PC won't post - Mobo/GPU/CPU/PSU?

[guru_ttg]

Hello,

The problem
As the title of the thread says, my PC won’t post. First it would just make the display flicker and then give me a black screen.
I then went to the BIOS configuration screen. The display would flicker there as well, which must mean that the issue is a hardware issue.
After a couple of more attempts it’s just giving me a black screen (but it does still turn on and stay on until i turn it off myself)
This makes sense because I’ve built my PC about 10 years ago, so it was bound to break down at some point.

What I’ve tried so far

• I tried switching out the two RAM sticks that I got and tried all the slots.
• I’ve unplugged everything connected by usb.
• I tried different power cables (with the correct amperage & voltage).
• I’ve tried reseating the GPU in the same slot and in a different slot.
• I’ve replugged the cables to the power supply.
• I’ve replaced the cmoss battery (for the first time ever).
  (If I’m not mistaken, this should leave the motherboard, GPU, CPU and PSU as the only possible cuplrits.)

Specs

• Motherboard: Asus p9x79
• CPU: Intel I7 (don’t remember the exact model, will have to look for receipts & revisit)
• GPU: Sapphire Radeon (don’t remember the exact model, will have to look for receipts & revisit)

My questions
I’m thinking it has to be the GPU since it was flickering at first, which gives me the impression that its more of a graphic card issue.
Unfortunately I dont have any spare parts so I’m trying to double check with you guys before I spend a lot of money on parts that I might end up not needing.
Does anyone have an idea as to what it could be? Am I right? Or could flickering also be caused by other components than the GPU?
Is there anything else that I can & should try before buying new parts or calling a repairman?

Thank you in advance!

[guru_ttg]

black screen in the sense of ‘no signal’ by the way

[Bruce]

if flickering in BIOS, that should rule out PSU and CPU, even RAM.
BIOS should be only motherboard related.
being 10 years old, yeah, it could be other things once the mobo is upgraded.

but there-in lies your issue - replacing that gen mobo with today’s architecture will also have the potential to force you into other new hardware if the memory specs or CPU socket changes.

I would first try re-assembling the components outside the case, on a piece of cardboard, and only connecting the core essential ones - so leave off the DVD unit, and secondary drives, use only one memory stick, leave off the GPU and use the mobo graphic ports - that sort of thing.

[Bruce]

@guru_ttg - any news?