Help with HTPC setup.

I'm trying to build a HTPC with the following components -

Zotac 9300 miniITX motherboard.
Intel e8400
4GB Kingston HyperX DDR2 8500
Samsung EcoGreen F2 1TB
PicoPSU 150w.

My problem is, that I can't get a video output from the machine.
The CPU fan and HDD spin up when I power it all on, but there is no video display at all.

The motherboard is guaranteed working - I originally thought this was the problem but KustomPC very kindly accepted my RMA and tested it for me. No problems there.
I've tried other sticks of RAM, no joy there either. In anycase, the person I bought it from had previously ran the RAM and motherboard in conjunction so that shouldn't be a problem.
I've also tried it on different cables and different monitors.

Which leaves me with either the CPU or the PSU working - I'm more inclined to think it would be a CPU as surely if it was the PSU the PC wouldn't even start?

Can anyone give me any help or tips with this?

I'm getting pretty sick of it and if I can't get it sorted I think I'll sell what I can and just buy a WDTV Live or something similar.

That motherboard has a pci express slot so maybe the previous owner used a graphics card in it and set the bios to only use that for video output? It might be worth fitting a graphics card if you have one or reset the bios via the reset jumper, if you haven't already done so.

If the psu was faulty, depending on how, it is feasable the fans etc would still spin up, the only wat to check for sure is with a voltmeter / psu checker.

It certainly sounds like the CPU, but it could be the PSU - just because the lines that provide power the to Fans and HDD are working is no guarantee that it's providing power to everything else!

I assume you have tested all 3 video outputs? In which case your only real option as far as I can see is to try it with different CPU and PSU and see if it suddenly works!

Sorry, that's probably not very helpful, is it...

Quote:

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Originally Posted by mac124

That motherboard has a pci express slot so maybe the previous owner used a graphics card in it and set the bios to only use that for video output? It might be worth fitting a graphics card if you have one or reset the bios via the reset jumper, if you haven't already done so.

If the psu was faulty, depending on how, it is feasable the fans etc would still spin up, the only wat to check for sure is with a voltmeter / psu checker.

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Does removing the battery reset the BIOS? I thought it did. I've done that several times anyway.

I wonder if the local Maplin would let me borrow their PSU checker (assuming they have one!)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by scaryjim

It certainly sounds like the CPU, but it could be the PSU - just because the lines that provide power the to Fans and HDD are working is no guarantee that it's providing power to everything else!

I assume you have tested all 3 video outputs? In which case your only real option as far as I can see is to try it with different CPU and PSU and see if it suddenly works!

Sorry, that's probably not very helpful, is it...

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I haven't actually tried HDMI, neither of my monitors support it. I can try it with my TV I suppose, thanks.

HDMI does not work either :(

Try unplugging any USB/Firewire headers etc that are plugged onto the motherboard but are not actually required to boot up.

Can you not ask Kustom what they tested it with?

That should at least eliminate some of the variables, no?