Help on new build - Will Not Boot

[Andrick]

SO I got all my parts and put it all together, hit the power button and....nothing. Fans come on, indicator lights on the mother board light up, but no output from the video card at all. Floppy drive was running constantly when I powered up the system. Rechecked all connections and seatings for cards, all ok. I think the mobo or the cpu might be the culprit, but I am not sure. Anyone have any ideas for how to narrow down the problem? System is:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814130312 (EVGA video)

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813130081 (MSI mb)

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16822148262 (Seagate SATA drive)

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819115029 (e6750)

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817139001 (Corsair PS)

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820146565 (Crucial memory)

Any help greatly appreciated!

 

[Onus]

Reset CMOS. Check for reversed floppy cable. 4-pin CPU cable plugged in? Aux power for GPU plugged in (although most will complain quite loudly if it isn't) ?
Try with only one stick of RAM installed. If you can get to the BIOS, check RAM voltage. That RAM wants a whopping 2.2v, but the default is probably 1.8v.
If the speakers are plugged in, are there any beeps?

 

[Andrick]

Thanks for the input, I'll try resetting CMOS when I get home. Aux power and graphics power connectors are attached, I even switched the graphics power from one rail to the other. I will also try with just one stick of ram and see if that lets me get booted. I did not have the speakers hooked up, but will do so when i get home and see if I get any beeps. I'll take any other suggestions anyone might have as well, I really don't want ot have to hassle with sending stuff back. BTW, assuming I can get booted with one stick of RAM, just setting the voltage for the ram to the required 2.2v should allow me to put the other 3 sticks in correct? (I got 4 1GB sticks)

 

[stephenstern]

just try setting the voltage first, if it is that, then removing 3 chips wont help, your still have low voltage on one. removing the chips just makes sure one isnt faulty

 

[pjs]

SO I got all my parts and put it all together, hit the power button and....nothing.

Nothing at all?

Fans come on, indicator lights on the mother board light up, but no output from the video card at all. Floppy drive was running constantly when I powered up the system.

That's not nothing. In fact, that's definitely something. You didn't mention whether you heard BIOS beep. That could be extremely important in determining what the problem is ... or is not.

Have you ruled out grounding problems yet? Can you place the mobo on a book or a newspaper?

Have you taken a voltmeter to your PSU's output plugs yet?

You're in a tough position if you don't have other hardware (or friends) with which you can swap components. If you didn't hear *any* BIOS beep, then it's safe to say the problem is likely to be the mobo, but can be the CPU (I've witnessed no BIOS beeps with incorrectly seated CPUs. It sucks. The mobo should be able to tell you "no CPU", and it often does. But not always).


Zero, try resetting BIOS with the mobo switch (I would remove the battery *just* to make absolutely certain - it shouldn't be necessary, but at this point, you need to be as defensive in your debugging as possible).

First, I would measure your PSU's output with a voltmeter to make sure the PSU is OK.

Second, I'd disconnect everything from the mobo. Remove the CPU and RAM. Just your mobo and a PSU. Turn the PSU on and see what happens (check the net or your mobo's manual to see if BIOS has a "no CPU" code). If it does have a "no CPU" code, and you don't hear anything, then because you already tested the PSU, you know the mobo is bad.

Third, add the CPU.

Fourth, add the RAM.

Again, you're trying to get some kind of BIOS status beep.



You may want to purchase this:

http://www.amazon.com/Startech-com-PCIPOST-Post-Diagnostics-Test/dp/B00006B8EZ

It looks horribly overpriced, but given the money you have invested into the machine, is probably a prudent purchase. See the comment about 3.3v vs 5v PCI slots. Might want to see if there are cheaper alternatives out there. I guess the working principle here is that if you REALLY need to take a piss badly, paying 5 bucks to use a bathroom goes from being crazy to not such a bad idea at all.

 

[Andrick]

I did not hear any beeps, but I did have (now thta i think about it) speakers hooked up to the SB Audigy 2 card I had moved over from the old machine, but that might have been because the onboard sound was still enabled and i had nothing hooked up to that. I'll plug into the onboard sound when i get home and see if I get any BIOS beeps. I'll also try what you all have listed. Keep the help coming and thanks again!

 

[jsc]

The small speaker that we are talking about plugs into the motherboard if the motherboard does not have one built into it. It is what generates the beeps you hear when you first turn on the computer. If your motherboard needs one, the pins for it should be around the pins where you plug in the LED's and switches from the case. Your manual will tell you where they are.

It has nothing to do with any external speakers used for audio.

You can use a DMM to check the PSU outputs - ground lead to a black wire on the main power cable. The yellow wires should read 12 volts, red wires should read 5 volts, and the orange wires should read 3.3 volts. This is all common knowledge.

Here is what isn't: As soon as all the outputs are present, the PSU sends a control signal called something like "PowerOK" to the motherboard. If this signal is missing, the PC WILL NOT BOOT. The lights may come on, the fans may spin, the hard drives may start to spin up, but the PC WILL NOT BOOT.

THis signal is located on pin 8 (grey wire, usually). This pin should go to about 3 - 5 volts within one second of pressing the power switch.

If you still have problems, try this:

http://www.tomswiki.com/page/Troubleshooting+a+New+Build

It's a fair amount of work, but it should help you determine what is wrong.

 

[Andrick]

Ok, I know what speaker we are talking about, that was temporay brain freeze I guess. it has been over 5 years since I built a system. I'll check and see if the case I am using has a speaker in it, not sure if it does or not. I have a couple old cases around the house I can snag one from if need be. Thanks again for the input.

 

[jsc]

While I am thinking about it, assuming no accidental grounds in the case (that's why we suggest starting over outside the case on an insulated surface), the usual suspects - in order - are the PSU, motherboard, the CPU.

 

[Andrick]

The grounding issue might be my problem the more I think on this. The old board I took out of the case had one more screw to secure the mobo with then the new one did, I am wondering if that riser is causing a ground since it is obviously in a spot it does not belong in. I am thinking tonight I will try resetting the CMOS and removing all the memory except 1 stick and trying that first (the easy solution). If that does not work, i guess I will be pulling out the motherboard again and checking for that extra riser. Thoughts on this procedure?

 

[Andrick]

One last bump for any other thoughts, I don't have access to a computer at home (duh), so want to get as many ideas to try as I can before I go home from work. Thanks to all that have put forth ideas!

 

[Andrick]

Ok so I lied, got stuck at work later then expected so figure I'd bump one more time for any other input.

 

[jsc]

If you have an old case lying around, in addition to salvaging the speaker, get the switches, LED's and the associated wiring and header connectors. That way, you can breadboard a PC without needing a case. Very handy for testing.