MSI 970A-G43 won't boot

[Condiff]

I am trying to install the MSI 970A-G43 motherboard but it won't boot. The fans spin and the hard drives start up but I get no video. I replaced the power supply with no results. The memory is listed as compatible. Any hints?


OCZ 600 Watt PSU (OCZ600MXSP
12 GB Viking 1333 RAM
AMD Phenom II x4 CPU
Nvidia Geforce GTX 550 ti

 

[Demosthenest]

You need a gpu in that build, the amd phenom series does not have integrated graphics.

 

[Condiff]

Wouldn't my Nvidia Geforce GTX 550 ti work? I have also tried several other video cards that I have with no results. This video card was working fine with my old motherboard.

 

[Demosthenest]

the 550ti should work. Are you connecting the monitor to the gpu?

 

[Condiff]

Yes, the monitor is connected. I have checked and rechecked the front panel wiring. The PSU 24 pin power connection is well seated as well as the eight pin connection. The only other thing I can think of is the RAM which is supposedly compatible but right now I have my doubts. Maybe I should check the CPU. I haven't tried that yet.

 

[Demosthenest]

Ok, run the system with a single stick of ram and try.

 

[Condiff]

I have tried several positions with one of more sticks of RAM with no positive results.

 

[Demosthenest]

then I guess it's the mobo. tried running it without drives?

 

[Condiff]

Yes, I get the same response when the drives aren't connected. I also checked to see if I had anything underneath the motherboard that was grounding incorrectly, like a standoff, and found nothing there either. How would I test the motherboard?

 

[Demosthenest]

You would have to get a new one I'm afraid. Better take it to a pc repair shop at this point.

 

[Condiff]

I just connected a speaker and didn't get any beeps. I'm not sure if the speaker works. I just pulled it off the old motherboard.

 

[Condiff]

You would have to get a new one I'm afraid. Better take it to a pc repair shop at this point.

I think you may be right. Any idea how much that might cost?

 

[Demosthenest]

No way to tell. If it is the mobo, you should be looking at about 50 bucks for a new mobo plus whatever they charge you for labour. About 70-100 bucks would be my estimate.

 

[Condiff]

No way to tell. If it is the mobo, you should be looking at about 50 bucks for a new mobo plus whatever they charge you for labour. About 70-100 bucks would be my estimate.

I was thinking they could just diagnose the motherboard. I did pay about $50 for the motherboard. I was told that it was working before he shipped it but that does not mean it's working now. I'll let you know what I find out.

 

[Demosthenest]

you could try removing the lithium battery for 10 secs and putting it back in.

 

[Condiff]

you could try removing the lithium battery for 10 secs and putting it back in.

I did try resetting the CMOS but I'm not sure if I did it right. I'll try it by removing the battery and see if I get any positive results.

 

[Condiff]

I tried removing the battery for 10 seconds and reseating it. Nothing different happened. But, I did notice that the Cpu fan was not working. It works if I plug it into the sys fan but not the one labeled cpu fan. Maybe that's why it isn't booting. I'm going to try to reseat the motherboard again and see if I get a different scenario.

 

[Condiff]

After reseating the motherboard with a spacer in one corner I got the cpu fan to work. Still no video. Hmmmmm.... Anybody else have any ideas. I'm fresh out!

Well... I thought it was working. The fan connected to the cpu fan connection is no longer working. What would cause it to work and then stop?

 

[Demosthenest]

I'm kinda out of ideas m8.

 

[Condiff]

I'm kinda out of ideas m8.

OK, thanks for all of your help. Maybe someone else will think of something and I'll have an AHA! moment. Well, I can hope anyways!

 

[Condiff]

I think I know what the problem was. I tried taking the cpu out of this setup to put in the old computer and dropped it. I don't know if bent pins was the problem, I suspect it was, but it definitely is now. I need to get another cpu to test. The one I have will no longer fit in the socket with the bent pins. I guess it is time for a cpu upgrade.

 

[Condiff]

I bought a cheap cpu to test the motherboard. I get the same results. The symptoms are no video or post, no power to the cpu fan and no power to the usb flash drive. I am getting power to all the fans that are not plugged into the cpu fan connection as well as to the hard drive, (from psu), and the video card, (fan on the video card is running). I am wondering if the cpu is not properly seated. Would that cause this problem? I did get the cpu fan to run briefly before I had the trouble with the bent pins on the other cpu. It was not properly seated when I checked it. The cpu popped right out before I unlocked it with the lever. Any help would be appreciated. I did notice a slight dent in the motherboard. Could that be the source of the partial power problem? Also, the first of three leds are lit on the motherboard. I think that means that it has only booted to stage one.

 

[Condiff]

I checked the cpu to see if it was seated correctly. It was not! I managed to bend up the pins. Why is it so hard to seat the cpu? I managed to bend the pins on two cpus.

 

[sonexpc]

Do you connect the 6 pin PCI-E Power from the power supply to the video card ?

 

[Condiff]

I did connect the six pin pci-e connection when I was testing the system with the GeForce video card. I am currently testing it with a pci video card without a power connection. The GeForce video card is currently in another computer as I had given up on this setup. The problem appears to be with the cpu.