Epic fail building new PC - Computer Technical Help

champstark · 06-19-2008, 06:10 PM

This is my first attempt at building a PC, so bear with me.

Basically, it won't even power on so I can get to BIOS and see what the **** is wrong. I know the PSU has power because the light on the back of it comes on and the power light on the mobo also comes on. However, when I press the power button on the tower nothing happens. Nothing turns on anywhere. The "HDD" light flashes very briefly and immediately goes out. I have no idea what the problem is...but it's probably something pretty simple.

**goofyballer** · 06-19-2008, 06:29 PM

Did you connect the 20/24 pin motherboard connector?

The 4/8 pin CPU connector?

CPU fan hooked up to its appropriate connector? External fans connected w/ the molex connectors? (worth noting that fans cause pretty much all of the noise in a computer so it may seem like nothing is on even if it's just the fans that are off)

Power switch header hooked in to the correct location on your motherboard?

Pic of motherboard w/ stuff connected would help.

Might try clearing CMOS settings just for fun (there's a CMOS jumper on your motherboard somewhere, switch the jumper's position from the two pins it's on to the opposite two pins and hold it there for a few seconds to clear it, then move it back to its original position)

champstark · 06-19-2008, 06:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by goofyballer

Did you connect the 20/24 pin motherboard connector?

Yes- I'm assuming this is the power connection...

The 4/8 pin CPU connector?

I'm assuming this is also power, so yes.

CPU fan hooked up to its appropriate connector? External fans connected w/ the molex connectors? (worth noting that fans cause pretty much all of the noise in a computer so it may seem like nothing is on even if it's just the fans that are off)

Yes.

Power switch header hooked in to the correct location on your motherboard?

As far as I can tell.

Pic of motherboard w/ stuff connected would help.

Done.

Might try clearing CMOS settings just for fun (there's a CMOS jumper on your motherboard somewhere, switch the jumper's position from the two pins it's on to the opposite two pins and hold it there for a few seconds to clear it, then move it back to its original position)

No change.

Let me know if I should take a picture of something in particular, I'm not sure how helpful that is.

nuclear500 · 06-19-2008, 06:47 PM

Does the CPU fan spin up, do any of the case fans?

The power required to turn a few lights on is minute compared to the power pull during the initial boot. Its possible the PSU is kapoot.

nuclear500 · 06-19-2008, 06:48 PM

Oh, and is the power button on the front actually connected to the power on the motherboard? I think I recall having this happen to me once where I had the power actually hooked up to the reset, so it never technically was told it should stay powered on...they are right next to each other usually.

champstark · 06-19-2008, 06:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nuclear500

Does the CPU fan spin up, do any of the case fans?

The power required to turn a few lights on is minute compared to the power pull during the initial boot. Its possible the PSU is kapoot.

None of the fans do anything...I suppose I could go run out and buy a new PSU and see if it works instead...is there some other way to test it?

champstark · 06-19-2008, 06:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nuclear500

Oh, and is the power button on the front actually connected to the power on the motherboard? I think I recall having this happen to me once where I had the power actually hooked up to the reset, so it never technically was told it should stay powered on...they are right next to each other usually.

I've checked this a million times and unless I'm just completely missing something the leads are hooked up correctly (I checked +/-, too).

**goofyballer** · 06-19-2008, 07:25 PM

Though it shouldn't keep your computer from booting, and it may depend on the mobo type, I think primary gfx cards go in the blue PCI-E slot (I know on my IP35 pro the manual says that if you only use one card and put it in the 2nd PCI-E slot it's limited to 4x or something).

What type of motherboard is that? (EDIT: Nvm, I see, P5K Pro)

It looks like you have four RAM chips - are they all the exact same size/type? If not, are you sure that the matching pairs are in the correct slots? (i.e. for most motherboards pairs 1/3 and 2/4 should be the same type)

Another pic zoomed out or from a diff angle that would show the areas above and to the right of the current pic would also help.

champstark · 06-19-2008, 07:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by goofyballer

Though it shouldn't keep your computer from booting, and it may depend on the mobo type, I think primary gfx cards go in the blue PCI-E slot (I know on my IP35 pro the manual says that if you only use one card and put it in the 2nd PCI-E slot it's limited to 4x or something).

I put it in the other slot because the fastener thing broke for the blue slot (the holders on the side of the case), but I'll check and see if it makes a difference on my mobo.

What type of motherboard is that? (EDIT: Nvm, I see, P5K Pro)

It looks like you have four RAM chips - are they all the exact same size/type? If not, are you sure that the matching pairs are in the correct slots? (i.e. for most motherboards pairs 1/3 and 2/4 should be the same type)

Yeah all the exact same.

Another pic zoomed out or from a diff angle that would show the areas above and to the right of the current pic would also help.

I have a few cables unplugged (USB connector and audio connector because they were getting in the way), just FYI.

Also wrt to the leads coming from the case, there is no lead with "speaker" written on it to plug into the mobo. This seems pretty strange to me, as it's supposed to be there according the mobo's manual.

**goofyballer** · 06-19-2008, 07:36 PM

Addenda:

Pic doesn't show clearly - is the green light below your gfx card on or off? Even when the power is off (but connected) the light should be on, I think.

On the right it looks like you have an SATA device powered by a molex - wat? I thought you use a SATA power cable for that. Maybe it doesn't matter but if there's an SATA power connector I'd use that.

Could be a trick of the photo but it describe the front panel audio connector plz - I assume you have the Azalia header plugged into the motherboard, then I see the AC'97 connector up above it, then there are more wires coming out of that? What are they/where do they go?

champstark · 06-19-2008, 07:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by goofyballer

Addenda:

Pic doesn't show clearly - is the green light below your gfx card on or off? Even when the power is off (but connected) the light should be on, I think.

On the right it looks like you have an SATA device powered by a molex - wat? I thought you use a SATA power cable for that. Maybe it doesn't matter but if there's an SATA power connector I'd use that.

Could be a trick of the photo but it describe the front panel audio connector plz - I assume you have the Azalia header plugged into the motherboard, then I see the AC'97 connector up above it, then there are more wires coming out of that? What are they/where do they go?

1. The green light only comes on when the power comes on: according to the manual it comes on to indicate "the system is on, in standby or in soft-off mode."

2. Not sure what you mean. That's the HD. It's connected using SATA but plugged into the power supply using the molex cable. Is there another way to power it? I'm going to investigate.

3. A picture might be easier to explain:

ASAJSHDGASJHfgsaJDFH The batteries on my camera just died. Basically there are two connectors in the same line. One says AC '97 and one says HD Audio. I have the HD Audio one plugged in.

**goofyballer** · 06-19-2008, 07:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by starkwired

2. Not sure what you mean. That's the HD. It's connected using SATA but plugged into the power supply using the molex cable. Is there another way to power it? I'm going to investigate.

Here's the back of my VelociRaptor:

The plug on the left is the SATA power. Does your HD not have one of those? All 3 of my SATA drives (2 HDs and DVD) use those, the only thing I'm using molexes for is fans.

btw, you has a pm.

champstark · 06-19-2008, 07:49 PM

I changed the HD over to the other power cable, FYI.

**goofyballer** · 06-19-2008, 08:17 PM

We found the culprit on AIM. In the first picture, on the far right just above the video card, there's a connector from the power supply hooked up to a fan connector on the motherboard. Why the PSU has a fan connector, I have no idea, but unplugging that seems to have fixed the problem and allowed OP's computer to boot.

champstark · 06-19-2008, 09:21 PM

goofy is a god, obv

**_dave_** · 06-20-2008, 11:28 AM

Looks like a floppy power connector, maybe?

nuclear500 · 06-20-2008, 01:48 PM

First, thanks for the update on resolution.

Quote:

Originally Posted by _dave_

Looks like a floppy power connector, maybe?

Think you might be right, but without a better view of that little power connector can't say for certain.

Hope nothing got fried on the motherboard, but I guess you'd have found that out already!

champstark · 06-20-2008, 06:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nuclear500

First, thanks for the update on resolution.

Think you might be right, but without a better view of that little power connector can't say for certain.

Hope nothing got fried on the motherboard, but I guess you'd have found that out already!

So far so good, at least.

Coarse Pepper · 06-20-2008, 07:36 PM

Check the System panel connector (20-pin PANEL)

It is located in the corner of your motherboard not show in the pictures you posted. There is a + and - connector for each plug. Make sure they are not in reverse order. Also make sure the PWRSW is connected to the switch (button on the case).