Black Screen.... Help Please

[OhSoStrong]

Hi Guys,

I finally got the time to put together my rig and I have been having problems where I get a black screen.

This is what I'm running:

   ASRock 870 EXTREME3 AM3 AMD
   AMD Sempron 140
   2GB DDR3
   CORSAIR CMPSU-850TX 850W, 80 PLUS Certified
   2x Sapphire Radeon HD 5830 1GB XTREME

I made sure I plugged in the 2x 6-pin connectors for the video card, plugged in the 24-pin connector, and also the 8-pin connector into the motherboard.

I am trying to boot off of my USB stick and use linuxcoin.

Even without the USB, shouldn't I be able to access the bios? I am not even getting anything to show up on the screen. My cpu and video card's fans are spinning, but nothing is showing up on the screen... I am using just a basic dvi monitor. I tried to only use one video card to see if one was broken, but it still didn't work.

Some extra questions I had also:
When I built a computer in the past, when I stick the my video card into the PCI-E slot I hear a click, but on this motherboard I don't so I'm unsure if I put it in all the way (it's easy to move around in the slot/not very sturdy).

[Dargo]

You may just have a bad board. The cards should fit snugly in the slots, so your fit doesn't sound right. The board should send video out on the slot closest to the CPU by default, but try the other slot if you haven't already. Do you have a speaker connected to the mobo? The number of beeps it makes when you power up can give some indication of whether the board is working correctly (the manual should explain this). You might also check again to make sure your RAM is compatible with the mobo and CPU. If none of this pans out, I would just RMA that sucker. I'm afraid that's about all I can offer (I'm no tech).   

[Danijel Habek]

Once you turned the system on try to reset it using on-board reset button, or plug a reset button on main board FPANEL connector, and reset it that way...there should be a beeping sound after a few seconds, and POST/BIOS would start and show you BIOS options or start booting. Usually F11 or DEL key are defined to load BIOS settings (890 Extreme 4, I believe it's the same for 870 3).

Also, do you have a readout error code on the main board led display that could help you troubleshoot?

Also, I saw on certain ASROCK PCIE16x connectors that they do not have automatic spring-lock for cards, but you have to slide the lock guards manually to lock the card in the connector.

Post back please, thanks!

[OhSoStrong]

Also, I saw on certain ASROCK PCIE16x connectors that they do not have automatic spring-lock for cards, but you have to slide the lock guards manually to lock the card in the connector.

Hi, thanks for your help! This is in fact the case, there is a thing that I slide to lock the card in, but after I insert the card and lock it, it is still very wobbly and if I pull the side of the card (on the left side, away from the slide) I can pull it out easily. I don't know if this is just how it's made or if I didn't put it in correctly.

[OhSoStrong]

Also, do you have a readout error code on the main board led display that could help you troubleshoot?

There is a main board led display, and I think it says 85, but I don't know what that means.

[Danijel Habek]

There is a main board led display, and I think it says 85, but I don't know what that means.

From the board user's manual:

"85 Display errors to the user and gets the user response for error."

It seems that the board is trying to display some error to you and awaiting for your response.

Try to "clr CMOS" with the key located on the main board backplane, and then boot again, using the reset button.

Did you manage to hear the beep after powering it up? You might want to try the system with some "older" PCIE graphics to verify it is not some BIOS incompatibility... I didn't flash my main board, as I don't have to reboot my system that often, but that might be one of the solutions for such behavior.