Odd Breadboarding Outcome, No POST

[AllMightySean]

I've been making a low end computer to handle low-end games like GMod and Minecraft. I've been working on it for a long time now, and it has stumped me at every corner.

Here's what happens when it is in its case:

Spoiler

I boot up the computer normally, the fans start to whir and all, but there's no output on the monitor, just an amber light (meaning there's no video being received). I couldn't find any area on my mobo for a beeper (but if i'm wrong I would appreciate you telling me) so I can't say theres a beeper code. Also only one of my case lights light up and the other is sometimes dimly lit or no lit at all.

Here's what happens when I breadboarded it:

Spoiler

So, I add my APU, one stick of ram, plug in all the right cables, and connect it to my monitor. When I turn on my power source, the fans just go crazy. I don't have to turn on the computer with the power button or with a screwdriver. Of course, there's no output on the monitor again and it shows the amber light that I hate so much now.

Here are my parts

Spoiler

APU:
AMD A6-5400K Trinity 3.6GHz (3.8GHz Turbo) Socket FM2 65W Dual-Core Desktop APU (CPU + GPU) with DirectX 11 Graphic AMD Radeon HD 7540D AD540KOKHJBOX

Power Supply:
SeaSonic SS-300ET Bronze 300W ATX12V V2.3 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Active PFC Power Supply - OEM

Case:
APEX PC-389-C Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case

Mobo:
MSI FM2-A75MA-E35 FM2 AMD A75 (Hudson D3) HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 Micro ATX AMD Motherboard

Ram:
Crucial Ballistix Tactical 8GB 2X4GB PC3-14900 DDR3-1866 1.5V CL9 Dual Channel Memory Kit

Hard Drive:
WD WD Blue WD5000AAKX-FR 500GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive Bare Drive (refurbished)

DVD drive:
LG 24X DVD Burner - Bare Drive 24X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 8X DVD+R DL 24X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 24X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM Black SATA Model GH24NS95 - OEM

A few important things to note:
1. I'm new to building computers (this is my first build)
2. My Monitor is really old, got it from a friend
3. The power cable i re-used is really old, got that from my friend's old computer too
4. I've been tinkering with it for a long time now
5. My warranties of all the parts have expired, I had to put it off because of school.
6. I think it is either the mobo or the power supply

Thanks!

 

[Someone Somewhere]

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

The buzzer usually plugs in next to the power button + LED. Marked 'speaker'.

You've definitely got the CPU power plug connected? The one that's four pins in a square?

The case lights bit is interesting. Can you elaborate on them? How are they connected?

Do you have a multimeter?

 

[AllMightySean]

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

The buzzer usually plugs in next to the power button + LED. Marked 'speaker'.

You've definitely got the CPU power plug connected? The one that's four pins in a square?

The case lights bit is interesting. Can you elaborate on them? How are they connected?

Do you have a multimeter?

Yes, I have checked that page out a few times before
I quickly check the mobo and its manual and I couldn't find the speaker port.
I'm 100% sure I have the CPU power plug in.
About the case lights, I don't really know much about them and don't know how to find out more about them, but there is a cord coming from around the area of the lights. Each one is a small and separate cable labeled "H.D.D LED" and the + and - "PLED" (maybe that means the buttons should light up on the computer too?). I plug these into a plug called "JFP1" on my mobo and it is where the power button and reset button cables go.
And finally, no I do not have a multimeter, would you recommend getting one? And if so, which one?

 

[Someone Somewhere]

Oh, by case lights you mean the power/HDD lights? I thought you were referring to CCFLs or something. My bad. There should be a + and - for each of the power (PLED) and HDD lights.

That board appears to have a speaker soldered to the board. Trying to pull down the manual now, but MSI's host seems to be screwed. Downloading at the absolutely blistering rate of 6KiB/s.

Multimeter doesn't really matter. I was lost at the idea that 12V powered internal case lights weren't working.

 

[AllMightySean]

So what do you say I should do next? I could send you a pic of my mobo for reference

 

[Someone Somewhere]

I've found MSI's site, so I don't really need a pic.

Page 1-21 of the manual has the wiring for the buzzer on it. Should be connected to the side of JFP2 with four pins. Check the pinout.

 

[AllMightySean]

I've found MSI's site, so I don't really need a pic.

Page 1-21 of the manual has the wiring for the buzzer on it. Should be connected to the side of JFP2 with four pins. Check the pinout.

Does it matter which way it goes?

 

[Someone Somewhere]

Yup. Check the pinout.

 

[AllMightySean]

Ok, Ill re-connect it and see what beep code it gives. I still find it odd that when I bread boarded it, I didn't have to turn on the computer with the power button at the front, the computer booted up (if you can call it that) just from the switch on the power supply. Any ideas about that?

 

[Someone Somewhere]

Doing it on a non-conductive surface?

Interesting that it's not doing it in the case, though. That's a pretty big sign that something is touching the board while it's in the case, if there's nothing while it's out.

 

[AllMightySean]

Ok, I just tried breadboarding it again with the beeper plugged in and I still do not get any beep code. And yes, I think I am doing this right (you can breadboard on a real breadboard right?). If you can find a good, thorough guide to breadboarding, I would appreciate it a lot, I may be omitting a step.

I suppose the next step may be to set it up in its case and see what happens again with the beeper installed. As I said ahead, I may have omitted a step in breadboarding and that would be why it does different things in the case than it does on the breadboard.

Sorry about the long wait, I was busy and I needed to devote about an hour to set up and clean up the area.

 

[Someone Somewhere]

If it's non-conductive (which wood should be), it's fine.

I haven't watched the whole thing, but this could be helpful: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aEP3OLZvMm0

 

[AllMightySean]

Yeah that was the video I was using, it doesn't go into much detail about some of the things, I saw a downloadable guide somewhere that seemed good, so I'll try to find that again. What do you think I should do next?