)2) Yes, SATA and IDE need separate controllers. (Unless someone came up with a dual controller) I haven't done SATA, yet, but I wouldn't think they'd have the same connectors. (If they do, then it would be an obvious ploy to make tech support rich.
). Check your manual for a built-in SATA controller on the motherboard.3) You've got one of those boot analyzer dealiebobbers that plug into a slot? It may not be 100% accurate, in all cases. I wish I had one, though.
4) The video is what bothers me. The video card's bios info should pop onto the screen before the computer bios info, and both should happen before the drives are paid any attention to. (Drives may spin up, maybe click, as soon as the power comes on, but they won't get accessed before the screen lights up, assuming the video is right).
5) But you don't mention the bios beeping. If the video card isn't seated, then you should get beeping early in the boot.
6) See if your dinky little case speaker is connected to the motherboard - its a good diagnostic tool. You need to hear any BIOS beeps.
7) The video card's fan has no relation, whatsoever, to the video card's functionality. They are separate in every way. Sorry, that wasn't supposed to sound harsh.
8) Does the board have a built-in video? If so, try running off of that. Also check your manual. And, in that case, see if you have to change a jumper in order to go from built-in to a video card (I'd think it'd be automatic, but ya never know). You might need to go into "CMOS" (BIOS) setup to change video. Which would be hard to do if you have no video.
In that case you'd boot to the hypothetical built-in, go into setup, and change).9) If you don't have a built-in video, then try another video card.
10) Are you sure your monitor didn't pick that moment to die - just to eff with you?
11) What's your Power Supply? A P4, and all but the oldest Athlons take a lot of juice. Plus, those CPUs load the +12V line - they used to run on the +5 line, and power supplies are still built off of the old design that pumps out a lot of +5. So you need a mofo of a Power Supply to run a modern CPU, more than one hard drive, and a decent video card. A Dual-Core CPU probably draws close to twice as much...
So you may be starved for power.
I'm seeing 550W~600W recommendations. Keep in mind that it ain't the total wattage of the PS, it's the amps it'll deliver on the +12V.
12) Going to one hard drive at a time & built-in video would be the best way to start, for diagnostic and power-supply reasons. In fact, if you leave off the hard drive & boot to floppy, to see if you get video... Also yank the sound card, and any other fluff.
13) Note: If you have a Western Digital, make sure to jumper it for Single, if you run it by itself. Most/all other brands use one jumper setting for single or master.
14) If you can get video, and can get into the BIOS Setup screen, then see if it'll show you voltages. You want +/- 5% on all lines. If you don't get that at any stage up to fully loaded, then look for another power supply.