Problem with a new build (possible AM2 memory quirk?)

[ken_tbh]

My friend just purchased this hardware:

AMD Athlon 64 3800 AM2 Orleans core

Gigabyte GA-M51GM-S26 motherboard

Corsair VS1GB533D2 1GB DDR2-533 PC2-4200 Value Select Memory

Antec 500 watt power supply

Seagate 400gb SATA HD

He's using components from his old computer to complete the system (i.e. DVD, floppy and case).

He's also using the onboard video and sound.

We put it together checked the connections and turned it on. Nothing shows up on the monitor, the LED on the monitor never changes from yellow to green.

The power button on the case lights up and the harddrive light lights up but theres no video going to the monitor.

I was hoping you guys could help us out here. We're at the end of our ropes.:confused:

We've tried several things from swichting the memory to different slots to unplugging the DVD drives to and Switching the SATA drive to another port.

Could this be the infamous AMD2 memory problem?

He purchased the RAM because it was listed on Corsairs site as being compatible with this board.

Any ideas?! :confused:

[Freakitchen]

Find out if you have a defective part by following the steps in this thread:

http://forum.pcmech.com/showthread.php?t=132409

If you can't get a picture this way, then you have a defective part.

Double check that every component is seated correctly, and that you've connected both the 24-pin main power connector, AND the 4-pin Auxiliary power connector to the motherboard.

FK

[glc]

Even with uncertified ram, it should at least POST. You have an issue which requires the out of case troubleshooting already indicated.

DDR2-533 is going to give you a performance hit - you need DDR2-800 to equal the performance of the same processor on a 939.

[ken_tbh]

Followed the page to the letter and we would sometimes get a post and sometimes not. We decided to take it back to Fry's and exchange the motherboard. The salesperson did the same thing we did and didnt get a post twice. He promptly exchanged the board for another one. Took it home, intalled the components and it booted perfectly. Thanx for the help guys!

[glc]

A tip when dealing with Fry's - *NEVER* buy a component that's not in a factory sealed package. Odds are they are going to take the board you returned and put it back on the shelf for sale.

[ken_tbh]

Yeah, after dealing with Fry's on several occassions, I've seen some really crappy things they do. I've learned to keep my guard up with them.

[chrisa]

The issue you described is *precisely* the same issue I am having with my latest build. It's an MSI board instead of Gigabyte, but you described the symptoms perfectly. I'm also concerned that it's a bad board and the fact that you succeeded only after obtaining a new board reenforces that belief. I'll try the out-of-the-case option tonight, as well as different RAM, but I'm afraid there might be a Newegg RMA in my future. Sigh.