Problem with New build PC

[sean5775]

I just built a new system. It seems to power on ok, makes no beeping, all fans are working. I am unable to get a display on my monitor. Another odd thing is that both DVD-RW Drives will open fine and immediately close as soon as they are opened. This is my first new build in quite a few years, but I am quite confident it is put together properly. Is there a possibility that one or more of the components are bad from factory? All Drives are connected using SATA connections to the power supply and motherboard, something that was non existant last time I built a system, but it seems fool proof to hook up.

My list of components is as follows.

XFX GeForce 8200 MCP Socket AM2+ Motherboard
AMD Athlon 64 X2 6000+ Dual Core 3.1 Ghz
Hitachi 500GB Hard disk Drive
LG DVD-RW Drive
Lite-ON DVD-RW Drive
2 Sticks of Corsair Corsair PC6400 DDR2 800MHz (2x2048MB)
Ultra LSP650 650w Power Supply

At this time I did not install a video card or sound card as I do not need them at this time. I feel the on board connections should be sufficient. I tried my monitor through the DVI, HDMI, and VGA connections.

Any help would be appreciated. Any questions please ask, I need the help so I will check on this several times daily.

[shadowpr]

Try following this guide: PROBLEMS with a NEW BUILD? Try This!!

Let us know what happens.

[tomtoon]

It might be the power supply as Ultra's are not that good.

[sean5775]

Went through the guide, nothing in there I didn't know already, but still took it completely apart and started over to see if maybe I screwed something up and got the same results.


I don't think there is anything wrong with the power supply, I have never had any problems with Ultra, things seem to be powering up the way they should. How would I know if there is a problem with it, any way to check. Besides buying a new one to try it which seems like a very unpractical way to go about it.

One local friend told me that you have to hook up the SATA connections to certain terminals, like hard drive has to be #1 etc. Is this true?

[shadowpr]

Not really.

And besides, if you followed that guide you shouldn't be worrying about plugging in a hard drive yet.

First you want to get a post screen.

Have you tried that monitor on another computer to make sure it's working?

Have you tried each stick of ram by itself? And in each slot? If so, that should eliminate that as a problem.

That would leave either the mb, cpu, or psu as the problem. Out of them, the psu would be my first guess. You can either get another one of good quality to test the system with, or you could borrow a friends, or bring that psu in to a geek squad for them to test it. There are also psu testers that you could buy.

[sean5775]

Every guide I see tells me that the video card is a basic part of the system and should be installed immediately. Do I need a video card to make this work? I don't play many games and usually don't consider having a video card at all.

I am going to try a few more things, like trying my monitor on different systems and stuff like that and will post back the results later today.

[shadowpr]

I can't find that mother board listed on newegg. Does it have onboard video? If not, then you need a video card. If it does have onboard video, then I would try to get it to post without the video card first.

[sean5775]

Ok tried the same monitor on another system and works perfect. So thats not an issue.

The Motherboard does have onboard graphics. If someone wanted to see any specs on it you could look here http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applicatio...&sku=P450-9120

Tried one of those PSU testers and it only tests the power connections for the motherboard, but does say they are good. I know the other connections I had used seemed to be powering up the devices so I am sure they work.

I am in the middle of taking it apart and will try to put it back together making sure everything is right one more time. I will keep it basic as possible and see what happens.

[glc]

Please read the linked thread carefully - you need to attempt to power it up with the motherboard out of the case, sitting on the table. If it won't run that way, there's no point in reassembling it till it works on the table.

[sean5775]

Sorry I was not clear. What I meant by taking it apart, was take out the CPU and the Ram, reinstall to make sure that its correct.

Anyways, did it again and have some results this time. Got a message on the monitor saying

"Reboot and select proper boot device or insert boot media in selected boot device and press a key"

Obviously thats a good thing. Will now move onto assembling it in the case and make sure the same thing happens.

Thanks for all the help so far.

It works fine in the case, so I will now put in the hard drive and 1 optical drive and attempt installing the operating system and I should be in business.

[shadowpr]

Let us know how it goes.

[sean5775]

Thanks for all the help everyone.

I am using it right now and all worked out great.

[sean5775]

I have a further problem with this system. I put windows in standby mode earlier, something I usually do not do, but I do remember doing it. When trying to turn it on later, nothing happens. I checked all connections inside the case, all looked good. I took everything out and tried the above mentioned guide about putting it together outside the case and that did not allow it to power on.

I am at a lose as to where to turn next, this system was working flawlessly until this.

Any help would be appreciated.

[glc]

Okay - with the motherboard on the table, CPU, heatsink, 1 memory stick, PSU, and monitor (connected to onboard video) - it won't power up?

[sean5775]

Originally Posted by glc Okay - with the motherboard on the table, CPU, heatsink, 1 memory stick, PSU, and monitor (connected to onboard video) - it won't power up?

Yes that is correct.

[sean5775]

Ok I went and bought a different power supply. Its a 550 Watt Rocketfish which I know is absolute trash, but it does the same thing. Also tried a 330 Watt Generic brand from an old system that I know works, and still get the same results.

I have tried both sticks of RAM individually and get the same results, I see it very unlikely that both sticks of RAM would fail at the same time. I had recently been running tests on the RAM, but not yet got to changing any setttings for them. I know they both worked within 5 minutes of my problems.

I believe if the CPU is bad that it would at least try to do something when attempting to power it up, so that leaves the Motherboard.

On the motherboard I tried to RESET the CMOS, but actual instructions on doing so are very Vague. I had changed a few settings in the BIOS regarding system standby recently before my problems. I had rebooted several times with no problems, but never did put the system in standby mode at all.

Just curious if my thoughts here are correct

Otherwise looks like I am replacing the motherboard. I may have made the mistake of trying a different brand this time around but at the time the reviews for the XFX board were excellent, all recent reviews show it as very poor now. Probably should have stuck with ASUS as I have never had a problem with them.

If anyone could let me know if I am on the right page here it would be greatly appreciated.

[glc]

There are excellent reviews for all kinds of brands of motherboards, but reviews do not address reliability. XFX is a division of Pine Technologies, which is owned by ECS. Need I say more?

[sean5775]

So what you are saying is that it is more than likely a motherboard problem?

Any recommendations????

[tomtoon]

Yes mate he is as ECS are not a quality manufacturer.

You should get an ASUS one like this:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813131320 $96.99

[sean5775]

That is the exact board I bought today. Had to buy it at the local computer shop, but only $119.00 so not bad to get it right now. Swapped it out and everything works great.