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[zaxor0]

I just built a pc for a friend of mine this past thursday. All the parts came in then and I put it together. I have built pc's before but I have never run into this particular problem.

The entire computer is assembled, but when it is turned on nothing happens. Everything powers up, cd drive makes a noise, fans are spinning, lights are on, but there is no beep from the motherboard AT ALL. There is also nothing on the monitor, whether I connect it to the card in the pci-express slot or the on board video.

I am going back today to trouble shoot it. I honestly think it is the motherboard, power supply, or cpu. Since everything is powered though, it seems like the power supply is fine.

My plan for today is, unhook everything from the MoBo except the cpu and power supply and see what happens. Then, keeping everything unhooked, reset the cmos and then see what happens. If it looks good, slowly connect things to see where the error is coming from.

Can anyone offer some things to test? Could the motherboard be shorting out on the case somehow? Any ideas?

I really think in the end I will find out the motherboard is shot. I really hope that isn't the case even though he has warranties on everything since its all new.

I will be able to report back to this thread in about 2 and half hours or so.

Thanks GAF!

EDIT: heres the system specs:

LOGISYS Computer PS550ABK 550Watts
AMD Phenom 8450 Toliman 2.1GHz
ASUS M3A78-EM AM2+ (MoBo)
G.SKILL 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066
XFX PVT98GYDLU GeForce 9800 GT 512MB

 

[ianp622]

Try switching out sticks of RAM too. It's pretty unlikely that's the problem, but it's easy enough to check.

 

[Milpool]

Had the same thing happen when a CPU wasn't seated correctly a few years ago, in the Socket A days.

 

[MrPing1000]

do u have both cables from the power supply connected to the mobo? the big one and the little 12v one?

 

[SundaySounds]

Is the power supply outputting enough power?
But yeah, I'd check all the power cables and the CPU first.
Also, Make sure all your MoBo's jumpers are set correctly.

 

[CurlySaysX]

I know what your problem is.
Your motherboard should have 2 power cables, the 24 pin one and the 4 or 8 pin ATX12V cable.
You need to plug them both in.
Some psu's only have the 8 pin atx cable and you'll need an adaptor if your mb is a 4 pin.

 

[zaxor0]

Had the same thing happen when a CPU wasn't seated correctly a few years ago, in the Socket A days.

I plan on checking this too, could there be anything noticeable I should look for?

do u have both cables from the power supply connected to the mobo? the big one and the little 12v one?

I know what your problem is.
Your motherboard should have 2 power cables, the 24 pin one and the 4 or 8 pin ATX12V cable.
You need to plug them both in.
Some psu's only have the 8 pin atx cable and you'll need an adaptor if your mb is a 4 pin.

(for the two above) Yes I have the 24 pin plugged in and the the separate 4 pin one plugged in.


On the possibility there is a short. Is there anyway I can test this besides taking out the motherboard from the case and connecting everything while it is on a antistatic mat?

-NOTE: the case already had raised up things to screw the motherboard into, I thought i needed the hexagonal screw things to keep it raised but those made it too high for the case. I assumed the already raised things were what I needed to screw it into. The case didn't come with a manual or anything though. Did I do it right? I haven't built a computer before that didn't need those hexagonal things. (hexagonal things = the screws that can also be screwed into which you screw motherboard into)

 

[Core407]

I plan on checking this too, could there be anything noticeable I should look for?






(for the two above) Yes I have the 24 pin plugged in and the the separate 4 pin one plugged in.


On the possibility there is a short. Is there anyway I can test this besides taking out the motherboard from the case and connecting everything while it is on a antistatic mat?

-NOTE: the case already had raised up things to screw the motherboard into, I thought i needed the hexagonal screw things to keep it raised but those made it too high for the case. I assumed the already raised things were what I needed to screw it into. The case didn't come with a manual or anything though. Did I do it right? I haven't built a computer before that didn't need those hexagonal things. (hexagonal things = the screws that can also be screwed into which you screw motherboard into)

Take it out of the case, rest the mobo on a book or something, connect the PSU and see if the thing turns on at all.

 

[zaxor0]

This is what I have done:

unhook everything except the cpu and power supply from the motherboard. turned it on, same situation (no beeps no display). Then I reset the cmos, again same situation.

Then I removed the motherboard, placed it on a antistatic mat on a book, attatched a new powersupply, turned it on. nothing happens again. Then I reset the cmos once again, same.

I think removed the cpu fan check the cpu, it was in properly. I made sure the little lever was down. removed the old thermal paste and applied some new on it. Powered it up, and nothing.

I added one stick of ram, nothing. reset cmos with the new ram, nothing.

So at the moment I have it out of hte case with the cpu and ram in it, new powersupply. At this point could it be anything other than the motherboard? Is there a common setting that I might have forgotten?

 

[Gallbaro]

Did you try the paper clip and green wire trick yet?

 

[way more]

This scenario is what keeps me from biting the bullet and building a PC myself.

 

[Gallbaro]

This scenario is what keeps me from biting the bullet and building a PC myself.

Easiest thing in the world to do that will make others look upon you in awe.

Just need to do some research first and make sure you got the standards right.

 

[TriSwords]

-NOTE: the case already had raised up things to screw the motherboard into, I thought i needed the hexagonal screw things to keep it raised but those made it too high for the case. I assumed the already raised things were what I needed to screw it into. The case didn't come with a manual or anything though. Did I do it right? I haven't built a computer before that didn't need those hexagonal things. (hexagonal things = the screws that can also be screwed into which you screw motherboard into)

Im probably reading this wrong, but did you screw into the hex screws or did you remove them and mount the mobo right to the case? If its directly to the case the mobo might possibly be fried.

If its to the hex screws, then do you have any parts you can swap out (power supply, mobo, cpu) to see if you can isolate the problem down to certain component(s). Might have just gotten bad parts to build it with.

 

[SundaySounds]

I really think something is just set wrong with the motherboard. Check your MoBo's manual and make sure jumpers are set correctly.

^^^^These Things^^^^^^