Powers on, then powers right off

[hbweb500]

I am assembling a Foxconn motherboard, Core 2 Duo, and a Rosewill motherboard. Whenever I power on the computer, the fans turn and the computer powers right off after about a half a second.

I took the motherboard off its seats and held it in the air to test and see if it was grounding or not, and it still didnt power on.

I tried clearing the CMOS.

So, Im thinking the motherboard is shot, but how can I be sure its not the CPU? I have yet to test the PSU in another computer, and will tomorrow.

Is there something else I can do?

[blue60007]

Do you mean you used a Rosewill PSU? They are questionable quality, so that there might be the issue. I would swap in a known working power supply if you can.

[newbuilder14]

Is the HSF attached properly?

[hbweb500]

I removed the Heatsink/FAn and tried starting to no avail.

Yeah, I ordered the Rosewill PSU after I saw that it had a 5 star rating on Newegg after quite a few votes. Otherwise though, I dont have any build experience, so that is all Im relying on. Ill test the PSU tomorrow.

[hbweb500]

The power supply works, as I tested it in another computer. I plugged the 24 pin power supply into the MB of another comp. and both the other comp and the fans and cd drive of the new computer started. This led me to believe that the MB was fried.

It is down to the MB and the processor. Im returning the MB to Newegg for a replacement.

My fear is that the processor is not working, and Ill have to return it as well after I get my new MB. Or (even worse) that I install both a new MB and processor, and it still doesnt work. I would probably die.

Question: does removing the HSF from the CPU, and thus breaking the seal from that goop thats on there have any negative effects?

[newbuilder14]

It is probably your motherboard. Wait, the HSF is on, and plugged in, right?

[whubbard]

Originally Posted by hbweb500 I removed the Heatsink/Fan and tried starting to no avail.

UH-OH
If you tried starting it without a heat sink...you might have killed the processor.
Also, many MB will not start without the CPU fan plugged into its respective spot on the MB...have you done this?

[Alaron]

Did you make sure to plug in the square 2x2 power connection as well as the 24pin? You need both.

And Core 2 Duos are thermally protected. Starting it up without the heatsink will not kill the chip. It will turn itself off.

[hbweb500]

Wow you scared me there. Yeah I did remove the HSF, but it didnt work, so I put it back on and plugged it in. I didnt think that the processor would get hot enough anyways, since the computer shuts off a half a second after it is started. And yep, all 24 pins were plugged in.


So I will hope its the MB and not the processor.

BTW, what would happen if I started a working computer without a processor? Would the computer refuse to turn on at all? Or would it turn on (as in fans turning, etc) but nothing would happen? Obviously there is no processor to compute anything, but if the fans would continue to move and all, it would at least prove to me that my processor isnt causing the problems, that it is the motherboard...

[blue60007]

Whatever happens when you turn on a computer without a CPU (probably nothing) won't prove anything. ie, fans running won't tell you anything useful (other than that the fans work).

You tested the power supply in another computer...but are the specs similar? If the other computer is fairly low end (ie, low power load) the PSU might be able to handle that but not the load of a higher end computer (ie, higher power load). I would try a known working power supply in the new one (provided it's 24 pin, and powerful enough, etc).

[whubbard]

Hey, sorry about scareing you there...my bad.

But also, are you sure the CPU fan is plugged in, I once was working on my PC and it came out...and then it just kept telling me there was an error.

[newbuilder14]

Originally Posted by whubbard UH-OH If you tried starting it without a heat sink...you might have killed the processor. Also, many MB will not start without the CPU fan plugged into its respective spot on the MB...have you done this?

Haha, no, I've done that before I'm sad to say. Worked fine after I immediately noticed. What a dope I am.

[hbweb500]

Originally Posted by blue60007 You tested the power supply in another computer...but are the specs similar? If the other computer is fairly low end (ie, low power load) the PSU might be able to handle that but not the load of a higher end computer (ie, higher power load). I would try a known working power supply in the new one (provided it's 24 pin, and powerful enough, etc).

Well, I tested the power supply in a much older computer, but I also tried it in this computer without any fans, etc, attached. I had the MB out of the case, with only processor and memory plugged in. Still, same problem.

Originally Posted by blue60007 Whatever happens when you turn on a computer without a CPU (probably nothing) won't prove anything. ie, fans running won't tell you anything useful (other than that the fans work).

What I was trying to ask is "Could the processor being bad cause the computer to shut down immediately after power up?" I was thinking that even if the computer didnt have a processor, or the proc was bad, the computer shouldnt power off immediately.

[newbuilder14]

Originally Posted by hbweb500 Well, I tested the power supply in a much older computer, but I also tried it in this computer without any fans, etc, attached. I had the MB out of the case, with only processor and memory plugged in. Still, same problem.

So it worked on the old computer? Then it shouldn't be your power supply.

Originally Posted by hbweb500 What I was trying to ask is "Could the processor being bad cause the computer to shut down immediately after power up?" I was thinking that even if the computer didnt have a processor, or the proc was bad, the computer shouldnt power off immediately.

You need a processor for the system to boot up or else you'd get a bunch of warnings, so I suppose if the processor was defective (which can happen) yes, it would cause the system not to boot up.

[blue60007]

Originally Posted by hbweb500 "Could the processor being bad cause the computer to shut down immediately after power up?"

That's a possibility...

Originally Posted by hbweb500 I was thinking that even if the computer didnt have a processor, or the proc was bad, the computer shouldnt power off immediately.

Well, without a CPU the system isn't going to do anything...so trying to boot without a processor isn't going to prove anything. I see what you're thinking, but I've never tried booting a system without a CPU, so I couldn't say what would happen.

[Alaron]

Originally Posted by hbweb500 And yep, all 24 pins were plugged in.

Just to clarify, there is a 24 pin main connector, but a seperate plug that is 4pins in a 2x2 square. It is located somewhere else on the motherboard. You need to have two separate connections hooked up to properly power the board.

[klick81]

you said you were sending the motherboard back to newegg for a replacement. that was probably the best move as best guess is its a motherboard issue and the cause could be many things. bad cpu/sensor connections, bad power connections, bad memory, bad bios chip, etc etc. sometimes motherboards will hang with these errors (ie; no video no post codes, just fans spinning) and some other motherboards will just turn the computer off immediately because these are all 'fatal' errors. when you get the motherboard back just make sure of all these before you even plug in the power cord:
you have a 400w+ PSU
you have the 20 pin power connector plugged in to the motherboard
you have the 4 ping (2x2) pin power connector plugged into the motherboard
you have the cpu clips locked
you have the hs/fan clipped down and the power/sensor connector plugged in to the motherboard
you have ONE stick of memory in your motherboard
if you have a video card plug it in, if it is a newer pci-e x16 with a power connector, make sure that is plugged in too.
when you turn on the computer, make sure you listen for any post codes (the beeps you hear whenever you start a computer). if you get post codes (other than just one beep) you need to look at your motherboard manual to find out the error if there is no video. i think three very quick beeps means cpu failure and then the motherboard might immediately power off the machine.

------------
i just thought of something after I posted the above stuff. you did make sure that your memory and cpu are compatible with your motherboard, right? i mean, alot of motherboards have LGA775 sockets but that doesn't mean it is compatible with a core2duo processor. also, im not sure about foxconn, but ASUS has a couple of motherboards that were released right before the c2d processor and after the c2d release they came out with an identical motherboard and named it "Rev 2" or "Ver 2.0" which included a new chipset/bios that supported the new c2d processor. if you order one of these motherboards sometimes the older ones get shipped instead by accident because they technically have the same model number. if your new MB doesn't solve the problem, make sure its a C2D compatible motherboard

[hbweb500]

Originally Posted by Alaron Just to clarify, there is a 24 pin main connector, but a seperate plug that is 4pins in a 2x2 square. It is located somewhere else on the motherboard. You need to have two separate connections hooked up to properly power the board.

The power supply has a 20+4 power connector for the motherboard, and the motherboard has a 24 pin receptor, so I plugged all 24 pins into that. As for the other 2x2 square connector on the motherboard, I cant say I know what you mean.


And the motherboard should be compatible with the RAM and CPU, according to Newegg's specs.

"Make sure you have a 400w+ PSU"
Im pretty sure I have a 350w PSU, but I dont have any peripheral cards (or video card), as the system has integrated video for now.

[blue60007]

Originally Posted by hbweb500 As for the other 2x2 square connector on the motherboard, I cant say I know what you mean.

Ohh, well you need that second connector plugged in. Check around the CPU area for another plug and a matching connector on the PSU.

If you could tell me what exact motherboard you have I could take a look at the pictures and tell you exactly where it's at.

[hbweb500]

Originally Posted by blue60007 Ohh, well you need that second connector plugged in. Check around the CPU area for another plug and a matching connector on the PSU. If you could tell me what exact motherboard you have I could take a look at the pictures and tell you exactly where it's at.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ShowIm...ard+%2D+Retail

Ok, here is something. The motherboard has a 8 pin "CPU power connector" receptacle, but my power supply:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817182014

Has a 4 pin connector. What gives?

[Alaron]

Theres the problem. Your power supply doesn't have the 8pin connection that the board requires. Most boards have a 4pin, thats why I mentioned it, but some of these new C2D boards do have the 8pin.

You'll need to buy a new power supply that comes with an 8pin. Here is our list of top brands: http://forum.pcmech.com/showthread.php?t=131195

[hbweb500]

Wow, that was not a little mistake of me to make. Thanks for catching that.

I have decided instead to refund the motherboard I had sent in for exchange, and instead buy a new one compatible with the power supply I have. The reason I did this is because the cost, after restocking fee and shipping another box would be similar to buying another motherboard, plus I wouldnt have to wait another week or so.

These are the two boards I am looking at. Is one known to be better than the other?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813121046

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813128016

[Cricket]

I'd get the INTEL motherboard.

Cricket

[hbweb500]

That's what I was thinking. I noticed that it has "Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 3000" for an integrated graphics chip. Since I am not planning on adding a video card in the near future (not building a gamin PC, mind you), does anyone have experience with this chip? Ive never heard of the "3000" line, though I have used 8xx's and 9xx's before. I did a search and the 3000 appears to be the next gen from intel. Am I right in saying this?

[Alaron]

According to Intel it is indeed the next version of their integrated graphics. Since you're not building a gaming machine, it will be perfectly fine. And you can always add a card later if you needed it.

[hbweb500]

Well, I received the Intel board in the mail on Friday and all is working as expected. The GMA 3000 works great for normal useage, but I find that I have problems installing some games.

I first tried installing Call of Duty 2, but it gave a DirectX error. Research shows that COD2 should not work with integrated cards, even though I have successfully played it on a laptop with GM855 before. The reason given is that Intel integrated cards do not support DirectX 9 fully. The GMA 3000 lists DirectX 9 support under its specs, though...

I tried another game, Command and Conquer Generals, to see if this was an isolated incident, but after installing it gave a DirectX error as well.

I reinstalled DirectX and the graphics drivers, but nothing gives.

I was wondering if anyone else around here has the GMA3000 and has successfully installed these games or has had the errors above. Otherwise, I realize that this isnt software board, and I am going to email Intel about this to see if this integrated chip does support DX9. I suspect that it is a driver issue, since the chip hasnt been out for very long.

In any case, the computer isnt meant to be used for games, I was just testing out how well it would do. And thanks to all who lent their support for this first build of mine, it was a great learning process.