newbuild

so i think i'm stuck in a worst-case scenario here. I've added all the components to the computer in the correct manner, but when I hit the power button, nothing happens. No case lights, nothing.

I have already tried replacing the power supply, and I know that it is working.

As a diagnostic note, the first time I tried running the computer, i forgot to plug the smaller 8-pin power connection into the motherboard. Could this have fried it? I didn't think that was likely so I tried replacing the power supply first.

So...any ideas guys?

Here's my specs:

Rosewill Conqueror RPS-01-WB500P Triple 120mm Fans Steel ATX Mid tower Computer Case with 500W Power Supply - Retail
Standard Return Policy

SAMSUNG DVD Burner Black SATA Model SH-S223L LightScribe Support - OEM
Standard Return Policy

Western Digital Caviar Green WD5000AADS 500GB SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Hard Drive - OEM


OCZ Diesel 4GB Single Channel Flash Drive (USB2.0 Portable) Model OCZUSBDSL4G - Retail

Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium SP1 64-bit for System Builders w/ Tech Guarantee - OEM

Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 Wolfdale 3.0GHz LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Processor Model BX80570E8400 - Retail

MSI R4850-2D512-OC Radeon HD 4850 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card - Retail

G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066 (PC2 8500) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model F2-8500CL5D-4GBPK - Retail

GIGABYTE GA-EP45-UD3R LGA 775 Intel P45 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail

Thanks!

Phædrus2401

It's probably the Rosewill power supply. Rosewill is one of the worst brands out there (on all fronts really, but especially when it comes to power supplies) and they rate their power supplies as much more powerful than they really are. And they put the cheapest of their cheap PSUs in their cases. That 500w you have would probably make a mediocre 400w. For a system like yours, with a high-end dual core CPU and a Radeon 4850, we recommend a quality 550w power supply.

Also, did you remember to connect the case connectors to the motherboard?

wrench97

Do you have the stand off's under the motherboard?
You might want to try doing the bench test, don't skip any steps> How to Bench Test Your System

Tyree

Do the Bench Test. Replace the Rosewill with a quality unit.
Do NOT have any USB devices plugged in.

newbuild

I replaced the rosewill power supply with this one:



Antec - EarthWatts 650-Watt ATX CPU Power Supply
Model: EA 650 | SKU: 8774267



which I assume is sufficient. I will do the bench test soon and see what happens.

As far as motherboard connectors go. I don't think I have any spacers underneath the motherboard, which is not good. Those were supposed to come with the motherboard itself?

Phædrus2401

Standoffs usually come with the case. First time I built a computer I didn't use standoffs. Turned it on, nothing happened... Waited five seconds, then I smelled that smell that plastic exudes when it's about two seconds from bursting into flames. I shut off the PSU like I was Schwarzenegger stopping the nukes from destroying the world. Had to send the motherboard back in, said it was DOA, luckily for me Newegg doesn't always test its RMAs, so they sent me a new one for just the cost of shipping.

Let's see if it works on a bench test though, it may just have been a minor short, not a major one like the one that fried my first motherboard.

newbuild

Hiya,

I tried the bench test and got some activity which I took as a good thing. The led's on the motherboard are lighting up just fine. The video card fan began to spin right away. The CPU fan took a little bit to get going but it started spinning just fine. The only thing I wasn't seeing was a post screen so I shut the system down. Tried replacing the DDR stick in place and ran it again, same result.

So yeah, started this time. Just no post screen. Any ideas for the next step?

wrench97

Try clearing the CMOS with the Jumper on the motherboard then see if it will boot.

newbuild

Ok. I looked at that but I didn't want to do anything with out verifing.

One more thing. Jumper? Sorry, I'm still pretty new.

Phædrus2401

What a jumper is: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jumper_%28computing%29

The jumper's location should be marked in the motherboard manual, it's usually close to the motherboard battery.

wrench97

The pins will either be bare or have plastic caps on them if they do remove the caps and touch the pins together with the tip of a screwdriver for 10 seconds or so. unplug the power from the power supply first and press and hold the on button to dissipate any stored energy. Rehook the power and try to boot, if it boots load optimized defaults.

Attached Images

UD3L ClrCmos.jpg (73.7 KB, 8 views)

newbuild

I tried clearing the CMOS as you said. The system started for a second then rebooted and I had the same result as before.

wrench97

Rma(Return) the motherboard.

newbuild

Are we certain that the motherboard is the problem?

wrench97

It shorted on the case correct?

newbuild

Got the RMA motherboard today!

I'm assuming I should do a deck build first before putting the entire thing together, correct?

And yes, it did short on the case.

wrench97

Build it on the top of the box do not put the antistatic bag between the box and the board.

newbuild

I tried the bench test again, no dice. The sytem fans, leds both were running fine, but there is still no post screen on the monitor. I let the system run for a bit and it eventually shut down on its own..

wrench97

Double check that you have the 24 pin main and the 4 pin CPU power cables connected to the motherboard, the 6 pin PCIe power cable to the video card, the CPU heatsink plugged into the the correct fan header, 1 stick of ram in the slot closest to the CPU, Clear the CMOS and try to start.

Did you replace the thermal paste when reinstalling the heatsink?

newbuild

No I didn't replace the thermal paste... bad news?

And I'll try all of that. Thanks!