thought i had it figured out

[dipinmilk]

Doing a massive upgrade to my computer. All installed, but not really turning on. When I turn on the surge protector the PSU fan, CPU fan, and other fans turn on briefly and die down. The standby power LED near the RAM stays on. And then nothing. Power button does nothing. If I change the PSU from 115 to 230 the fans stay on and I can open the disk drives, the rest of the results are the same however.

This is the gear:

MB - Intel BOXDG965WHMKR LGA 775 Intel G965 Express ATX Intel Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/product/produc...82E16813121052

CPU - Intel Core 2 Duo E6600 Conroe 2.4GHz 4M shared L2 Cache LGA 775 Processor
http://www.newegg.com/product/produc...82E16819115003

HD - AMSUNG SpinPoint T Series HD501LJ 500GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive
http://www.newegg.com/product/produc...82E16822152052

RAM - Kingston ValueRAM 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory
http://www.newegg.com/product/produc...82E16820134117

PSU - Rosewill RP500-2 ATX 2.01 500W Power Supply 115/230 V CSA, CB, TUV, FCC, UL
http://www.newegg.com/product/produc...82E16817182016

no video card as the mb comes with

I've tried:
"1) Remove EVERYTHING from the case
2) Set the motherboard on a non conductive surface. The motherboard box is perfect for this. .DO NOT PLACE THE MOTHERBOARD ON THE STATIC BAG! It can acually conduct electricity! We are going to try and assemble a running system outside of the case.
3) Install the CPU and heat sink.
4) Install the RAM (only install 1 stick for SDRAM, 2 for RDRAM)
5) Install the video card
6) Connect the monitor to the video card.
7) Connect the power supply to the motherboard.
8) Connect power to the power supply
9) Do NOT connect ANYTHING else. Make sure you have the power connector on the CPU fan connected.
10) Use a small screwdriver to momentarily short the power switch connector on the motherboard."

The mb is sitting on a cardboard box, the power cables reach from the case where the PSU still is. Everything happens exactly as I previously mentioned. Using a screwdriver to short the power switch isn't working. Tried both the two pin and three pin alternate connectors (as my comp is a 3-pinner). Monitor still says to check the signal cable (cause its getting nothing).

Any ideas? This is my first time changing this much important stuff out and I'm totally lost now. Cheers!

[minsonngo]

In the US the power supply voltage should be set at 115v... NOT 230v.

You may want to consider getting a better quality PSU. Rosewill PSUs are cheap units. The PSU is a good starting point IMO.

Go with Antec, Corsair, Fortron Source, Seasonic, Sparkle... or some other good brand.


Also double check and make sure the processor heatsink & fan is mounted right and locked into place.

[Cricket]

What kind of computer did you start with? A home built one or a name brand?

Are you sure you have all necessary power connections to the motherboard plugged in?

Are you sure that motherboard supports that processor or do you need a BIOS update?

Have you tried using only 1 stick of RAM?

Originally Posted by dipinmilk Using a screwdriver to short the power switch isn't working.

What do you mean by this? Are you touching the screwdriver to the power switch or to the 2 PWR ON pins on the motherboard?

Originally Posted by dipinmilk Tried both the two pin and three pin alternate connectors (as my comp is a 3-pinner).

And what do you mean by this? The power switch only needs 2 pins, not 3. Are you touching the power LED pins?

Originally Posted by dipinmilk If I change the PSU from 115 to 230 the fans stay on and I can open the disk drives, the rest of the results are the same however.

I think your power supply is defective.

Cricket

[dipinmilk]

updates:

yeah, i know it isn't 230v, but at that point i was just so frustrated i thought i would try it to see what happens (which is definately the smartest thing i've ever done).

i WAS trying to short the power led instead of the power. so shorting it works, it turns on. remounted into the case, plugged back in, same result. figured out the the led cables were mislabled, so the power wasn't actually the power. currently the power button turns it on. disk drives open, fans spin, etc.

problem - monitor is still getting nothing. there is a vga port on the mb, and that is what i've plugged the monitor into (samsung SyncMaster 213T). i was using the dvi port on the last setup, not the vga. the old video card is an agp though, and i didn't even consider that when buying the new board.

should i just go ahead and get a new video card and try that? i think the onboard setup should work for me. i don't game. primarily office, photo editing, movie watching. nothing too intensive.

the computer was originally a cyperpower pc. but the only things still from that are the case and a couple of fans. oh, and the floppy.

thanks, i really appreciate it!

[minsonngo]

Try another video card if possible.


Or try resetting the BIOS. The onboard video may have been disabled somehow.


I would still recommend another PSU. Rosewills are not good.


Double check and make sure the CPU heatsink & fan is locked in right.

[Cricket]

Are you using any standoffs under the motherboard?

If you are, are you sure there aren't any stray ones that shouldn't be installed in the mounting tray? Stray ones would short/ground out the motherboard.

Cricket

[dipinmilk]

i don't have another video card handy. i'd have to buy one.

how do i reset the bios? change the jumper block so that there is no jumper?

as for standoffs... the mb is installed the same way the previous one was. 6 screws. there appears to be about a centimeter between the board and the backing plate (or whatever it is called). the i/o shield couldn't be shorting it out somehow could it?

and the cpu and fan/heat shield all appears to be good.

[LeftyAce]

Check your motherboard manual for instructions on resetting tbe BIOS....You can always disconnect the power supply from the wall and remove the little watch battery on the motherboard and let it sit for 15 minutes, but clearing it properly would be faster.

Are your components still out of the case? They should be until we figure this out.

Try removing the video card, and powering on. The BIOS should beep to complain that there's no card. Let us know any beeps you get.

[whubbard]

Also, with that cheap PSU...by giving it 230V you could have messed it up badly. Try a good quality PSU, and DON'T GIVE IT 230V!!

[LeftyAce]

Switching the powersupply to the 230V setting only made it expect 230V input. This shouldn't have harmed anything; you were feeding it LESS than it was set for, so nothing would have been fried. Had you been in the UK and set it to 110V, however, you'd see some smoke :-)

[whubbard]

Haha, silly mistake on my part. I thought he had said he input 230v, and had it set at 110v. I was thinking...that PSU should be long gone.
yeah if you just changed it to 230v input on the PSU...it should be fine.

However, I still think that this sounds like a PSU issue. I mean when you turn the computer on you don't get and sounds do you?

[dipinmilk]

the components are all out of the case.

tried resetting bios according to manual and by removing the battery for 15 minutes. no change.

i can't remove the video card as there is none. i'm using the onboard chipset for the monitor currently.

and nope, no beeps. no sounds, other than the initial whir of fans.

monitor is still getting no signal, but it does sound/feel like the hard drive is turning on when it is plugged in. the disk drives open/close when they are plugged in.

[whubbard]

I'd say PSU or MOBO issue.
1) PSU is not supply enough, or correct power to the ATX connector
2) Mobo is Dead.

[LeftyAce]

I agree. The easiest/cheapest way to test this is to get a known working PSU (borrow one or buy one....a higher quality unit is a good idea anyway) Check out the "good PSU reference thread" here: http://forum.pcmech.com/showthread.php?t=131195

[dipinmilk]

so then, i'll probably get a new psu -
FSP Group (Fortron Source) AX500-PN, ATX12V, V2.2, 12cm Fan, 2SATA, PCI-Express, 500W Power Supply 110-120/ 220-240V UL, CSA, VDE, NEMKO, TUV, CE, CB, FCC
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817104037

sound good? if that doesn't work i'll replace the mb. argh.

thanks everybody!

[whubbard]

I'd get this one. Saves you $10.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817104954

Hope this fixes the problem.

[minsonngo]

Both suggested FSP PSUs are good choices.


I would probably go with the 500 watt one for more breathing room and future upgradability purposes.

[dipinmilk]

got the new FSP power source. hooked up. same result:
video monitor getting no signal. heard no beeps. fans still work like they should. drives get power when plugged.

mb? is there a way to tell if it is the mb vs the cpu? i'd hate to replace one only to discover it is the other one. cheers

[Cricket]

Have you tried running it with just one stick of RAM? I came across a few Intel motherboards that wouldn't work if the RAM was installed in the Dual Channel DDR slots. They would work if only 1 stick of RAM was installed or two sticks in the non-Dual Channel DDR slots.

Cricket

[minsonngo]

Are you complete sure your processor heatsink & fan is installed right? Here is a good guide: Intel 775 Stock HSF Install Guide

[dipinmilk]

i'm currently only trying one piece of RAM. i've tried it with both and gotten the same result.

and i actually found that video on the cpu thread you sent prior to the first install; i didn't trust using just the few little pictures that came with.

so what's my next plan of attack?

[flanzig1]

First, make sure that both the 24 pin AND the 4 pin CPU connector from the PSU are connected to the motherboard.
As a final test, with the system out of the case, connect just the PSU/motherboard/CPUand heatsink and power up. Should hear a series of beeps with not ram installed.
If using USB mouse and keyboard, try using an older set that has the PS/2 type connector.

[dipinmilk]

motherboard, PSU (24 pin and 4 pin), CPU w/heatsink & fan gets me three long beeps.

mouse and keyboard, monitor, hard drive, etc are NOT plugged in.

as i've never gotten signal on the monitor i do not know whether the keyboard/mouse has ever been a problem. what i have been plugging in is a mouse w/ps2 connection and a keyboard with a usb, but a ps2 jumper.

[minsonngo]

3 beeps - Base 64 K memory failure

- Reseat the memory.
- Make sure that the contacts on the memory and the socket are clean.
- Try removing one bank of memory modules at a time. Note: Some systems might need to have a memory module in Bank 0.
- Try using RAM chips from the same manufacturer with the same part number and speed.
- Check for a faulty memory module by trying the memory in a known good system.
- Trying known good memory in the system.
- Check the power supply and check for power fluctuations.
- Swap the motherboard.



*** Did you try booting up with only the motherboard, PSU, video card, memory, CPU & CPU heatsink & fan installed?


And I just have to ask again... but are you completely sure the CPU heatsink and fan is installed properly?

[dipinmilk]

with the memory i get no beeps. 1 stick or 2.

Originally Posted by minsonngo *** Did you try booting up with only the motherboard, PSU, video card, memory, CPU & CPU heatsink & fan installed?

Yes. I get no beeps and no signal to the monitor. Want to reiterate that I have no separate video card, just the chipset that is on the mb.

Originally Posted by minsonngo And I just have to ask again... but are you completely sure the CPU heatsink and fan is installed properly?

That's actually one of the few things I am sure of. I was so paranoid about it that I watched and read everything I could find prior to touching it.

So it is the motherboard we think?

[minsonngo]

It could be the motherboard... the reason I am not so sure is because it does give you bios beep codes when you don't have the ram modules installed...


Have you tried another known working monitor with your setup?

[dipinmilk]

i don't have access to another monitor unfortunately.

i mentioned earlier that i was using the the dvi port on the last setup, not the vga. i can't recall if there was a reason for this. as my old video card doesn't fit this mb i will need to get a new one. might as well get that now, try hooking up to the dvi and see what that does.

any suggestions on a video card? i need nothing hardcore. and honestly, cheap is what i need more than anything. i only watch movies, edit photos, surf the net, and work in office. cheers!

[minsonngo]

So your current monitor has both DVI and VGA connectors?

I wouldn't get a new video card until you figure out if the monitor is the issue or not. You don't have a friend that can lend you a monitor?

[dipinmilk]

I can't think of a friend that has a monitor. Everybody's got laptops. And most of those are macs...

And yeah, the monitor has both connections on it.

[minsonngo]

Originally Posted by dipinmilk I can't think of a friend that has a monitor. Everybody's got laptops. And most of those are macs... And yeah, the monitor has both connections on it.

It is quite possible the VGA connector or the VGA cable is faulty...

You could always borrow another video card with a VGA, DVI, or both ports and see if that works.