I just got my GTX 480 plugging it in and seated it right. I've used all the different PCI-E ports and used the HDMI and VGA to DVI adaptor everytime i start up the fan on the card is rotating so i would assume it's getting the power from the 8pin and 6pin.
 
When i startup i get a long beep followed by 2 shorter beeps.
 
and both my screens stay blank
 
help?
 

My 8500 GT is working fine in the first slot any other slots and it asks to move it the the first slot or add another card for SLI. If the card was dead wouldn't the fan fail however the fan going may not have anything to do with the card.

Some more System specs would be helpfull but from your first post sounds like your running dual monitors. 

1) Have you tried removing the drivers for your old card, boot to safe mode and run driver sweeper to clean them out?

2) Any Post codes on your MB?  Have you tried unplugging your PSU from the wall and pulling the battery on the MB for a clean Cmos reset?

3) Any other systems available to try the card in?

4) You probably have checked and rechecked to be sure your PSU is capable of supporting your system with the new card. And the Power connections from the PSU to the Card itself if you can have a dedicated rail(s) not shared with MB/HDD devices as well.  This is where a good system description would help in giving you some ideas where to look for issues.

i have a 1200w PSU toughpower so the card should be getting ample power at the moment i can't get into the bios because nothing comes up on the screens at all. Stuck using my laptop unless i put my 8500 GT back in a asked a computer technician i know and he said to check the beep codes and that somes the codes can be one step work ahead of the problem because it locks up and can't send a signal back not sure myself as i really only know hardware not anything to do with software...

PartyP

i have a 1200w PSU toughpower so the card should be getting ample power at the moment i can't get into the bios because nothing comes up on the screens at all. Stuck using my laptop unless i put my 8500 GT back in a asked a computer technician i know and he said to check the beep codes and that somes the codes can be one step work ahead of the problem because it locks up and can't send a signal back not sure myself as i really only know hardware not anything to do with software...

You need to supply us with your system details otherwise we are just making guesses here.

first thing i would try is find someone who has a pc you can pop it in and see if it powers up no issues, that rules out it being the card doa