[MEGATHREAD] Personal Computer - Updated builds thanks to Logical Increments

[King Leo]

I have a big problem. I just built a barebone computer, and I can't get anything to connect to it as a monitor via the HDMI port on the motherboard. I don't have any DVI supporting monitors. I tried sticking a small GPU into it's PCI express slot so I could hook up a VGA monitor, but the monitor still never receives any signal. The motherboard does not beep, the CPU fan starts, and it otherwise turns on just fine. Does anyone know what I can do to make it's monitor output work?

Is the monitor functional? If it is, you (may) indeed have a big problem :/ If the monitor doesn't recieve any signals from the motherboard, without the GPU plugged in, you may have  a broken motherboard. If it doesn't start up with the GPU, then maybe the GPU is broken. Cause you have of course put the GPU in a PCI-E 16x slot and connected it directly to the power supply with two PCI cables, right?
Otherwise it could be faulty RAM sticks. Try only one stick at the time and see if that helps booting the machine.

Edit: According to the reviews, it wouldn't be the first time that computer is DOA. Why the hell did you even buy that thing? There are only negative reviews of it...

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[lcyGamma]

Are you saying SSD's aren't reliable? What world do you live in

Its generally believed by some online technology authorities that SSDs aren't more reliable than hard drives, and in some cases some speculate they may be even more likely to fail.

At this stage the jury is still out as to the reliability after the affects of aging to an SSD and how the failure rate might be, because we are still early in. Flash isn't particularly reliable, and although your physical data might be stored in a similar fashion to an HDD the technologies behind it seem flimsy to me.

Some believe SSDs are more likely to last longer due to having no moving parts and producing less heat. In theory, they may have life spans several times longer than a hard drive. But nobody knows for sure yet, and I don't want to be the person spending lots of money to be part of the experiment.

[Tokthree]

Can you describe the flicker problem that you're having? I think mine might be doing that. It's not really noticeable unless you're looking for it though.

Also my mobo isn't outputting a signal to my monitor, is that normal? I have my monitor plugged into my graphics card.

It was basically faint horizontal bars that would flicker and scroll up, I could only see them if I was looking for them on a dark gray (not pure black or light grey) background, they only appeared if my GPU switched from idle clock to gaming clock so they only showed in games.
The problem was caused by trying to use an adapter block which you screw the VGA cable into which allows it to be plugged into a DVI slot, my brothers monitor has a direct VGA - DVI-D cable so the signal is converted properly, you can buy these cables on amazon but make sure that it will fix the problem, try out a similar monitor in your house if you can.

You don't really explain your problem very well, but I'll try.
Some motherboards disable the onboard graphics when you have a graphics card plugged in and require you to re-enable it yourself if you want to use it at the same time as the card, if your issue is that the graphics card isn't working that's most likely caused by not having drivers installed, some graphics cards require you to install the drivers before you can use it, I've never personally had this problem but some people claim they have.

If your issue is not related to those solutions then I don't know

[Muzzles56]

so i was playing doom 3, going in and out multiple times due to display settings not working, then this happens
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9gHoxB4-mV4
I recorded it just in case something actually malfunctioned and I needed proof for warranty purposes. I also had 10 minutes left of a video render (which took over two hours, you can see it in the video) and it shut down...

fyi it is fixed now, just wanted to share

[Momentum]

im going to dual boot between ubuntu 12 and windows 7, on two seperate hard drives. the hard drive that ubuntu is going to be on already has some stuff on it, will this be a problem? im certain i have enough space for ubuntu on the hard drive.

[Niven]

Windows 8

Yum

[duke 838]

For back up storage would it be best to get external hard drivers, or internal hard drives, and keep them in something for storage when not being used. Also any advice on a new monitor? Is a 3D one actually worth the money? I have 680. This monitor will most likely be my primary, but I will have two running, right now I'm using my 32" TV as a second monitor, I think I just want another 24" though.

[Treynolds416]

For back up storage would it be best to get external hard drivers, or internal hard drives, and keep them in something for storage when not being used,

I think someone asked the question previously in the thread, and we determined that internal drives are better because they have faster data transfer speeds (6.0 gb/s to 5.0 gb/s)

[duke 838]

I think someone asked the question previously in the thread, and we determined that internal drives are better because they have faster data transfer speeds (6.0 gb/s to 5.0 gb/s)

are they more reliable in a long term sense too?

[Nickelob Ultra]

Windows 8

Yum

My coupon expires in 11 days and I have yet to use it forget me

[Treynolds416]

are they more reliable in a long term sense too?

there's probably not a huge difference, both are protected by cases though you may be more likely to drop external ones and forget it up

I would definitely recommend an internal drive, external drives are more useful for if you have multiple computers that you use on a regular basis

[Flush535]

It was basically faint horizontal bars that would flicker and scroll up, I could only see them if I was looking for them on a dark gray (not pure black or light grey) background, they only appeared if my GPU switched from idle clock to gaming clock so they only showed in games.
The problem was caused by trying to use an adapter block which you screw the VGA cable into which allows it to be plugged into a DVI slot, my brothers monitor has a direct VGA - DVI-D cable so the signal is converted properly, you can buy these cables on amazon but make sure that it will fix the problem, try out a similar monitor in your house if you can.

One of these?

My graphics card came with one of those, and I'm using it. That's probably the problem. Thanks.

[KoopaScooper]

im going to dual boot between ubuntu 12 and windows 7, on two seperate hard drives. the hard drive that ubuntu is going to be on already has some stuff on it, will this be a problem? im certain i have enough space for ubuntu on the hard drive.

I'd recommend at least 10GB for Ubuntu. 16+ GB if possible.

[MackTheHunter]

One of these?

My graphics card came with one of those, and I'm using it. That's probably the problem. Thanks.

I was using one of these, don't use them - Just use direct DVI. You get weird bars.

[Tokthree]

One of these?

My graphics card came with one of those, and I'm using it. That's probably the problem. Thanks.

Yes, one of those.
They seem to be an outdated device, they just flat-out refuse to work properly with newer cards, I used one with my 6770 just fine and with my X1950 Pro before that with no problems, but my 7870 is just like "forget that stuff, what do you think this is? 2005?"