First build - totally confused

[mayanfair]

After replacing all the components
(Ultra v-series 500W with Antec truepower trio 550 W, OCZ DDR2 PC-6400 memory with Corsair DDR2 XMS2, evga geforce 7600 gT with PNY Gefore 7300GT and another processor)
and still not getting a post I got a replacement for my Gigabyte GA-945P-S3. Hooked everything up. Cleared the cmos by removing the battery for 1 minute and powered up. All the fans started spinning then the cpu fan stopped spinning. I didn't hear any beeps.
Please help me. I am totally lost.

Gigabyte GA-945P-S3,Intel dualcore2 6300, Corsair DDR@ XSM2, Antec trupower trio 550W,

[tempus]

Try an out of case build with minimum components attached. remove all the optical drives and hard drives first. make sure the power supply is properly connected to the motherboard.

[mayanfair]

The motherboard is on a cardboard box. I only have the memory and video card and cpu in.

[tempus]

try removing the memory or video card. then it should at least beep because those components are missing.

[TimPoet]

You better stop here and go back to the basics and try this:

http://forum.pcmech.com/showthread.php?t=132409

[glc]

That's what he's doing, Tim. Read a little slower please?

The motherboard is on a cardboard box. I only have the memory and video card and cpu in.

[mayanfair]

I tried with one memory stick and then the other. I also tried with no memory. Still no beep but the cpu fan stops spinning.
What could I be doing wrong?

[glc]

Do you have ALL the necessary power cables plugged into the motherboard? There's a 24 pin main and a 4 pin auxiliary by the CPU socket.

[mayanfair]

I have the 24 & 4 pin connectors & cpu fan connnector plugged into the mobo. The only jumpers from the case that are connected are the power & speaker jumpers. If there is a problem with the speaker would I hear the beep if i hook up head phones to the back panel?

[flanzig1]

You won't hear the beeps with headphones, different audio source.
Check to make sure the CPU heatsink is on correctly and tight. If the unit wobbles, then it isn't fully latched down. This can cause the CPU to over heat and shutdown the system.

[mayanfair]

The cpu is fully latched on. I removed the memory & the video card and powered on. Now the cpu fan runs but no beeps. Could I have a bad cpu or mobo?

[mayanfair]

I was told to remove the heat sink place a finger on the processor and turn the power on for 10 secs and see if it gets warm. If it is cold then it is a cpu problem. Can touching it like that damage the cpu? Is there any other way to test the cpu?

[flanzig1]

Swap the two wires from the case for the speaker, the case may have a speaker that has + & - connections. If still no beeps, looks like your down to the mobo since you said you swapped the PSU/CPU/Vid card.

[glc]

Originally Posted by mayanfair I was told to remove the heat sink place a finger on the processor and turn the power on for 10 secs and see if it gets warm. If it is cold then it is a cpu problem. Can touching it like that damage the cpu? Is there any other way to test the cpu?

It's a lot safer to leave the heatsink on and run it for 5 minutes (make SURE the fan is running), then feel the heatsink itself for warmth.

[mayanfair]

Originally Posted by flanzig1 Swap the two wires from the case for the speaker, the case may have a speaker that has + & - connections. If still no beeps, looks like your down to the mobo since you said you swapped the PSU/CPU/Vid card.

I switched the speaker connection around. No beeps . I have also replaced the mobo. So it could be either a problem with the cpu or mobo again!!

[mayanfair]

Originally Posted by glc It's a lot safer to leave the heatsink on and run it for 5 minutes (make SURE the fan is running), then feel the heatsink itself for warmth.

Just so that I understand correctly. I let it run for 5 mins. Then I remove the fan and check the heat sink for warmth?

[flanzig1]

Just feel around the base of the heatsink, no need to take off the fan. Power off first.

[Cricket]

I'd suspect the motherboard to be bad before I thought the CPU was dead.

Cricket

[mayanfair]

I let it run for 30 mins. The heatsink felt warm not hot. The mobo heatsink felt a lot warmer.
So what is the verdict? Bad mobo or cpu?

[glc]

If it IS warm, the CPU is running.

Is your Gigabyte board compatible with a Core 2 Duo? Not all 945 chipset boards are. You may have to research exact hardware and bios revision levels.

[tempus]

Originally Posted by mayanfair I tried with one memory stick and then the other. I also tried with no memory. Still no beep but the cpu fan stops spinning. What could I be doing wrong?

Are you sure the speaker is even working? According to the manual for your MB the speaker should be connected to pins 14 and 20.Never run apply power to a CPU without the heatsink. It will overheat

[mayanfair]

Originally Posted by glc If it IS warm, the CPU is running. Is your Gigabyte board compatible with a Core 2 Duo? Not all 945 chipset boards are. You may have to research exact hardware and bios revision levels.

Since I bought it as a bundle at the local frys i assumed they were compatible. On the mobo box it says it supports intel core 2 duo.I guess I'll have to buy another mobo and test the cpu on it. Any suggestions?

[mayanfair]

Originally Posted by tempus Are you sure the speaker is even working? According to the manual for your MB the speaker should be connected to pins 14 and 20.Never run apply power to a CPU without the heatsink. It will overheat

The speaker is connected to pins 14,16,18& 20. Is there a way to test if my speaker is working?

[tempus]

Originally Posted by mayanfair The speaker is connected to pins 14,16,18& 20. Is there a way to test if my speaker is working?

you could try touching the terminals of a battery to the speaker wires. just disconnect it from the MB first. You should hear a small click or pop.
according to the Gigabyte website board rev1.0 should support core 2 duo.

[glc]

Anything you buy at Fry's is suspect - they are famous for putting RMA's back on the shelf without testing. If you find your motherboard is bad and go exchange it, guess where your motherboard goes?