Urgent - does not POST

[xlorine]

Thanks for clicking on the thread! I am building a computer for a friend, and unfortunately I am leaving the city at the end of the week. So please help me out.

I gathered that the setup should POST with just the motherboard, RAM, CPU (+fan), GPU and obviously the power. So here are the details.

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MSI 945GCM7-F i945GC Socket 775 onboard VGA 6 channel audio mATX Motherboard
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/146781

Corsair 2GB Kit (2x1GB) DDR2 800MHz/PC2-6400 XMS2 Memory Non-ECC Unbuffered CL5
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/98710

Intel Pentium Dual Core E5200
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/148715

Arctic Cooling AC-FRZ-7P Freezer 7 Pro
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/105994

Coolermaster Elite 330 Black Case With CM eXtreme Power 460W PSU
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/135101

Powercolor HD 3850

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I have connected the 24pin main, 4pin CPU and the 6pin GPU power. Everything spins up but nothing comes up. I also noticed that the DVD drive only opens if I do NOT connect the IDE cable.

The components should work together, right?
I replaced the motherboard with my own Asus P5W DH deluxe, and it works!

I can supply any other details about the system if needed.

 

[kurtyboh]

check this site. http://global.msi.com.tw/index.php?func=prodcpu2&prod_no=1565&maincat_no=1

The board may need to have a bios update, depending on which version its running it will tell you on that site some of the proc's weren't compatible when the board was released and are now, due to 2 bios updates one in april one in july. Since your asus works with it, Id check that first.

 

[xlorine]

Sorry, forgot to put (can't edit my original post)

-The 3850 spin up very loudly
-I CAN power down by holding the power button
-Thanks you for any help!

 

[xlorine]

Kurtyboh - I think you've hit the nail on the head! But how do I update the BIOS if I cannot boot? would I have to return the board?

 

[kurtyboh]

well if you have your proc handy try that... i know it's a little bit of a hassle but it may allow you to boot up enough to update the bios... beyond that I've never had to update a bios so I can't walk you through the steps. I just saw what you said and know from reading numerous posts about it so i checked msi's site and they had 2 bios update for proc compatibility. If you cant/decide not to update a local comp shop should be able to help you out.

 

[xlorine]

The only other processor I have is a Q6600 which is no compatible =(

I just noticed on the ebuyer page for the motherboard (http://www.ebuyer.com/product/146781) one of the comments said that the board was working fine with the E5200 - and the comment was posted before I bought my motherboard. It could be that he updated the BIOS first, but I thought he would mention that.

Do you think I should just return this board and buy another, more "popular" one?

Thanks a lot, by the way.

 

[sisley_111]

this one is more recent and does not cost much
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/148371
it support E5200 from the last BIOS revision released in july

This one is better
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/148800

 

[kurtyboh]

the only thing i can say is sometimes stores get a lot of items when they first come out... then put new stock in front of the old and can create problems when stock runs low because youre getting older cards ie not have the updates than others. Not saying that that is what happened but its possible, you can try calling their tech support line they should walk you through some testing and maybe send you a new board of the same model or try rma'ing it and get a different board alltogether.

 

[evongugg]

Try removing the battery for 30 minutes first.

 

[xlorine]

I've arranged to return the MSI board and ordered another one ( http://www.ebuyer.com/product/132275 )

Thanks for all the help guys! =)

 

[kurtyboh]

asus, i like asus....

 

[vitamin]

I see you abandoned that board but for what its worth, here are my two cents.

I have dealt with a fair share of 945 boards and my experience, across brands, is that they are very finicky when it comes to memory. Some may only post with memory of a specific rating (ie posts with 667mhz RAM but not with 800mhz RAM), others refuse to post if both slots are filled, or may post with two sticks of 512mb but not with two sticks of 1gb.

So try messing around with the memory, start it up with only one stick, first one slot then the other. If you have some other sticks of RAM lying around then see if it would accept those. Sometimes getting a 945 to snap out of it is as easy as removing the RAM, waiting a few seconds and then reinstalling it.

Once you get it up and running a BIOS update might make it more stable.