ECS K7SEM wont POST

[harvesterj]

Hi

I have just built a system using a new ECS K7SEm 3.0a motherboard.

It wont post, not a sound out of it.

I have tried HAL9000's instructions, to no avail.

I have powered it up with nothing in it at all nothin happens.

When there are devices in, there is activity, cpu fan spins cdrom light flashes, I think the HDD spins but not certain.

The FDD light does not come on though.

Any idea what I can try.

Thanks

[Cricket]

You tried to start the system with nothing? Do you mean just the motherboard by itself and you get no beeps? Have you read the motherboard manual to be sure that all the motherboard jumpers are set correctly? Check the CLEAR CMOS jumper to see if it's in the NORMAL position and not the CLEAR position.

If you still get no beeps, then it's either the motherboard or the CPU that's causing the problem...my guess is you got a faulty motherboard.

Did you try another power supply yet? I would try that before I RMA the motherboard or CPU back to the vendor.

Cricket

[harvesterj]

OK I realised it was a faulty CPU and put a known good one in. Now the machine powers up for about 5 seconds then shuts down.

There are no jumpers on this board except for the cmos, which I have checked.

Help !!!

[dave computer]

I have the exact same motherboard. I was experiencing a similar problem and I replaced the cpu and it worked. Have you tried a video card seperate from the onboard video? When my build was powering on and then shutting off i had to rma the motherboard.

[Cricket]

It sounds like the CPU might be overheating the system is shutting down to save itself.

Which heatsink/fan unit are you using?

Are you sure it's installed properly? It should sit flat and level on the CPU core/die.

What kind of thermal interface material are you using...a thermal pad or thermal compound?

Cricket

[harvesterj]

Yes the heatsink was not seated right.... d'oh

BUT that has made little difference. It now powers up there is a quiet noise which could be a single beep. it still sits and does nothing no display, the cdrom light comes on, the floppy light does not.

I am at a loss !

Can anyone help?

[harvesterj]

The second CPU had blown aaaarrrggghhhh

CPU number 3 in and all OK.

Thanks ALL for your help

[dave computer]

Glad you got it working. Sorry about your 2 blown cpu's.

[harvesterj]

Oh my woes are back again.

The 3rd CPU I used was a Duron 750 I borrowed from a friend.

I bought an AthlonXP 1800+ and put it in.
Immediately the machine started playing up. It now will not stay booted up. I get to windowsXp desktop, and then it just shuts down and reboots.

I put the Duron 750 back in, all OK.

The ECS web site stated that the K7SEM pcb3.0A can cope with up to Athlon XP2200+.

I have got the latest BIOS v3.0b

Any ideas from anyone??

[Alienware_Dude]

It could be heat-related. Check the HSF again.

[GaryRouth]

Each time you change cpus, don't forget to enter Bios Setup and select the FSB you need. A Duron 750 uses the 100 fsb, the 1800+ uses the 133 fsb = if you have it set to Default or Auto, you might get the right speeds automatically.

If it's a Thoroughbred core 1800+, get that good thermal paste on the cpu before you put the hs/fan on, and make sure the hs/fan are rated for that speed (if the retail Amd, should be OK). The Bios probably has a thermal shutdown function that you might be triggering: you can check your temps (if the machine stays on long enough) in the Hardware Monitor or PC Health sections of the Bios Setup screens. If you've set the shutdown temperature unreasonably low, it might be shutting off when not all that hot. You can set a warning temp alarm on most systems, too (for example 65 C for the alarm, 70 C for shutdown).

Also, you can try running with the case open - and check the fans with everything open. If the system is suddenly Ok, then it was heat.

But, like Cricket, I also have to wonder if the power supply is up to supporting the ECS board. ECS boards are in the value category, and seem to prefer special handling when it comes to even power on the 3.3 volt rail. You might borrow an Antec or Enermax & see if all is OK then.
. . . Gary