New build continually restarts

[voodoo_economics]

I've put a new mobo, ram and cpu into my old case and it just continues a 10 second restart cycle when I power up.

OK, more info:
Not my first build. I have also gone through the entire 'Tom's build manual'. But i am not an expert, funny enough my first build was piece of cake, this one however...

Right now it's bread boarded on the mobo box, getting the same results as when it was in case. ONLY the cpu, cpu fan, 4 pin power and 24 pin power, along with the case power switch are plugged in. And one stick of ram in the #1 slot (furthest from mobo like manual says).

I did have everything installed in the case, was hoping for a clean boot...

So I pulled it out, pulled the extra stick of ram, pulled the gpu, unplugged all sata HDD's/DVD.

I did notice that i hadn't gotten the 24 pin connection fully clicked in, but after i did nothing changed.

--------Specs---------------
AMD 5850 - works fine, though it's not currently installed
WD Raptor - works fine, not installed

antec 900 case - I only have the required 7 stand offs installed. (no system speaker)
antec 500 watt psu - works fine with my IP35 set up, I am upgrading. (and this mobo says at least 500W with GPU)

new-
Intel 15 2500k and stock cooler. I went ahead and pulled it, just to check I didn't bend pins, forget to remove heatpaste protection... All seems fine, reinstall was as easy as first time.

Gigabyte Z68AP-D3. Installed nicely. No scratches, dings, dents...

Corsair Vengance 1600 ddr3 (2x 4 gigs, but only one stick installed in #1 slot)
--EDIT--(I also have a 4 gig stick of PNY ram I got for testing the last system that wouldn't boot.. it's in right now but that didn't change anything either)

============

So I'm lost and frustrated.

everything on the very base level seems to be properly speced and connected properly.

nothing appears damaged.

nothing appears shorted.

My p35 setup was working just fine. I also just had an incident where I ordered and AMD FX system and could not get it to boot, that I believe was the bios issue early am3+ boards are having in spades. So I returned it and got this set-up.
(So I have had a good share of practice recently building and tearing down systems. When I put the p35 back together it was running fine.)

Please help me solve this issue !!!

 

[cTs Corvette]

Is the CPU fan plugged into the CPU Fan header? Most boards won't work if you plug the fan into the wrong header, because they detect 0 RPMs on the CPU fan and think something is wrong.

 

[voodoo_economics]

Yes it is.

To be more clear...

I hit the power button. System powers up (fans come on, cpu fan spins,phase leds [all 4] light up) stays on for 2 seconds, shuts down, 2 seconds later it restarts.

It just keeps doing that.

I have done everything in the 'check before posting guide' and have read it 3 times
http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/261145-31-perform-steps-posting-post-boot-video-problems#t1895014

 

[cTs Corvette]

What happens if you pull the RAM out and boot it with none in it at all? I should beep like crazy, not that you can here it without a speaker. Still, might eliminate another possible conflict if it stays on without the RAM.

 

[voodoo_economics]

Well, it seemed like maybe it stayed on for an extra second. But i could be imagining that.

Still acts the same though, start, fans, turn off...start, fans, turn off...

 

[voodoo_economics]

no ideas?

could it possibly be the psu? it's older but it powers my Q6600/5850 just fine.

 

[jasont78]

no ideas?

could it possibly be the psu? it's older but it powers my Q6600/5850 just fine.

if you have a spare one or a friend has one to test try it very common prob but if it works with ur q6600 it should work as a 2500k uses less power have u reset bios try that. also hook up ur speak mobos do beep error codes u can learn alot from them!!

 

[voodoo_economics]

No psu to test with, but like you said it should work. I'm just perplexed at this moment.

My case doesn't have a speaker, but i just remembered, I have an old case in the closet i may be able to rob one from...
-edit
ah, can't find the fan, think it's behind a panel that needs a torx wrench which I don't have.

 

[voodoo_economics]

Well, i don't think it's me or my building prowess.

I've just re-assembled my old set-up (same tower, same psu).

And it starts right up no problem.

I guess all I can do at this point is take the new components into a shop and have them trouble shoot so i don't have to send everything back.

 

[jasont78]

Well, i don't think it's me or my building prowess.

I've just re-assembled my old set-up (same tower, same psu).

And it starts right up no problem.

I guess all I can do at this point is take the new components into a shop and have them trouble shoot so i don't have to send everything back.

i would check your psu still, especially since you have sent back another system maybe your old mobo doesnt have good power regulating software and allows it to boot. other than that based on 2 bad systems this one and the fx maybe your unwillingly damaging the mobos eg not earthing yourself with the case etc.

 

[voodoo_economics]

Well, I took the system into a local dealer. Unfortunately it's a small area and this is too modern...

He doesn't have anything in sock he can test with (aka mobo or processor). He did test my PSU though and said he was only pulling 430 watts (it's an Antec 500W Neopower).
So not sure if he only pulls that because it's an energy efficient PSU and doesn't need to put out more than that.
Or if it's just not giving full power.

He did loan me a 500W PSU that he says does work to test with...


-------
I have noticed some 'artifacts' lately playing TF2. Some weird shadows across the map that could be from players jumping overhead, but I never noticed it before. Though I have changed some graphics settings (shadows/textures to low), I changed them back to high but still get them occassionally.

So maybe my system is only getting borderline power now and it's showing in artifacts during 'intense' gameplay (lots of players, small not well optimized map - cp_degroot).

-----
fingers crossed it is the psu, lol. Not that I want to buy one of those too, but better than sending back mobo and cpu and trying again.

 

[voodoo_economics]

appears to have been the psu after all.

I did a quick breadboard with a test psu.

mobo/cpu/speaker (from junk tower in basement at work)/psu

kicked it with screwdriver. The fan spun longer, but kept beeping and rebooting.

Stuck one stick of ram in, kicked it.

Whirrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

fans stays on, never reboots. 3 times to be sure, stays on.

Funny my current psu would run my entire (well only one HDD) system but not this mobo/cpu only.

 

[jasont78]

appears to have been the psu after all.

I did a quick breadboard with a test psu.

mobo/cpu/speaker (from junk tower in basement at work)/psu

kicked it with screwdriver. The fan spun longer, but kept beeping and rebooting.

Stuck one stick of ram in, kicked it.

Whirrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

fans stays on, never reboots. 3 times to be sure, stays on.

Funny my current psu would run my entire (well only one HDD) system but not this mobo/cpu only.

you could give me best answer that would be nice!!

 

[voodoo_economics]

i would check your psu still, especially since you have sent back another system maybe your old mobo doesnt have good power regulating software and allows it to boot.

whoops, must've hit the wrong button.
Anyway this is the part of the answer that is the best, lol.

 

[voodoo_economics]

Best answer selected by voodoo_economics.