# Start with newly built system based on ALTRAD8UD-1L2T - no VGA output
**URL:** https://community.amperecomputing.com/t/start-with-newly-built-system-based-on-altrad8ud-1l2t-no-vga-output/3188
**Category:** General Discussion
**Created:** [September 14, 2025, 9:05am UTC](https://community.amperecomputing.com/t/start-with-newly-built-system-based-on-altrad8ud-1l2t-no-vga-output/3188 "2025-09-14T09:05:09Z")
**Posts on this page:** 13
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@ull](https://community.amperecomputing.com/u/ull)
#### Post date: [September 14, 2025, 9:05am UTC](https://community.amperecomputing.com/t/start-with-newly-built-system-based-on-altrad8ud-1l2t-no-vga-output/3188/1 "2025-09-14T09:05:09Z")
Hey š
I have an issue with a newly built system and would be happy to get some pointers on how to diagnose it.
So I tried to build my first Ampere-based system, but cannot boot it (yet): After pressing the power button and waiting for some minutes the LED situation looks like in the image below. Everything looks āgreenā, but no VGA output. Additionally, I tried connecting a network cable to the Mgmt port, but didnāt notice a new device on the network - Iām likely doing it wrong though.
The LED6/LED5/LED4/LED3 combination above the BMC shows ON-OFF-ON-OFF, which according to the ALTRAD8UD-1L2T manual page 16 means āInitialize SMPro/PMProā, but it doesnāt seem to move forward from that state.
Does somebody have an idea what the issue could be or at least how to diagnose it?
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### Author:  [@quocbao](https://community.amperecomputing.com/u/quocbao)
#### Post date: [September 14, 2025, 11:56am UTC](https://community.amperecomputing.com/t/start-with-newly-built-system-based-on-altrad8ud-1l2t-no-vga-output/3188/2 "2025-09-14T11:56:20Z")
Firstly, check for RAM if it is in the QVL list. Only leave one stick on the mainboard.
Secondly, check your VGA cable. You should use a monitor that supports VGA input directly, not through a VGA adapter.
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### Author:  [@ull](https://community.amperecomputing.com/u/ull)
#### Post date: [September 14, 2025, 3:35pm UTC](https://community.amperecomputing.com/t/start-with-newly-built-system-based-on-altrad8ud-1l2t-no-vga-output/3188/3 "2025-09-14T15:35:35Z")
> [@ull](#):
>
> ALTRAD8UD-1L2T
Hey @quocbao , thanks for responding!
I forgot to mention that Iām using a directly connected older screen that supports VGA (and hopefully still works š )
My RAM is indeed not on the supported list, since the RAM on that list was quite hard to acquire. (Iām using second-hand RAM that is on the Ampere Altra AVL list as a compromise š
). Iāve read that other RAM might work as well.
My question is: does the type of RAM matter for VGA output of any kind? (Iāve now tried one stick and no sticks - same result)
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### Author:  [@quocbao](https://community.amperecomputing.com/u/quocbao)
#### Post date: [September 14, 2025, 4:02pm UTC](https://community.amperecomputing.com/t/start-with-newly-built-system-based-on-altrad8ud-1l2t-no-vga-output/3188/4 "2025-09-14T16:02:36Z")
```auto
My question is: does the type of RAM matter for VGA output of any kind? (Iāve now tried one stick and no sticks - same result)
```
They are different problems
In your case (black screen, no BMC access), I think you will need to access to the serial port on the mainboard to see debug logs. Do at your own risk.
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### Author:  [@wolskies](https://community.amperecomputing.com/u/wolskies)
#### Post date: [September 15, 2025, 10:17pm UTC](https://community.amperecomputing.com/t/start-with-newly-built-system-based-on-altrad8ud-1l2t-no-vga-output/3188/5 "2025-09-15T22:17:33Z")
I think I had a similar problem with my first build. Could have sworn my RAM was good, but when I switched it outā¦ booted fine.
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### Author:  [@quocbao](https://community.amperecomputing.com/u/quocbao)
#### Post date: [September 16, 2025, 5:50am UTC](https://community.amperecomputing.com/t/start-with-newly-built-system-based-on-altrad8ud-1l2t-no-vga-output/3188/6 "2025-09-16T05:50:05Z")
Yeah, I met the same situation before where my system can not be turned on with some specific memory sticks.
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### Author:  [@ull](https://community.amperecomputing.com/u/ull)
#### Post date: [September 17, 2025, 6:31pm UTC](https://community.amperecomputing.com/t/start-with-newly-built-system-based-on-altrad8ud-1l2t-no-vga-output/3188/7 "2025-09-17T18:31:57Z")
> [@quocbao](#):
>
> In your case (black screen, no BMC access), I think you will need to access to the serial port on the mainboard to see debug logs. Do at your own risk.
So Iāve connected a RS232 header and a cable to a different computer. Do you know by chance what the default Baud settings are for these debug logs? (I didnāt find a hint in the manual)
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### Author:  [@quocbao](https://community.amperecomputing.com/u/quocbao)
#### Post date: [September 18, 2025, 4:37am UTC](https://community.amperecomputing.com/t/start-with-newly-built-system-based-on-altrad8ud-1l2t-no-vga-output/3188/8 "2025-09-18T04:37:16Z")
I guess 9600 or 115200. I didnāt try this way before. Do you see any data in the serial console ?
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### Author:  [@ull](https://community.amperecomputing.com/u/ull)
#### Post date: [September 18, 2025, 5:44pm UTC](https://community.amperecomputing.com/t/start-with-newly-built-system-based-on-altrad8ud-1l2t-no-vga-output/3188/9 "2025-09-18T17:44:21Z")
No I donāt see any serial output and I donāt think serial output is even enabled by default. (Which of course is a problem since I donāt have VGA output and so I donāt think I can change any settings like remote, serial access etc, right?)
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### Author:  [@ull](https://community.amperecomputing.com/u/ull)
#### Post date: [September 18, 2025, 5:45pm UTC](https://community.amperecomputing.com/t/start-with-newly-built-system-based-on-altrad8ud-1l2t-no-vga-output/3188/10 "2025-09-18T17:45:44Z")
So my question is: do you remember if you had VGA output when your RAM did not work? I even removed all my memory sticks, still no output. I assume the BMC does not really require RAM from the system (instead I assume it has its own dedicated RAM)?
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### Author:  [@wolskies](https://community.amperecomputing.com/u/wolskies)
#### Post date: [September 18, 2025, 6:05pm UTC](https://community.amperecomputing.com/t/start-with-newly-built-system-based-on-altrad8ud-1l2t-no-vga-output/3188/11 "2025-09-18T18:05:00Z")
I used IPMI to get to BMC with a web browser. I donāt think BMC outputs to VGA
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### Author:  [@Richard](https://community.amperecomputing.com/u/Richard)
#### Post date: [September 25, 2025, 3:09am UTC](https://community.amperecomputing.com/t/start-with-newly-built-system-based-on-altrad8ud-1l2t-no-vga-output/3188/12 "2025-09-25T03:09:35Z")
When there is no output to VGA output, probably the RAM initialation has issue.
Maybe you can try to check the scp output, from Altrad8ud user manual .
it can see the scp output via ssh, ex:
ssh root@ -p 2202: SCP console
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### Author:  [@LapajGo](https://community.amperecomputing.com/u/LapajGo)
#### Post date: [September 11, 2026, 1:53am UTC](https://community.amperecomputing.com/t/start-with-newly-built-system-based-on-altrad8ud-1l2t-no-vga-output/3188/13 "2026-09-11T01:53:37Z")
Hey Ull,
Did you managed to figure out your issue? I have a similar situation, where the BMC heartbeat is solid and all 4 diagnostic LEDs are solid as well. According to googleās AI I need to fix/reprogram my BMC. But the images on the Asrockās web site for the BMC arenāt not in a .rom file format.