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Newly Assembled Computer Issues

H

Horus

n00b
Joined
Feb 5, 2005
Messages
5
Well, I got all my computer parts finally, and assembled everything. However, I'm having a problem. The monitor displays large lines of static or something similar to it upon bootup, in the BIOS. I've checked the monitor, it works fine, I'm using it right now, in fact. I checked the connections, everything seems alright. The internal speaker is working, the LED lights are fine, the BIOS responds and all, so it's purely a display issue.

Any ideas on what might cause something like this? I can't see anything behind the static, save for background colors and garbled text on the bios screens.

Specs:
Antec True380 380W PSU
MSI K8N Neo4 Platinum
MSI nVidia GeForce 6600GT 128MB PCI-Express
AMD Athlon 64 3000+ Socket 939
2x512MB Dual Channel Corsair Value Select RAM
160GB Western Digital Caviar HDD (recycled from an older computer)
Sound Blaste Live! Value (same)

If you need any other info to help me, let me know.
 
Did you plug in the additional molex connector to the card?

It may just be that the card came with bad memory.
 
I would say reseat everything, I have never personally heard someone zap a component with static electricity. I'm not saying it's not possible, just seems people around here jump to that conclusion too quick.
 
Major_A said:
I'm not saying it's not possible, just seems people around here jump to that conclusion too quick.
Click to expand...

Yea, I agree.. lately it's been like that.
 
do you get it in games as well? like artifacts? frying your videocard with static is possible but its not a very good one imo. most likely its your psu....if you can test your card in another system. from your psu specs i'm probably sure it is the psu. try memtest to see its not your memory and prime95 and see if you get any errors. also check the back exhaust of the psu and see if it comes out warm or cool if its on the warm side or even hot its most likely the psu.
 
I wouldn't know if I get it in games, the noise on the screen is so severe I can't get through BIOS setup. I've reseated it repeatedly with no luck. I've also never fried a component before, so I don't know what the symptoms are. What additional Molex connector do you speak of? I don't see any other connectors on the card...
 
On some 6600gt models, there is a place to plug in an additional molex connector.

Anyway, I reread your post and it says garbled text.

That might be a sign of corrupt system memory. Does it ever freeze?

Aside from that.. you may just have to RMA the card after testing with a backup card to make sure that it's the video card.
 
Another vote for video card....i would try it in another system and see. I have never heard of static killing any PC component. Never happened to me or anyone I know. Think its just a bad video card.

Another thing, i dont know if 6600 does this, but mine will beep loudly if its molex power connector isnt plug in when the machine turns on.
 
It doesn't freeze. Well, I never left it booted up very long, considering I can't get past the first screen of BIOS setup. The garbled text is a result of the vertical bars of static/noise running down the screen, they sometimes warp like the noise on an unconnected TV screen, and sometimes they just stay still.

I can't really test it with another card because I don't have another PCI-E card (or a PCI with a 13-pin monitor connector) and this motherboard has no onboard video. I know the monitor isn't faulty, I know the processor is responding to commands, as I can move about BIOS screens, just can't see what's on them. I don't know about the memory, and the sound isn't the problem, as I tried it with that removed and the same thing happened.

I tried removing and replacing the motherboard jumpers and making sure all the spacers were in the right place and there were no extras back there. My money is on the card being faulty or me doing something idiotic. Chances are I'll just have to RMA it.

Edit: I do notice a beep sound when I boot up, but I can't tell where it's coming from. I don't see any connectors on the card that would go with a Molex, I'll go look for a better picture than the ones in the manual. I also can't check the card in another system because I don't have another PCI-E compatible motherboard.
 
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