trouble with a build - need help diagnosing

[webguy0000]

I have an AMD Athlon 3200+ 64bit processor and an Asus K8V Deluxe motherboard. Tried several video cards, sticks of ram and hard drives.

Here is the issue. I press the power button and all the fans start spinning. But the monitor shows no signs of life and it never beeps. Is that a bad CPU or a bad Motherboard? I don't have an extra of either of those and I need to know which I need to purchase.

I have been doing all of this on a peice of cardboard outside the case.

Thanks for any help.

[blue60007]

Good, the outside of case assembly is the first step. Try doing it with bare essentials as outlined here (if you haven't already).
http://forum.pcmech.com/showthread.php?t=132409

I'd say you could eliminate the RAM and video card as the culprit, provided they are compatible.

If you could, list your complete specs, including power supply brand/model.

[minsonngo]

Yep, just need your system specs to start out with.

[webguy0000]

Amd Athlon 3200+ 64bit
Asus K8V Deluxe
1GB Wintech SDRAM
2x512 Kingston SDRAM
Turboline Power Supply 115/230V
2 ATI Radeon 9800 Pro Video Cards
1 PNY Verto Video Card

Thanks for the quick replies

[minsonngo]

The memory, you do mean DDR ram and not SDRAM right?

The PSU, it is an off brand, not sure if you spelled it right. But TurboLINK PSUs are on the bad list here: http://forum.pcmech.com/showthread.php?t=131195

You may want to replace it with a quality ATX 2.x PSU. Antec is usually suggested by most. With your setup, you need one with more than 450w.


You can also try leaving only on video card in at a time and see if the system will POST. This will help you find a defective card if there is any. You can also do the same for your memory.

[webguy0000]

Thanks for the help. The system was running - but it was clogged up with a bunch of dust. It just quit one day - and I switched to a backup system. The motherboard has a light to indicate that it has power - and I'm only running one video card and one stick of ram. For testing purposes I've listed the array of options which I used. And yes I did mean DDR ram - don't know what I was thinking.

I have an Antec PSU in my other sytem and I used it to power the motherboard and still got the same result. Here is a better question:

If the CPU was bad would the motherboard still post something to the screen?

[Computer Hobbyist]

You say the system has been running for some time. Try removing your video card, rubbing the connectors with a clean one dollar bill and reseating it. You might do the same with your memory. Sometimes cards will back out on their own. You say it was dusty. Dust can ruin a connection. Those are just guesses, but who knows you might get lucky.

Opps, I see that minsonngo gave you about the same advice.

[webguy0000]

Thanks - I tried that and I still got the same result - using 3 different video cards and 5 different sticks of ram. I'm pretty sure something has bit the dust with this system. Question is whether it is the motherboard or the CPU. If the CPU is bad would the motherboard still reach its POST - meaning would it beep. If it would beep then the motherboard is bad - if it would not beep than it means the CPU is bad..

[glc]

No, if the CPU is bad, there will be no beeps.

[webguy0000]

ahh - thanks glc. I'm pretty sure that is the issue. I think that the heatsink got inundated with dust and the CPU overheated.

Thanks.
webg

[minsonngo]

Your motherboard or processor is probably bad.

Just power on your system and let it run for a while, then touch the heatsink and see if it is warm. If it is cold, the processor may be bad.

The only way you can really find out is by swapping these parts out.