(Read the guide) Computer won't start at all

[i3uu]

Okay, before you ask, I did read your guide, as well as many others.. but I really can not for the life of me figure out why my new system will not even turn on. And by not turn on, I mean.. not turn on. Not anything.. other than the MoBo light signaling that it has power. I have run out of ideas of why it won't work and now am looking for some help from you guys. (I'm new here btw :S)

Specs:

MoBo http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131329

DVD-R http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827136152

Case - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811156062

HDD - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136284

RAM - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820178219

Processor - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115037

Graphics - XFX GeForce 9600 GSO (don't have link)

I guess I would like to see if maybe something was incompatible? I'm about to boot with just the bare essentials to see if i can at least get something to move.. I'm wondering also if the PSU is just not good enough (seeing as it came WITH the case which generally means poor quality)

So yea, any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[shortstuff_mt]

I would say the first suspects would be the front panel wires (power switch, reset switch, etc...). The second suspect would be that POS Raidmax PSU.

 

[i3uu]

I'll go ahead and re-re-check my power/reset/led switch thing.. and what if my PSU is bad? I actually have one on it's way (3 days) but was hoping to just use this one to get me by till then.. maybe load the os and whatnot to get the boring stuff out of the way.

(thanks for your help btw)

EDIT: I guess I should have noted that when I pressed the power button when it's plugged in and all, I heard a click noise just once and then when i pressed it again, nothing. I rechecked the cords and whatnot and tried it again and only got that same click followed by nothing. No fans started, MoBo light is still on, but no loading or anything.

 

[shortstuff_mt]

Did you try the breadboarding step in the checklist to eliminate a short as the problem?

 

[i3uu]

I didn't try that just because the thing was all together and if I could avoid that hassle of an hour or two, I would so do that.

Seeing as the guide didn't explain much, what does it mean by a short? I guess what I mean to say is, what would cause that and is it definitely serious?

(i made sure when I was installing to keep myself in a static free environment and held onto the metal case often)

 

[xthekidx]

It looks like the PSU is the issue to me. So when you push the power buttons, absolutely nothing happens? Do the fans twitch or led's or anything come on?

 

[shortstuff_mt]

A short is a short, what more can I say. That means that electrical current is flowing where it's not supposed to. Yes, it's definitely serious. Best case scenario is that the system won't start. Worst case scenario is that you fry your shiny new system. You said you "read" the checklist. You need to actually go through the checklist and perform each step. Chances are very good that the resolution to your problem is there.

 

[i3uu]

alright, I think I'll just go take everything out and breadbox and then start it all over. Maybe it will work then and i didn't short anything.

Thanks for the advice.

and yes, nothing turns on, LED, Fans, ect.. all are quiet and never move once. Only light that goes on is the little green MoBo Light saying it has power.(is that a signal of not a short?)

 

[xthekidx]

Green lights on the motherboard are usually good things. Read the motherboard manual, it quite possibly has the answer in there.

 

[i3uu]

So can you explain exactly what booting is? As far as i know, it's just plugging the power cords into the correct spots and then plugging in the PSU into the wall.

is that right? because i don't hear any bip or beeps..

 

[nickhoff]

Sounds like its your memmory, either its dead, or you put it in wrong. Read the motherboard manual to see what DIMM slots it should be in. It's not closest to the CPU like most think, its the color slots for dual chan or tri chan memmory.

 

[i3uu]

For my MoBo, there are 4 slots and they go: (CPU HERE) YB YB

I put both the sticks into the BLACK slots. would that be acceptable? I'm trying to understand the MoBo manual, but as i've said before, I'm pretty new to all of this and definitely need some help here. Please explain booting from breadboard please. When I think of booting, I think of plugging in a power cord and pressing the power button.

 

[drunknmunkys]

For my MoBo, there are 4 slots and they go: (CPU HERE) YB YB

I put both the sticks into the BLACK slots. would that be acceptable? I'm trying to understand the MoBo manual, but as i've said before, I'm pretty new to all of this and definitely need some help here. Please explain booting from breadboard please. When I think of booting, I think of plugging in a power cord and pressing the power button.

It should state pretty clearly in the manual which slots the memory should go in first. Do you have someone who can assist you?

Booting just means turning the computer on and starting the OS. (right?)

 

[i3uu]

I'm not even that far^

I can't even get a bip out of my motherboard. I'm pretty sure it does NOT have a speaker on it, and i checked the manual and put an external speaker onto it that(I'm not 100% sure) I think came with the case.

I've been putting the paperclip around that area.. am I right?

I'm starting to believe that the PSU might be the culperate. I just need to find another acceptable PSU lying around our house and test out that theory. It's either that, or I have to RMA my DOA motherboard. Gah.. this is frustrating. I wish at least SOMETHINg would show signs of working so I knew i didn't have to guess what had to be returned. Well.. i have some parts lying around that I might be able to test it out with.

 

[daship]

The ram should go in the yellow slots. Try one stick in the yellow closest to the CPU.

Try the paperclip technique to see if the PSU works.

reset the Cmos after you get the ram in the right spot.

I see you got power to the mobo and no ram in. Dont ever plug anything in with the power on. Unplug the power and make sure the green light is off before adding or removing anything.

 

[i3uu]

Yea daship, I definitely know that^ haha. Definitely do not want to shock myself or my motherboard :S I'm very cautious when I do this stuff. And it seems like I have found the problem! The Dang blasted POS PSU is dead. Doesn't do a thing. I took a PSU from a cpu my mom is putting together to use as a DVR and it started up fine. Had 1 stick of ram in there and went BEEEEEEEEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP (1 long, 3 short) meaning that it didn't find a VGA(because none was installed). I don't think I'm going to go any further with this though until I get my new PSU(being shipped atm 650W by Corsair). I'm not sure the power of the PSU I'm using(the tag is gone/unreadable) and I'd rather not destroy it with my 9600 GSO and my CPU(65w) if it's only like a 150W or somthin. I'll ask my mom when she gets home how powerful it is.

BTW, Thanks for all the support guys! I bookmarked this site for future reference if I run into any more problems. I'm just glad to see some sign of a future working computer.

 

[xthekidx]

I thought as much. The Corsair should do much better for you...although honestly its overkill for your system. A 450w PSU would have been just fine.

 

[i3uu]

I guess I forgot to add that I'm getting an Nvidia 260 GTX which can be a powerhouse if I turn up the fan(not toooo bad, but it demands power)

The reason I bought the 9600 GSO, was because I got an amazing deal(and I still think it's around)

XFX Nvidia 9600 GSO w\ CoD4+5 for 89.99(i think) and a $20 MIR making it about $70 for 2 $30 games and a decent gfx card. I thought it was a steal I'ma sell it on craigslist or somthin nearby for maybe $50-70 or maybe make it 80 w\ a free CoD5

 

[xthekidx]

Ah ok that makes more sense.

 

[daship]

Good Luck!

 

[jsc]

OK. On the posts that I have seen recently, we are 1 for 2. This is a success story.
Another poster fried something as he tried to breadboard.

 

[shortstuff_mt]

OK. On the posts that I have seen recently, we are 1 for 2. This is a success story.
Another poster fried something as he tried to breadboard.

It takes a special kind of noob to fry something while breadboarding. He then tried to blame us for suggesting it.

 

[xthekidx]

It takes a special kind of noob to fry something while breadboarding. He then tried to blame us for suggesting it.

He probably had the PSU turned on and plugged into the wall when he tried plugging it into the MB. Maybe we should add something to the effect of making sure the PSU is off when you are plugging in hardware.