First build and computer won't start! Help!!

[bwidger]

I decided to build my first desktop computer; however, after putting in new hardware (mobo, psu, processor, heat sink, video card, RAM) I go to turn the power on and both the PSU and the heatsink fan spins half way then stops and computer doesn't start. I tried my old PSU from another desktop computer that I know works and the same problem: PSU and heatsink fan spins halfway then stops and computer doesn't start, so I'm fairly sure it isn't the new PSU.

Because I am new at building computers I hope I simply just didn't setup the harware correctly. Anyway, below I will list the products I bought for my new build and I will also show pictures of my new setup so you guys can possibly detect the problem.

Here are the components I bought and set up:

CPU:
i7-2600k (heatsink included)

Mobo:
ASUS P8P67-M Pro

PSU:
Corsair TX 750w

Video card:
Visiontek Radeon HD4350

RAM:
Crucial 8GB 1333MHz (2X4GB)

I followed all the directions for all the hardware listed when setting up. I first installed the mobo carefully and without any problems. Next I installed the cpu, added some thermal paste, and then installed the heatsink on top. I made sure everything was latched correctly with the heatsink and secured. After that, I then took out my old PSU (300w) and added the new Corsair PSU (750w) and bracketed it in the tower's casing slot. I then added the RAM to the appropriate slots and installed the video card to a PCIe slot.

Now, the next process is what I'm worried about because it involves me hooking up all the cables to the mobo, etc. I know little about hooking stuff up so of course I followed the directions to a tee. I have the 24-pin power cable securely fastened to the motherboard, as well as the 8-pin +12V EPS12V cable connected to the oppropriate 8-pin adapter located to the upper left from the heatsink. My old case has a hardrive already inside of it so I also hooked that up via SATA and the power from the PSU; then hooked up DVD drive similarly. One thing I was confused about was hooking up the LED wires to the system panel connector, but I'm pretty sure I got all the connections right on it, and I also don't think it'd affect the powering on because it is for LED lights mainly, or will it? I also hooked up the wire that goes to the IEEE 1394a connector as well as the audio wire to the front panel audio connector. Basically, that was everything I could hook up that needed to be hooked up and they seemed to go to all the right spots without a problem (not 100% positive though). I have heard the i7-2600k may be having issues. I hope it isn't that!

Here are pictures I took of my new build to possibly help you guys identify a problem:

pictures

I'm thinking I probably didn't set up the system panel connector wires up correctly, or it's a CPU problem, or a PSU problem. I'm not sure though...

Once again, my problem is that when I try to turn on my computer it doesn't turn on at all and the PSU fan and the heatsink fan spin maybe one cycle then stop. Interestingly enough, the mobo's standby LED glows green to show it is getting power but my computer just won't start. Please help! I'm new at this and hopefully it's something simple I missed or didn't hook up right. I'd hate to have to spend the money to take it to a shop! Thanks!

[rwest]

I'd try just installing one stick of ram at a time and see what happens.

Sounds like you got the the front panel connectors okay. They are + and - but I doubt that'll stop post.

if trying one stick of ram at a time doesn't help you should follow this:


PROBLEMS with a NEW BUILD? Try This!!

[glc]

The CPU, heatsink, and ram should be installed on the board BEFORE mounting it in the case! Otherwise, the pressures involved with seating the ram and heatsink can flex the board excessively and possibly crack some solder joints. You also may not have the heatsink pins fully snapped down into the board.

Follow the linked thread and remove the board from the case.

[bwidger]

Hi guys, thank you for your responses!

I think I fixed the problem. Remember me mentioning hooking up the IE1394 wire to connector? Well, I guess I connected that wire to the wrong connector because as soon as I disconnected that wire and tried to turn on the system it worked fine! Not even sure if that wire I had connected to the IE1394_1 connector was even for that part but figured it was since it was in the same location as my old mobo and the pins matched as well. To be more precise, that "wire" I speak of was coming from memory slots (?) from the front of the computer (see the black strip right above power button? The wire was coming from there, and I connected it to the IE1394 connector and power wouldn't start). To be honest, I still don't really know where that wire is supposed to go on my new mobo. I was so happy it was that I just didn't care lol.

On a side note, I'm curious as to why having an older hard drive would slow down my new build? As far as I understood, I was under the impression hard drives simply influence load time, or is there more to it? I think my old hard drive ran in the 5000rpm range with 60 gigs. The reason I built this new computer is for producing music, and so I figured having a slower hard drive would only affect loading projects with conjunction to speed? Would it have a more broad effect?

Btw, the IDE/Sata adapter I had on my hard drive didn't work in the way I wanted it to. When trying to install Windows 7 (32bit [want 64 bit for 8 gigs RAM but don't have CD just yet]), it did not locate the hard drive nor would it recognize my external 2tb WD hard drive connected through a USB port. I went to the BIOS to configure the computer to boot first from the external hard drive and the internal HD second, but still the boot cd did not recognize the drives, even though BIOS recognized them as present, so I don't know what's up with that? I read up on partitioning the external drive and got so far only to realize that windows 7 boot CD rejects any installation via USB or IEE way (frusterating). Long story short, I ended up just going online and ordering a new internal SATA HD for my system: here. Do you think this was a good HD to select for my new build? Do you think it will fit my music production needs well? Currently, I'm waiting for the new HD to arrive in the mail so I can continue windows 7 install.

FYI: From BIOS i7-2600k temp is stable at 53C. Sweet!

Once again, thanks guys!

[glc]

53c is only sweet at full load, not idle. Betcha your heatsink pins aren't fully seated, refer to my previous post.

[bwidger]

Hey guys, long time no report back yet. Unfortunately, I was sent in some bad hardware parts so had to send them back and wait. I got my computer running now (finally) and wanted to do some cpu temperature testing.

First my specs:
CPU: Intel i7-2600k 3.4GHz ([stock fan] not being overclocked!)
RAM: 8.00GB (2.99 GB usable)
System type: window7 32bit
Mobo: ASUS P8P67-M Pro

OK, so I ran two temperature reading programs and got two very different results. The first program I ran was the latest speedfan. The results looked like this:
System: 36C
CPU: 90C
AUX: 63C
SMIOVT4: 36C
SMIOVT5: 36C
SMIOVT6: 36C
HD0: 35C
Core 0: 30C
Core 1: 30C

(Obviously, there are more cores but that is as far as the list goes..)

So, wow, 90C for CPU at not even 1% usage (idol)! WTH!? So, I'm worried...

I then do some internet searching and am recommended Real Temp 3.65. I install it, and these are the readings running the cpu idol:
Temperature: 30C, 30C, 30C, 30C
Distance to TJ Max: 65, 65, 65, 65
Minimum: 24C, 25C, 25C, 25C (after 30 mins)
Maximum: 39C, 39C, 39C, 43C (after 30 mins)

OK, so why the CPU rating of 90C on Speedfan 30C average on Real Temp? Should I only pay attention to the core readings or should I focus on the large CPU reading on speedfan? Which programs are accurate for my specs? Also, do they look OK? ANy concerns or comments?

Thanks!

[0bit]

Try to use Realtemp 3.67 for sandy bridge processors. Link below will tell you whats been added to the program and the first post has an actual link to the program.

RealTemp 3.67 for Sandy Bridge - Overclockers Forums

[bwidger]

Thanks for the link! I downloaded and ran the new RealTemp and readings are pretty much the same as the previous version. Looks like speedfan isn't accurate.

[glc]

The only temperature readouts that I fully trust are the readings in the bios and with the monitoring program that comes with the motherboard.