*insert random cursing here*

Nariaco · 06-21-2005, 05:22 PM

Well, I've had my new computer for over a year now without too many problems, but about a week ago, things went wrong...

I was right in the middle of playing a game, and my computer freezes, and when I mean freeze, I mean, the screen stopped completely... So I figured I would just turn it off, and turn it back on. However, when I turned it back on, I didn't get any picture what so ever. Now I'm getting alittle steamed, so I popped open the side and completely cleaned it, still no screen. So then, I run down to the electronics store and buy a new ATI Radeon 9550 256mb video card, just thinking that my video card died on me, however, I still get no picture. Then my friend comes over, takes a look, looks at the cpu, and says its fried, so I order a new AMD Sempron 2600+. After getting the part and installing, I still get no picture.

Needless to say, I'm quite annoyed and frustrated with these turns of events, and I'm getting close to ripping the hair out of my head rather violently.

System specs:
mother board: Syntax K7SV266AD
CPU: AMD Sempron 2600+ 1.8ghz
Video Card:ATI Raedon 9550

I would greatly appreciate any and all advice that you can give me.

**UncleMacro** · 06-21-2005, 05:40 PM

So you never see anything on the screen including the power-up splash screen? Exactly what happens when you turn the machine on? Does it sound like it's booting? Look inside the machine and see which fans are turning when you turn it on. And while you're in there, see if there are any bad capacitors as explained here. The ones most likely to go bad are the big capacitors near the CPU.

Quote:

I'm getting close to ripping the hair out of my head rather violently

Don't do it. Enjoy your hair while you have it. That stuff often comes with a time limit.

Nariaco · 06-21-2005, 08:01 PM

Nope, nothing happens when I turn on the computer, just a blank screen with the infamous "Check video connections" window in the monitor. It sounds like everything is normal, the heat sink fan kicks on, the case fan kicks on, and the fan that I put into the side of the case kicks on aswell. As for boot sounds, besides the computer and its many fans buzzing, I don't hear the usual booting noise, just the steady buzz of fans.

**UncleMacro** · 06-21-2005, 10:07 PM

Well, you're pretty much down to a bad motherboard or a bad power supply. If you can borrow a power supply from someone and swap it in then you can rule that out. I'd personally take the motherboard out of the case to rule out any mechanical problems and run it on a table minimally configured (one stick of RAM, CPU, video card, keyboard) and nothing else. Try the RAM stick in each slot. Since you have two CPUs and two video cards you could try them again. If you have a power supply you can borrow then you could swap it in.

I know this is a big pain but trying to prove that you have a bad motherboard involves a lot of swapping. Sometimes the problem is mechanical and just taking it apart and reseating everything can get it running again. While you've got it out you can take a close look at the capacitors to see if they're bulging or leaking. From the sound of your original symptoms I would have guessed bad motherboard or power supply rather than CPU or video card but you can't really prove it without a lot of swapping.

geekboy · 06-22-2005, 02:46 AM

This is going to sound REALLY REALLY simple, but did you try swiching the cable from you monitor to your video card, sounds really simple but it has happened to me before. :)

Nariaco · 06-22-2005, 05:43 AM

Well, I've certainly tried swapping everything out. And I have looked at the caps are welll, bulging... So now its off to find a mother board that supports an A socket.. And maybe a better case and PSU. Thank you very much for all the help.

**Terrister** · 06-22-2005, 06:21 AM

I would try a power supply 1st unless those caps are leaking.

Nariaco · 06-27-2005, 08:38 PM

Thank you all for your help. Thanks to your guidance and advice, my computer is back and better than ever.

Heres the new specs:

Sempron 2600+ (Old one was a Athlon 1.8 Ghz)
Nemesis Case with 400W PSU (Versus the generic one with a 250 PSU and poor cooling set up)
ATI Raedon 9550 (versus the old e-GeForce2 ULTRA)
MSI K7N2 Delta2 (versus the old SYNTAX K7SV66AD)

I would like to finish by saying, all of you have been a great help, and I thank you... And I would also like to thank my friend Danny who help me put the thing together (just in case he's reading this).

06-21-2005, 05:22 PM	#1 (permalink)
Nariaco Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Usa/Florida Posts: 20 OS: Windows XP	*insert random cursing here* Well, I've had my new computer for over a year now without too many problems, but about a week ago, things went wrong... I was right in the middle of playing a game, and my computer freezes, and when I mean freeze, I mean, the screen stopped completely... So I figured I would just turn it off, and turn it back on. However, when I turned it back on, I didn't get any picture what so ever. Now I'm getting alittle steamed, so I popped open the side and completely cleaned it, still no screen. So then, I run down to the electronics store and buy a new ATI Radeon 9550 256mb video card, just thinking that my video card died on me, however, I still get no picture. Then my friend comes over, takes a look, looks at the cpu, and says its fried, so I order a new AMD Sempron 2600+. After getting the part and installing, I still get no picture. Needless to say, I'm quite annoyed and frustrated with these turns of events, and I'm getting close to ripping the hair out of my head rather violently. System specs: mother board: Syntax K7SV266AD CPU: AMD Sempron 2600+ 1.8ghz Video Card:ATI Raedon 9550 I would greatly appreciate any and all advice that you can give me.

06-22-2005, 06:21 AM	#7 (permalink)
Terrister Moderator Hardware Forum Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: West Georgia, USA Posts: 7,098 OS: Xp	I would try a power supply 1st unless those caps are leaking. __________________

06-21-2005, 08:01 PM	#3 (permalink)
Nariaco Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Usa/Florida Posts: 20 OS: Windows XP	Nope, nothing happens when I turn on the computer, just a blank screen with the infamous "Check video connections" window in the monitor. It sounds like everything is normal, the heat sink fan kicks on, the case fan kicks on, and the fan that I put into the side of the case kicks on aswell. As for boot sounds, besides the computer and its many fans buzzing, I don't hear the usual booting noise, just the steady buzz of fans.

06-21-2005, 10:07 PM	#4 (permalink)
UncleMacro TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: San Diego Posts: 2,133 OS: Vista SP1 My System	Well, you're pretty much down to a bad motherboard or a bad power supply. If you can borrow a power supply from someone and swap it in then you can rule that out. I'd personally take the motherboard out of the case to rule out any mechanical problems and run it on a table minimally configured (one stick of RAM, CPU, video card, keyboard) and nothing else. Try the RAM stick in each slot. Since you have two CPUs and two video cards you could try them again. If you have a power supply you can borrow then you could swap it in. I know this is a big pain but trying to prove that you have a bad motherboard involves a lot of swapping. Sometimes the problem is mechanical and just taking it apart and reseating everything can get it running again. While you've got it out you can take a close look at the capacitors to see if they're bulging or leaking. From the sound of your original symptoms I would have guessed bad motherboard or power supply rather than CPU or video card but you can't really prove it without a lot of swapping.

06-22-2005, 02:46 AM	#5 (permalink)
geekboy Registered User Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 78 OS: XP OS X Linux Win 98SE	This is going to sound REALLY REALLY simple, but did you try swiching the cable from you monitor to your video card, sounds really simple but it has happened to me before. :)

06-22-2005, 05:43 AM	#6 (permalink)
Nariaco Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Usa/Florida Posts: 20 OS: Windows XP	Well, I've certainly tried swapping everything out. And I have looked at the caps are welll, bulging... So now its off to find a mother board that supports an A socket.. And maybe a better case and PSU. Thank you very much for all the help.

06-27-2005, 08:38 PM	#8 (permalink)
Nariaco Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Usa/Florida Posts: 20 OS: Windows XP	Thank you all for your help. Thanks to your guidance and advice, my computer is back and better than ever. Heres the new specs: Sempron 2600+ (Old one was a Athlon 1.8 Ghz) Nemesis Case with 400W PSU (Versus the generic one with a 250 PSU and poor cooling set up) ATI Raedon 9550 (versus the old e-GeForce2 ULTRA) MSI K7N2 Delta2 (versus the old SYNTAX K7SV66AD) I would like to finish by saying, all of you have been a great help, and I thank you... And I would also like to thank my friend Danny who help me put the thing together (just in case he's reading this).