Onboard vga

[Jframpton27]

The onboard VGA port will not output a signal and i have no other way of outputting a display? the motherboard has power to it and every fan seems to be spinning up.

It is a dell optiplex motherboard with a core 2 duo e6600 CPU, I will eventually get a better motherboard

 

[renz496]

maybe the on board graphic already fried. if the vga output can't be use you'll need discreet graphic card. if you not into gaming at all something like 5450 should be suffice for your need

 

[mamailo]

Can you specify your model ?

Older optiplex use a VIA based chipset and those do not output from the discreet video card by default. Need to enter the BIOS to change the setting and you can do that for the moment. So is a vicious circle.

ask a friend to borrow one card and test before investing money in a dead horse.
As last resort go to a computer repair shop. Chances are they have old PCI card and give you a diagnostic for cheap.

If the MoBo need repair ask yourself if is whorty. Many Dells uses exclusive; expensives components that cost the same as higher performance standard ones.