Alexei

PROBLEM SOLVED. Turns out I just had to connect my HDMI cable to my graphics card and click a button on the monitor to HDMI input instead of D-Sub.. Sorry for wasting all of your time.. :blush: Thanks a million for all your help and advice though

I grounded myself yes, but didn't use an anti-static wristband, just touched the metal case regularly and worked on a wooden desk. Are there any tests I could do to find out if the motherboard is indeed broken? It doesn't seem dead, seeing as it works without the graphics card installed, maybe the PCI-E 3.0 x16 slots are broken? Also I have not tried installing windows yet (I haven't put the disk in yet), I was just trying to fix the problem before installing the operating system first. I'll try installing the operating system and install the drivers ect and then try to install the graphics card. Ok, I'll search up the de-bug codes.

Yes I have tried re-seating and trying the graphics card in different slots. There is no change. I can't fit my graphics card in the bottom slot because it's too big and the PSU gets in the way.

Connected to my motherboard with a VGA cable. I tried a HDMI cable from my monitor to the graphics card but it's still blank. The GPU doesn't have VGA port, only DVI and I don't have a DVI cable.

The codes are the same whether there is a graphics card installed or not. It runs through some other codes (too quick for me to see) and then is on 'A2' for a while before changing to some numbers like '40' or '42'. Looking at the BIOS, these numbers match up to the CPU temp I think. When I'm inside the BIOS, the codes change to 'bb'

True, I was able to get a display when I went into BIOS but I was only able to get into the BIOS when I removed my graphics card. When my graphics card is installed, there is no display, just blank. My boot order is my optical drive (for Windows disk installation later) and then my SSD and then HDD. Also I tested a different graphics card inside the build and the display was still blank?

I went into the BIOS and loaded optimized defaults and then saved and reboot. Then I powered the computer down and re-installed the graphics card, when I powered the PC up again there was still a blank display. Doesn't seem to have worked? Surely it can't be to do with the display seeing as it works fine when the graphics card is removed, although I'm still not sure if the graphics card is faulty because the LEDs on it turn on and the middle fan (there's 3) spins up. I have tried re-seating the graphics card into the same slot and also into other slots, it makes no change. I have connected two PCI-Express connectors (8 pin each) into the corresponding two slots in the graphics card. These are connected into my PSU, the connection into the PSU looks flush and firm. And anyway, if my card wasn't getting power, how would the LEDs and fans turn on? EDIT: Looking inside the BIOS, it seems all my other connections, RAM, storage devices and other components are working properly as the motherboard detects them and shows them in the BIOS.

Correct. EDIT: I assume it uses the on-board integrated video card instead.

I connected the two PCI-E connectors from the PSU into the Graphics Card. I think this is what you are supposed to do? I tried the GPU in another slot and there was no difference.

I have checked that too to no avail. However I removed the graphics card and powered the computer on and the display came on asking me for boot media (but I still had 2 beeps at startup). Does this mean I have a faulty graphics card?

@SparkySamZa Sadly the motherboard manual doesn't have that, or at least I can't find it anywhere in the manual.

I have tried clearing the CMOS but it doesn't fix it. I tried your method, and pulling the battery out and back in again among other ways to clear the CMOS but nope, still doesn't work.

I have just finished my first build but when I turn it on, the display is blank and the motherboard makes two bleeps. I have checked that the RAM is seated properly and the problem persists. The screen on the mobo (Dr Debug?) comes up with a2 and then stays at around 40. Help would be awesome! My build specs: CPU: Intel Core i5-4690K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler Motherboard: MSI Z97-GAMING 5 ATX LGA1150 Motherboard Memory: Corsair Vengeance LP 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory SSD: Samsung 840 EVO 250GB 2.5" Solid State Drive HDD: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200 RPM Internal Hard Drive Graphics Card: Sapphire R9 290 VAPOR-X OC 4GB GDDR5 Case: Fractal Design Define R4 w/Window (Black Pearl) ATX Mid Tower Case Power Supply: Corsair CX 600W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply Optical Drive: Samsung SH-224DB/BEBE DVD/CD Writer OS: Microsoft Windows 8.1 (OEM) (64-bit)

Thanks for the explanation I'll keep it in mind for future buys/builds although I think I'm going to stay with the 212 EVO and instead get LP RAM because it saves me approx. £15 which I need because due to the better R9 290 card, I was already over budget.

Due to the recommendations on this page I decided this build instead: CPU: Intel Core i5-4690K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor (£176.99) CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler (£24.25) Motherboard: MSI Z97-GAMING 5 ATX LGA1150 Motherboard (£110.36) Memory: Corsair Vengeance LP 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory (£65.76) SSD: Samsung 840 EVO 250GB 2.5" Solid State Drive (£92.99) HDD: Seagate Barracuda 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive (£35.94) Graphics card: Sapphire R9 290 VAPOR-X OC 4GB GDDR5 (£342.98) Case: Fractal Design Define R4 w/Window (Black Pearl) ATX Mid Tower Case (£79.99) Power Supply: Corsair CX 600W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply (£49.93) Optical Drive: Samsung SH-224DB/BEBE DVD/CD Writer (£11.51) OS: Microsoft Windows 8.1 (OEM) (64-bit) (£79.89) Total: £1070.59 It is a little over my budget but hey, hope it's worth it.