ehhhh not totally true. you can short the leads by hand with a bit of wire on the power switch pins on the motherboard...but i usually do that if i suspect my power switch is broken. which it might be worth checking!

Nick Sumbot · Mar 25, 2013

atomicWAR :

techgeek :

ehhhh not totally true. you can short the leads by hand with a bit of wire on the power switch pins...but i usually do that if i suspect my power switch is broken. which it might be worth checking!

Well is there a schematic or something I could look at that shows how to plug everything in? I am just really new at all of this. I plugged in the power, reset, speaker, hdd led, and the usb and audio but im not sure if the power and such are plugged in right

techgeek · Mar 25, 2013

Nick Sumbot :

You will see a bunch of cables hanging inside your case coming from the things I indicated in my last post. The ones that plug into the motherboard header should be labelled on them, something like PW SW for power switch, HDD for hard drive LED, RESET for reset, SPKR for speaker if your case has one. The header connector on most motherboards will be on the bottom right corner of the motherboard. The manual will show you what pins go with which connector.

As for the fans, depending on the connectors for the fans will dictate where you can plug them. If they are 3 pin connectors and your motherboard has fan connectors you can plug them into them. Make sure your heatsink fan is plugged into the CPU FAN connector (usually near the CPU socket). If the case fans are molex connectors then you will plug them directly to your power supply.

Sort out the case connectors that plug into your motherboard, then sort out the fans. Unplug your computer from the wall until this is all sorted though.

Nick Sumbot · Mar 25, 2013

techgeek :

Nick Sumbot :

You will see a bunch of cables hanging inside your case coming from the things I indicated in my last post. The ones that plug into the motherboard header should be labelled on them, something like PW SW for power switch, HDD for hard drive LED, RESET for reset, SPKR for speaker if your case has one. The header connector on most motherboards will be on the bottom right corner of the motherboard. The manual will show you what pins go with which connector.

As for the fans, depending on the connectors for the fans will dictate where you can plug them. If they are 3 pin connectors and your motherboard has fan connectors you can plug them into them. Make sure your heatsink fan is plugged into the CPU FAN connector (usually near the CPU socket). If the case fans are molex connectors then you will plug them directly to your power supply.

Sort out the case connectors that plug into your motherboard, then sort out the fans. Unplug your computer from the wall until this is all sorted though.

I plugged the fans into my power supply and at the end of the cord there is a four pin connecter do I plug that into the motherboard?

techgeek · Mar 25, 2013

Nick Sumbot :

Well the power switch is just a switch, it isn't polarity sensitive, as long as you have it connected to the right two pins on the header it should work. That said, atomicWar could be right and you have a bum switch. His troubleshooting step is a bit more advance than your experience allows. You need to be sure which pins are the power switch pins before you go shorting stuff or you could wreck you motherboard and/or more. Look at your motherboard manual, it should have a section on connectors and it will cover all the connectors on the motherboard. It will clearly show you which pins on the header are meant for which cables from your case.

atomicWAR · Mar 25, 2013

Nick Sumbot :

this is from your manual....it is just that.

Nick Sumbot · Mar 25, 2013

atomicWAR :

Nick Sumbot :

atomicWAR :

Well is there a schematic or something I could look at that shows how to plug everything in? I am just really new at all of this. I plugged in the power, reset, speaker, hdd led, and the usb and audio but im not sure if the power and such are plugged in right

this is from your manual....it is just that.

What is the PLED? do I need that becase my case doesnt have a cord for that

migrax · Mar 25, 2013

do you have the switch on the power supply on? Is it set to the right voltage (110/220 etc?)

migrax

techgeek · Mar 25, 2013

Power LED is not needed for booting. Odd that your case doesn't have one. It's just an LED on the case that indicates that the computer is on.

Good job with the manual atomicWar, I was trying to do that just now, but I am in Yemen on a slow-assed satellite connection.

Nick Sumbot · Mar 25, 2013

techgeek :

So how would I fix my power switch? or how would I turn on the system without the switch

Computer wont screen doesn't start up on first boot, is it because the graphics card sin't installed?

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