New build but PC wont start - no beeps, no POST

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Malachi

5 posts

Wannabe Geek

Topic # 24716 31-Jul-2008 21:43

Hi

I've built a new PC, but when I switched it on the only thing running is the case & cpu fan.

The monitor shows "no signal", there are no beeps, no POST. I thought it was my 300Watt power supply, so I got a 550 Watt and still the same thing.

All parts are brand new, and took great care putting it all together (anti static, etc)

Specs :
CPU = AMD Athlon 64 X2 4600+ Dual Core 64
Video card = Gigabyte PCI-E Geforce 8600GT 512 Mb GDDR2
Mobo = ASUS M2N-X PLUS AM2+
HDD = Seagate Barracuda 160Gb SATA 7200 RPM 8 Mb cache
1 x DDR2 800 2 Gb RAM
1 x DVD Writer
1 x CD Writer
1 x FDD
1 x wireless network card
1 550 Watt PSU

I'm stumped as to what the problem is, and have searched this forum for a similar problem but can't find anything.

Any advice is most appreciated.

thanks
M

ryanja

47 posts

Geek

Reply # 153263 1-Aug-2008 11:30

I had exactly the same problem when building my new computer this week. It turned out that I hadn't hooked up all the power connections. In addition to the 24 pin power connection located near the RAM on your board, there is also another 4 pin connection near the CPU. Check to see if you've hooked this up to the power supply as well. I'd overlooked this when setting mine up, as I'd only ever built computers with a single 24 pin power connection.

Ryan

nzkc

421 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 66

Reply # 153283 1-Aug-2008 12:29

Could also try stripping the system right back to the bare minimum.

e.g. motherboard, memory, cpu and graphics card.

If that works, slowly add more components till it stops working. Then you should have identified the piece of hardware giving you grief.

That said ryanja's suggestion is a good bet too.

ryanja

47 posts

Geek

Reply # 153290 1-Aug-2008 12:59

NZKC's suggestion is a good one as well. The very first thing I did when mine wouldn't boot was to pull out all the unneeded hardware. Soon after I discovered the real problem I was having.

Malachi

5 posts

Wannabe Geek

Reply # 153412 1-Aug-2008 19:09

Thanks for the suggestions guys, will give it a go tonight.

cheers

ryanja

47 posts

Geek

Reply # 153674 2-Aug-2008 20:40

Any luck last night?

Malachi

5 posts

Wannabe Geek

Reply # 153833 3-Aug-2008 17:10

Guys

here's what I did

removed it down to bare bones, just the mobo. power on. nothing

then added CPU, then fan. power on - it started beeping! Hooray! 1 long 2 short beeps.

I looked up Ami bios beeps- and it says its a video card/adapter issue. So I slot in the video card, hooked it up to a monitor.

then power on - and still the 1 long 2 short beeps.

I then put in my 2 Gb memory module. Power on - and the beep stopped.

So I read on the RAM compatibility in the mobo manual and here's what is says

This mobo doesnt support memory modules made up of 128 Mb chips or double sided x 16 memory modules.

And my RAM has this on the label -

STT DDR2800 PC6400
2G/128x8 CL5 16 chip

If I interpret that correctly, is my 2 Gb RAM made up of 128 Mb chips?

I hope this is a simple memory issue, although I'm not sure why the Bios beeps say its a video adapter issue.

Pls let me know what you think..

Thanks

ryanja

47 posts

Geek

Reply # 153937 4-Aug-2008 08:50

Quite likely it's the memory. From one of the reviews on Newegg:

Pros: Cheap, easy setup, Good brand name.

Cons: Ram Compatability. I went thru three different ram manufacturers before i found the right ram that this board would use. Corsair VS2GBKIT667D2 was the only thing i found that worked properly.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductReview.aspx?Item=N82E16813131179

To be honest, the reviews for this board don't look all that good. You might be better off with a different one.

Ryan

Malachi

5 posts

Wannabe Geek

Reply # 154123 4-Aug-2008 21:14

Thanks for the reviews - the comments are spot on.

I might get a Gigabyte board, hassle free set up from past experience.

Simonm

181 posts

Master Geek

Reply # 154132 4-Aug-2008 21:51

Supertalent (STT) are normaly pretty good, have used *many* of there modules in a large number of systems without fault.

I would agree with your suggestion that it is a motherboard/ram incompatibility issue.

ryanja

47 posts

Geek

Reply # 154610 6-Aug-2008 12:06

Don't give up on the Asus motherboards. I built a computer last week with an M2A-VM and have been very pleased with it.