It's working!!! But I have (even) more questions!!!

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V

Vinny

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I got my CPU, installed it and now I have a few more questions.

1. I got the heatsink on after 5 tries, but I can't get this... arm thing (on the heatsink- NOT the arm to place the CPU in the socket, I got that fine) down to how it shows in the AMD manual. I can force it into that position, but then it reverts to where it was originally. The CPU and HS are on there right and feel solid. Is that arm supposed to revert to it's orginal position or should it lock down somewhere?

2. When I first plugged it in, it wouldn't power on.. then I pulled out the power cord, pushed in all the connections inside, plugged it back in and it started up fine. Can I assume that it was just a loose connection?

3. While in the middle of the XP setup (with the blue screen background), the computer shut down for no reason while it was checking for comonents. I couldn't figure out why... I unplugged it, checked my connections again, replugged it but it wouldn't start. Then I noticed that the mobo 'stand-by' light was on... unplugged it until the light was off, replugged it, and started up fine and started going into setup again. It's copying files right now... why did this happen?

4. And finally, is it better to use drivers from the CD at first or go straight to the manufactuer's website and get the lastest drivers? And for GPUs, should I get drivers from the manufactuer of the card (ie, PowerColor, XFX) or the chipset manufactuer (ATI or Nvidia)?

Expect more questions later...:)


OLD POST:
Before we begin, I know that you need a CPU in order for a computer to work.:p

My processor won't be here until tomorrow and I had everything else hooked up. I thought I'd try and start up my system just to see if it powered on. But it doesn't.

The voltage setting on my PS is at 115, I tried it in both the '-' and the 'O' switch in the back, everything is hooked up right. I just hooked everything up and place the stuff where it's supposed to be as far as I can tell.

My components:
Case: Ultra Aluminus Mid-Tower http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=273035
Mobo: ASUS M2N-E Socket AM2 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16813131022
PSU: OCZ PowerStream 600W http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817711001
CPU: AMD X2 3800+ http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819103735
Memory: Corsair XMS DDR2 800 1GB x2 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16820145590
HD: Seagate 7200RPM 320GB http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16822148140
GPU: Powercolor X800GTO 256MB http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814131007
Soundcard: *using on mobo audio
Optical: Samsung 16x DVD DL Burner w/LS http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16827151118
Floppy: Samsung Floppy Drive http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16821103203
Fans: AeroCool 120mm x 2 http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16835129245

If I need a CPU to start the system then I'll feel better. But otherwise, what could it be? I'm thinking I screwed up the connections for the power switch... as I don't know which pin is a ground and which is the +. The lines are green and white or blue and white and the manual to my case doesn't say what's what.
Click to expand...
 
W

weilin

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It really depends upon the board. Some will power up the fans etc but give no video. some will light up, beep at you, then turn off. Most will just stay off. You really need a cpu before you try everything. Sorry to let you know. Also, as for the switch on the back of your psu hte 0 is binary for off. and the 1 is binary for on. (sometimes printed sideways as a dash -).
 
L

LALA

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Try checking the Power on switch connector. It can be that the switch is just inserted wrong (like flip it around). Those are the 4 pins or so that connect from the case to the motherboard along w/ the LED's, reset, etc.
 
S

sluzbenik

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That's not encouraging it rebooted during installation...Something might still not be seated properly. Check the connections AGAIN.

Not sure about the heatsink, but if it's on, it's on. Maybe the mechanism is faulty. Watch your temperatures though.

As for drivers, the mobo's CD drivers should be fine. A good rule is not to update stuff unless you have a specific problem that updated drivers solve. I would get the latest Radeon drivers though for the video card.
 
N

nobly

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I got my CPU, installed it and now I have a few more questions.

1. I got the heatsink on after 5 tries, but I can't get this... arm thing (on the heatsink- NOT the arm to place the CPU in the socket, I got that fine) down to how it shows in the AMD manual. I can force it into that position, but then it reverts to where it was originally. The CPU and HS are on there right and feel solid. Is that arm supposed to revert to it's orginal position or should it lock down somewhere?
Click to expand...

Ummmm wait, so your heatsink isn't seated properly? The heatsink should be level w/ the motherboard and that arm thing you're talking about should latch onto something...

2 & 3) Hey, it works now, don't question it. We can spend lots of time speculating on why and how but there's better ways to waste time... like Halo or something :)

4) I usually check for drivers on the internet. For GPUs, I'd go w/ the manufacturer first, then the chipset manufacturer. The card manufacturer knows exactly how the card was put together, whereas nvidia/ati only know the chipset level.
 
V

Vinny

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The heatsink is on fine... there are two clips that hold it on as far as I can tell and then there's the arm. Before I installed it, I noticed that arm pressed the heatsink down which is now leading me to believe that it's just to help spread the thermal great already on the HS.

Here are some... bad pictures to help try to explain.

In this pic, you can see the clip circled in red, the top one, that's latching the HS on to the mobo.
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a187/fyreboltx/DSC007251.jpg

And in this pic, you can see the arm circled in green and the clip (under it) in red). The arm is currently in the default position I am supposed to move it to the right (like, towards the front of the case).
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a187/fyreboltx/DSC007242.jpg

It's been running fine for about an hour now mostly doing.... nothing. I heard a funny noise from the HD I believe when I rebooted for the first time but it stopped after I hit my desktop and I haven't heard it yet.

Now I just need to figure out how to get my wi-fi card to connect to my router... it's giving me a lot of trouble.:-(
 
Wolfshadw

Wolfshadw

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Aug 3, 2006
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The heatsink is on fine... there are two clips that hold it on as far as I can tell and then there's the arm. Before I installed it, I noticed that arm pressed the heatsink down which is now leading me to believe that it's just to help spread the thermal great already on the HS.

Here are some... bad pictures to help try to explain.

In this pic, you can see the clip circled in red, the top one, that's latching the HS on to the mobo.
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a187/fyreboltx/DSC007251.jpg

And in this pic, you can see the arm circled in green and the clip (under it) in red). The arm is currently in the default position I am supposed to move it to the right (like, towards the front of the case).
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a187/fyreboltx/DSC007242.jpg

It's been running fine for about an hour now mostly doing.... nothing. I heard a funny noise from the HD I believe when I rebooted for the first time but it stopped after I hit my desktop and I haven't heard it yet.

Now I just need to figure out how to get my wi-fi card to connect to my router... it's giving me a lot of trouble.:-(
Click to expand...

That "C" clip (which you marked in red) should lock on to the CPU port on the motherboard. Why it's there, I'm not sure, as the two metal fasteners seem to hold the heatsink in place, but you probably should go back in and lock that arm into position.

-Wolf sends
 
V

Vinny

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Thanks for that video, looks like I need to go back in there and lock that arm!

Well, everything's working fine it seems... hated having to sit through my second partition reformatting, which took almost 3 hours! But at least you only have to do it once.:)

Now, a few more things before I (hopefully) leave you guys alone.

What are some good apps to test my components? I keep hearing about this app called memtest, which I'll try out. I need to find out if my timings for my memory are right but I'll do that through the BIOS.

Also, I'm trying to figure out some of the temps shown via SpeedFan.

My temps... (all at idle, the computers not doing anything)
Temp 1: 32C
Temp 2: 33C
HD0: 35C
Temp 3: -4C
Temp 1: 40C (yes, another one)

I also have ASUS probe but that doesn't show HD temp. Comparing SpeedFan and ASUS probe, I figured that the Temp 1 was CPU and Temp 2 was mobo, and the HD was obvious. Now there are two more: a Temp 3 and another Temp 1 (except this Temp 1 has a chip listed as ACPI, the other one is listed as IP8XXXX- can't remember). Any idea what those two unknown ones are?
 
W

weilin

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with the exception of -4c (i think thats a dud, a fake sensor) i somehow seriously doubt anything in your pc is cooler than freezing. the other probe could be your video card temperature. Video cards would idle at around 40-50 so that sounds about right.
 
N

nobly

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What are some good apps to test my components? I keep hearing about this app called memtest, which I'll try out. I need to find out if my timings for my memory are right but I'll do that through the BIOS.
Click to expand...
memtest is to test your RAM. It runs through endlessly and reports RAM errors.
The best way to stress your computer is via some kind of game that doesn't require you to be present. UT has one of those, i think.
Games are the most stressful programs you can run on components and if you can run one endlessly for a while, its a good test to make sure everything is working correctly.

Temp3 sounds like a dead sensor (one that speedfan didn't recognize). The 40C would probably be the vid card, what else could be that hot if you've eliminated the CPU and motherboard?
 
V

Vinny

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Ok, about the SpeedFan readings... I've narrowed it down to this.

Temp1 never changes (the 40C). I ran HL2 maxed out w/ Vsync on at 1680x1050 (ran rather smooth but did stutter a bit, runs nearly perfect if I turn off AA). It just doesn't change... therefore, I'm assuming that its a complete dud. Temp 3 on the other hand does increase once I start gaming or anything that requires the vid card. It's in the negatives when at idle but during some videos/video editing, it goes up to 5C or 6C and during games shoots up to 23C to 26C, but never over that. I'm going to assume it's working but it's faulty. I'll consider it resolved for now.

I'll try to find some games that can run without having me sit there.
 
S

Sidicas

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In the pictures you show, you don't have the arm locked into place. YOU MUST lock the ARM into place!!! On my M2N-E, it was a bit difficult to do, you really need to push down on it pretty hard with two fingers. I was worried I was going to break the thing, so I spent about 10 minutes trying to lock the arm in gently... That just didn't work at all.
Watch the AMD video, the guy clearly needs to use both fingers with a lot of force.

I have an M2N-E and got constant BSODs. Installing the nVidia Forceware chipset drivers reduced the BSODs from once every 5 mins to once every 4 hours. Updating the BIOS to 0203 completely fixed all my BSODs. Asus website lists BIOS version 0203 as being required for ALL AM2 CPUs on the M2N-E. Apparently they released this motherboard half-baked.

Keep in mind the M2N-E does not support RAM above 1.95 volts. Because of this, OCZ is known to not work on this board. Corsair works very good though. I'm running around the web trying to get the word out to people because Asus is not. I know everybody is having a lot of troubles with this board. Once you get it up and running, it is a great mobo.
 
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