Computer turning on but no signal

nvx · 09-22-2008, 01:51 PM

I was using my computer the other day and all of a sudden it froze, I restarted and it made it to the windows load screen then froze again. Now when I turn it on, everything goes on and all the fans are running etc, but there is no video signal. I checked my video card on another comp and it works fine. Other than that I tried taking the RAM out and putting it in just 1 stick at a time with no results. Any ideas on what it might be? I'm assuming its the motherboard since it's an ECS and I've had it for a couple years but might it be the CPU or maybe the power supply? Any help is appreciated.

nvx · 09-23-2008, 08:04 AM

Is there any chance its the PSU? I've already bought new motherboard and CPU but i'd much rather just fix the PSU if that is the problem.

HawMan · 09-23-2008, 08:24 AM

Yes its most likely the PSU. Whats your system Specs and the make / wattage of your Power supply?

nvx · 09-24-2008, 05:02 PM

It's just some cheapo one that came with the case. It says "Codegen" on it. 400w. I'm running a athlon 64 3700 w/ 6600gt video card, ECS KN1 SLI extreme mobo. 2gigs (I think) RAM. 2 Seagate IDE HD's. Thanks for the help, I'll try swapping out the PSU tomorrow, hopefully that's all it is.

HawMan · 09-24-2008, 05:07 PM

Yeah thats a very low quality, Weak PSU. A Larger one should fix you're problem.

nvx · 09-25-2008, 09:53 PM

I tried swapping the PSU with no luck. I guess it must be the motherboard then? I noticed that when i turn it on the HDD light goes on right away and stays on... I don't know if that means anything just found it kind of strange.

dai · 09-25-2008, 11:54 PM

what psu did you try
it needs to be a quality unit putting out a min of 26amps on the 12v+ line
see if it posts with the h/d disconnected

nvx · 09-26-2008, 10:41 AM

I just went and bought another crappy one to try out, then I was gonna order a good one from newegg and return the other one. It's a 450 watt "NIFT". Says on the side +12V1 max is 14A, +12V2 max is 16A. I tried unplugging all the drives and still nothing. (HDD light was still on...?)

**Barry_R** · 09-26-2008, 12:55 PM

It may be that your replacement PSU is actually putting out less power than your old one. When they state the wattage it is sometimes a peak wattage and due to inefficiency of the PSU the actuall wattage is less.

As I read your scenario the original PSU was powering the PC enough to get the video to work at least for a while. If ---- infact the new PSU that you tried is putting out more than the old one then one can asume that it would at the least get the PC to begin a normal boot.

So where does one go from here. I would get a high quality high output PSU. Even if that is not the problem you should never skimp on the PSU. While your waiting for the new PSU you might want to try and clear the CMOS and see if it posts. Check to make sure the CPU is properly seated in the socket and that the Heatsink is properly attached.

Should the new PSU fail to get the PC to boot then yes I would suspect the motherboard.

09-22-2008, 01:51 PM	#1 (permalink)
nvx Registered User Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 13 OS: xp sp2	Computer turning on but no signal I was using my computer the other day and all of a sudden it froze, I restarted and it made it to the windows load screen then froze again. Now when I turn it on, everything goes on and all the fans are running etc, but there is no video signal. I checked my video card on another comp and it works fine. Other than that I tried taking the RAM out and putting it in just 1 stick at a time with no results. Any ideas on what it might be? I'm assuming its the motherboard since it's an ECS and I've had it for a couple years but might it be the CPU or maybe the power supply? Any help is appreciated.

09-23-2008, 08:04 AM	#2 (permalink)
nvx Registered User Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 13 OS: xp sp2	Re: Computer turning on but no signal Is there any chance its the PSU? I've already bought new motherboard and CPU but i'd much rather just fix the PSU if that is the problem.

09-23-2008, 08:24 AM	#3 (permalink)
HawMan Liam Join Date: May 2006 Location: Edinburgh, Scotland Posts: 2,930 OS: Win XP My System	Re: Computer turning on but no signal Yes its most likely the PSU. Whats your system Specs and the make / wattage of your Power supply? __________________ Please Consider Donating to keep the site free.

09-24-2008, 05:02 PM	#4 (permalink)
nvx Registered User Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 13 OS: xp sp2	Re: Computer turning on but no signal It's just some cheapo one that came with the case. It says "Codegen" on it. 400w. I'm running a athlon 64 3700 w/ 6600gt video card, ECS KN1 SLI extreme mobo. 2gigs (I think) RAM. 2 Seagate IDE HD's. Thanks for the help, I'll try swapping out the PSU tomorrow, hopefully that's all it is.

09-24-2008, 05:07 PM	#5 (permalink)
HawMan Liam Join Date: May 2006 Location: Edinburgh, Scotland Posts: 2,930 OS: Win XP My System	Re: Computer turning on but no signal Yeah thats a very low quality, Weak PSU. A Larger one should fix you're problem. __________________ Please Consider Donating to keep the site free.

09-25-2008, 09:53 PM	#6 (permalink)
nvx Registered User Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 13 OS: xp sp2	Re: Computer turning on but no signal I tried swapping the PSU with no luck. I guess it must be the motherboard then? I noticed that when i turn it on the HDD light goes on right away and stays on... I don't know if that means anything just found it kind of strange.

09-25-2008, 11:54 PM	#7 (permalink)
dai Manager, Hardware Forums Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: west australia Posts: 53,565 OS: vista 32x 64x ultimate retail	Re: Computer turning on but no signal what psu did you try it needs to be a quality unit putting out a min of 26amps on the 12v+ line see if it posts with the h/d disconnected __________________

09-26-2008, 10:41 AM	#8 (permalink)
nvx Registered User Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 13 OS: xp sp2	Re: Computer turning on but no signal I just went and bought another crappy one to try out, then I was gonna order a good one from newegg and return the other one. It's a 450 watt "NIFT". Says on the side +12V1 max is 14A, +12V2 max is 16A. I tried unplugging all the drives and still nothing. (HDD light was still on...?)

09-26-2008, 12:55 PM	#9 (permalink)
Barry_R TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: California Posts: 700 OS: Win XP Home, Linux Mint My System	Re: Computer turning on but no signal It may be that your replacement PSU is actually putting out less power than your old one. When they state the wattage it is sometimes a peak wattage and due to inefficiency of the PSU the actuall wattage is less. As I read your scenario the original PSU was powering the PC enough to get the video to work at least for a while. If ---- infact the new PSU that you tried is putting out more than the old one then one can asume that it would at the least get the PC to begin a normal boot. So where does one go from here. I would get a high quality high output PSU. Even if that is not the problem you should never skimp on the PSU. While your waiting for the new PSU you might want to try and clear the CMOS and see if it posts. Check to make sure the CPU is properly seated in the socket and that the Heatsink is properly attached. Should the new PSU fail to get the PC to boot then yes I would suspect the motherboard.