Question No display when turning on

[Erik Poerksen]

Recently had a lot of troubles with my computer crashing. Thought it might be RAM related or due to my old hard disk. Today I installed a new ssd. When installing I had to remove my video card to access the data port underneath. I noticed the card was really dusty so I sprayed it with compressed air. After reinserting the video card and booting with the new ssd plugged in I ran into a problem. My computer shows no video.

I tried unplugging the ssd
I tried swapping the ram
I tried changing the video cable and monitor
I tried changing the slot on the motherboard for my gpu
I made sure all cables were securely attached
I tried reseting CMOS
My motherboard does not have a video port so I can't check without my video card plugged in

I imagine the problem is perhaps with my graphics card, my RAM, or my motherboard... It should be noted that the ram stick I switched to might have issues... So swapping RAM is not 100% properly tested... But it's the best I could do...

Any ideas? And if it's my motherboard, any suggestions for a new one that works with my specs?

The pc setup:

CPU: I7-3770k
GPU: Asus Gtx 970 strix
PDU: Xfx pro650
MOBO: Asus p8p67 evo
RAM: Corsair vengeance CMY16GX3M2A2400C11A

 

[rocktalkrock]

Since you noticed that the card was dusty, could there be dirt in any of the cable sockets, preventing a proper connection?

 

[Erik Poerksen]

Since you noticed that the card was dusty, could there be dirt in any of the cable sockets, preventing a proper connection?

I checked and as far as I can tell there doesn't seem to be anything... I will double check though

 

[Erik Poerksen]

I checked and as far as I can tell there doesn't seem to be anything... I will double check though

No, can't see anything

 

[rocktalkrock]

No, can't see anything

And nothing in the video cards x16 slot or RAM slots?

 

[Erik Poerksen]

And nothing in the video cards x16 slot or RAM slots?

Not that I saw, checked and reseated the ram twice

 

[rocktalkrock]

Have you tried booting with only 1 stick of RAM in slot DIMM_A2?

 

[Erik Poerksen]

Have you tried booting with only 1 stick of RAM in slot DIMM_A2?

Just tried... Also tried swapping the sticks to see if maybe one of them was a problem. Same issue, no video

 

[rocktalkrock]

Have you tried pressing the "MemOK!" button on your motherboard?
What do the Q-LED lights on your motherboard show when you boot?

Q-LED (CPU, DRAM, VGA, Boot Device LED)

 

[Erik Poerksen]

Have you tried pressing the "MemOK!" button on your motherboard?
What do the Q-LED lights on your motherboard show when you boot?

Q-LED (CPU, DRAM, VGA, Boot Device LED)

Booting normally only the cpu led is lit, it is constantly lit.

Using memOK it just flashes the memOK led and the cpu led stays on like before. Nothing else happens

 

[Erik Poerksen]

Booting without gpu the cpu light just flashes and goes away, however the vga led is lit (which makes sense since it's not plugged in)

 

[rocktalkrock]

Since you recently had a lot of troubles with your computer crashing, did you check temperatures at the time to see if the GPU was overheating?

 

[Erik Poerksen]

Since you recently had a lot of troubles with your computer crashing, did you check temperatures at the time to see if the GPU was overheating?

I did not, unfortunately.

 

[rocktalkrock]

From everything you are describing, my guess is your video card is causing the problem. Do the GPU fans spin when you boot?

If i were you i would try to borrow a friends video card, just to see if it will boot. I would also try unscrewing your GPU's heatsink to check the graphics chip and replace the thermal paste. Sometimes it can dry out and turn to the consistency of thick clay.

 

[Erik Poerksen]

From everything you are describing, my guess is your video card is causing the problem. Do the GPU fans spin when you boot?

If i were you i would try to borrow a friends video card, just to see if it will boot. I would also try unscrewing your GPU's heatsink to check the graphics chip and replace the thermal paste. Sometimes it can dry out and turn to the consistency of thick clay.

Will try that, fans do not spin though!

 

[rocktalkrock]

If the GPU fans do not spin, but the motherboard does light up, then the video card or the 8-Pin PCI power cable from your PSU is likely the problem.

 

[Erik Poerksen]

If the GPU fans do not spin, but the motherboard does light up, then the video card or the 8-Pin PCI power cable from your PSU is likely the problem.

Might be able to borrow my brother's gpu tomorrow. It's pretty late here so will try again when I wake up. I replaced the thermal paste regardless. I don't see anything visibly damaged on the GPU, so that's something atleast.

 

[Erik Poerksen]

Tried with an old gpu he had laying around. He said he was sure it works, but I can't 100% verify. Same problem with the different gpu.

 

[Erik Poerksen]

Bought a bunch of new parts since I want to upgrade anyway. Will have to try with those. Fingers crossed its not a gpu or psu problem.

 

[Erik Poerksen]

Bit of post necromancy... But for the sake of posterity I'm updating this post now that I've gotten the new parts...

With a new motherboard, cpu, and ram it works... So it wasn't video card and it wasn't psu. I HIGHLY doubt it was the cpu either... The conclusion is that it was either the mobo or the ram. I'm giving my old cpu and ram to my brother and if it doesn't work with his current machine we can get a specific conclusion as to exactly which parts it was... Will update when he uses them