First build (Questions and eventually troubleshooting, I'm sure...)

[KingBernard]

Ok, well I spent a few hours putting it together last night using the tutorial on this site. Aside from the power supply cable being a bitch to get to reach both the EATX12V and EATXPWR plugs, and the 8800GTS being kinda hard to finagle in due to it's enormity, it's gone pretty smoothly. However, now that I'm done with the hardware part of the tutorial, I'm left with a bundle of wires from my power supply that are going unused: two black 4-pin connectors (one labeled 12V), two red 6-pin connectors, and a red 3-pin connector (that looks like it might go to a fan plug, so I'm guessing it's to power the PSU's fan, which would definitely need to be plugged in). Are these supposed to remain unused with my setup?

Mobo: Asus P5B LGA 775 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16813131030

[kmillerusaf]

Yeah, some brands just supply lots of cables fo various things... If you are sure everything is plugged up, then don't worry about it.

[KingBernard]

Well, I tried to start it. When I turned the power switch on, I got a green light on the motherboard. Then, when I tried to start the system, I got only a click from the PSU. I removed it from the case and followed the instructions to set it up outside of the case, and when I started it with the screwdriver, I just got the same click from the PSU. Does this mean my PSU is faulty? Is there anything else I can do to make sure?

Edit: This is my PSU http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817194015

Edit 2: Could it have to do with the fact that it's a 24 pin motherboard and a 20 pin PSU? From what I've been reading, the extra 4 pins are necessary for high-performance PCI-e cards (like my 8800GTS...). Will this PSU simply not work for what I need?

[kmillerusaf]

It's 20+4 so you should be able to hook it up to the motherboard... It's a good brand of PSUs but of course anyone could get a faulty PSU... I'd let someone else diagnose your problems. Uhm... You do have your metal standoffs or washers in between the case and motherboard right? Well you did a build outside the case and it didn't work so I guess that wouldn't be the problem... not really sure at this point, sorry

[mainiac]

If I am hearing you right, then I had a similar problem when I first built my pc. What would happen with me is that I would turn on the pc, but a split second later it would turn right back off. What you need to do is make sure that 1. Your memory is securly in place. 2. make sure that the main 20+4 pin is in place (the right way) 3. Make sure that the cpu power connector (4+4 pin) and the fan power connector is connected to the mobo properly. If you do all of this and it still doesn't work then check to make sure that you didn't screw in your mobo to tight or else it may be shorting out when you try to turn on your pc. Also make sure the psu is a good one, per pc mech's good/bad psu ratings.

[KingBernard]

Yeah it plugs into the Mobo fine, it just leaves the last 4 pins empty. I thought the separate 4 pins on the PSU cable went to the EATX12V plug, but I went ahead and took a stupid risk and plugged it in alongside the 20 pin plug. Then when I try to start it up, I get the same PSU click but the CPU fan starts up for a second as well.

Edit: Ok, after a lot more research, I've discovered that 20+4 pin connectors are actually the same as 24 pin connectors, the 4 are just detachable to be compatible with 20 pin mobos. So, that shouldn't be the problem.

Now, I'm fairly certain that the memory, video card, and cpu are installed correctly, but when I start the system, I get only the PSU click, and both the CPU and video card fans activate for a second before turning off. Help would be appreciated.

[kmillerusaf]

Sounds like a short in the motherboard or a faulty motherboard, possibly a bad PSU.. Don't happen to have another compatible mobo do you?

[KingBernard]

No, but I pulled another stupid risk and plugged something in that I didn't know about. One of those extra cables that I mentioned in the first post (a 4-pin labled 12V). I plugged it into the EATX12v plug and tried starting it. The fans all started (CPU, video card, and PSU) and this time they kept going until I stopped the system. I then reseated the video card and got a display :) It's now loading properly, so if it doesn't work in the case then I know it's simply a case problem. I am so unbelievably excited and relieved right now... :D

[kmillerusaf]

Hope it works for you, let us know :)

[KingBernard]

So far it seems to be working well. I'm currently in the BIOS, but the hardware monitor section is telling me that my CPU is running at about 81-81.5*C, which seems extremely high (the MB temperature is at 46*C). I've checked, and the PSU, CPU, Graphics card, and case fans are all running plus the case is open so it's well ventilated.

I've looked up a chart for maximum CPU temperatures, and according to it my Core 2 Duo E6600 shouldn't be running more than 60.1*C, so I'm getting pretty nervous about it.

[Alaron]

That is much too high for a CPU. Don't worry though, Intel chips will clock down or turn off before they damage themselves. I suspect a bad heatsink install. They can be very tricky to lock in completely. Check out our guide here: http://forum.pcmech.com/showthread.php?t=176924

[KingBernard]

Thanks a million Alaron. I removed the CPU, and reinstalled it. It turns out I didn't have the orientation right on the four prongs that lock the heatsink/fan in place (I had one or two of them with the groove facing the wrong way). I guess that didn't allow for a good enough connection, because after changing it I booted it up and it's running at 52*C :D

Now... on to Vista :)

[LeftyAce]

Not to rain on your parade too much, but depending on your case ventilation and the temperature of the room you're in, C2D processors usually idle around 30 degrees C.

What sort of case fans do you have, and what's the ambient temperature?

[KingBernard]

Well, according to the BIOS, the case (or was it motherboard? Can't remember...) temperature is 42*C. As far as the fans, the case has a 120mm rear fan, then the CPU, PSU, and video card fans.

[LeftyAce]

Well, if the mobo is running that high, 52 for the processor is probably fine. I'm curious what the temperature of your room is though (60,70,80F?)

[KingBernard]

Well, the house is about 78*F right now, but the room with the computer (now 2 computers, a TV, and my game consoles) usually runs an easy 5-10*F hotter than the rest of the house, so 80-90*F would probably be a fair estimate.

Oh, I forgot the whole reason I came here right now. Everything on the computer seems to be running fine (I'm on it right now :D) except there's no audio. The mobo has AC 97 integrated audio, and I thought I plugged it in correctly, but now I'm looking at an icon on the tray telling me that there's no audio device installed. Is it simply a matter of drivers (or something else software related), or do I need to go back into the case and fiddle with the connections?

[Staren]

Have you installed the drivers from the motherboard CD? Your going to get a lot of errors like that until you install all those. You might have to download the drivers from the motherboard makers website depending on if your CD has Vista drivers or not.

[LeftyAce]

With room temperatures like that, a cpu temp in the 50s is to be expected. The C2Ds start clocking themselves down to avoid damage at around 85*C so you're fine.

I agree with Staren: install all your drivers.

[KingBernard]

Have you installed the drivers from the motherboard CD? Your going to get a lot of errors like that until you install all those. You might have to download the drivers from the motherboard makers website depending on if your CD has Vista drivers or not.
I think I'm gonna have to go to the site, because I did try to install all the drivers that came with my hardware, but the motherboard drivers were supposedly missing a file so they wouldn't install... I meant to go to the site and get them, but I guess it slipped my mind. Serves me right, eh?

Edit: Well, I tried to install the audio drivers for my mobo from Asus, but when I try, it says that I'm missing the "smwdm.sys" file. I've tried every version of the drivers that they have on their site, but they all say the same thing. When I googled the problem, I was told to download the latest drivers...

Edit 2: From more googling, it seems that this I'm not alone in this problem, but I can't find anyone else who's gotten answers either. The only responses seem to be that I need to install the driver, but I've downloaded those files and they refuse to install without that smwdm.sys file. I'm getting really frustrated, and am gonna be a lot more so when my speakers arrive later today... :( ANY help would be greatly appreciated.