HTPC Build Problem - Troubleshooting Help

[bigrod]

Hello,

It's been a long time since I've posted here, but I'm hoping some kind soul will be able to help me troubleshoot a problem I'm having with an HTPC build I'm doing. I've built quite a few systems in the past, but it's been a while, so I'm not a n00b, but I am rusty.

First, my system relevant specs:
Case - Antec ISK 300-150 (150W PSU)
Motherboard - Asrock A75M-ITX
Processor - AMD A6-3500
Memory - Corsair Vengance Low Profile DDR3 1866 MHz (2x4 GB)
Main HDD - 64 GB Crucial m4 SSD

Now that I have everything hooked up, the system powers on, fans spin and power LED lights, and the TV I have it hooked up to via HDMI does respond in the form of the screen going from greyish to deep black (and doing the opposite when I shut the system off), but no BIOS screen comes up at all. I've tried the following troubleshooting steps with no luck:

- Tried each stick of memory individually, in both slots, and together.
- Cleared CMOS and pulled battery
- Tried with and without the SSD connected

There are a few things that I'm wondering about specifically:

1. I don't have a keyboard hooked up to it at the moment (I don't have one on hand). That wouldn't be an issue, would it?
2. The case doesn't have a speaker built into it (that I can find anyhow). Could that be an issue?
3. Could connecting via HDMI be the issue?

I plan to rule out 1 and 3 at least when I can find a keyboard and VGA monitor to borrow, but I feel like there must just be something stupid I'm missing. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[krnmastersgt]

1. Shouldn't be an issue in getting it to post, though it would probably (by default anyways) just freeze on part of the hardware check to notify you that it does not detect a keyboard.
2. Not having a speaker won't stop it from booting, but it also means you can't tell what the board sense being wrong.
3. Possibly but I'm not sure on the probability of this being a problem.

I suspect the RAM may be at fault here but without the on-board speaker to tell you what's wrong, and no display for an error code troubleshooting it becomes a bit more difficult. Do you have another system that you could test the RAM in?

 

[bigrod]

1. Shouldn't be an issue in getting it to post, though it would probably (by default anyways) just freeze on part of the hardware check to notify you that it does not detect a keyboard.
2. Not having a speaker won't stop it from booting, but it also means you can't tell what the board sense being wrong.
3. Possibly but I'm not sure on the probability of this being a problem.

I suspect the RAM may be at fault here but without the on-board speaker to tell you what's wrong, and no display for an error code troubleshooting it becomes a bit more difficult. Do you have another system that you could test the RAM in?

I do not personally, but I may be able to scrounge something up. I had meant to mention that in my original post. I guess that will be a good next step. I may be able to jerry-rig up a speaker somehow as well.

 

[bigrod]

I haven't had a chance to test the memory or take any further troubleshooting steps since last night, but I was looking at Asrock's website and the "supported memory" list for this motherboard (http://www.asrock.com/mb/memory.asp?Model=A75M-ITX) and the memory I'm using (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820233240) is not specifically listed. Any old DDR3 memory should work, right? I wouldn't have even considered looking for "supported" memory before buying.

 

[krnmastersgt]

As long as it falls within the specified voltages, for the most part yes, just about any RAM should do.

 

[piasabird]

What OS you using? I think Windows looks for a keyboard/mouse by default. You can set the default to on-screen keyboard, by pressing the little circle on the signon screen.

 

[bigrod]

The voltage of the memory I bought is 1.5V, which, based on looking at Newegg appears to be the most common voltage. Going to try it in my nephew's PC to see what happens. Hopefully it won't work and I'll at least know the answer to my problems, but I guess I have my doubts. Could it be possible that the Mobo is defaulting it to a clockspeed it doesn't want to support, and maybe if I plug in a different kind of memory, change the clock in the BIOS to the 1866 default, and try again, it could work?

 

[bigrod]

What OS you using? I think Windows looks for a keyboard/mouse by default. You can set the default to on-screen keyboard, by pressing the little circle on the signon screen.

No OS at all yet. It will be Windows 7 once I can get it to boot.

 

[truckerCLOCK]

I had a similar problem with an ASrock H67-itx. It is VERY picky when it comes to ram. Would do absolutely nothing...no post, no beeps ..nothing, just a blank screen. The only brand that would work was G.Skill. Tried Samsung, Crucial and Adata.

 

[bigrod]

I had a similar problem with an ASrock H67-itx. It is VERY picky when it comes to ram. Would do absolutely nothing...no post, no beeps ..nothing, just a blank screen. The only brand that would work was G.Skill. Tried Samsung, Crucial and Adata.

Great info. Could you tell me specifically which Gskill set you used? I was going to use that brand, but wanted something low profile since it's a tiny case. My nephews PC I built last year has Gskill, so that will make for a good test subject.

 

[truckerCLOCK]

This is what worked for me ..G.Skill Ram..also when I was having problems with this board I found some really good info on it here..Asrock H67m-ITX wont post, I know its an Intel board but it could be a similar problem with AMD boards.

 

[bigrod]

This is what worked for me ..G.Skill Ram..also when I was having problems with this board I found some really good info on it here..Asrock H67m-ITX wont post, I know its an Intel board but it could be a similar problem with AMD boards.

Thanks, very helpful. I got a case speaker connected finally, and it doesn't make any beeps at all when the memory is plugged in, and makes three long beeps when no memory is in, so I know the speaker works for sure. Really hoping that the memory from my nephews PC (really similar to yours http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820231314) will work and I'll know what's wrong for sure.

 

[bigrod]

Turned out to just not like booting up with HDMI only the first time around. Hooked it to a VGA monitor, setup everything and I'm good to go now. Thanks to all for your help.

 

[mfenn]

Turned out to just not like booting up with HDMI only the first time around. Hooked it to a VGA monitor, setup everything and I'm good to go now. Thanks to all for your help.

:thumbsup: Glad you got it sorted out.