Finished gaming rig, checked everything multiple times, but can get video to a monitor

[Zeptohaze]

I have just finished my first gaming rig and everything seems to be running fine. There is one vital problem though. No video is being displayed on the monitor. I've made sure everything is plugged in right and yet nothing happens. My build is here: http://pcpartpicker.com/user/ZeptoHaze/saved/kDBxFT

I believe that the monitor is the problem. This monitor was plugged into a surge protector when a power surge came through. but now it only turns on for half a second then shuts off and auto reboots. So I went to my parents and got the monitor that I used as a kid. that thing is old though. probs a 2004 monitor. And when I tried using that monitor, it just displayed no signal on the monitor. Any suggestions?

 

[Xibyth]

Check your RAM, make sure the CPU cooler is mounted corectely, make sure nothing on the motherboard is conductive, try another graphics card.

 

[shortstuff_mt]

Perform all the steps in the troubleshooting checklist found in the stickies at the top of the forum. It should help you narrow down what's causing the problem. There's also a link to the checklist in my signature.

 

[Zeptohaze]

Check your RAM, make sure the CPU cooler is mounted corectely, make sure nothing on the motherboard is conductive, try another graphics card.

I have checked everything. Tried using each slot for the ram, took the whole computer apart and put back together again to no avail. And I don't have another graphics card to try with.

 

[Zeptohaze]

Perform all the steps in the troubleshooting checklist found in the stickies at the top of the forum. It should help you narrow down what's causing the problem. There's also a link to the checklist in my signature.

I had found this forum before asking my question. I went through each step. That is why I think it is my monitor screwing up.

 

[Xibyth]

Try the monitor with another computer.

 

[MasterZoen]

I would suggest you try plugging the monitor straight into the wallplug without a surge protector. I've had several surge protectors that messed with monitors, something to do with voltage frequency dips. Most PSU's have some form of power factor control these days, but monitors, as a rule, don't.

 

[Zeptohaze]

Try the monitor with another computer.

Okay now I'm sure it is fried because It didn't work with another computer. Would it be safe to say I need a new one?

 

[shortstuff_mt]

If it's not working with a known working computer then I'd say it's safe to say it's dead.

 

[Xibyth]

Try the monitor with another computer.

Okay now I'm sure it is fried because It didn't work with another computer. Would it be safe to say I need a new one?

Yes, monitors can be a bit touchy. The inverter for the backlight is likely the cause. If you shine a flash light at it you may still be able to see stuff on the screen. If thats the case its dead and unless you have a very mainstream display and know what your doing, it's safer and easier to replace the whole monitor than a backlight.

A decent 1080p display should run you about 120 dollars unless you want specific types. TFT is the cheapest, IPS will look better, and TFT will give you less input lag and looks better than TFT but not as good as IPS.

 

[MasterZoen]

Try the monitor with another computer.

Okay now I'm sure it is fried because It didn't work with another computer. Would it be safe to say I need a new one?

Yes, monitors can be a bit touchy. The inverter for the backlight is likely the cause. If you shine a flash light at it you may still be able to see stuff on the screen. If thats the case its dead and unless you have a very mainstream display and know what your doing, it's safer and easier to replace the whole monitor than a backlight.

A decent 1080p display should run you about 120 dollars unless you want specific types. TFT is the cheapest, IPS will look better, and TFT will give you less input lag and looks better than TFT but not as good as IPS.

TFT will give you less input lag and looks better than TFT? Did you mistype something?

I had the backlight of a LCD monitor go out a few years back. I knew exactly what had happened, so I called around to the local computer shops and eventually headed down to CompUSA and they fixed my monitor for about $70 Parts+Labor. I don't know if they still do that or not, but, I'd invest at least in a 120 Hz monitor incase you want to try 3D gaming with Nvidia 3D vision.

Question, was your monitor on an insured/guaranteed surge protector? Most are insured to protect your electronics from $500 upto $2000. If so, that could mitigate your cost for a new monitor right of the back. However, I'm still concerned that you haven't seen as to whether the new rig actually works. You have any friends that drop by on a regular basis and would be willing to lug a monitor? You should make sure that your monitor didn't backfeed the surge into your videocard. It wouldn't be pleasant to buy a new monitor only to discover the videocard still doesn't work.

 

[Xibyth]

Try the monitor with another computer.

Okay now I'm sure it is fried because It didn't work with another computer. Would it be safe to say I need a new one?

Yes, monitors can be a bit touchy. The inverter for the backlight is likely the cause. If you shine a flash light at it you may still be able to see stuff on the screen. If thats the case its dead and unless you have a very mainstream display and know what your doing, it's safer and easier to replace the whole monitor than a backlight.

A decent 1080p display should run you about 120 dollars unless you want specific types. TFT is the cheapest, IPS will look better, and TFT will give you less input lag and looks better than TFT but not as good as IPS.

TFT will give you less input lag and looks better than TFT? Did you mistype something?

I had the backlight of a LCD monitor go out a few years back. I knew exactly what had happened, so I called around to the local computer shops and eventually headed down to CompUSA and they fixed my monitor for about $70 Parts+Labor. I don't know if they still do that or not, but, I'd invest at least in a 120 Hz monitor incase you want to try 3D gaming with Nvidia 3D vision.

Question, was your monitor on an insured/guaranteed surge protector? Most are insured to protect your electronics from $500 upto $2000. If so, that could mitigate your cost for a new monitor right of the back. However, I'm still concerned that you haven't seen as to whether the new rig actually works. You have any friends that drop by on a regular basis and would be willing to lug a monitor? You should make sure that your monitor didn't backfeed the surge into your videocard. It wouldn't be pleasant to buy a new monitor only to discover the videocard still doesn't work.

Yes, I had meant to say TN is the cheapest. However I was typing on my phone which does not have the best autofill features.