Attempting to retrieve video signal from an old PC without Windows installed?
Attempting to retrieve video signal from an old PC without Windows installed?
I was developing a second system for handling very old video files from MiniDV tapes, etc. The motherboard dates back to 2006 and is a Gigabyte GA-M55 Plus- S3G. The video card is quite outdated, but it supports VGA, HDMI, and DVI outputs—it appears to be an AMD 5000 series card. The power supply is a brand new EVGA 400-watt unit, priced at $50 with cables already attached. There is a 1TB SATA hard drive, along with a brand new ADATA 480 GB SSD connected via SATA. A new PCI-E card on the back provides USB-C and USB 3 ports, and I also used the USB 3 connector on the card for internal connections in the case. Lastly, there is a 25-year-old PCI card for video capture.
All components were installed inside a new case featuring one 5 1/4" bay, which houses a SATA DVD-R drive. I believe that’s about the extent of the setup. All wiring was completed by me, and the process seemed straightforward. The CPU is an AMD Athlon 64 II 5600+ and it fit perfectly without any bent pins. Both the CPU and motherboard were tested before being sold to me.
The main problem is that when using either HDMI or VGA, I receive a "No signal" output. For VGA, I checked both the card’s output and the board’s VGA port, but nothing appears on the TV. The computer powers on normally and turns off when I press the case button. Since the screen shows nothing, it’s difficult to pinpoint the issue. The hard drives are completely empty, so no Windows installation is possible. I was hoping to install Vista 64-bit if it would work.
What should I check before giving up and taking it to a technician?
Make sure the GPU functions properly on a different motherboard. Also, Apple previously used the 5000 series in their systems; if it worked there, it might have been updated for Mac only. On Windows PCs, using it could result in a black screen. There were both Mac and Windows versions of those older cards. Just a note.
RAM is A-Tech, a questionable brand:
4GB (4x1GB) Memory RAM for HP Compaq dc5100 Series DDR2 PC2-5300 (667MHz)
Attempt to start with only one stick in the second RAM slot. One stick might be defective.
Attempted to start with only one stick in the second RAM slot. One stick might be defective.
Just now, I pulled three sticks and kept one in the second slot. No difference observed. Uncertain if this RAM is intended for PCs.
I decided to sent back the ram I bought, as it is subpar anyway. There is a local guy here selling Kingston 2GB sticks (4 of them) for 10 bucks. So Im going to try and get that.
Then I will try to clear the CMOS (if I can find the exact spot on the board to short). I did try the onboard graphics, but the other card was still on the board. I will remove it next round.