Failure from the start

[PeteClimbs]

I have an ASUS P5P43TD motherboard and an ATX power supply. I have connected only the items listed in the advice in forum post "PROBLEMS with a NEW BUILD? Try This!".

When I try to power up the motherboard, the CPU fan turns about 45 degrees and then stops. This tells me that it's trying to start but something stops it immediately.

Any ideas what might be the problem?

Thanks,
Pete

[David M]

Which PSU do you have?

Is this a first time start up problem or has your motherboard worked before?

Is your CPU cooler fan plugged in to the CPU power connector? Sure you got the correct plug on the mobo?

Have you pulled the CMOS battery and let the BIOS go back to its default settings?

Are you certain you have all the boards power connectors plugged in?

Does your PSU work correctly when disconnected from everything, including the case, when doing the paper clip test?


If you have done all the troubleshooting tests possible then it's a bad board.

[PeteClimbs]

Thank you David for answering. I didn't expect a response so soon.

What's a PSU?

No, the motherboard is new and has not been tested before.

The CPU fan is plugged in (see below)

No, I'm not certain about having all the power connectors plugged in; however, I have plugged in the ones indicated in the manual.

I unplugged the four-pin 12V connector and, the CPU fan, as well as the power supply's, came on and ran until I shut off the power. Now, that connector may be the problem. It has an arrow on it and I found nothing in the manual to indicate which direction the arrow is supposed to point, so initially I plugged it in the way it fit into the socket. However, when I removed it, I found that it also fit 180 Degrees; i.e. in the opposite direction. I wonder if I plugged it the wrong way the first time and caused damage to the motherboard.

BTW, with the 12V connector plugged or unplugged, nothing appears on the monitor. It makes sense (to me) that nothing shows up when the CPU fan only does a quarter turn but what about when the fans run on normally?

[glc]

PSU = power supply.

What exact processor, video card, and ram do you have?

The 20+4 pin and the 4 pin have to be connected.

Are you following the instructions with the motherboard removed from the case?

[PeteClimbs]

Processor: Intel Core 2 E8400, LGA775 socket

Video card: NVIDIA GEFORCE 8400 GS

RAM: Corsair CMX4GX3M2A1600C9 (2GB, one of the two -- I've tried it with both 2GB memory chips but made no difference).

PS: Thermal Master ATX12V

Yes the motherboard is out of the case and the only things connected are the PSU and Monitor.

[David M]

Follow these troubleshooting procedures...
Having problems with a new build? Try this.

[glc]

Thermal Master? Please provide a link.

I have a feeling the ram may not be compatible. Trying to run 1600 speed ram in that motherboard requires overclocking, and it's high voltage ram (1.65v). I use 1.5 volt 1066 or 1333 speed ram in the DDR3 socket 775 builds I do.

Newegg.com - CORSAIR XMS3 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Desktop Memory Model TW3X4G1333C9A G

[PeteClimbs]

>Thermal Master? Please provide a link.

That's what it says on the PSU. It came with the case I bought.

I wondered about the PSU having a 20-pin and a separate 4pin connector as the motherboard has a 24-pin socket. But after going on Newegg web site and searching for a PSU, I found that all but one listed 20+4 as the main connector so it seems that my PSU should work.

[David M]

I think you might want to borrow somebody's DDR3 1333 1.5 volt RAM. Perhaps a local computer shop has a stick you can borrow?

The PSU's that come with cases are generally junk unless it's an Antec. So, it could very well be either the PSU, the RAM or both. One way to test the PSU would be to do the jumper test using a multimeter to test all three rails.

In doing a little little research, I found out that Thermal Masters seem to be lower end PSU's made by Cooler Master that they like putting in their cases. It's probably not something you want powering your computer. Do you have a Coolermaster case? glc will know more.

[glc]

Can you take a digital pic of the label on the PSU? It needs to be high resolution and in focus. Upload it to a photo sharing site and post a link, please.