first build no video

[slartibardfast]

board - ACRock ConRoe945G-dvi
cpu - core 2 duo E6300 - 1.86Ghz 1066 MhzFSB 2MB L2 cashe
memory - PNY Technologies 512DDR2 533Mhz CL4 (two off)
psu - 400w ATX
Hdd - 250Gig sata ( samsung )
case - iCute
no graphics card used, monitor plugged into onboard vga port

I have just put togeter the above componants ( all brand new ) to create my first build, All went well until power up time upon which i cannot get a post beep or any video to monitor. All the fans run and the hdd and optical drives start on power up, I have tried the following with no success.

Tried two diff monitors, they both act as if connected (ie. the check signal warning does not show) but the power led flashes as if in sleep mode.

Removed memory and tried each individually in the dimm0 slot with no change

reset cmos via jumpers, no change

disconected all drives etc and tried with a basic setup, no change

tried the suggested "out of case" setup, no change

checked, checked and checked again all connections etc and all ok

One change worth mentioning i think is that when i removed all the memory and powered up then got a 3 beep warning (which i think is the low memory warning yes?) does this signify that the cpu & mobo are ok and that the fault lies elsewhere?.



I am now at a loss can anyone pease post suggestions on where to go next.

Thx

[Cricket]

Are all power connectors to the motherboard plugged in?

What brand is the power supply? Do you have another compatible power supply you can swap in to test with?

:) Cricket

[slartibardfast]

JEANTECH
ATX 400W
400W ATX POWER SUPPLY UNIT

i have also tried a 250W ATX unit from an old pc, made no difference

[Cricket]

Did you plug in both the 20 pin main motherboard power connector and the 4 pin 12v power connector (by the purple parallel port)?

:) Cricket

[slartibardfast]

Did you plug in both the 20 pin main motherboard power connector and the 4 pin 12v power connector (by the purple parallel port)?

:) Cricket

Yes, both connected,

thx for the help

[Cricket]

When you did the out-of-case troubleshooter did you leave the drives disconnected?

Did you try to power up with just 1 stick of RAM?

:) Cricket

[slartibardfast]

yes.. drives disconnected

yes... tried with only 1 stick (twice, once with each stick)

[glc]

If the main connector is 24 pin, you need a 24 pin or 20+4 pin main plug *and* the extra 4 pin connector near the CPU. Standard ATX usually does not have all the connectors, you need an ATX 2.0 power supply.

[slartibardfast]

The main power socket is a 20 pin, it says in the boards manual to "please connect the 20 pin atx connector here"

what is atx 2.0 please? have i the wrong psu?

[newbuilder14]

ATX 2.0 power supplies have another 4 pin connector that goes in next to the processor - it is needed for the system to run. I think you have an ATX power supply, and I would upgrade it to something from a reputable manufacturer such as Antec or Fortron Source.

[slartibardfast]

Thx. I have both the 20pin connector and the 4 pin atx 12v connector connected to the board as stated in the user manual, however you are correct in that it is an atx psu, would the supply to these connectors be different to that of atx 2.0 unit?

I will research your suggested psu's thx for the help

[slartibardfast]

will pick up an atx 2.0 tomorrow and report back

thx to you all for your help so far

[glc]

Before you buy anything, please post a link to your motherboard. I want to look at a picture of it. If it's a 945 board it should have a 24 pin main connector, not a 20 pin.

[slartibardfast]

http://www.asrock.com/product/ConRoe945G-DVI.htm

[glc]

Oh my - that's the first PCI-E board I've seen with only a 20 pin main. You don't need ATX 2.0 in that case. As long as your Jeantech is not defective, it will power that thing fine with no video card or a lower end card.

[slartibardfast]

ok, thx.

the psu is new and appears ok and as i have also tried an old 250w psu that i know works fine (but gives the same result) i have to assume the new psu is fine to.

Where next any help most gratefully recived

[glc]

Well, it has to be a bad CPU, motherboard, or ram.

[slartibardfast]

ok thx i will have to work out the best (cost effective) way to test each as none of my other systems have compatable specs.

1 quick question regarding the power up with no memory installed, if i power up without any memory installed i get a 3 beep post, would you say that this proably signifies that the cpu is functioning? and i would be best checking the board / memory first

many thanks for all your help

[glc]

Let it beep and run for about 5 minutes and feel the CPU heatsink sides - if it's getting warm the CPU is working.

[slartibardfast]

the case has temp guages on the front, I have put the cpu temp wire sensor on the heatsink and fired up,

case side left off

start temp.. 20c

after 5 mins.. 28 and climbing slowly

heatsink feels mildly warm to touch but not hot

[slartibardfast]

after 10 mins... 29.5c

turned off to await your opinion

[glc]

The CPU is fine.

[slartibardfast]

Big Phew... the expensive bit looks ok, Will get the board, memory etc checked asap (shop?).

many many thx for all this help it is most apreciated

will report back as things progress

[slartibardfast]

cpu ok.. a mate tried it in his pc

The board is fried i think from touching the case and shorting, unlike most backplates that are flat with holes for the standoffs this case has raised bumps that have treaded holes in the center to attach the mobo,

Is their a way or method of stopping these from shorting out the boards? I feel i am missing somthing obvious such as a washer or spacer but nothing like that came with the case, just the std screws and some brass standoffs for the non domed holes

[glc]

Electrical tape works well.

[slartibardfast]

New mobo arrived, ran up outside case ok so taped up inside case as suggested and installed, ran up perfect without any problems

moral.. beware icute cases for grounding

Thank you all for the help and assistance provided, if only all sites were as good as this