Monitor says no signal. New Computer, Self-built.

So I have a

MAG z790 Tomahawk mobo

Intel 7  13700kf CPU (no onboard graphics)

Nvidia RTX 4060 GPU

Deepcool LS 720 Liquid Cooler

Samsung 980 pro SSD

TForce Vulcan DDR5 32 GB (2x16GB) 6400 Mhz CL32 UDIMM memory

Initially, I admit I made all kinds of mistakes putting this thing together.  But after a solid 8 hours of banging my head on it, I feel like it should be correct.  I even had the monitor work once, but it told me my memory was in "sub-optimal" slots (should be in 2, and 4 rather than 1 and 3), so I turned the computer off, moved the memory and hooked the wires back up and suddenly it stopped working again.  

My best guess is that the PCI E slot may be loose and that time I just happened to nudge it into place which was immediately undone when I opened it up again.  Because I had it working for a bit there.  I have since reseated my graphics cards and my memory several times and I even tried moving my memory back into "sub-optimal configuration of 1 and 3", but it still didn't work.  

The only two things i have not done are the things I am hoping not to have to do.  Reset my bios and reseat my CPU.  That and I have not tested my power supply.  I have a meter, but that may be the next thing I try....  Gotta figure out how to do that.  

When I start the PC up, the motherboard has four startup lights to indicate status.  They're labelled CPU, DRAM, VGA, and BOOT.  Currently when I startup, I get an orange light at the start, then a white light, then a quick green light.  I've had a red light in the past when I'd forgotten to plug in my CPUs 8-pin power connectors, but that's fixed now.  When the computer starts up, everything lights up just fine with fans buzzing, just no monitor signal.  

I've been following guides all day fixing the mistakes I've made previously putting this thing together.  The SSD wasn't latched down properly, the liquid cooler wasn't properly plugged into the CPU fan slot, the memory was originally placed in slots 1 and 2 rather than 2 and 4,

I KNOW my monitor works because I'm using it and the HDMI cable on my old computer to post this message.  I have no issues whatsoever on the old computer.  It's using the same HDMI cable, so it should be the same input.  I am plugging into my Graphics Card, not my MOBO.  And I'm plugging into the slot marked for HDMI, not the display port slots.  

As far as my CPU is concerned, I remember lining up the little arrow in the corner with a similar mark on the mobo.  There was a little scratch in the thermal paste of the liquid cooler I ignored because I don't have any replacement paste.  The pins holding the liquid cooler down are screwdriver snug, not tight.  

Edited by DarkD, 04 February 2024 - 03:53 PM.

So I got a bit further.  I reseated my CPU and that got it to turn on again.  But it immediately told me my CPU was overheating.  I think I didn't hook that damn liquid cooler up right or something.  I'm going to play with the pin connectors in the morning. All the fans and LED's were on, so I thought the liquid cooler was working, but I guess the pump itself may not have been...

Hi, when listing your computer hardware please use the full name and if it is a Capital letter use a Capital latter and do include all of the name.

Intel 7 CPU - gives me no information at all.    What would do is google the proper Chip name then look at the Maximum Ram Speed Compatibility.  So I have no idea what that is since info not supplied.

You did the same with the Ram : TForce Vulcan DDR5 memory good to know but does not provide me any information such as the Ram Speed.  Can also use the Part#.

Any hoooooo, google your Chip name i-7 what ever then look at the Maximum Ram Speed Compatibility  if your running to fast ram that would/could be your issue. Take it back if possible or you will have to make sure in Bios that it is not running faster than the chip support speed.

So when it was up did you install Windows or are you not there yet ?

When do the 1st thing to do is Update your BIOS and Install all your Drivers from your MSI Z790 Tomahawk Support Page starting with the Chipset then SATA and so forth to the lower important drivers such as Sound.:

https://www.msi.com/Motherboard/MAG-Z790-TOMAHAWK-WIFI/support

Recheck your connections for the CPU cooler and check it's mounted properly if you're getting a CPU overheating error immediately (immediate to me suggests possibly insufficient contact between the cooler and the chip).  These things normally come with a bunch of different sized spacers etc, not all of which are appropriate for all socket types - so just make sure you're using the right ones for LGA1700.  Make sure to re-apply thermal compound if you've taken it off and re-mounted it (clean off the original stuff first).  The manual is here https://www.deepcool.com/download/pdf/LS520&720.pdf

You should be able to go into BIOS to check whether it's picking up a speed signal from the CPU cooler, and also you should be able to hear the pump running if it's working properly.

Edited by jonuk76, 04 February 2024 - 09:13 AM.

I have updated my original post with better specs.  

I can't even get the screen to detect the PC, so I can't get any form of update or program installed on the PC.  If you want a comparison for where I'm at, turn your own computer off, then turn on the monitor.  My monitor says what that one will.  

Jonuk you were right about the black washers.  That might have solved the overheating issue, but me getting an image on my monitor stopped the moment I turned off the computer.  It seems that I'll only get my monitor to work once in a blue moon.  

So I'm suspicious of weather I connected the pump up to the correct pin slots.  If you look in this video at 3:08, you'll see a series of pin connectors above the memory.  Including two four-pin connection points.  The positioning of the labels on them leaves what they're labelling ambiguous, but my interpretation so far has been that the one on the left is the CPU fan and the one on the right is labelled pump fan.  I plugged the 3-pin connector on the pump into the one labelled pump fan and the 4 pin connector from the radiator fans into the CPU fan.  Finally, I plugged the 3-pin connector called the ARGB connector into the white 3-pin connection point you can see just to the right of the one I called the "pump fan".  

You did not respond to the info regarding your ram speed.  Please do so.

Have you tried another monitor ?

May find one of these videos better : https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-d&sca_esv=dd31e35a0b3b3749&q=installing+Deepcool+LS+720+Liquid+Cooler+on+a+MAG+z790+Tomahawk+Wifi+motherboard&tbm=vid&source=lnms&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjDoO_S9JKEAxXmxuYEHSIhDMMQ0pQJegQIDBAB&biw=1536&bih=671&dpr=1.25

I did though.  I said I edited the original post.  

TForce Vulcan DDR5 32 GB (2x16GB) 6400 Mhz CL32 UDIMM memory

Intel 7  13700kf CPU (no onboard graphics)

I have since gotten the monitor working one more time.  No new errors came up and I was able to start the installation process for windows.  But I went to get a glass of water, and I came back to the monitor not working again.  I am trying to let the computer run and hopefully finish the installation.  It shouldn't need a monitor for that.  

Edited by DarkD, 04 February 2024 - 07:38 PM.

Didn't watch the video.

3-pin argb should be used in   JARGB_V2_1~3.

Page 46 of https://download.msi.com/archive/mnu_exe/mb/MAGZ790TOMAHAWKWIFI.pdf and page 23 of https://www.deepcool.com/download/pdf/LS520&720.pdf

Okay, update...  Got it working....  it was the F'ing monitor.  Doesn't matter that it was a "KNOWN WORKING MONITOR".  Doesn't matter that it was a "known working HDMI cable"  Apparently, my old computer likes my 20" gaming monitor.  My new computer likes my 15 year old discount TV my mother bought for me at Costco, which I pulled out of storage that just so happened to have an HDMI slot.  

Now I'm stuck in the windows installation....  It says I "need an internet connection to continue setting up your device" despite the fact that I have both an Ethernet cable hooked up to it and a wireless network going in the house.  I put the stupid antennas on just in case, but it's not picking up anything.  I haven't played with this one myself much, but I figured I'd let you know where I'm at.  

All set.  Computer seems to be working nicely now.  Thanks for the help.  

LOL, well followed the try another so glad got a screen.  Maybe Linux might be better...lolol

Ok,  ya I get stuck on that all the time there is a way around : https://www.minitool.com/news/set-up-windows-10-without-internet.html

So once installed, (I suggest unplug from the net) put in your motherboard drivers.

If this is a pro then no problem but do not except MS Driver updates.

https://www.windowscentral.com/how-disable-automatic-driver-updates-windows-10 /11

It's insane to me that MSI can't just include a USB with network drivers on it with the motherboard.  I remember they used to include a DVD back in the Windows XP days.  And even when I get this on there, I can't simply double click the EXE file and have it install.  No I have to place the files in a local folder, open up device manager, find the component missing drivers, then import from the local folder.  They must be intentionally trying to make it harder to build computers.  Just a bit of extra money retailers can make.  

Hi, just to let you know it should have had to go through what you have gone through getting this up and running. It is not the normal.

https://www.windowscentral.com/how-create-windows-10-usb-bootable-media-uefi-support /11

https://www.windowscentral.com/how-convert-mbr-disk-gpt-move-bios-uefi-windows-10 /11

Suggest look at motherboard support page and look at compatible devices Tab, as well you have not answered regarding the ram speed.

Turn Off anything in BIOS that speeds up the computer for the same reasons as below :

https://www.windowscentral.com/how-disable-windows-10-fast-startup /11