ASUS H81I-PLUS won't display anything and system speaker won't beep

[davidbru]

I just bought all the parts for my first HTPC build and finally assembled everything. But as I turned it on for the first time: Mostly nothing.
The CPU fan turned on, the on-board power LED and the power LED which is connected via the f-panel connector also turned on. But besides that: nothing.
Neither the system speaker beeped nor is the monitor displaying anything.

The hardware I currently use:
http://pcpartpicker.com/p/WWqvYJ
+ http://www.mini-box.com/picoPSU-160-XT

The monitor is connected via VGA.

So I began to troubleshoot and started with the following guide:
http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/faq/id-1893016/post-system-boot-video-output-troubleshooting-checklist.html

- Switched the RAM in every possible direction: no change
- Removed the RAM completely: no change
- Disconnected the harddrive: no change
- Replaced the PSU with a working one from a friend: no change
- Checked the CPU and the thermal compound: no error there
- Switched the system speaker connector direction: no change
- Tried HDMI instead of VGA: no change

Slowly but surely I'm running out of ideas and the system speaker still won't make a beep and the monitor still displays nothing.

I can think of two possible scenarios:
1. The system speaker is broken - but why would the monitor then display nothing?
2. The motherboard is broken?

Any ideas what I could still do to verify my problems?
Or do you guys and girls have any additional ideas what I could do?

Looking forward to your ideas and feedback.
Cheers from Austria
David

 

[alexoiu]

What are the last 4 digits on a sticker like http://www.guru3d.com/miraserver/images/2011/990fx-sabertooth/IMG_4499.jpg ?

 

[Calvin7]

picoPSU-160-XT, 160w output, 12v input DC-DC Power Supply might work out with an Intel ATOM motherboard:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157458&Tpk=N82E16813157458

However, ASUS H81I-PLUS, the recommended minimum power supply is 350 watts. (See page 1-15 of downloadable motherboard manual)

 

[davidbru]

What are the last 4 digits on a sticker like http://www.guru3d.com/miraserver/images/2011/990fx-sabertooth/IMG_4499.jpg ?

http://imgur.com/prfyyfX
So the last 4 digits would be "0601".

picoPSU-160-XT, 160w output, 12v input DC-DC Power Supply might work out with an Intel ATOM motherboard:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157458&Tpk=N82E16813157458

However, ASUS H81I-PLUS, the recommended minimum power supply is 350 watts. (See page 1-15 of downloadable motherboard manual)

Ok I didn't see this requirement before. But nevertheless I tried it with a second PSU (http://imgur.com/Niukadk) which has 850 watt. So at least with the second PSU it should have started up. Shouldn't it?

 

[alexoiu]

The board needs a BIOS update (2001 or later needed).
As an option, you can order a BIOS chip on ebay and replace the board's one. Or contact ASUS and they might help you.

 

[davidbru]

The board needs a BIOS update (2001 or later needed).
As an option, you can order a BIOS chip on ebay and replace the board's one. Or contact ASUS and they might help you.

Yes pcpartpicker informed me of that, but I thought I should at least be able to boot into the bios.
There it was only marked as "you may need" and not as "is totally not compatible", so I thought it's not that big of a deal.

Do you mean something like that:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/BIOS-Chip-ASUS-A88XM-PLUS-H81-PLUS-H81I-PLUS-H81M-A-H81M-C-H81M-E-H81M-PLUS-/200973385245?pt=DE_Computer_Sonstige&hash=item2ecaf27e1d

 

[alexoiu]

Yes. Here's a video for how to:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pLEQoWRq41k

 

[davidbru]

Ok thanks for the info. Tomorrow I will double check the bios chip and then order one.
Hope that replacing the chip is the missing part in my puzzle.

Thanks for all the help until now. Will keep you updated.

 

[alexoiu]

Sure, no problem.

 

[davidbru]

So the new bios chip (programmed with: h81i-plus-asus-2201.cap) just arrived and I put it in its place. But unfortunately still nothing.

On the very first boot the cpu fan began spinning, then shortly stopped and then spun up again. Besides that now everything is back to the previous status:
- I see the power LED on the motherboard
- The internal speaker won't make any beeps
- The CPU fan spins
- Monitor (VGA) is not displaying anything

Any ideas what still could be wrong?

 

[alexoiu]

Try testing the board outside the case, only CPU and CPU fan installed. If there's an internal speaker connected, see if any beeps when starting the board.

 

[davidbru]

Since it is DIY HTPC there is still no case
Internal speaker needs to be plugged in (which I did), but there are 2 ways to plug it into the f-panel and to me it's not really clear which one the right one is. But until now the speaker never made a single beep.

Next time I will try your suggestion and maybe I can find a spare motherboard or a spare CPU to see if one of mine is broken..

I will keep you posted..

 

[davidbru]

Finally got around to return my motherboard and replace it with a new one.
And finally it works.

Turn's out I had a faulty motherboard all along.

Thanks for all the replies.

 

[alexoiu]

No problem.

 

[Slickness81]

You probably have a Haswell processor, you need to update the bios in order for the the motherboard to recognize the processor. http://www.asus.com/microsite/2014/MB/New_4th_gen_Intel_processor_compatibility/