No Display/LEDs

snapdragon26

Hi, I just set up my Sente with digital marquee. When I turn it on using the bottom button, the Mini PC fan whirs and the mainboard diode blinks red then solid after a few seconds. The main screen displays "No Signal" and then goes to sleep. The marquee is black. The exterior LED strips do not turn on, neither does the Polycade logo on the front.

I recall plugging in the LED lights from the marquee to the main Sente before mounting it, as well as the power lead into the mainboard, and I double-checked the HDMI and HDMI-DP (from the marquee) connections into the Mini PC.

Thanks for any suggestions on what to look at next.

UPDATE:

I tried another couple devices with HDMI output (TheC64 Mini and the Super Nintendo Classic Mini). In both cases, I took the HDMI cable that was plugged into the Sente Mini PC and plugged it into the other device instead. I got much better results. Immediately, the display turned on, the sound started playing, the Polycade logo started glowing, and the LED strips activated, cycling between red, green, blue. Yay!

Except, maybe this means that there is something wrong with the Sente Mini PC? I'm unsure how to diagnose further. The power adapter is routed into the Sente and the switch is custom on the case. I can confirm that the fan to the Mini PC turns on and off with the switch, but obviously there is no display output. Help?

UPDATE 2:

I opened up the Mini PC and reseated the RAM and SSD, just in case. Then I plugged it back into the Sente and got a Polycade logo (!) on the display. It seemed to be booting! But then I realized I didn't plug in the marquee cable or the 4 USB cables, so I turned it off, plugged them in, and turned everything back on again. Unfortunately, something went wrong because nothing appeared and I'm back at a black screen again. I can hear the PC turn on, but there is no video.

I tried disconnecting and reconnecting, and I even tried the other devices again (that were working before), but none of them bring up anything on the display now. Maybe it's not the Mini PC after all. Maybe there is an intermittent connection problem with some wiring somewhere. I would like to check that but am not sure how.

jamesmayes

I just unboxed mine today and I am experiencing the exact same issue. Both AC adapters have a green LED, pressing the power switch turns on the mini PC (can hear and feel the fans) but no video. Nor is there any light for the logo or LEDs. Removing power completely and plugging it back in will yield an image on the screen indicating no input. It quickly transitions to Power Save mode no matter how quickly I can get the PC to power on.

I’ll remove the PC and troubleshoot it independently. And I’ll also do that with the display.

But I’m not quite sure about the expectation that the polycade logo and led should light at power on.

I’ll report back.

mzangen

jamesmayes same issue here.

I posted to the support channel on discord where I saw a similar issue that led to the conclusion of a bork in the main board. Hopefully we can get replacements or something.

I've confirmed my mini PC works displaying to another monitor, and another PC and HDMI cable don't display through the main board.

For me the Polycade LED was flickering faintly with the mini PC on, but stopped altogether at some point while troubleshooting.

RetroRalph1980

I'm having the same issue after installing the digital marquee. I can hook up other HDMI devices and the display will turn on but as soon as I plug in the Polycade mini PC - No Signal.

Lord_Larry

I'm definitely no expert, not at all. But it sounds like the Mini PC can't output a signal to the 24" monitor and the Digital Marquee? My Marquee arrives in 3 days so I'm pondering if I should install it at all with these issues.

Complicating it, I'm using a KVM switch bc I have a Nintendo Switch and I dont want to open the Sente each time I want to play Nintendo vs Sente using Sente Controls. I got a lot of USB and HDMI cables in there lol.

jamesmayes

mzangen Saw your post there as well! Hopefully, the new batch of mainboards will solve our issue. I’ve emailed support a couple of times to confirm that they are aware of my problem but I’ve yet to receive a response. I am hoping that the Discord discussion with Tyler’s awareness is enough for me to not get lost in the shuffle. For now, I have boxed up the Sente as I received it and stored it away until I get a resolution.

DAMNSAM

Sente Backer#250 here.. I am dealing with this very same symptom (no display and no LEDs) after a windows update and shutdown of the Mini PC. I turned it on again and I hear it spinning although much louder than then usual whisper quiet mini pc noise, and I see the network port lit up green, the polycade backlit keys are lit up and the mouse is powered on too. But no DISPLAY on Monitor, and the jubilant LED lights are off permanently. Has anyone here been reached out to by Polycade support ? I have not used the Sente much since I got it in late 2024. Has anyone figured out what is going on with this particular issue ?

DAMNSAM

I am still waiting to hear back from support, I emailed them last night but from what I can tell, in most cases this is related to a fried mainboard (not the MiniPC) but the large 5"x3" board that has multiple motherboard connections and the HDMI cable, that is getting replaced by a new Rev2 board in most cases, and it takes about a half hour to replace. Now I just need the support team to see my email and reach back out to mail it, this really sucks.

Sp00ner

DAMNSAM https://forums.polycade.com/d/369-sente-mainboard-rev2

DAMNSAM

Sp00ner thanks buddy did checking in! That’s what the plan is , for support to mail out the new rev2 board, that’s the only fix. Just gonna be a few weeks before they are stocked to ship again