Computer will not POST, nothing on screen

[akira181]

I wanted to turn my old perfectly working computer into a dedicated software RAID server. I bought an identical motherboard off ebay to have a spare, and some extra parts to complete the system. This is what I have:

• Asus M2n-E motherboard (2 of them)
  
• AMD Athlon X2 4600+
  
• Corsair 4GB DDR2 Ram
  
• ATI 5450 GFX Card
  
• WD 160GB HDD
  
• Corsair TX650W PSU
  
• Storage HDD will be bought once this is working
  

I took out the CPU and RAM from the computer and put it into the eBay board to test it. Then I put it into the case, and attached the PSU and GFX card. Pushed the power button, fans spin, HDD makes some noise but nothing on the screen or any beeps. Reset the BIOS on the eBay board, still the same. Try the dual RAM sticks independantly, still the same. Tried a different GFX card, different PSU, and no change. So I thought the Ebay board was broken. Sent an email to the seller and began to put all the parts back into my old motherboard.

Here's the kicker, once everything was back into my motherboard, the exact same problem. Fans spin, LEDs on, HDD clicks but nothing on the screen or any beeps. Tried different RAM, PSU, GFX Card, Monitor, cables, no luck! I thought I had damaged the CPU as I had a bit of difficulty installing the new heatsink (an Arctic Cooler Freezer 7 Pro) so I bought a new CPU (AMD Athlon X2 5200+) but still the exact same problem. Nothing on screen, no warning beeps. I am at wits end, I have tried everything and it still won't work.

I have used 2 PSUs, 2 GFX Cards, 2 monitors & 3 cables, 2 CPU's, 2 Motherboards, 2 HDDs, and tried the Dual DDR2 sticks independently. The only thing I haven't tried changing is the upgraded heatsink!!

I am at wits end, can anyone tell me why my computer will not show anything on the screen or make any beeps???

*Edit

All troubleshooting spares (PSU, GFX card, and monitor) came from my main rig which is still working. The second CPU is one I bought brand new not off Ebay. Heatsink was a stock cooler before upgrading to the Freezer 7.

Edited November 13, 2010 by akira181

[allen2]

Does the motherboard ever beep at all ( did you tried removing everything except the cpu and the power supply from the MB ) ?

It should beep when there isn't any ram stick. This way you'll be sure the motherboard is beeping.

In most cases like this, you have forgotten something or added something. So if the motherboard is beeping in the previous test, i'll try adding one by one the other components and see if it works at each step.

It could be a short circuit or an unplugged (forgotten) cable if all components were working before.

[akira181]

I done that with both motherboards and what I have found is this:

• The new graphics card I bought (Raedon 5450) does not work with either ASUS board but it works fine in my main rig (no idea why that is btw).
  
• The graphics card from my main rig works fine in my ASUS board.
  
• The graphics card from my main rig when inserted to the Ebay motherboard, the fan spins like crazy instantly.
  
• Also, no beeps from the Ebay board with only power and CPU connected
  

[allen2]

So the Ebay board seems to be faulty at least for the lack of beep without ram.

As the two board are the same, a bios update should solve the problem with the graphics card on the Ebay board.

If your board did have the latest bios, you should try to update it as it could fix the problem with the 5450.

If this step work, you'll need to update both bios, with a bios swapping if you don't have another graphics card which will work withe the ebay board.

It look like it should be easy on this board as the bios chip doesn't seem soldered. For directions, see http://icrontic.com/forum/showthread.php?t=25538.

If you don't want to bother, you could check if you can send back the Ebay board.

[akira181]

I bought the ebay board back in June and haven't had time to test it until now. I got one reply from the seller claiming that the board was working when it was removed from his system and no reply when I tell him there is a clear hardware issue with the board.

I don't see how swapping the BIOS will work if the board won't even POST with only the CPU. I will try swapping the BIOS tonight to see if that helps but I doubt it.

Looking at just selling my ASUS board and buying 2 newer ones with onboard RAID5 to use for the server. Seems to be less trouble and cost wise roughly the same give or take 10€.