# Calling all computer nerds...
**URL:** https://forums.speedlife.net/t/calling-all-computer-nerds/217383
**Category:** NYSpeed Off Topic
**Created:** [October 11, 2011, 4:18pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/calling-all-computer-nerds/217383 "2011-10-11T16:18:09Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 3
### Author:  [@travisn](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/travisn)
#### Post date: [November 5, 2011, 8:49am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/calling-all-computer-nerds/217383/41 "2011-11-05T08:49:06Z")
> [@Jack](#):
>
> Did you want someone to pick one of the options for you? Because you’re not getting all of them…
>
> What are your goals with the PC?
goals:
> [@travisn](#):
>
> I want a desktop, don’t need windows/office/accessories. Must be super fast and all that jazz. 3d modeling, large dual monitors, etc.
I wish I didn’t need anyone to pick out the things but besides the more ram/hard drive space mentality I really don’t know what’s best
> [@ProgRocker](#):
>
> Depends on the GPU and other components. Modular PSUs are the way to go. I’d highly suggest a Full Tower case when building. I got a Mid-Tower case (Antec 900) and stuff just became too cramped. Also, the Mid-Tower cases don’t handle the larger Graphics cards very well. I’d wait to bump it up to $1000+ and get some more horsepower.
The tower I have is a full size., I am pretty sure its a Dell workstation. The ‘pc guy’ in the ME department gave it to me, its a few years old. I can get the specs of it, but I tired to hook up both of my large monitors and I derped something. He gave me a different video card and it still didn’t fix anything. I suppose I can swing a little more if it’s really worth it
> [@Neon](#):
>
> E-machines are disposable buy a new computer.
who said anything about an E-machine?
---
### Author:  [@Gl1](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Gl1)
#### Post date: [November 5, 2011, 9:12am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/calling-all-computer-nerds/217383/42 "2011-11-05T09:12:48Z")
travisn, you go to RIT… there has to be someone willing to custom build you a computer there. You will get a much better computer that way.
I’d build you one, but I’d have to charge you, so see if someone at RIT will do it for free lol.
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### Author:  [@honda4life](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/honda4life)
#### Post date: [November 5, 2011, 9:18am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/calling-all-computer-nerds/217383/43 "2011-11-05T09:18:18Z")
If you bought all the crap I would give you a run down on how to build it and moreover what parts you would wanna get and what’s upgradable in the future for your computer but you are quite a distance from me lmk or pm me for further discussion
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### Author:  [@ProgRocker](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/ProgRocker)
#### Post date: [November 5, 2011, 9:46am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/calling-all-computer-nerds/217383/44 "2011-11-05T09:46:06Z")
Also…shit might now fit correctly in that dell case if you buy it.
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### Author:  [@honda4life](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/honda4life)
#### Post date: [November 5, 2011, 11:45am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/calling-all-computer-nerds/217383/45 "2011-11-05T11:45:52Z")
> [@ProgRocker](#):
>
> Also…shit might now fit correctly in that dell case if you buy it.
This is true not to mention most branded computers have the front power and rest buttons and led HDd lights on a block that’s a direct plug in instead of separate little blocks designated for each thing like power reset led hdd
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### Author:  [@honda4life](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/honda4life)
#### Post date: [November 5, 2011, 11:50am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/calling-all-computer-nerds/217383/46 "2011-11-05T11:50:06Z")
> [@travisn](#):
>
> goals:
>
> I wish I didn’t need anyone to pick out the things but besides the more ram/hard drive space mentality I really don’t know what’s best
>
> The tower I have is a full size., I am pretty sure its a Dell workstation. The ‘pc guy’ in the ME department gave it to me, its a few years old. I can get the specs of it, but I tired to hook up both of my large monitors and I derped something. He gave me a different video card and it still didn’t fix anything. I suppose I can swing a little more if it’s really worth it
>
> who said anything about an E-machine?
Takes some pics of the computer and give us the model number along with right click my computer and go to properties that will tell us CPU type speed and how much memory, video card wise right click the destop on a blank spot (not on a icon) and go to properties and it should be the advanced tab to tell us what video card you have, how are you trying to plug the monitors in with VGA, dvi, hdmi, display port? What are the supporting ports on the monitors?
---
### Author:  [@travisn](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/travisn)
#### Post date: [November 6, 2011, 2:19pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/calling-all-computer-nerds/217383/47 "2011-11-06T14:19:41Z")
The computer doesnt display anything when I turn in on. Tried a ‘different’ video card with no results. It happened after I tried to use both video outputs.
Here are pics, I can’t find any distinguishable part numbers.
It ran ok before I derped it with dual monitors, I just couldn’t get it to recognize my 500gb HD.
-Has 4 sata ports (2+2 for raid), room for 4 hd’s, 4 dvd drives, 5 of the yellow expansion ports, 350w antec PSU, and 4 RAM slots.
edit: it’s an Antec case. I found “Antec Design” stamped on the bottom
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### Author:  [@TradersBASE](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/TradersBASE)
#### Post date: [November 6, 2011, 3:47pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/calling-all-computer-nerds/217383/48 "2011-11-06T15:47:51Z")
Plugging a 2nd monitor didn’t cause a no video issue by itself. Was dual monitor working and you cranked the resolution or something?
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### Author:  [@travisn](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/travisn)
#### Post date: [November 6, 2011, 4:33pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/calling-all-computer-nerds/217383/49 "2011-11-06T16:33:24Z")
No. If I remember correctly I plugged both in and it went blank. and/or blue screen first. I can’t remember as it was a couple months ago. I got another video card and plugged it in and still didn’t get anything (just used one monitor that time)
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### Author:  [@TradersBASE](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/TradersBASE)
#### Post date: [November 6, 2011, 4:40pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/calling-all-computer-nerds/217383/50 "2011-11-06T16:40:33Z")
> [@travisn](#):
>
> No. If I remember correctly I plugged both in and it went blank. and/or blue screen first. I can’t remember as it was a couple months ago. I got another video card and plugged it in and still didn’t get anything (just used one monitor that time)
Are you sure the monitor and cable you’re using works? If yes and also a known good card didn’t work it’s probably the slot on the mainboard got fried.
You didn’t do the swap on a shag carpet right? LOL
Power was off and computer was unplugged when you swapped right?
Fried would seem odd but possible.
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### Author:  [@LZ1](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/LZ1)
#### Post date: [November 6, 2011, 4:43pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/calling-all-computer-nerds/217383/51 "2011-11-06T16:43:04Z")
Pull the bios battery…
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### Author:  [@TradersBASE](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/TradersBASE)
#### Post date: [November 6, 2011, 4:46pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/calling-all-computer-nerds/217383/52 "2011-11-06T16:46:48Z")
> [@LZ](#):
>
> Pull the bios battery…
Not a bad idea, def worth a shot. With what he said he did though I would be surprised if it was a bios issue. I’ve seen stranger things of course. 😉
Any beeps upon start up?
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### Author:  [@LZ1](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/LZ1)
#### Post date: [November 6, 2011, 4:52pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/calling-all-computer-nerds/217383/53 "2011-11-06T16:52:28Z")
Figured it was worth a shot if you were throwing everything at it sometimes it stupid bs
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### Author:  [@travisn](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/travisn)
#### Post date: [November 6, 2011, 6:38pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/calling-all-computer-nerds/217383/54 "2011-11-06T18:38:58Z")
I am using both monitors hooked up to my laptop right now. and yes, everything was powered off and un-plugged. I’ll hook it back up and try again just to be sure.
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### Author:  [@honda4life](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/honda4life)
#### Post date: [November 6, 2011, 7:09pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/calling-all-computer-nerds/217383/55 "2011-11-06T19:09:18Z")
its a asus motherboard, im see if it says asus something under the video card port or inbetween the memmory or cpu slot their should me a model number, it will say asus …, also looks like you have a agp video card slot i might note, it looks like a custom built pc with a antec server case. i can’t tell what the cpu is but from me guessing it has to be a pentium 4 or a socket 462 amd of some sort.
tradersbase is right, you will need to reset the bios if the screen resolution is incorrect should refresh it if its not displaying a picture during the post (power on self test)
---------- Post added at 10:09 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:02 PM ----------
could be a issue with the card being 2x and maybe not 4x/8x or the bios is set to pci video slot and not agp, i would reset the bios like lz is suggesting
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### Author:  [@TradersBASE](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/TradersBASE)
#### Post date: [November 6, 2011, 7:11pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/calling-all-computer-nerds/217383/56 "2011-11-06T19:11:25Z")
> [@honda4life](#):
>
> its a asus motherboard, im see if it says asus something under the video card port or inbetween the memmory or cpu slot their should me a model number, it will say asus …, also looks like you have a agp video card slot i might note, it looks like a custom built pc with a antec server case. i can’t tell what the cpu is but from me guessing it has to be a pentium 4 or a socket 462 amd of some sort.
>
> tradersbase is right, you will need to reset the bios if the screen resolution is incorrect should refresh it if its not displaying a picture during the post (power on self test)
LZ was the one that suggested he pull the battery…I can’t take credit for that idea. 😉
If the card was working till he plugged a 2nd screen in then it’s not gonna be a bus speed issue.
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### Author:  [@ProgRocker](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/ProgRocker)
#### Post date: [November 6, 2011, 7:19pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/calling-all-computer-nerds/217383/57 "2011-11-06T19:19:21Z")
Sounds like it’s either A) Bad video card or B) Not enough juice to the video card.
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### Author:  [@travisn](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/travisn)
#### Post date: [November 7, 2011, 5:30am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/calling-all-computer-nerds/217383/58 "2011-11-07T05:30:30Z")
> [@honda4life](#):
>
> its a asus motherboard, im see if it says asus something under the video card port or inbetween the memmory or cpu slot their should me a model number, it will say asus …, also looks like you have a agp video card slot i might note, it looks like a custom built pc with a antec server case. i can’t tell what the cpu is but from me guessing it has to be a pentium 4 or a socket 462 amd of some sort.
>
> tradersbase is right, you will need to reset the bios if the screen resolution is incorrect should refresh it if its not displaying a picture during the post (power on self test)
>
> could be a issue with the card being 2x and maybe not 4x/8x or the bios is set to pci video slot and not agp, i would reset the bios like lz is suggesting
> [@ProgRocker](#):
>
> Sounds like it’s either A) Bad video card or B) Not enough juice to the video card.
Everything is back to as it was before I plugged in the second monitor, nothing happens on the monitor when I turn the computer on. The cpu fans turn on, the hard drive spins up, etc., just no video out put. This video card has not had two monitors plugged into it, I swapped it from an identical unit.
The computer is an old ME computer lab system. I doubt its ‘custom’ aside from a bulk custom order. I’ll get a p/n from the board tonight. Either way, is this case/psu good to keep for an upgrade? I would just get a new mother board, video card, lots of rams, and maybe a ssd for the os. (I still have the 500gb drive)
> [@LZ](#):
>
> Pull the bios battery…
I’ll try that tonight too
> [@TradersBASE](#):
>
> Any beeps upon start up?
no beeps that didn’t seem normal, if any. I’ll pay attention to that next time
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### Author:  [@ProgRocker](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/ProgRocker)
#### Post date: [November 7, 2011, 5:47am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/calling-all-computer-nerds/217383/59 "2011-11-07T05:47:23Z")
No…The case may be made by Antec, but if it’s custom designed for Dell you’ll run into problems. If you have a p/n for the case then you could verify if it’s proprietary or not. A 350w PSU is bottom of the barrel in terms of output. If someone was building a base model computer I’d recommend 500-600w minimum. If you want to “future-proof” yourself, I’d look for a 750w or better, modular PSU.
So when the second monitor is plugged in, does anything show up on the first monitor on boot? Do you atleast get a BIOS screen?
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### Author:  [@boardjnky4](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/boardjnky4)
#### Post date: [November 7, 2011, 6:24am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/calling-all-computer-nerds/217383/60 "2011-11-07T06:24:27Z")
Looks like you have 1 vga port and 1 DVI port with a VGA adapter.
Do you have a monitor that supports DVI that you can try on the dvi port without the adapter?
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