Old dual-Xeon computer

[jorockstar]

Hey guys! I have this computer that sits in the corner of my room for awhile now and today i decided to convert it into a home server. First step i tried to power it on, but nothing displays on the screen. I removed the graphic card, but couldn't find anything else than it's an nVidia card and it's written "D33088" at the back of it. It has 2 dual-link DVI and a weird plug that looks like S-Video, but with too many holes. 

 

So here is my question

 

What could be the issue?

 

I already checked the cable, no pin are bent or missing, I am sure the screen I am using works and everything powers on in the computer. My doubt is that the graphic card died, but can't really test it, I don't have any other graphic card that fits in the slot. (Exept my 660 Ti, but the PSU only have one 6-pin connector)

 

I wish to turn it into a home server.

 

Thank you for the help. 

 

PS: Using a VGA cable and a DVI to VGA adaptor

[Flyguygamer]

Please include a photo of the rear io with the gpu installed.

[jorockstar]

Wow, great already some answers!

 

Here is the rear IO

[NumLock21]

Are you sure it's DVI-I or DVI-A?

DVI-A is rare, it's mostly DVI-D or DVI-I. The easiest way to tell between D and I is D do not have the 4 extra pins on the horizontal contact.

[Flyguygamer]

Wow, great already some answers!

 

Here is the rear IO

Have you tried the other dvi port? 

Do you have a different cable and adapter to try?

Is there a post beep or series of beeps?

[NumLock21]

Is there ram in the computer?

Your gpu should come with a molex to pcie connector, use that to power up your video card and see if it works.

[jorockstar]

Have you tried the other dvi port? 

Do you have a different cable and adapter to try?

Is there a post beep or series of beeps?

I have tried both of them.

Cable: most probably  Adapter: I may have another one, but if one of those were to work, it's the one I'm am currently using.

No beep, just two short beep which i assume is the confirmation the boot was succeeded. (I may be wrong)

[jorockstar]

Is there ram in the computer?

Your gpu should come with a molex to pcie connector, use that to power up your video card and see if it works.

Yes, 512 MB of RAM atm. There are 6 slots for ram on the MB.

The GPU came with the whole computer, I have no accessories what so ever, but the card is already plugged with a 6-pin pci connector

 

Edit: I had issues with ram before that (with beeps), but fixed it (it was in the wrong slot)

[Enderman]

DVI-A is rare, it's mostly DVI-D or DVI-I. The easiest way to tell between D and I is D do not have the 4 extra pins on the horizontal contact.

The port you can see in the pic is dual-link DVI-I

[jorockstar]

OK FIXED. Changed the cable and it worked. I have another issue:

 

Battery voltage is too low

And

BIOS is not installed!

 

If it could be the cause of it:

 

There's no optical drive, HDD or mouse/keyboard pluggud in atm. But if i remember correctly the BIOS is in the MB.

[NumLock21]

The port you can see in the pic is dual-link DVI-I

Single and Dual link depends on the type of cable you use and not the port itself.

[Enderman]

Single and Dual link depends on the type of cable you use and not the port itself.

It actually depends on the port.

[jorockstar]

From what i've read, the "BIOS not installed" message is because there is no bootable device, so I'm going to plug an HDD in there

[Speedbird]

OK FIXED. Changed the cable and it worked. I have another issue:

 

Battery voltage is too low

And

BIOS is not installed!

 

If it could be the cause of it:

 

There's no optical drive, HDD or mouse/keyboard pluggud in atm. But if i remember correctly the BIOS is in the MB.

If the battery voltage is too low, then you have to replace it with a CR2032 or DL2032 one. But, no BIOS installed.... That's interesting. If there was no BIOS, it shouldn't display anything at all. Replace the battery, then post back here.

[jorockstar]

Oh.. Can i buy this battery where any other battery is sold? (Can i just show up there with the old one and ask for the same)

[Flyguygamer]

Oh.. Can i buy this battery where any other battery is sold? (Can i just show up there with the old one and ask for the same)

http://www.amazon.com/Maxell-CR2032-lithium-batteries-pack/dp/B006GDL0FY

[jorockstar]

http://www.amazon.com/Maxell-CR2032-lithium-batteries-pack/dp/B006GDL0FY

What i meant is, do I have to buy it online. Does the computer store have these batteries?

[Flyguygamer]

What i meant is, do I have to buy it online. Does the computer store have these batteries?

They may, just ask

[jorockstar]

Uggh, bought a battery for 8 CAD and it's still telling me low voltage and no BIOS installed

[NumLock21]

snip

Seriously when have you seen a graphic card with a single link port? I personally haven't seen one yet. The cables you get also plays a role, single link cable will run the monitor at single link, no matter if your port is dual link. Single cables mostly comes wth the monitor and it's thin, compare to a dual link which is about 2-3 times as thick.

 

@jorockstar

Most electronic or large retail stores should have that battery.

Just curious, what type of PCIe x16 slot does your dell server use?

[Enderman]

Seriously when have you seen a graphic card with a single link port? I personally haven't seen one yet. The cables you get also plays a role, single link cable will run the monitor at single link, no matter if your port is dual link. Single cables mostly comes wth the monitor and it's thin, compare to a dual link which is about 2-3 times as thick.

 

@jorockstar

Most electronic or large retail stores should have that battery.

Yeah I know graphics cards usually have dual link, but that doesnt mean that the single link connector does not exist. You need both the cable AND connector to be dual link to be able to use dual link.

[jorockstar]

Seriously when have you seen a graphic card with a single link port? I personally haven't seen one yet. The cables you get also plays a role, single link cable will run the monitor at single link, no matter if your port is dual link. Single cables mostly comes wth the monitor and it's thin, compare to a dual link which is about 2-3 times as thick.

 

@jorockstar

Most electronic or large retail stores should have that battery.

Just curious, what type of PCIe x16 slot does your dell server use?

I have no clue. There's not even a branding on the MB just a Dell sticker. And i changed the battery and still the same problem

[jorockstar]

Ok, I accessed the BIOS, I think it's trying to tell me "Disk boot failure". Going to plug the hdd and install Windows, but which version? Or if not windows what?

 

I have discovered that the two Xeons that i have are at 3GHz and single core with hyper threading.

[BuntzenB]

Ok, I accessed the BIOS, I think it's trying to tell me "Disk boot failure". Going to plug the hdd and install Windows, but which version? Or if not windows what?

 

I have discovered that the two Xeons that i have are at 3GHz and single core with hyper threading.

Get a distro of Linux

[jorockstar]

Never used Linux