New build won't post/beep. Fans and lights run.

[himfour4]

I put together a new PC today and when I hit the power button, the power led comes on, mobo light comes on, PSU / CPU fan both spin, but there's no beep or post on the monitor using VGA. I do have the mobo speaker plugged in, and no beep at all. I've read the sticky thread and gone through all the steps, I'm using the stand-off screws correctly, I've tried only using 1 stack of Ram and I've tried both ram slots and alternated both sticks of ram. The 4 pin is connected to the MOBO from the PSU for the CPU. The CPU is placed correctly and so is the heat stink, I'm not using a graphics card. I ALSO DON'T HAVE AN HDD INSTALLED YET, WAITING FOR IT IN THE MAIL. (From what I've researched it should still post without a HDD.) List of parts here:

CPU: http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/searchtools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=8754568&tab=7&SRCCODE=WEBLET03ORDER&cm_mmc=Email-_-WebletMain-_-WEBLET03ORDER-_-Deals&utm_source=EML&utm_medium=main&utm_campaign=WEBLET03ORDER&cm_lm=joshkaylor91@gmail.com

Mobo: http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/searchtools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=8592788&tab=7&SRCCODE=WEBLET03ORDER&cm_mmc=Email-_-WebletMain-_-WEBLET03ORDER-_-Deals&utm_source=EML&utm_medium=main&utm_campaign=WEBLET03ORDER&cm_lm=joshkaylor91@gmail.com

PSU: http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/searchtools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=5079834&tab=7&SRCCODE=WEBLET03ORDER&cm_mmc=Email-_-WebletMain-_-WEBLET03ORDER-_-Deals&utm_source=EML&utm_medium=main&utm_campaign=WEBLET03ORDER&cm_lm=joshkaylor91@gmail.com

Ram: http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/searchtools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=7287860&tab=7&SRCCODE=WEBLET03ORDER&cm_mmc=Email-_-WebletMain-_-WEBLET03ORDER-_-Deals&utm_source=EML&utm_medium=main&utm_campaign=WEBLET03ORDER&cm_lm=joshkaylor91@gmail.com

Case: http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/searchtools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=1636710&tab=7&SRCCODE=WEBLET03ORDER&cm_mmc=Email-_-WebletMain-_-WEBLET03ORDER-_-Deals&utm_source=EML&utm_medium=main&utm_campaign=WEBLET03ORDER&cm_lm=joshkaylor91@gmail.com

-Also I have already read the standard checklist sticky and have gone through all the precautions / checks thoroughly, still no post.
Thank you.

 

[Deleted member 217926]

Here is our standard checklist.

http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/261145-31-perform-steps-posting-post-boot-video-problems

 

[himfour4]

Yes, sorry I should have stated that I've already read the sticky, I promise I have been through the entire checklist.

 

[Deleted member 217926]

That list is buried deep in sticky land and most people never find it on their own so nice job!

Now the bad news is that the list is quite good and if you have truly ruled out everything including possible shorts by breadboarding then we are in DOA part territory. Don't suppose you have any spare parts to test with? If not then taking it to a local computer shop might be your best bet. I would think the power supply would be the first thing to check. A low end Coolermaster ( or any Coolermaster except the V series ) does not exactly inspire confidence. Do you have a multi meter?

Step 23 on the list might help as well.

 

[himfour4]

Thanks for all your help. Unfortunately I don't have a multi meter or an extra PSU to compare it with. This saddens me. 🙁 I was so excited to play some games on PC finally, I'm not sure when I can afford to replace things.

 

[Deleted member 217926]

Well the good news is everything should still be in warranty. You just need to isolate the problems. As I said above step 23 should be very helpful.

" 23. Make certain all cables and components including RAM and expansion cards are tight within their sockets.


I also wanted to add some suggestions that jsc often posts. This is a direct quote from him:

"Pull everything except the CPU and HSF. Boot. You should hear a series of long single beeps indicating memory problems. Silence here indicates, in probable order, a bad PSU, motherboard, or CPU - or a bad installation where something is shorting and shutting down the PSU.

To eliminate the possiblility of a bad installation where something is shorting and shutting down the PSU, you will need to pull the motherboard out of the case and reassemble the components on an insulated surface. This is called "breadboarding" - from the 1920's homebrew radio days. I always breadboard a new or recycled build. It lets me test components before I go through the trouble of installing them in a case.

If you get the long beeps, add a stick of RAM. Boot. The beep pattern should change to one long and two or three short beeps. Silence indicates that the RAM is shorting out the PSU (very rare). Long single beeps indicates that the BIOS does not recognize the presence of the RAM.

If you get the one long and two or three short beeps, test the rest of the RAM. If good, install the video card and any needed power cables and plug in the monitor. If the video card is good, the system should successfully POST (one short beep, usually) and you will see the boot screen and messages.

Note - an inadequate PSU will cause a failure here or any step later.
Note - you do not need drives or a keyboard to successfully POST (generally a single short beep).

If you successfully POST, start plugging in the rest of the components, one at a time."

And it continues from there. Easy way to start isolating bad parts. You could also try a mom and pop type shop. That would generally be cheaper than somewhere like Best Buy and in my opinion more likely to get it right.

 

[himfour4]

Well I found an old 250watt psu that I know works, it did the same thing with it. Lights and fans work but no video or post beep. That's just with psu, mobo, processor and heat sink. So I guess it's short somewhere in the case (I don't see where) or a doa mobo / CPU. I'd hate for that to be it though.

 

[Deleted member 217926]

Breadboard it and see. I usually use a shoebox and just sit the motherboard on it.

 

[himfour4]

Just breadboarded. Same situation. Now I don't know how to find out if it's the mobo or the CPU.

 

[Deleted member 217926]

Likelihood of a motherboard being DOA is around ~5%. The likelihood of a CPU being DOA is closer to ~.001%. Try the motherboard first.

 

[himfour4]

Idk how to test just a MOBO or CPU. So you don't think there's any chance at all that this particular mobo or cpu won't post without a HDD installed? Because I'm still waiting for the HDD in the mail. Also I did take the heatsink off once to make sure the CPU was seated correctly after I couldn't think of anything else, do you think that would have disturbed the thermal paste enough to the point it wouldn't post? Just trying to think of anything besides either of them just being dead.

 

[himfour4]

Update. I found out the MOBO needs an update to be compatible with the A10 7700k Kaveri processor. They have a no CPU return policy, I can't really afford a new MOBO and that was the cheapest FM2+ available so exchanging it would be useless. I'd need another APU that's already supported by the BIOS in order to update it so I can use my Kaveri, and I have no way of getting another APU. So basically I'm screwed.

 

[Deleted member 217926]

You could try taking it to a small computer repair shop and seeing if they might do it for you for cheap. Don't even bother with anywhere like Best Buy as it will cost more than a new motherboard. A small shop owner might have pity on you though. Other than that return the board and save a little more money to put with it and get something compatible out of the box.

 

[himfour4]

Thank you for all your help man. I'm glad I can finally give you a "Best solution." after all you've said.

 

[Deleted member 217926]

Heh, I should have checked motherboard compatibility but that's usually only an issue when new generations of CPUs are released. I don't really keep up with APUs like I should. But glad you got it figured out anyway.

 

[xTamx420]

Does that motherboard use an additional 4 pin from the PSU? I dont know about mATX but when I built my first mini-ITX, I only plugged in the big 20 pin and missed the 4 pin on the other side of the board somewhere. I had the same thing thing happen.