Hi. I ordered a new motherboard and cpu(ASRcok 4COREDUAL-VSTA PT880 & Intel E4400 Core 2 Duo) After setting up today, the cpu fan started, the GFX fan started, in power LED worked, and the keyboard lights flash. I got a 'No Signal' sign from the monitor. When I got this, I initially hit the net for tips on I could of went wrong, and so far have done all of the following -Used 1 stick of ram instead of the two(tried with both on their own) -Tried a different monitor -Tried a different graphics card -Have had the Power button/Reset Button switches in every possible combination -Tried it out of the case on the static, but that didn't even start the fans. I know for a fact the memory, psu, both graphics cards, and monitors work since I have used them all recently on the old motherboard, and this computer. Basically all I would like to know, and this probably sounds stupid is what part should I send back to get returned, since one of them obviously works. Thanks for any help guys

Did you bench test ? basically you need mobo, cpu, ram, keyboard and psu.

How to benchtest: - lay the board on a non-conductive surface - install the CPU & HSF - install one stick of RAM - install a video card (or use onboard) & connect to monitor - connect a keyboard - connect the PSU - turn on the power to the PSU & monitor, then momentarily touch the tip of a screwdriver to the 2 pins the power switch would normally connect to. If the components are good, the fans will spin up, you'll get a display on the screen & you'll be able to access the BIOS using the keyboard. Then you can manually configure the BIOS settings for best performance (do not use defaults) & monitor your CPU temps. If all is well, dismantle it & install the exact same components in the case & test again. If it checks out, THEN go ahead & install the rest of the hardware.

To add to jam's response, be sure you have MBoard standoffs installed at all screw holes, if possible and ONLY at screwholes. There is no need to remove the CPU/HS.fan when dismantling.

Thanks for telling the final step in getting it to power on while out of the box. I used the screwdriver to power on, it was pretty much the same again, except this, the screen goes black for a few seconds and then gets the 'no signal'. The gfx card is screwed in solid, so it's not that. I've read the standoffs thing at a different place, but my base has them already so it's not that. So I checked it without the cpu in just to see if the fans would still move, which they did, does that mean that basically I got DOA CPU? Even though when I took the cpu out it was pretty hot... Thanks for helping guys, very much appreciated.

"The gfx card is screwed in solid, so it's not that." Does this mean the graphics card is fully seated? Some other things to look at are: The HS fan connected to the correct header, the square 4 wire connector plugged in, graphics card power connector if one is required. Verify the clr CMOS jumper is in the run position. While looking for that jumper it MAY help to clear the CMOS with NO power to the MBoard. Is your PSU up to the task? In the manual for this board there is a list of supported PCI express graphics cards. To me this indicates there may be some issues with some cards. Are you using AGP or PCIe? "Please do NOT use a 3.3V AGP card on the AGP slot of this motherboard! It may cause permanent damage! For the voltage information of your AGP card, please check with the AGP card vendors".

"I know for a fact the memory, psu, both graphics cards, and monitors work since I have used them all recently on the old motherboard, ...." Assuming you mboard can actually recognize the cpu you are trying to use and your PS has enough capacity for the new mboard, etc.,..... A frequent mistake people make with a new build is trying to use incompatible ram. The ram working in another computer doesn't necessarily mean it will work in your new mboard - it has to be compatible with the mboard chipset, and, especially if it is DDR ram, it might not be, and in the worst cases the mboard will not boot at all, and may not even beep. See response 5 in this for some info about ram compatibilty, and some places where you can find out what will work in your mboard for sure: http://www.computing.net/hardware/w... Correction to that: Mushkin www.mushkin.com You can check for incompatible ram this way: remove the AC power to the PS, remove all the ram, restore AC power, try booting. If there is nothing else wrong and you have a speaker (or amplified speakers in some cases) connected to the proper place so that you can hear mboard beeps, you will hear a pattern of beeps that indicates no ram is installed. ......... "Please do NOT use a 3.3V AGP card on the AGP slot of this motherboard! It may cause permanent damage! For the voltage information of your AGP card, please check with the AGP card vendors"" The AGP card will be rated as 2X compatible, as in 2X/4X etc. if it uses 3.3 volts, but sometimes only the highest AGP speed is quoted and you have to dig around to find that fact somewhere in the manufacturer's specs, or if the card was made by a clone maker, that fact may not be apparent and you must look elsewhere (e.g. if it has an ATI chipset, look at the specs for a card with the same chipset on the ATI web site to get the true picture).