The PC turns on but doesn’t display or beep is one of the most common problems faced by new PC builders. I know you’ve re-adjusted the cables and checked all the components, but still no luck.
The most relevant causes of PC display errors are improper cabling, incompatible hardware, improper GPU connections, or OS installation. Troubleshooting all four in the same order could help you determine the cause.
No matter what the issue is, this article shall help you fix it and get your PC up and running ASAP.
Contents
PC Powers On But No Display: Fixed
1. Check Cable Connections
There are two sets of cables that enable your display. One is the power cable that attaches the monitor to the power supply, and the other is the display cable that comes from the GPU or from inside the PC’s motherboard (if it has integrated graphics).
Give a proper wobble to all headers and adapters. Check for the indicator light on the monitor to see if it’s getting a power supply. Check whether your display cables like HDMI, VGA, or DVI are working properly. Try different output ports, as most GPUs will have multiple output ports.
2. Check Power Issues
Unlike other components in a PC, the monitor gets its power from the wall. It needs a separate plug and a power cable to switch on.
If there are power supply issues or the plug or switch from the wall is not working, then that can be why your PC is not showing up on the monitor.
Use a mobile phone charger or some other device that will plug into the same plug you are using for your monitor to check if it is working properly. Check the power supply of the switchboard on the wall as well.
3. Verify Component Compatibility
Incompatibility between the components may lead to the no display on new PC builds. Check the user manual for each component’s compatibility with the motherboard and other supporting parts.
A rather efficient way is to use websites that check the compatibility of all your components. You can use our PC builder, and enter the details of all your components to check their compatibility with each other.
If it shows any compatibility error, you must replace that component. Again, you can make use of the same tool to find an alternative compatible unit.
4. Check BIOS Settings
One generic solution regarding a PC not showing up on the monitor is to reset the BIOS and clear the CMOS. It also sets an overclocked CPU back to its default.
The proper way to do it is to take out the CMOS battery, wait for about a minute, and then put it back. Besides, manufacturers often roll out updates for BIOS. Make sure your BIOS is updated with the latest version release.
A power surge or failure during a BIOS update can cause the motherboard to stop working. Also, ensure that you have configured your GPU from the BIOS.
5. Incompatible Hardware
Apart from checking the compatibility of all the PC components, you must also check if you have installed the right hardware with the right interface.
For instance, a GPU that supports PCIe 4.0 may not run as efficiently on a motherboard with only PCIe 3.0 lanes and headers.
Similarly, if you have installed a RAM that supports DDR5 on a slot that only supports DDR4, then you have a problem right there. Learn about slots to use.
6. Reseat GPU and Components
There are methods for mounting and installing key components like GPU, RAM, and storage. It is possible that you may not have installed one or many of them correctly.
Reseating a component refers to pulling the components out of their respective slots or mountings and putting them back in. This may solve the issue if it was about improper component installation.
7. Test GPU in another PC
If you have performed most of the steps above and are very sure about your GPU, it is worth trying your GPU with another PC. Check whether the results are the same with other PCs or not.
8. Test Monitor with another PC
Similarly, you can test your monitor on another PC to make sure there is no issue with the monitor itself. It may happen that all your components, their compatibility, and installation are proper, but the monitor is faulty.
If it’s found to be faulty, you must replace it. Here’s a good guide on picking a monitor.
How Can I Tell If My GPU Is Causing The Problem?
There could be multiple issues about installing graphics card. One of the following factors could cause the GPU to not enable the display.
- Wrong PCIe slot: Always ensure your GPU is near the CPU and attached to the first PCIe slot.
- Not enough power: Make sure your GPU gets more than the recommended power supply from the PSU.
- PCIe generation: Ensure your GPU has the same PCIe support as your motherboard or vice versa.
- Cabling: Make sure all cables from and to your GPU are attached properly.
Common Mistakes That Lead To PC Not Turning on But Has Power
Inexperienced PC builders may commit many common mistakes that lead to no signal on the monitor but the CPU running. Here are some of them:
- Wrong cabling: You may not have plugged the cables properly. Some wires are hard to plug into their headers. Moreover, the space inside the PC cabin can be a reason why you couldn’t reach out to the components and their respective cables to connect them properly.
- GPU: Your GPU is solely responsible for producing the display. One common mistake is not attaching the GPU in the first PCIe slot. The first PCIe slot is the actual X16 slot that most modern-day GPUs prefer.
- Wrong hardware: You may have selected the wrong hardware altogether. Check the compatibility of all your hardware on specific websites or through the user manuals.
Frequently Asked Questions
You may have connected the GPU to the wrong PCIe slot. Another reason could be improper plugging of display cables on both the GPU as well as the monitor. Incompatible GPU can also be a possible reason.
Yes, RAM, like most other components, can cause problems if not connected correctly. If the RAM is not slotted properly or the motherboard does not support its DDR version, you could have issues with turning on your PC’s display.
This could be because of improper cable connections. Check all the cables and connect them properly on both the PC and the display device.
It is very much possible that a software error, an operating system error, or a BIOS error is causing no display on the monitor. But even in that case, you should be able to see some form of screen on the monitor, like the blue screen, the boot menu, or the BIOS menu.
Conclusion
There can essentially be only a handful of reasons behind your display issue. One of them is the GPU. The GPU is responsible for enabling the graphics on your monitor. The other two are hardware incompatibility and cabling errors.
In this article, I covered all the troubleshooting steps that help you solve this frustrating problem. I also discussed some of the most common causes of display errors, like incompatible or non-functioning GPUs.
Leave a Reply