Black screen and immediate restart

Hi,

I have just built a new system, and am having some difficulties in getting it to start up properly. The system is comprised of the following components…..

Intel Q6600 quad core CPU
Palit Radeon HD 4870 1GB gfx card
Gigabyte EP43-DS3L P43 Socket 775 Motherboard
4 GB DDR2 1066MHz memory (2 x 2 GB modules)

I am using the same case and PSU that I was using with my previous system (the PSU is a Trust 570W Dual Fan)

I have obviously got hard drives and CD drives as well, but as I will go onto explain the problem that I am getting does not seem to be connected to these – at the moment they are not even connected.

Essentially, the problem is that when I turn the computer on, everything initially seems to be OK in that the fans come on, the internal speaker beeps once, and the monitor comes out of standby (the yellow light turns green), however nothing at all is displayed on the screen and after a second or two the computer resets and starts the whole process again. The power and reset switches on the case do not have any effect, and all I can do is turn the system off at the mains. I’ve double checked, and triple checked, and found that all the power connectors to the motherboard are in place.

I am suspecting that something is either wrong with the graphics card, or that my PSU is not powerful enough to drive it – unfortunately, at present I do not have another PCI-E card which I can put in its place. I am going to go out and get a cheap one this afternoon, just to see whether the gfx card is indeed the problem.

I was wondering whether anyone could let me know whether these symptoms are the sort of thing that you would expect if a power hungry graphics card was not getting the power that it required? Right from the outset, I did suspect that my PSU might struggle, but perhaps naively assumed that the system would at least turn on and that the lack of power to the gfx card would only become apparent when I was trying to play a graphically intensive game.

The gfx card has two 6 pin power connectors, but my PSU only has one – I therefore have used the adaptor that came with the gfx card to join together two of the 4 pin connectors (the sort that are usually used for hard drives and CD drives etc). Might this be the source of the problem? Does is matter which socket on the gfx card uses the “adapted” 6 pin connector and which uses the one from the PSU?

I don’t really have any reason to suspect that I did not install the CPU correctly, but just on the off chance – what would one expect to get if no CPU was installed in a motherboard? Would you still at least expect to get something displayed on the screen?

Any help would be much appreciated.

Ackoman

That PSU could very well be the problem.

The next thing that could be the problem is the RAM. That RAM will most likely need quite a bit more voltage than the standard 1.8v. Have you tried booting with just one stick of RAM installed? If you do and get a successful boot, you need to go into the BIOS and manually set the RAM timings and voltage to the manufacturers specs. Try both sticks of RAM by themselves in different RAM slots to try to rule out the RAM as the problem.

Did you have any trouble installing the heat sink? If the HSF isn't installed correctly, your CPU could be overheating.

It would help if you posted the exact model number of your RAM.

sorry, also meant to add that I had no problems installing the HSF, and am pretty sure it is seated properly.

Hi,

No way of knowing what the CPU temp is - thus far I have not even been able to access the BIOS, and have not been able to get anything at all displayed on the screen.

That PSU sounds like a real POS. How many amps does it claim to be able to provide on its +12V rail(s)? If it is the problem, it could be providing very erratic waveforms before your PC shuts down.
Your RAM will probably run on 1.8V, but the timings will likely be something like 7-7-7-24 (or worse). I'll second Shortstuff's RAM recommendation, or get Mushkin or A-Data that will operate at their advertised timings on 1.8V.

Congrats!

You can try getting the 4870 to run just by the BIOS update, but I wouldn't trust that nice build to your crappy PSU. When the PSU goes out, there's a very good chance it will take other hardware out with it. You'd be MUCH better off replacing the PSU before it causes more problems.

But, it's a cheap brand, so it can probably provide 60% of that before the outputs go wild and/or it shuts down and/or it smokes. Your PSU can't cut it. Please replace it before you test any more with the 4870.

I seriously doubt it is your power supply. The HD4870 runs at 130 watts max. At idle, 65 watts. My entire system at idle runs 170 watts at idle, and barely goes over 250 watts maxed out.

Try this:
With your "good" graphics card installed,
Uninstall the ATI Cat driver. Do not install any graphics drivers.
Power down and swap over to your HD4870.
Go down to 2GB of ram temporarily. (maybe a driver problem with 4GB ram).
Doublecheck that ALL motherboard power connectors are installed. Some have a spot for a molex.
Set your BIOS to all default, except the obvious on-board video/sound/com ports, boot order. Don't tweak anything.
If you get to Windows just fine, you just eliminated the PSU and HD4870.

Hi,

Anyone got any comments to make on this PSU?

http://www.envizage.com/p/730007/e [...] m-fan.html

Disconcertingly cheap, or a good bargain?

Cheers,

Ackoman

I've never heard of the brand, so I'd stay clear personally. The PSU is something you don't want to take chances with. Get a well known brand name.