First build - need guidance please

[pvanbuskirk]

Hello,

This is my first computer build. I am building an ATX machine with the following components:

CPU - AMD Boxed Athlon 64 X2 Dual Core Processor 3800+ (2.0GHz)
Motherboard - Gigabyte K8N nForce4 SLI Socket 939 ATX
Video card - ATI Radeon X1300 256MB 128-bit GDDR2 PCI Express x16 CrossFire
RAM - Kingston ValueRAM 1GB 184-Pin DDR SDRAM DDR 400 (PC 3200) ECC Unbuffered
PSU - NZXT 400 WATT PS2 ATX12V PSU

I have assembled the motherboard, CPU, heatsink and fan, RAM, and video card outside of the case on a cardboard box and get nothing on my display when I short the power pins and let it run. I know the monitor works as I've used it before. What I do see is the heatsink fan and video card fan start up. After about ten seconds I get scared and short the pins again to prevent damage (if possible). If I should hold out longer to let the system display something let me know, but I was under the impression that it would be instantaneous.

I have re-seated my RAM and video card multiple times and am pretty confident that the CPU is seated correctly. The heatsink had paste on it out of the box so I am hesitant to take it off the CPU and check the seating unless that is a normal procedure. I took care in the placement and application of the lever during installation so it does not worry me straight off. Advice on that would be appreciated.

What further troubleshooting steps can I take to find the culprit connection or component?

Thanks in advance for your help.

Peter

Edit: The PSU is connected to the motherboard at the 24-pin and 4-pin slots. They only go in one way so I know they are correct.

[jayb1234]

Power supply is suspect, not a very good brand.

Is that an ATX 2.0 unit with a 24 pin main connector?

Is the auxillary power connector near the CPU plugged in?

[pvanbuskirk]

Originally Posted by jayb1234 Power supply is suspect, not a very good brand. Is that an ATX 2.0 unit with a 24 pin main connector? Is the auxillary power connector near the CPU plugged in?

Thanks for your reply.

The PSU is suspect as it came with the case but the power flow seems steady so far. Also the wattage is over the needs of the other components so I don't think I will run out. It may be worth noting that there is a red sliding switch on the back of the PSU that lets me choose between 115 and 230. It is currently set to 115.

The PSU has a 20-pin connector and a 4-pin connector zip-tied together and the 4-pin has rails so that it can slide onto the 20-pin. I insert them into the motherboard slot as one.

The 4-pin auxillary power near the CPU (behind the keyboard and mouse PS2 ports) is plugged in and secure.

[popgoesthweasel]

Are you sure your using ECC ram? The motherboard doesn't need it and I'm not sure what the results would be in using it.

If the fans are moving I don't think there is any danger of damaging your components.

[pvanbuskirk]

Originally Posted by popgoesthweasel Are you sure your using ECC ram? The motherboard doesn't need it and I'm not sure what the results would be in using it. If the fans are moving I don't think there is any danger of damaging your components.

The RAM has a sticker on it with a unique product number and that is listed as being ECC.

If someone else recommends removing the heatsink and CPU I'll try reseating them, but now I'm wondering if there are other components that I can troubleshoot first.

[jayb1234]

Is this the motherboard you have? If so, Kingston's configurator doesn't list any ECC modules as compatable with that board.

Could you post links to the motherboard and RAM you bought.

[glc]

Return the ECC ram and get a dual channel pair of standard non-ECC.

[pvanbuskirk]

Originally Posted by jayb1234 Is this the motherboard you have? If so, Kingston's configurator doesn't list any ECC modules as compatable with that board. Could you post links to the motherboard and RAM you bought.

Darn. I thought I picked all the pieces correctly. I was looking to put 1GB of RAM in as one stick for future planning. Would this work?: http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/Produc...tCode=80098-33

Thanks very much for your help.

[glc]

It should, but you will see a noticeable performance improvement by using a dual channel pair.

[pvanbuskirk]

Thanks for the information. I'm glad I could get a same-day resolution on this. You might be hearing from me later as I go further down the path of building this machine.

Peter