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Power Computing Video Output Not Displaying

Hi everyone,

I recently got a Mac clone (Power Computing PowerCenter Pro 180 to be exact). There is a very strange issue I am encountering though: although the computer will sound the Mac chime on bootup, the video output will not display at all. I have tried using different monitors (both VGA and 15 pin Mac connectors), tried reseating everything, installed a new PRAM battery, and also tried using another separate PCI video card. Nothing is making the video output display so far. Motherboard doesn’t seem to have any obvious issues with it at first glance. Does anyone know what type of issue this could be?
 

jessenator

Well-known member
I know you mentioned already trying both video ports, but I'm remembering something from my PowerTower (same logic board)

One thing to try. If that doesn't work there might be other issues.

Look for a jumper on the board , back towards the I/O portion. It should be labeled VGA or SVGA (don't recall, but usually they're fre labeled with fewer key letters). I had to jumper it to get a signal. Sadly/stupidly I deleted the photo I took of it. But it's right close to the edge of the board in that area of you know you're looking for it
 
I know you mentioned already trying both video ports, but I'm remembering something from my PowerTower (same logic board)

One thing to try. If that doesn't work there might be other issues.

Look for a jumper on the board , back towards the I/O portion. It should be labeled VGA or SVGA (don't recall, but usually they're fre labeled with fewer key letters). I had to jumper it to get a signal. Sadly/stupidly I deleted the photo I took of it. But it's right close to the edge of the board in that area of you know you're looking for it
I think I’m having trouble seeing a jumper. Here are some pics of what it looks like near the I/O ports. Anything look familiar? E05BAE77-A40A-44A5-B6FE-489F53452F53.jpegFD28CBDD-6488-4288-8E6B-E270F9928CD1.jpeg
 

jessenator

Well-known member
I think I’m having trouble seeing a jumper.
okay, that is weird… they must've revised the boards, but that's crazy… they're all based (and in every instance I've seen, even silkscreened as) PowerCurve, the first Catalyst/7200 reference clones PCC made (even though they're FAR and away better than the 7200). It should look just like this (rotated 90º) right by R174 on your board…
FJ8fbif.jpg


well scrap that plan! sorry :/
 

jessenator

Well-known member
Actually, there appear to be two possible locations, is it hidden just on the other side of the fan header there?
powercurve.gif
 

domii

Member
My Powercenter pro did not have a vga enable jumper either. Had a similar issue before, and it ended up being the power supply being on its way out. You can use any standard ATX power supply with that machine (with the 20 pin connector, or 20+4pin and ignore the 4 pin part).

One person had an issue with the cache module being bad (try taking that out to test).

The ATI rage is on the PCI riser board, it could be an issue with the riser also if you tried another PCI card (must be a mac compatible card, or one flashed to mac, as a standard PC video card won't work, the rom needs mac compatible open firmware code). I found that you may have to try a different slot (the PCI bridge is finicky), and there is sometimes a good 20 second delay before the video initializes depending on the Video Card.

Try taking the riser board out and cleaning the contacts (e.g. rubber eraser, contact cleaner etc).
 

jessenator

Well-known member
power supply being on its way out
Good catch. I think my PowerTower died right after I got a working CPU daughter card, so I replaced it before any other symptoms manifested. I think the 12V rail was shot, so after about three times attempting with a good card it just wouldn't power on.

The ATI rage is on the PCI riser board
Right! I forgot they revamped the graphics chipset on the Catalyst boards towards the end. My PowerTower was a 166 (originally). Still had the PowerCurve silkscreening on the board. They changed that as well, if I'm not mistaken–which I was earlier. My bad.
 
One person had an issue with the cache module being bad (try taking that out to test).
My Powercenter pro did not have a vga enable jumper either. Had a similar issue before, and it ended up being the power supply being on its way out. You can use any standard ATX power supply with that machine (with the 20 pin connector, or 20+4pin and ignore the 4 pin part).

One person had an issue with the cache module being bad (try taking that out to test).

The ATI rage is on the PCI riser board, it could be an issue with the riser also if you tried another PCI card (must be a mac compatible card, or one flashed to mac, as a standard PC video card won't work, the rom needs mac compatible open firmware code). I found that you may have to try a different slot (the PCI bridge is finicky), and there is sometimes a good 20 second delay before the video initializes depending on the Video Card.

Try taking the riser board out and cleaning the contacts (e.g. rubber eraser, contact cleaner etc).
Thank you everyone for the helpful advice! I ended up cleaning the riser contacts again and removed the Cache Simm card. Here’s the result:

9E2F8174-ED5E-49EC-A5FB-135EA213E533.jpeg

it works! The question mark is just the fact that I don’t have a hard drive installed.
 

domii

Member
Awesome, then try cleaning the cache card contacts and try it in there. It does boost the 604 cpu as those don't have a built in L2 cache and instead use cache slot. But if you get a G3 or G4 upgrade card you won't need the module.
 

superseth

Active member
Does anyone know why the Cache SIMMS so often cause problems? I just had to take mine out of my machine to get it booting after a decade or so in storage. Popped that SIMM out and things booted right on up. Since the G3 upgrades are kinda rare, is there a way to replace it? I'll give the contacts a clean first of course.
 
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