Can't get past black screen!

[OhSoStrong]

Hi Guys,

I finally got the time to put together my rig and I have been having problems where I get a black screen.

This is what I'm running:

ASRock 870 EXTREME3 AM3 AMD
AMD Sempron 140
2GB DDR3
CORSAIR CMPSU-850TX 850W, 80 PLUS Certified
2x Sapphire Radeon HD 5830 1GB XTREME

I made sure I plugged in the 2x 6-pin connectors for the video card, plugged in the 24-pin connector, and also the 8-pin connector into the motherboard. Is there anything that I'm missing here?

I am trying to boot off of my USB stick.

Even without the USB, shouldn't I be able to access the bios? I am not even getting anything to show up on the screen. My cpu and video card's fans are spinning, but nothing is showing up on the screen... I am using just a basic dvi monitor. I tried to only use one video card to see if one was broken, but it still didn't work.

Some extra questions I had also:
When I built a computer in the past, when I stick the my video card into the PCI-E slot I hear a click, but on this motherboard I don't so I'm unsure if I put it in all the way (it's easy to move around in the slot/not very sturdy).

 

[mcnumpty23]

your graphics card shouldnt really move around--check the end of the pci-e slot to see if theres a little retaining clip and if its clicked into the little slot it should go to on the graphics card

also check the cpu is seated properly and that the heatsink is on correctly as cpu problems can mean no graphics

 

[OhSoStrong]

there is a retaining clip at the end of the pci-e slot. it's one of those that slides to the left to close after you insert the video card. I am used to it clicking is all, and am not sure if this is the new way they get inserted into the slot

all of my fans are working correctly, and i have double checked my cpu to see that it is in fact inserted correctly and latched on. thanks!

 

[shortstuff_mt]

The troubleshooting checklist in my signature was created to solve this exact problem. Let us know how it goes after you've actually performed every step in the checklist.

 

[mcnumpty23]

might be a stupid suggestion but if your graphics card has more than one dvi connector on it try the other one

 

[4745454b]

Wait, you paired 2GBs of ram and a low end Sempron 140 with a Corsair 850W PSU and not one but two 5830s? This is one of the most unbalanced machines I've ever seen.

There shouldn't be any wiggle like your talking about. Double check the power, but I'd double check that your cards are installed properly first.