Solved Bench Test

[seekermeister]

Hopefully, the RAM will arrive tomorrow, so that I can bench test the components for my new build. Since I'm not certain that I have a good video card in the closet to test with, and this motherboard does have onboard graphics, I thought that I would use that instead, but since I have never used onboard graphics previously, I just wanted to know that it should display the BIOS screen, without any video driver installed (which would not be possible until the OS is installed)?

EDIT: A side question is what the quality of the onboard graphics for an Asus M4A89GTD motherboard is? I will use my EVGA GTX460 SC for normal use, but I'm curious as to how well onboard graphics (ATI Radeon HD 4290) would compare, for use as a backup?

 

[pparks1]

I just wanted to know that it should display the BIOS screen, without any video driver installed (which would not be possible until the OS is installed)?

Yes, onboard video card without any drivers will show the POST screen and the BIOS screen.

EDIT: A side question is what the quality of the onboard graphics for an Asus M4A89GTD motherboard is? I will use my EVGA GTX460 SC for normal use, but I'm curious as to how well onboard graphics (ATI Radeon HD 4290) would compare, for use as a backup?

There really won't be much comparison. The stand alone card should demolish it.

 

[Kipper]

On-board 4290 compared to the GTX460 is like comparing a single speed bicycle to a new Harley Davidson you cant compare them. Go with the 460 and never look back.

 

[seekermeister]

I thought that would be the answer in terms of performance comparisons, but I was thinking about once when a computer salesman told me that onboard graphics were nothing like they used to be, and did excellently. Of course, the only thing that I really believed that he wanted a sale.

 

[Fumz]

Hi seekermeister,

If you've included an SSD in your new rig, I'd hold off benching or tweeking Windows for a day or so.

 

[seekermeister]

No SSD, but the benching that I was speaking of had nothing to do with any kind of drive or OS, just insuring that the components that I received are okay, before commencing the actual build.

 

[seekermeister]

I just finished bench testing the components, and I'm not getting any video signal from either the onboard graphics or an old 7800GTX OC that I dug out of the closet. However, the power supply that I have for testing purposes doesn't have a 6 pin connector to attach to the back of the video card. I'm not positive, but even without that power connection, I should still be getting some kind of signal output...shouldn't I?

EDIT: Now that I think about it, if that power connection isn't made, in the past, that would set off an audible alarm, which it now doesn't do. Assuming that the card isn't defective, that also would indicate that the motherboard was no good, would it not?

 

[seekermeister]

Since I received no response to my last post, I have assumed that there was no accurate answer possible. Therefore, on the basis that the video signal failed on the on-board GPU, that was sufficient to determine that the motherboard is faulty, and requested an RMA for an exchange.

It is not conclusive since the box was never sealed, but the facts that the front closure flap on the box was partially pulled out on arrival, and that one of the pins on a chassis fan connector was bent at a 45 degree angle, that it indicated that I was sent a previously returned motherboard, rather than a truly new one. Being the weekend, I suspect that I won't get a response til Monday, and the exchange time will probably take a couple of weeks, I hope that I'm right, and that the problem is not the CPU or RAM, however from past experience, I consider that to be a less likely probability. Eventually, I will get the new build up and running.

 

[essenbe]

You may have already, but take the video card out and try with just the onboard graphics. Most of the boards I have used with onboard are set in bios to pcie rather than on board. Without a pcie card installed, they automatically default to onboard. With a pcie card, they default to the pcie card, however without the power connections, the card probably will not be functional. At least that is what I think.

And to answer your first question, without drivers the onboard should work with no problem.

 

[seekermeister]

Yes, that is the way that I tried it first, with no video card installed. I only tried using a video card to double check the problem.

 

[essenbe]

Assuming you are sure everything is hooked up correctly and the monitor is hooked up to the onboard, I would assume that it is a motherboard problem. I know thats what you think too. Could you fin a 6 pin to molex connector to try your video card.

 

[seekermeister]

I see no possibility that anything was hooked up wrong...at least in terms of the on-board graphics. No, I don't have an adapter like you described, nor do I recall ever seeing anything like that. However, to order one now seems somewhat extraneous.

 

[seekermeister]

I just received a response from the vendor, in which they claimed that the motherboard box should have been sealed, but there is no sign that it ever was. I would expect the remains of a broken seal to still be on the box. The anti-static bag containing the motherboard was not sealed either.

 

[essenbe]

As far as I am concerned, that in itself should be grounds for an RMA and if the vendor sold it to you get him to replace it.

 

[seekermeister]

I fully expect an exchange, rather than a refund, because I used a 10% eBay coupon to purchase it with, which saved me $15, and that would be lost if I opted for a refund.

 

[essenbe]

I agree with that, just be sure he sends a new on this time.

 

[seekermeister]

I have no idea of how to ascertain that in advance, because they claim that the one that I was sent was new. The only thing that I can think of is to record the serial number of this board to make sure that they don't send me the same one again.

 

[essenbe]

Good idea.

 

[seekermeister]

This RMA process is really dragging out. After quibbling with their rep for several days, I was finally given a link to a RMA submission form, which was ultra simple, and had to wait for 2 more days for a response. I got the RMA#, but no prepaid shipping label as promised, and it stated that they would either repair or replace the motherboard, as they deem fit. I did not order a new motherboard only to receive a used/repaired one instead.

To spare anyone from this type of headache, the name of this vendor is Imicros AKA SuperBiiz.com. This shall be my last transaction with them. I wish that I had ordered from TigerDirect, it would have cost $15 more, but considering the manner in which SuperBiiz does business, that would have been cheap. I not only lost time, but it appears that I lost both the 10% ebay coupon, plus the cost of return shipping.

 

[essenbe]

Seekermeister, Sorry for your troubles. I had the same issue with a MSI board. I sent them a new board. After 8 weeks they sent me back a used board with a different serial# than the one I sent. Obviously one someone else had RMA'd. After several calls to Calif. from Fla., they refused to provide a new board, hung up on me and refused to respond to any type of communication from me. So, I can understand exactly what you are going through. And I only told that story about MSI because I promised them I would let everyone know how they treat their customers. Just like you are doing. Good luck to you.