Troubleshoot New Build Mobo Lights On No fans

[miguelias]

MOBO: a8n SLI Deluxe
CPU: amd athlon 64 3200
VIDEO: geforce 6600 gt
PSU: Antec TruePower 430W

I have already tried two power supplies (same model), two video cards(different models), and two mother boards(same model).

when the first mobo only light its green light and did not kick on any fans i called Tech support and they suspected psu or grounding issue. I called back after i ruled out the mobo and set it up on a card board box and they had me send it in. I wont have it back for a while but this new mobo is doing the exact same thing. therefore it must be either me or the CPU...

tech support seemed to be shocked that the fans didn't even kick on.

I followed the steps to testing a new setup by testing everything outside the case and on the mobo cardboard box. i did not however short the power switch on the motherboard as instructed but is that necessary after i flip the power switch on the power supply?

[ktkendall]

Yes you do need to short the power pins to actually start the PC. That is the same as pushing the power on switch usually on the front of the PC.

[miguelias]

i tried using a screw driver on all the entire row of pins and nothing...what does it mean that the green light is on and no fans kick on...not even that for the power supply?

[blue60007]

You only need to short two pins, the two for the power switch. Make sure you don't have a screwdriver that is coated on the end.

[miguelias]

I tried each individually since the "pwr" pins did not work...any other suggestions?

[Panama Red]

Are you plugging in the 4 pin connector for the cpu? 2 black and 2 yellow wires in a square plug. Does your vid card have a spot for plugging in a psu connector? Do you have the cpu fan plugged in to the proper connector? A sensor will prevent startup if nothing is connected to the cpu fan connector.

[miguelias]

4 pin atx12v connector (two black, two yellow) - check
cpu fan connection - check
vid card connection - none there

[Panama Red]

Are you using the same cpu in each mobo? That sounds like the only common item to each test. If the hsf isn't oriented wrong with the cpu or you didn't correctly apply themal pad/compound correctly then I gotta bet the cpu is defective.

[miguelias]

yea, that is what i am thinking...but it came with the rubbery compound already on there. and i followed the directions exactly. is it even possible to have the wrong orientation on the hsf and it still make contact with the CPU? wouldn't the fans atleast kick on?

would removing the old compound and applying new thermal grease help?

[Panama Red]

Do you have a Computer shop near by? You might lessen your pain by taking the cpu to them for testing. As far as the thermal compound, I clean off the old and apply new each time i remove the heat sink.

[ktkendall]

Yes I think that no matter what, the fans should at least kick on for a moment, even if the CPU is bad. You don't want to be just arbitrarily shorting all those pins togother. Make sure all power connections are into the mainboard and the cpu fan is pluged in properly and carefully just touch the 2 power pins togother for a second than let off..

[miguelias]

i could not get it to start by shorting the pins or by connecting the actual wires from the case for the power buttons...what brand/type of thermal grease should i use to reapply to the cpu?

[Panama Red]

I use Arctic Silver 5. A small tube will do a lot of cpu installations.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16835100007

[miguelias]

thanks for all the help...are their any tests i could do to the cpu ? think newegg would take back the cpu and the mobo i tried to use ?

[miguelias]

fellas,

you are not going to believe this...i called Asus tech support back, they think that this new board is bad too! they tried having pull the cpu and vid card out so that we could get a voice message in through the speakers...nothing! we tried headphones, nothing, we tried another power supply, nothing!

i am now waiting for level 3 tech support....

[miguelias]

I Knew It!! Im An Idiot! I Was Shorting Pins That Were Not Next To Each But Across From Each And Completely Unrelated !!!!

[ktkendall]

I meant to mention to you to be sure you are shorting the correct pins togother.
OK, so how does it go now??

[miguelias]

Now that we can assume im an idiot, know that there are not hardware issues besides those in my brain.

the comp is fully assembled and starts and runs like a charm, all fans all lights and sensors working...temp is 27C. NO beeps, and i don't think the Hard Drive or any drives actually spun.

i hooked up the monitor to my new 6600gt and get no signal...i will start to look around for a resolution this problem right now.

[ktkendall]

If you have the inside PC speaker hooked up properly you should get the error message as to what is wrong. Check everything to be properly seated, and installed, thats usually all that is worng on a new build at first.

[miguelias]

turned out the old motherboard is now confirmed as fried...the new one works perfectly and i am installing windows now. I added one part at a time and the new mobo told me exactly what was missing. The only issue after that was setting the jumpers on the hard drive and CDRW and that got rid of a cmos check sum error.

thank you all for you help

[Panama Red]

Congrats, m! Patience pays dividends again! You learned some valuable things during this exercise and I'm bettin' your next build will be much easier. Enjoy your new toy.