Bench Test Grounding

ShosMeister · 05-20-2008, 01:38 PM

I've been building/rebuilding a couple of old machines to get them back to some use and I used the Bench Test guide here to help - THANKS!!!!

The question though is grounding for the motherboard. Does it get it's ground from the standoffs that it's normally mounted to or from the power supply?

The reason I'm asking - just so you know - is that one of the motherboards that I bought didn't work. I could not get it to post. I went through an extensive troubleshooting with whatever I had available - basically verified power supply and RAM but not CPU - and still could not get a post. Not even a beep!

So, I sent it back to the seller. They tested it and said "The techs tested the board and they were able to get it to work for about 15 minutes before it shut off. After further research they found the main chip was burnt out, due to improper grounding."

So, again, if I follow the bench test guide, it doesn't mention anything about additional grounding and I didn't think the standoffs supplied any ground. Could I have fried it by bench testing out of the case or are they wrong?

If I could have fried it, then no problems. I'll have to buy another one. But, if not, then I don't know if it's worth argueing with them over it.

Thanks as always guys!!!!!

**linderman** · 05-22-2008, 08:27 AM

they are blowing smoke up your keister !!

the ground to all motherboards is delivered by the powersupply via the 20 or 24 pin motherboard connector >>>>> see the black wires in the main motherboard plug eminating from the power supply >>>>> thats your ground >>>>>

**linderman** · 05-22-2008, 08:30 AM

I have a demo computer that runs outside of the case (bench test) at my shop 24/7 & 365 days a year which I use for conversation as well as illistration pf how and where the parts are located and how they work

ShosMeister · 05-22-2008, 12:51 PM

Thanks Linderman. I was thinking that. Having worked electronics for 10 years in the USAF, I thought I was correct, but, being relatively new to the building of PCs, I thought I'd ask. Plus, nothing that I know of would work for 15 seconds let alone 15 minutes if it were shorted out.

Guess I need to decide if it's work argueing it with them.

**linderman** · 05-22-2008, 03:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ShosMeister

Guess I need to decide if it's work argueing it with them.

very seldom are they willing to listen when they are covering their butt

ShosMeister · 06-06-2008, 01:18 PM

Decided not to argue with them. They sent back the CPU and RAM and I verified with them that the CPU/RAM combo DID NOT work on the board they had sent, but, they said it worked on another board - again, not going to argue it.

Anyway, purchased a new (in the box) BioStar board (P4M800-M7 I think; at work now so if it's wrong I'll update later). Hooked everything up and no post, no beeps, nothing except the fans blowing.

Could the CPU just be not compatible even though it's a P4, the correct FSB and within the clock speed specs?

I'm having the CPU seller send me a new CPU - he's been great for an e-bay seller - and I'm going with a P4 630 rather then the 550J hoping that it's just a compatibility issue somewhere with the CPU/board combo.

Any ideas why the 550J would not work - especially since it apparently worked in another board?

**linderman** · 06-06-2008, 02:56 PM

no reason I can think of why the cpu you have wont work ??? the real test will be if the 630 fires up

keep us posted

ShosMeister · 06-07-2008, 05:21 AM

Me either. Here's the specs on the processors:

550

I don't understand why there are two entries for the 550J and three for the 550 all with the same speed. Maybe there is something just a little bit different??

630

Hoping if the above is true, that I don't run into the same thing with the 630.

I'll keep you posted and thanks for the help and support as always!!!

ShosMeister · 06-09-2008, 03:37 PM

Okay, I'm more lost than I was before and need some help/input. Here's the specs again just to put them all in one place:

MB: BioStar P4M800 Pro-M7A/Micro ATX(that's right off of the motherboard)
RAM: PC3200U/512MB/CL3/ECC (tried booting with and without RAM. Tested RAM in other machine)
CPU: Intel P4 630 SL7Z9
PSU: ATX12V Flex 300W (built into case)

Conditions:
NO POST :( :( :(

Tested with and without RAM and tried RAM in another machine and it worked fine.
Tried with another power supply from a working machine (running an ECS motherboard with AMD Athlon CPU). Also used this power supply to power up that other machine.

As noted above, replace original CPU (550J) with verified tested before leaving seller P4-630 so I'm very confident that all components are good. What's wrong? I get no beeps, no video (using onboard video and not an AGP or PCI card), no nothing. All connections are off except 20 pin power, 4 pin CPU power, CPU and SYS fan and front panel header (power, reset, HDD LED and power LED).

Even tried hooking up an IDE drive and did not see any difference - no beeps, no display, no nothing.

In between each configuration change, I reset the BIOS as well. There is no smoke (that's good right?), all fans and LEDs act as expected, but nothing else.

Help!!!! - BTW, if you think this would be best moved to one of the other threads, that's fine.

Thanks guys and I hope someone has an idea because otherwise, I'll just return all of this stuff (if I can) and start all over again with a different board, case, CPU, etc.

05-20-2008, 01:38 PM	#1 (permalink)
ShosMeister Registered User Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Harpers Ferry, WV Posts: 400 OS: OS X 10.4.x	Bench Test Grounding I've been building/rebuilding a couple of old machines to get them back to some use and I used the Bench Test guide here to help - THANKS!!!! The question though is grounding for the motherboard. Does it get it's ground from the standoffs that it's normally mounted to or from the power supply? The reason I'm asking - just so you know - is that one of the motherboards that I bought didn't work. I could not get it to post. I went through an extensive troubleshooting with whatever I had available - basically verified power supply and RAM but not CPU - and still could not get a post. Not even a beep! So, I sent it back to the seller. They tested it and said "The techs tested the board and they were able to get it to work for about 15 minutes before it shut off. After further research they found the main chip was burnt out, due to improper grounding." So, again, if I follow the bench test guide, it doesn't mention anything about additional grounding and I didn't think the standoffs supplied any ground. Could I have fried it by bench testing out of the case or are they wrong? If I could have fried it, then no problems. I'll have to buy another one. But, if not, then I don't know if it's worth argueing with them over it. Thanks as always guys!!!!!

05-22-2008, 08:27 AM	#2 (permalink)
linderman Moderator, Hardware Team Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 20,437 OS: win 2000 pro / Win XP pro My System	Re: Bench Test Grounding they are blowing smoke up your keister !! the ground to all motherboards is delivered by the powersupply via the 20 or 24 pin motherboard connector >>>>> see the black wires in the main motherboard plug eminating from the power supply >>>>> thats your ground >>>>> __________________ I still know nothing and I respect that fact, striving to improve and, along the way, help anyone that comes from the place that I used to be! Power Supply Selection LEARN TO BACK-UP YOUR DATA FREE & EASY YouTube - Runtime Software DriveImage XML tutorial

05-22-2008, 08:30 AM	#3 (permalink)
linderman Moderator, Hardware Team Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 20,437 OS: win 2000 pro / Win XP pro My System	Re: Bench Test Grounding I have a demo computer that runs outside of the case (bench test) at my shop 24/7 & 365 days a year which I use for conversation as well as illistration pf how and where the parts are located and how they work __________________ I still know nothing and I respect that fact, striving to improve and, along the way, help anyone that comes from the place that I used to be! Power Supply Selection LEARN TO BACK-UP YOUR DATA FREE & EASY YouTube - Runtime Software DriveImage XML tutorial

05-22-2008, 12:51 PM	#4 (permalink)
ShosMeister Registered User Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Harpers Ferry, WV Posts: 400 OS: OS X 10.4.x	Re: Bench Test Grounding Thanks Linderman. I was thinking that. Having worked electronics for 10 years in the USAF, I thought I was correct, but, being relatively new to the building of PCs, I thought I'd ask. Plus, nothing that I know of would work for 15 seconds let alone 15 minutes if it were shorted out. Guess I need to decide if it's work argueing it with them.

06-06-2008, 01:18 PM	#6 (permalink)
ShosMeister Registered User Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Harpers Ferry, WV Posts: 400 OS: OS X 10.4.x	Re: Bench Test Grounding Decided not to argue with them. They sent back the CPU and RAM and I verified with them that the CPU/RAM combo DID NOT work on the board they had sent, but, they said it worked on another board - again, not going to argue it. Anyway, purchased a new (in the box) BioStar board (P4M800-M7 I think; at work now so if it's wrong I'll update later). Hooked everything up and no post, no beeps, nothing except the fans blowing. Could the CPU just be not compatible even though it's a P4, the correct FSB and within the clock speed specs? I'm having the CPU seller send me a new CPU - he's been great for an e-bay seller - and I'm going with a P4 630 rather then the 550J hoping that it's just a compatibility issue somewhere with the CPU/board combo. Any ideas why the 550J would not work - especially since it apparently worked in another board?

06-06-2008, 02:56 PM	#7 (permalink)
linderman Moderator, Hardware Team Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 20,437 OS: win 2000 pro / Win XP pro My System	Re: Bench Test Grounding no reason I can think of why the cpu you have wont work ??? the real test will be if the 630 fires up keep us posted __________________ I still know nothing and I respect that fact, striving to improve and, along the way, help anyone that comes from the place that I used to be! Power Supply Selection LEARN TO BACK-UP YOUR DATA FREE & EASY YouTube - Runtime Software DriveImage XML tutorial

06-07-2008, 05:21 AM	#8 (permalink)
ShosMeister Registered User Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Harpers Ferry, WV Posts: 400 OS: OS X 10.4.x	Re: Bench Test Grounding Me either. Here's the specs on the processors: 550 I don't understand why there are two entries for the 550J and three for the 550 all with the same speed. Maybe there is something just a little bit different?? 630 Hoping if the above is true, that I don't run into the same thing with the 630. I'll keep you posted and thanks for the help and support as always!!!

06-09-2008, 03:37 PM	#9 (permalink)
ShosMeister Registered User Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Harpers Ferry, WV Posts: 400 OS: OS X 10.4.x	Re: Bench Test Grounding Okay, I'm more lost than I was before and need some help/input. Here's the specs again just to put them all in one place: MB: BioStar P4M800 Pro-M7A/Micro ATX(that's right off of the motherboard) RAM: PC3200U/512MB/CL3/ECC (tried booting with and without RAM. Tested RAM in other machine) CPU: Intel P4 630 SL7Z9 PSU: ATX12V Flex 300W (built into case) Conditions: NO POST :( :( :( Tested with and without RAM and tried RAM in another machine and it worked fine. Tried with another power supply from a working machine (running an ECS motherboard with AMD Athlon CPU). Also used this power supply to power up that other machine. As noted above, replace original CPU (550J) with verified tested before leaving seller P4-630 so I'm very confident that all components are good. What's wrong? I get no beeps, no video (using onboard video and not an AGP or PCI card), no nothing. All connections are off except 20 pin power, 4 pin CPU power, CPU and SYS fan and front panel header (power, reset, HDD LED and power LED). Even tried hooking up an IDE drive and did not see any difference - no beeps, no display, no nothing. In between each configuration change, I reset the BIOS as well. There is no smoke (that's good right?), all fans and LEDs act as expected, but nothing else. Help!!!! - BTW, if you think this would be best moved to one of the other threads, that's fine. Thanks guys and I hope someone has an idea because otherwise, I'll just return all of this stuff (if I can) and start all over again with a different board, case, CPU, etc.