I had a somewhat dated HP computer that had stopped displaying any video signal whatsoever.
No BIOS on motherboard and no beeps when I removed all RAM, so I assumed the motherboard was the problem and decided to start a budget build after salvaging what was left of the old computer
My new computer build has the following:
PSU: 430w Corsair CX (new)
MoBo: ASRock A785GM-LE (new/refurbished)
RAM: 2 GB generic
CPU: AMD Athlon II X2 4800+ 2.8 Ghz
GPU: EVGA GTX 650 (not ti) 2GB overclocked (new/refurbished from newegg)
HDD: 1TB Western Digital
Case is from an old dell optiplex because my last computer was mini-ITX
Im using an external DVD drive for installation
My problem now is when using the integrated graphics the system boots fine and acts normal, but after a few minutes of activity, the video signal will cut out completely, and my screen will search for a signal. Nothing ever happens, and I have to shut down the computer from the power switch on the PSU.
I thought the problem had gone away, so I tried installing the graphics card. Everything seemed normal, and It runs for about five or ten minutes, but always locks up and freezes. The display still keeps an image but the computer is completely unresponsive and I cannot move the mouse cursor or use the keyboard.
I assumed this was due to overheating, so I cleaned the heatsink/cpu and applied arctic silver 5 per instructions. I went into the BIOS to watch the temperatures, and as soon as the CPU would reach 35c/ 96f is when the computer would lock up. This happened twice. The Computer becomes unresponsive while in the BIOS menu and I have to hard reboot like always. I couldn't check the GPU temperature at the time, because the computer locked up during a clean install of windows, so I have no OS to test now and must install windows onto my hard drive from another system or use a liveCD to check the GPU temperature, which I haven't done yet. the fan does spin on the graphics card, but I already had to replace the fan because I broke a few blades off of the first one. Also, I tried booting with the graphics card and without the hard drive, but it still locked up as soon as it hit 35c.
Since the computer was locking up at the same time every time I booted it, I figured it HAD to be a heat issue and removed the graphics card. I'm assuming the replacement fan isn't strong enough and am setting the graphics card aside until I get the system functioning fully. After removing the graphics card there was no lockup at 35c in the bios, but when I exited and went to install Windows I get back to the black screen/loss of signal after 3 minutes or so.
The only think I haven't replaced or swapped out is the RAM. I've been using one of my two sticks through this entire process in order to narrow down the possibilities. I will try the other stick of ram with just the CPU and HDD and see what happens
Is this black screen a motherboard short? because the risers all fit and the motherboard doesn't seem to be touching the case anywhere.
Why doesn't the black screen happen if I use my graphics card? Could the freezing AND video loss have been the RAM instead of the graphics card this whole time? I also have my old GTS 250 that I'm assuming still works if anyone thinks it would be a good idea to try. I ordered the GTX 650 because I assumed my last computer just needed a new graphics card, but it ended up being the motherboard.
Update: I removed some extra pci brackets from the case that were touching the motherboard slightly and I switched out the panel power button with the one from my old AMD HP system to reduce the possibility of shorting because the one in this case was with an intel based system, I also disabled the floppy drive in the BIOS.after booting for the same purpose. I have a PSU tester and the PSU shows it's fine and the voltages look good in the BIOS
Results: With A different RAM module and the HDD disconnected (only CPU, 1x 1gb RAM, onboard video) the BIOS didn't seem to give any problems after I tested it for a few minutes. I will see what happens when I try to install windows on the hard drive, and maybe give the GTS 250 a try if everything goes good.
No BIOS on motherboard and no beeps when I removed all RAM, so I assumed the motherboard was the problem and decided to start a budget build after salvaging what was left of the old computer
My new computer build has the following:
PSU: 430w Corsair CX (new)
MoBo: ASRock A785GM-LE (new/refurbished)
RAM: 2 GB generic
CPU: AMD Athlon II X2 4800+ 2.8 Ghz
GPU: EVGA GTX 650 (not ti) 2GB overclocked (new/refurbished from newegg)
HDD: 1TB Western Digital
Case is from an old dell optiplex because my last computer was mini-ITX
Im using an external DVD drive for installation
My problem now is when using the integrated graphics the system boots fine and acts normal, but after a few minutes of activity, the video signal will cut out completely, and my screen will search for a signal. Nothing ever happens, and I have to shut down the computer from the power switch on the PSU.
I thought the problem had gone away, so I tried installing the graphics card. Everything seemed normal, and It runs for about five or ten minutes, but always locks up and freezes. The display still keeps an image but the computer is completely unresponsive and I cannot move the mouse cursor or use the keyboard.
I assumed this was due to overheating, so I cleaned the heatsink/cpu and applied arctic silver 5 per instructions. I went into the BIOS to watch the temperatures, and as soon as the CPU would reach 35c/ 96f is when the computer would lock up. This happened twice. The Computer becomes unresponsive while in the BIOS menu and I have to hard reboot like always. I couldn't check the GPU temperature at the time, because the computer locked up during a clean install of windows, so I have no OS to test now and must install windows onto my hard drive from another system or use a liveCD to check the GPU temperature, which I haven't done yet. the fan does spin on the graphics card, but I already had to replace the fan because I broke a few blades off of the first one. Also, I tried booting with the graphics card and without the hard drive, but it still locked up as soon as it hit 35c.
Since the computer was locking up at the same time every time I booted it, I figured it HAD to be a heat issue and removed the graphics card. I'm assuming the replacement fan isn't strong enough and am setting the graphics card aside until I get the system functioning fully. After removing the graphics card there was no lockup at 35c in the bios, but when I exited and went to install Windows I get back to the black screen/loss of signal after 3 minutes or so.
The only think I haven't replaced or swapped out is the RAM. I've been using one of my two sticks through this entire process in order to narrow down the possibilities. I will try the other stick of ram with just the CPU and HDD and see what happens
Is this black screen a motherboard short? because the risers all fit and the motherboard doesn't seem to be touching the case anywhere.
Why doesn't the black screen happen if I use my graphics card? Could the freezing AND video loss have been the RAM instead of the graphics card this whole time? I also have my old GTS 250 that I'm assuming still works if anyone thinks it would be a good idea to try. I ordered the GTX 650 because I assumed my last computer just needed a new graphics card, but it ended up being the motherboard.
Update: I removed some extra pci brackets from the case that were touching the motherboard slightly and I switched out the panel power button with the one from my old AMD HP system to reduce the possibility of shorting because the one in this case was with an intel based system, I also disabled the floppy drive in the BIOS.after booting for the same purpose. I have a PSU tester and the PSU shows it's fine and the voltages look good in the BIOS
Results: With A different RAM module and the HDD disconnected (only CPU, 1x 1gb RAM, onboard video) the BIOS didn't seem to give any problems after I tested it for a few minutes. I will see what happens when I try to install windows on the hard drive, and maybe give the GTS 250 a try if everything goes good.
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