No video

[kensai]

I have bought an MSI K9AGM3, nVidia 8500GT Super+ 1GB, Black Dragon 2GB 667Mhz (slots 1&3), AMD Phenom 9500 and Win Power ATX-450
power supply.

I assembled same, but although all fans (CPU/case) work, DVD and HDD start and memory lights up (!) got no video.

I have taken out the nVidia and tried the on-board VGA, taken out 1 memory at a time and retried and still get no VGA signal.

Where do I go next?

TIA

[mac124]

All the power connections to the motherboard plugged in? We have all forgotten the 4/8 pin power connector at some point.

[kensai]

All the power connections to the motherboard plugged in? We have all forgotten the 4/8 pin power connector at some point.


I have the long and a 4 pin connector plugged in, the RAM lights up (!), the HDD & DVD start and all fans (case & CPU) work.

I *do* have a lead left over from something that is an IDE end (only 3 pins active) to 6 pin with yellow & black as colours - but I think that came with the PSU as an option... I cannot see where it would plug into the MB or video....

[wonderlust]

Which model of the MSI K9AGM3 have you got? the FD or FIH?

Have you checked the CPU support table for which ever board you have, to make sure that the installed Bios is compatible with the Phenom? The Bios version should be on a sticker on the bios chip. Do you have a suitable Athlon to plug in to test the board?

[kensai]

Which model of the MSI K9AGM3 have you got? the FD or FIH?

FIH


Have you checked the CPU support table for which ever board you have, to make sure that the installed Bios is compatible with the Phenom?

According to http://tinyurl.com/23xy8d, it does since G.01.


The Bios version should be on a sticker on the bios chip.

The only sticker mentioning BIOS is '686 AmiBIOS UZ35 5007'.


Do you have a suitable Athlon to plug in to test the board?

Unfortunately not.

[wonderlust]

IMHO I think it may be the bios may not have Phenom support.

But... another couple of things worth a try:-

Have you tried removing everything from the board just connect the two power plugs (20/24 pin and 4/8pin) and the power button lead.

if that fails remove the board from the case and power up on the desk, this rules out any possible grounding issues.

[coiler]

Check under the board youve probably put a gold screw in the wrong place!

[kensai]

OK, I took the board out of the case along with the PSU and ran it on the desk with just the RAM in.

I tried with the onboard VGA and with an nVidia card. Still no signal getting to the monitor.

[wonderlust]

The only way to move forward is to swap out the chip for a known good one.

Does anybody you know have a Athlon AM2 chip you could borrow?

wouldn't hurt to try their Ram too, as in rare cases MSI have had issues with certain boards with certain Bios versions not working with certain brands of Ram.

[Aaron]

Is the computer beeping at all at startup? If it is, can you describe the beeps?

[kensai]

I do not know anyone with an AM2 chip but may be able to borrow some memory to test the board.

I *could* buy another one AM2 from here for £30 - 10% of my investment so far :-(

[wonderlust]

Have you a freindly local PC shop? (NOT PC World!)

Maybe they could test it, they should have a Post Tester.

[kensai]

Is the computer beeping at all at startup? If it is, can you describe the beeps?

No beeps. I cannot find anywhere on the board for a speaker and am using the on board sound card. This may or may not beep on POST....

[kensai]

Have you a freindly local PC shop?

I live in Birmingham so there may be one around...

[wonderlust]

Is there a little black round plastic tower just behind the Sata ports?

[kensai]

Is there a little black round plastic tower just behind the Sata ports?


Yes with 'AC-1205G' written on it.

[wonderlust]

Thats the Motherboard's speaker! I have just done a quick search on MSI's Forum, nothing found relating to this board with your issue.

http://forum.msi.com.tw/ if you wish to take a look yourself

[kensai]

Actually this is pretty similar http://forum.msi.com.tw/index.php?topic=114204.0.

No result though. I can try a different PSU...

[wonderlust]

Yes It's worth a try. Did you try it with EVERYTHING disconnected?

[kensai]

Did you try it with EVERYTHING disconnected?


Just tried again with a different PSU on the table with RAM in and nothing else (2 power leads excepted). CPU Fan starts, memory lights up no beep.

[wonderlust]

try it with no ram, it should beep if not then it is either a dead Board or CPU (or CPU not compatible issue)

[kensai]

Done that and still no beep. So board or cpu...

[Aaron]

I might be clutching at straws a bit - the motherboard should have a bios jumper, which is used to reset the bios - It'll will need to be set in a certain position to run. Might be worth checking that its set to its normal position according to the manual?

[kensai]

bios jumper

Checked - when I took out the external video, I reset the CMOS anyway, so it is correct.

[wonderlust]

So it looks like it is board/cpu in some form or another. have u tried msi's uk technical help they have a live chat option on there website?

[kensai]

msi's uk technical help they have a live chat option on there website?

Live Support is Offline.

I am thinking that I have to return the MB and CPU to Aria for a refund.

[wonderlust]

:mrgreen:

But there are no post bleeps, so unlikely

[kensai]

Check the lead into the back of the monitor !!


It is the monitor I am using to post here via a different PC.

[Lynx]

Have you taken it out and checked no pins are shorting the motherboard?

[kensai]

Have you taken it out and checked no pins are shorting the motherboard?

I have run the board out of its case on a wooden table with and without RAM and get no beep.

[kensai]

Does that graphics card have a power connector on it (six plug).

Nope and I get no beep with no video card inserted. Also tried with just internal VGA and a known working nVidia 256k card.

[Lynx]

DO you have a pci video card you can try? If so then give that a go as another option.

[Aaron]

I have to say, after reading through again, and looking at the things you've tried, it seems like its pretty dead..

[Lynx]

Sounds like a board to be RMA'd. There are no beeps so there are no specific things we can recomend, and seem to have tried them all anyway.

[wonderlust]

Sorry if I seem to keep harking on but I still think its the board/Bios is not fully compatible with the Phenom:-

http://www.tomshardware.com/2007/12/26/phenom_motherboards/

[Aaron]

If thats the case tho, I'm amazed that he's not getting any beeps giving a cpu error..

[wonderlust]

I had a bad flash on my MSI board (different board to OP) and that did nothing except run up all the fans.

could be an MSI thing :|

[kensai]

Ordered an RMA for board and CPU.

Thanks all for your help.

[Lynx]

I wouldnt rma the cpu, as its not tested as faulty, but just get a new board.

[kensai]

Yeah but after all this testing I have gone out and bought a new board and CPU. I need my WoW fix :-)