just built this pc - but won't post or monitor not working

hey all -

here is the spec for my new pc:

COOLER MASTER Centurion 5 Case

ASUS P5W DH DELUXE/WIFI-AP LGA 775 Intel 975X ATX Intel Motherboard

PC Power & Cooling S610EPS EPS12V 610W Continuous @ 40°C Power Supply

Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 ST3250410AS 250GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive

Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 Kentsfield 2.4GHz LGA 775 Quad-Core Processor

Patriot Extreme Performance 4GB(2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model PDC24G6400ELK

EVGA 256-P2-N761-AR GeForce 8600GTS 256MB 128-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card

Microsoft Windows XP Professional 64Bit SP2C

Acer AL2016WBbd Black 20" 5ms Widescreen LCD Monitor

I have put everything in there, and the power comes on, lights blink, the fans run, but the monitor isn't getting a signal. Will this video card work w/o drivers at boot? my mobo doesn't have onboard video, so i'm not sure what to do. I double checked and I did connect the extra power to the video card. no beeps or anything. it just spins and runs.

ideas? how can I troubleshoot this with no eyes into the system!

Thanks!!!

Other information:

the monitor does work on another computer. no problem. The reset button doesn't seem to work either. can this be a dead mobo?

the reset button is most likely just wired wrong but that's not to important i wouldn't worry about it yet, i would try the graphics card in another computer see if it works w/o drivers. also you said you have 64 bit xp do you have a 64 bit processor?

have you or one of your friends have an extra graphics card, try with another card if you haven't already ... and as deathblade suggested, get another computer that will take that card and test it there ... I have never seen a BIOS not use an available graphics card ...

unless your BIOS ent there can happen

I just presumed you have a checklist (or manual) with you during assembly of your rig which you have followed to the letter but sometimes a single power cable may have been unplugged. check the power cables. PCIe vid cards need a power supply. be sure you have it plugged.