First Build won't do anything, tried out of case

[Zurawski]

Hi, I've been having problems with my new build as well as my many attempts to fix it. I assembled everything, but when I started it up, the LED light would go on, the motherboard power light would be on, and the PSU fan would start for one tenth of a second and then stop. Other than that, nothing would happen, no beeps, nothing. I called Intel, the makers of both my motherboard and CPU, and they said the Mobo's BIOS was incompatible with the CPU (L2 Cache too high), so I got a temporary CPU to update the BIOS. However, when I inserted the new CPU, I reassembled the system, put thermal paste on the fan and put it over the CPU, set everything back up, started it, and the same exact thing as before happened. As a note, the PSU fan starts up for a half-second or so only when I start the computer up AND the computer has not been started up since power has been cut to the Mobo. In other words, if I start the comp up, then shut it down with the button, then start it up again, the PSU fan will not start at all the second time. But if I start the comp up, shut it down with the button, shut the PSU off, wait until the Mobo light goes out, and then turn the PSU on and start the comp up, the PSU fan will start momentarily (sorry if that last part was a bit long-winded and unnecessarily complicated).

Anyway, I am at a loss as to what the problem might be. Could it be the PSU perhaps? Any help is greatly appreciated.

EDIT: Sorry, forgot specs.

PSU: Ultra 600 W X-Finity
Mobo: Intel D975
CPU: Original-Intel Pentium D 3.2 GHz/New-Intel Pentium D 2.8 GHz

[Kareeser]

It could be the PSU, although Ultra seems to be on the good side of PSU's.

Do you have a spare one you could try?

[Zurawski]

Originally Posted by Kareeser It could be the PSU, although Ultra seems to be on the good side of PSU's. Do you have a spare one you could try?

Maybe, but I'm afraid using some of the ones from my old computers would cause things to go boom.

[tsgarp007]

make sure you try reseating the memory, different memory, and the diff memory slots, single, etc... remember to clear the cmos on each change. i had a board do that once when the memory wasn't seated right. of course one time isn't much...

[Kareeser]

Well, the first thing to try would be an out-of-case build:
http://pcmech.com/forum/showthread.php?t=132409

I should've suggested this first, actually. Must've slipped my mind.

Do a minimal out-of-case build, and report back on anything that changes.

[Zurawski]

Originally Posted by Kareeser Well, the first thing to try would be an out-of-case build: http://pcmech.com/forum/showthread.php?t=132409 I should've suggested this first, actually. Must've slipped my mind. Do a minimal out-of-case build, and report back on anything that changes.

Already tried that, like the thread title says, same result (I did, as a note, keep the Power Switch hooked up to the Mobo, but I figured, as the Mobo was not touching the case at all except for that, it would still work. Oh and tsgarp, could you tell me how to reset the cmos?

Also, even if it's the RAM, shouldn't there still be a beep code? I mean, the Intel guy even asked me to start the system without any RAM at all.

[Zurawski]

Any ideas, at least on what could be defective? The motherboard perhaps, seeing as how it receives power but doesn't start anything else?

[minsonngo]

Sounds like a defective motherboard. Before you swap out, double check and make sure everything is jumpered and setup correctly in case that is the problem.

Otherwise I would suspect the processor. Same here, before you swap out, make sure everything was setup right.