[Solved] New custom rig display isn't working please help!!!!

dostarr

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Sep 3, 2009
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So here is my problem, I recently order the parts and put together a new custom computer. However, having installed all the pieces and running all the wires for some reason it simply does not output a signal to my 37" LG HDTV via HDMI onboard. A couple points I would like to point out firsthand, I have been working on computers for years so I have lots of experience, however no real book knowledge. (bear with me please!!!)

Here are the parts I used and ordered via newegg:

ASUS M4A78T-E AM3 AMD 790GX HDMI ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail
Item #: N82E16813131366

mushkin HP 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model 996652
Item #: N82E16820146868 (2 of these)

AMD Phenom II X3 720 2.8GHz Socket AM3 95W Triple-Core Black Processor Model HDZ720WFGIBOX - Retail
Item #: N82E16819103649

Antec TruePower New TP-750 750W Continuous Power ATX12V V2.3 / EPS12V V2.91 SLI Certified CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS BRONZE ... - Retail
Item #: N82E16817371025

Western Digital Caviar Blue WD5000AAKS 500GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive - OEM
Item #: N82E16822136073 (2 of these)

XFX HD-487A-ZHFC Radeon HD 4870 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card
Item #: N82E16814150394 (2 of these)

Antec Nine Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail
Item #: N82E16811129021

Here's what I've done so far:
Okay, sorry for being so in depth on everything, but the vast majority of forum posts I've read in the past its almost always the same format -- (short problem) (asks for more details) (gives more) (asks for even more details) (gives enough) (answer) so i figured id skip the trash and get right to it.

1) Opened the case etc and bolted the three golden pins that go underneath the MOBO.
2) Acrewed in the MOBO assuring the "washers" were nice in between the screws and the mobo
3) Mounted my two hard drives in the front of the case
4) The processor heat sink already had thermal paste so there was no necessity for that, then I simply placed in the processor assuring the triangle was in the upper left corner as marked and then attached the heat sink and plugged in the cpu fan
5) Screwed in the PSU
6) Then I hooked up my two XFX 4870's into each respective PCI-E x16 ports (removing both of the metal things for each as they require two screws (huge bastards haha)
7) Installed all 8 gig of the mushkin ram and properly snapped them down
8) Since the case has outer features in the front (firewire, 2 usb, sound card etc) I had to plug those in however I didnt see one for the sound card so it remained unplugged and stashed somewhere in the top
9) Then I plugged in ONE 6+2 pin (only using the 6 pin) to each 4870, and using the modular functions of the PSU I ran two of those 6 pin to those little 4 prong things you use for fans or IDE HDD power, anyway it was 2 of those per 6 pin and I used one of each of those for each 4870 (trying to split up the "lower quality power" between them)
10) Plugged in the SATA power cables to the HDD and the actual SATA cable to the MOBO
11) Hooked up all the fans (240 and like.. 3 120's I think)
12) Plugged the two crossfire ties into the two 4870's
13) Lastly I hooked up a LG 37" 720p Television via HDMI to my on-board HDMI output
14) Turned it on and everything lit up, no fans were immobile, all LED's turned on properly, both fans on the GPU's were running, only one with variable speed (probably since I haven't installed any Crossfire drivers) and everything seemed to be great HOWEVER THEN my wonderful TV says "detecting input device" "no signal found"

I think that covers everything.

Here's what I am doing for the first time with this rig:
Pretty much everything is familiar territory (ive used this CPU/MOBO/HDD before with a single Card before) except the crossfire I have never crossfire'd or SLI'd in the past. College tends to keep you pretty broke.

Anyway, I wanted to say thanks in advance for ANY and all help I receive regardless of how it turns out.
 
Your motherboard has an on-board video chip and that is what the HDMI port is for. Try to connect your monitor to the port on the video card.

edit: Your video card should have a DVI > HDMI adapter packaged with it, if your monitor doesn't have a DVI input.
 
I have attempted that and to no avail :-( Sadly, when I connected the HDMI into the on-board it does not work and as you recommended I get the same results when I pass the HDMI through a DVI-HDMI converter into the 4870.
 
Did you try both cards?

If so, try to boot without video cards installed and see if you get video from the on-board chip.
 

I have actually I always run through this checklist when something like this occurs.
 

I have attempted removing both video cards and using purely the on-board (which should also simply work with them plugged in using the on-board, however still to no avail. Oh and I tried using both ports on each card.
 
You say you went through the checklist, but I see no mention of plugging in the CPU power connector, trying each stick of RAM by itself, or breadboarding the system. You did do all those things, right? I don't mean to belittle you, but everyone says they read the checklist. When it comes right down to it, most people who say that have missed something on the checklist.
 


I apologize for that, umm Sorry yes you are right I did leave out plugging in the CPU power connector in my steps. Also those steps are simply what I did initially, not my own troubleshooting. I did try each stick of RAM by itself. However, I am unfamiliar with breadboarding... I probably know what it is, just not the terminology sorry.
 
Ahh that, no I have no means of doing that in my current location atm. No form of insulation of any kind. Nothing not even cardboard 😛 Just carpet and to say the least that is most certainly out of the question. However I can assure you it is not a short. I am OCD about my metals touching haha. The only way there could be a short is if it is a broken part (mobo crack etc) and I didn't see any signs of any problems that could cause a short.
 
I am going ahead and going to remove components to see if POST happens. perhaps not breadboarding out of case, but its the next best thing in my environment.
 
Ok, the results of my test. One stick of RAM nothing attached to MOBO except PSU (the 16 pin or whatever and the 4 pin atx) NO POST BEEP
 

now I feel like an idiot...wheres that at again? lol
 
You'll have to look in the motherboard owners manual. The system speaker usually plugs in by the front panel connectors. A lot of new motherboards don't come with a system speaker, though. There's a link to where you can get one in the checklist.
 
Okay, I have system speakers however I don't have the pin connector for it..... shouldn't that come with the MOBO lol...how laughable.
 


Indeed it does, and that is how I found it, however as I said...now the question is where is the jumper...haha It didnt come with either my MOBO or my case... fail
 
Okay, no I have the Asus Q connector however there is nothing to plug into the speaker section of the Q connector, I have LED, Reset, Power (the necessities) however NO 4 pin speaker wire ANYWHERE....
 
The pins are there...sorry, the connecting cable isn't that was my bad I wasnt clear. Like all the pins for everything are there its the actual speaker wire that connects to these pins that are missing.
 
You'll probably have to get a different speaker. The ones I've used are like the ones linked in the checklist. It's a speaker with the wires and connector as a single unit. Anyway, it's nearly 1:00 A.M. and I have to work in the morning. I'm signing off.