Computer Monitor shows No Signal

ItsKarma · Aug 30, 2014

I wasn't sure where to post this, so please do move it if needed.

Yesterday, when I turned on my computer, which has been working for quite some time now, the monitor displayed no signal. I've made sure that the vga cable is securely fit into the computer and monitor, have done the hold power method and have also resit the battery.

Any help would be appreciated,
Thanks in advance.

armantaxi · Aug 30, 2014

Maybe ram or VGA are crashed

Darkbreeze · Aug 30, 2014

When you unplug the monitor cable from the computer and turn the power off and back on, does anything display on the screen like the "No signal" message?

ItsKarma · Aug 31, 2014

Darkbreeze :

I'm not sure what you mean but if it helps I am now currently using the monitor with a different computer until I am able to solve this issue (meaning the monitor is fine).

Darkbreeze · Aug 31, 2014

Yep, that was the point I was trying to get at. For future reference, generally if the monitor is ok but it's not getting a signal from the video card, it will display the "no signal" message on the screen momentarily to let you know, well, there's no signal coming from the computer. So if the monitor is good it narrows it down somewhat. At this point, and again, for future reference, it would be helpful to have your system information as outlined in the link below. It's hard to even make a guess at what's causing your troubles without knowing anything about your hardware.

http://www.tomshardware.com/faq/id-2177560/post-detailed-computer-specs.html

ItsKarma · Sep 1, 2014

Darkbreeze :

Sorry about that, (also sorry for the late reply)
Note that this is a PC which was a gift and is second hand.

CPU/APU: I think it is this: Intel® Celeron® Processor E3300 (Not Overclocked)

Motherboard: Asus P5N-E SLI

RAM: I have one Crucial 128MX64 DDR2 (this?), and two Corsair XMS2-6400 1024MB DDR2.

Power Supply: Corsair CX500M 500 W ATX 80+ Bronze PC Power Supply

Graphics Card: GeForce 8600 GT (Not Overclocked)

Operating System: 64 bit

Darkbreeze · Sep 1, 2014

Ok, so when you push the power button, what DOES happen? Does the power supply fan come on? Do the case fans come on? Does the processor cooling fan come on? Being as that's a fairly old system I'd definitely check to see if the power supply is full of junk and needs to be blown out. See if the cpu or processor heatsink and fan are full of dust and junk and needs to be blown out. A high percentage of older systems have either power supplies or cpu coolers that are full of dust and are no longer cooling because no air can flow through them, so they fail. That may not be your issue but let's check those first to be sure and also see if the other, case fans, are running.

ItsKarma · Sep 1, 2014

Darkbreeze :

Well the first time I turned it on the computer seemed to run to the desktop (as normal), as I could hear the sound it plays when it runs to the desktop. Since then it hasn't done so but it still successfully boots up as all the fans seem to spin. I already cleared out, as best as I could, all the dust on the GPU but it did not solve it.
Also, forgot to mention, since it has not run to the desktop, each time i've turned it on after a minute or so it has a sequence of beeps (1 long, 3 short, silence, 1 short). I'm not sure what this means or what it could mean.

Darkbreeze · Sep 1, 2014

GPU or GPU RAM issue. Try removing and reseating the card. Make sure you have power going to the card although if it was working fine and then stopped working fine it's most likely a bad GPU card, GPU processor or GPU RAM. Try a different card or replace the card.

ItsKarma · Sep 1, 2014

Darkbreeze :

So you're sure it is a GPU or GPU RAM issue? Is this info coming from the beeps? I have tried reseating the card to no avail unfortunately =[
I can't use a different card because the CPU I am now using is a pre-built one so I don't think I can remove the graphics card. (I also looked into it and i'm unsure how I would take it out as the screw part is on the outside)

Darkbreeze · Sep 1, 2014

What do you mean? I'm talking about the graphics card. The graphics processing unit. GPU. All cards can be removed exept for integrated graphics and since that board doesn't have any it has to be an add in card. If you reseated it as you said, you already removed it. Reseating means taking it out and putting it fully back in to make sure it's completely down in the slot and the lock on the end is engaged. If you have the side panel to the case off just remove the screw holding the bracket to the case, push the lock away from the graphics card (At the bottom of the card on the end furthest from the back of the case where it goes into the board.) and gently pull the card upwards. You have to gently rock the card front to back a little bit to get it free. Make sure you've unlocked the tab that slips into the slot at the back of the card and removed the hold down screw at the other end on top.

ItsKarma · Sep 2, 2014

Darkbreeze :

Yeah, I have reseated the card of this computer but I am currently using an old computer which was pre-built and I can't really see a way to take out the graphics card. Also, do you know what the beeps actually signified?

Darkbreeze · Sep 2, 2014

It doesn't matter. Since you can't replace the GPU or RAM on the card, you would replace the entire card. The beeps, signify a GPU or GPU RAM issue, as I said before. You can verify here:

http://vip.asus.com/forum/view.aspx?id=20080722095248531&board_id=1&model=P5N-E+SLI&page=1&SLanguage=en-us

ItsKarma · Sep 3, 2014

Darkbreeze :

I see, so you're saying I will need to replace the Graphics card or atleast try a different one to fully confirm the graphics card is bust?
Thanks for all your help btw.

Darkbreeze · Sep 3, 2014

Yes. Try another card if possible to confirm that the issue is not still present. If it is, then it's a driver or motherboard issue. If the problem is gone, which most likely it will be, the card was to blame. If there was a LOT of junk in the graphic cards heatsink and fan or if the fan was not turning, it wouldn't have taken long for the GPU to burn itself out.

ItsKarma · Sep 3, 2014

Darkbreeze :

Alright, thanks a lot - I guess i'll try and get a new graphics card to see if it actually is bust.

Darkbreeze · Sep 4, 2014

For future reference try to keep a can of compressed air on hand unless you own a compressor, and every few weeks give the PSU, CPU and GPU fan and heatsinks a good blowing out, making sure to get it all out of the case as well. It will without doubt extend the life of those components. A layer of dust on a heatsink can decrease it's ability to cool by varying amounts depending on the main composition of the dust but on very dusty versions heat dissipation can all but disappear.

ItsKarma · Sep 4, 2014

Darkbreeze :

Alright, thanks for the advice.

ItsKarma · Sep 13, 2014

Darkbreeze :

Sorry for the very late reply,
I have found that my motherboard seems to have a PCI-e version 1.0 slot (although I am not sure since I cannot turn it on to verify it) and I was wondering if it was better to buy a graphics card replacement that is PCI express 2.0 or PCI express 3.0 slot compatible.

Darkbreeze · Sep 13, 2014

PCIe x16 3.0 cards are backward compatible with PCIe 1.0 x16 slots. There also will not be much if any performance hit unless you're using multiple monitors or extremely high resolutions.

ItsKarma · Sep 18, 2014

Darkbreeze :

I am currently looking at some Graphics cards but are there any that you would recommend?
It has to be smaller than 170mm and I'm hoping to keep at low as possible, possibly around the £100 mark.

Darkbreeze · Sep 18, 2014

Do you have a preference of AMD or NVidia, or just best bang for the buck?

ItsKarma · Sep 18, 2014

Darkbreeze :

I'd say best bang for the buck but if you want you could list the AMD/Nvidia equivalent to your suggestion? I'm mostly looking for the best bang for buck though so you don't have to do that if you don't want to.

Darkbreeze · Sep 18, 2014

Well, this is a little bit more than you had budgeted but for being close to your price range and getting you a card that's actually pretty damn decent for the money, this is probably it. It beats the shit out of the 750 TI and is pretty close compared to the 760. The difference in performance beween an £100 card and one that's around £17-25 more is actually fairly significant. And it really beats the shit out of that card you have now, which is at the bottom of pretty much every benchmark chart out there if it even makes the chart.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

Video Card: Sapphire Radeon R9 270X 2GB Dual-X Video Card (£119.00 @ Amazon UK)
Total: £119.00
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-09-18 23:01 BST+0100

ItsKarma · Sep 19, 2014

Darkbreeze :

Unfortunately it won't fit. The problem is there is limited space so it means I need a card which is maximum 170mm. As you recommended the R9 270X, is it viable to use the MSI R9 270X GAMING 2G ITX or are there better cards available within that size range?

Computer Monitor shows No Signal

Reputable

Distinguished

Retired Mod

Reputable

Retired Mod

Reputable

Retired Mod

Reputable

Retired Mod

Reputable

Retired Mod

Reputable

Retired Mod

Reputable

Retired Mod

Reputable

Retired Mod

Reputable

Reputable

Retired Mod

Reputable

Retired Mod

Reputable

Retired Mod

Reputable

Share this page