Odd behavior

[cueball]

[/quote]Troubleshooting starter

1. Overview of the problem
   Pc wont output video when installed in the case and restarts over and over.
   
2. Full description of the problem and symptoms
   Around 6 months ago my pc started randomly restarting and after the first restart it would go on a cycle of restarts without making it to the windows boot up screen, just the bios screen over and over until I shut the power supply off. After I shut it down sometimes it decides to not boot back up for a few hours or days , the green power light stays on on the MB, and the cpu fan spins but I get no video output to my moniter. For the past month I have kept the entire computer out of the case and besides the occasional pink moniter screen that can be fixed by wiggling the video card slightly all seems fine.
   
   
3. Did it work normally at one time, or has the problem always existed?
   It worked fine but had to replace a previous video card around a year and a half ago which was displaying no video.
   
   
4. Is the problem consistent and repeatable, or entirely random, or semi-random?
   I no longer get any video output from the card when I install it in the case, so thats pretty consistent now. But the reboots and the video output before were completely random.
   
   
   
5. I already tried these steps:
   I tried an old pci video card no output, I tried the video card that I replaced still no output, I reset the cmos, hooked up a 450w PSU thats working in an old xp1800 build , I removed both of the sticks of ram and tried each one separtely, and also tried another moniter.
   
   
   
6. My software:
   • Now running Vista was running xp when it was in the case
     
     
     
   • My hardware
     • EPOX 9NDA3J
     • AMD 64 3000+ s939
     • ATI 1650 PRO AGP
     • 1GB (512x2) Crucial ddr3200
     • ANTEC 350W
     • Feel free to add more hardware details that you think might be relevant to the issue
     
     
   • Other information that might be relevant
     Running perfect out of the case.
     

 

[techmanc]

Sounds like you getting a short/grounding problem when in the case.

 

[jackschmittusa]

As above, or mb being miss-aligned enough to partially unseat the vid card when you lock it down.

 

[cueball]

I went ahead and removed all but 5 of 9 standoffs last night and put cardboard spacers inbetween the MB and stanoffs I also removed the I/O plate for now, the boot screen came up but wouldnt make it any further.
After restarting it about 3-4 times no video output again, the entire time the cards fan seemed to be making a lot of noise but not the squeling noise that it usually makes when you dont attach the extra 4 pin power to it. The power conection to the card has always been extremely loose, after spending 10mins of so by moving the conecter around slightly all seems to be well.
Im sure its a mater of time before the case gets bumped and the conection moves but atleast I feel like I pinned down the problem and wont have replace my MB, which is a relief since a cheap 939 motherboard with agp is a rare find these days.

 

[techmanc]

Are you using a different PSU when you have motherboard outside of case? Any other peripherals that are in case that not hooked up when your testing motherboard outside case? if PSU is not used in both instances i would suspect it.

 

[Ausm]

Originally posted by: techmanc
Sounds like you getting a short/grounding problem when in the case.

:thumbsup:

I would take the mobo,memory and video card out of the case. Make sure you put it on a nonconductive surface. Then i would fire it up and see if it exhibits the same behavior.

 

[cueball]

Thanks for the replys, problem seems to be solved for now and it appears it was the power connection on the video card which was and still is exremely loose and possibly a short.

I would take the mobo,memory and video card out of the case. Make sure you put it on a nonconductive surface. Then i would fire it up and see if it exhibits the same behavior.

Had it out of the case for a month running fine but im sure I just got lucky with vga power connecter being in the right position. My question now is why such a loose connection to the vga card? All pins appear to be straight and I have tried the 4 pin power cord that my psu has and also the spilter that came with the card, both seem loose. Here is a link to the card1650 pro so you can get a look at the power connection. Doesnt seem to be the norm, wish it had the solid connection that my other card did.