2x Motherboard - one works, one doesnt

[z1pp3r]

Hey there

I've just bought 2x Gigabyte N650SLI-DS4 motherboards, one for upgrading my old system, one for a complete new setup for a friend of mine. My friends system works like a charm but i'm having some trouble.

When I hit the power button, the pc turns on, the fans start spinning, but I get nothing on my monitor. There is an Intel E6750 cpu in both setups, and both are using a Chill Innovation 450A-2 PSU, although mine seems a bit older since it only has a 2x2 pin connector for ATX_12v while my friends brand new PSU has a 2x4 pin connector.

There is a plastic-thingie covering 4 of the pins on the motherboard, and according to the manual you dont have to remove the plastic-thing unless your PSU supports a 2x4 pin ATX_12v connector, and if you're using an intel Extreme cpu, they recommend that you use it also (although doesnt seem to require it).

Any ideas?

 

[Zorg]

Since you have two identical systems you are in an enviable position. Start swapping parts.

 

[royalcrown]

maybe your's need a bios upgrade for 1333 fsb ? I dunno though as my rig is old, just an idea to check.

 

[Zorg]

Same processor in both systems. Maybe he just need to start swapping out parts until he finds the bad one.

 

[CompTIA_Rep]

Get yourself a PCI card tester at COMPUSA for $20 dollars. This will tell you where in the boot process something is getting suck.

I.e. Bad ram/mobo/cpu...

 

[Zorg]

He has two virtually identical systems. Why should he buy anything. With two complete systems any half competent person could very easily isolate the problem in the time it took to go to the store and come back.

 

[bornking]

It might be the PSU.
Check that.
they can cause funny things to happen.

 

[z1pp3r]

Okay, so i tried putting my PSU in my friends pc and as expected, it did not boot up.

"Yes!" i thought, and went to buy a new PSU. I should probably have tested some more, but i have been using all the other parts in my former setup for some months and they are rock stable.

Installed the new cpu (with a proper 2x4 pin connector) and guess what? It is _STILL_ not able to output anything to the monitor.

I'm really running out of ideas here, i've double-checked every power connector several times, it all looks fine =/

 

[z1pp3r]

typo: Installed the new _PSU_ (....

 

[Zorg]

Put the two systems in the same room. Remove all cards etc. from your system except the video card. Remove all drives. Remove any USB/firewire case plugs that are plugged into the mobo headers. Remove all RAM except one stick in the first slot. Double check all connections, including case headers, and RAM installation, which I'm sure you have done five times already. Boot, it will probably fail. All parts should be moved from his system to yours. Swap the RAM one stick. then swap out the video card. Boot between each change. Then take his PSU and plug it into your system, you don't need to install it in the case, the reason that I say that is because it is a known good part. If it is not the VGA, RAM or PSU and there are no other cards plugged in, then it is either a bad CPU or mobo. That's where it starts to become a PITA. I don't think he really wants you removing his CPU.