New build, no Post

[The Old Man]

Hi all, hope you can help!
I have just built a new system as follows:
Gigabyte KT133 motherboard
900 MHz Athlon CPU
All in Wonder AGP 32Mb Graphics card
256Mb memory
plus peripherals

The problem is I get no post, fans (3) and lights go on OK. What have I checked?

* Tried booting with full. partial and bare (heat sink fan only and essentially no peripherals) systems - still nothing
* PSU is 300W - so OK
* Shorting on motherboard (posts, etc.) - all OK
* CPU is 200MHz FSB - so OK
* Heat sink and fan correctly on processor, gel correctly contacts CPU
* Graphics card - tried a verified working Voodoo 3000 card but system still did not work
* Monitor - OK with other computer
* Memory - correct for motherboard and CPU (CAS timing, etc.)
* Checked and reseated all memory, graphic card, etc. thoroughly as well as checking AGP card did not short out motherboard

The jumper for CMOS clear is not available (soldered out) so can't check this.

Anyone able to give me ideas? Help - aaaarrrrggghhhhhh!
TMO

[jet_rider]

Have you tried it with just the cpu(including fan and heat sink) ram and video card? You may want to even try this out of the case to ensure you are not grounding on something.

[Smoke24]

Sounds like it is running but not getting video. Make sure the video card is seated all the way in it's slot, you should feel it bottom out. While you're at it reseat the memory too. You might try what jet is suggesting and assemble it outside the case just to be able to get to everything and have the motherboard on a solid surface to seat everything. If all else fails pull the processor to be sure there are no bent pins.

[HAL9000]

If all else fails, start from scratch and try this.

[Jenni]

Actually, I can think of ONE thing that NOBODY has mentioned---make sure the switch on the back of the power supply is flipped to 115v and NOT 230v. Happened to me the other day, took power supply out of the case to spiral wrap all the wires into nice neat bundles, kids took the opportunity to "mess" and flipped the switch on me. You can't imagine that sick feeling you get when you KNOW you did everything right but it still doesn't work!

Oops, just noticed you are in Europe, think you may have the reverse situation, if I remember right your power IS 230v, so you may have to take the opposite of my advice---anyway, whichever your power is, make sure your power supply is set to that too!

[The Old Man]

Hi all,
Many thanks for all the replies. Unfortunately, I still can't get the thing to post beep...
Here's what I tried extra:

* Tried using CPU, fan and heat sink, with video card (All in Wonder and verified Voodoo 3000 separately) only
* Tried with motherboard in and out of the case
* Treble checked that all the bits were well pushed into the slots (video card, memory, etc.)
* Checked the processor pins were not bent - OK
* Checked the power supply is on 230V - OK

I've gone to the link suggested by HAL9000, will try this tonight and let you know what happens.

Once again, many thanks for all your help.
TMO

[shivers]

Hey,you might want to check your front side bus.This happened to me.Idont know the exact board you have but make sure all the jumpers are in place or in the the right position.My computer wouldnt do anything when my FSB jumper was set to 133 before i could lower the multiplier in the bios.Just an idea!Good luck!

[The Old Man]

Hi all,
Many thanks for all your help.
Unfortunately I still can't get it to work.

Firstly I tried building the system out of the case as a barebones set up, as suggested by HAL9000 - CPU fan works otherwise nothing. I assume this means a bad componenet - any ideas which one (PU, motherboard)?

I have checked the FSB dip switches - the FSB is correctly set to 100 MHz (I have an Athlon 900 on a Gigabyte GA-7ZXR motherboard) so this should be OK. The fact that I have 133MHz memory should make no difference?

Any other suggestions?

Cheers everyone for your time and help.
TMO

[Hpro]

Hi,
this may help ..
It will be a bit technical and you will need a VOLTMETER range DC 0 10 to test this ..
Look at the PSU Connector on the Motheroard and since all ATX Connectors using the same standard so here it is ..This is just for orientation
You will see on the right end of the connector looking from the clamp side which should be directed at you two red wires and one white wire - this are +5Volt for the red ones and -5volts for the white one.
Now here is what you have to check, exact opposite of the White wire at the same end of the connector there you count to the third wire - this wire is called POWER GOOD and will become active high +5volt if the CPU has been reset and the first 10 or 20 instructions have passed the prepost..Power good is hooked up to I/O control and can be pulled down for several reasons - but this isn't what I'm about - Plug the black tip of the voltmeter into one of the holes where the black wires go into the connector - or just hold it against the chassis of the computer parallel Ports grounding or whatever is ground ..

The red one stick into the third hole which is Power Good (Brown Wire - but it depends on the manufacturer - I mean the POWER GOOD Color)and look if when you power up the board with only CPU and RAM - NO VGA or other stull except the PC Speaker - the needle or the numbers on the voltmeter measure +5Volts -

This shouldn't take more than 4 seconds to come up if it doesn't come up shorten the RESET CONNECTOR where you place the Front panel switch connector for reset - You can also use a jumper cap and leave this for say 5 - 10 seconds and then pull it of.
Shut down insert VGA and start up again - Now measure again and you should get a response = +5Volts - if still not then pull out the bios Chip and reinsert it - this will in most cases help to get the board working if this is a new board..
Let us know ..
Chris

[The Old Man]

Hi all,
Thanks Hpro for the information. I'll try it and let you know what happens...
TMO