1st time building PC.

[ibex333]

I'm currently trying to build a PC with this config:
DFI Lanparty Ultra-D mobo
Thermaltake Purepower 420W
AMD Athlon 64 3200+
1gig (2x 512) DDR 400 PC 3200 CAS 2.5 Coursair Value Select
120gb Samsung Spinpoint SATA HD
eVGA GeForce 6600GT PCI-E
no floppy
Antec Super Lanboy Case


I think I connected everything right. Connected the PSU wires to all components. Installed the cards.
Pluged the PC in the outlet, connected all peripherals, turned the PC on, ANDDDDD....... NOTHING. Nada, zilch, zero!! Every single fan in the system is spinning... The heatsink fan is working as well. The PC emits a nice low hum. There is no smell of anything burning and no sparks or explosions.
But there is nothing else. No image on the screen, no sound of the HD spinning. No boot, no POST, no splash screen, NOTHING.... I really have no idea what's up.

Did all my components burn instantly when I turned it on???
Are they all defective?

I know that there is a whole bunch of things that can be causing this, but I'm sure you guys know what are the most common causes of this. If you have any ideas at all, it would be a great help. There's no one else that can help me with this. That's for sure. (well unless I pay $200 to some money hungry bastard in a computer store) I had enough of them. Been paying them for many years now, and I wanted to create something by myself for the 1st time...

 

[amdskip]

Reseat the video card and try 1 stick of memory making sure to also reseat it. If this does not work, remove the components from the case and try booting the system outside of the case because you may have something causing a short.

 

[DaveSimmons]

In this situation unplug power from everything except the video card and motherboard and see if it boots then. Also make sure you've plugged in both the large and small (12V / "P4") motherboard power connectors.

If that fails try unplugging the video card too and see if you get the "no video card" beep

(Good suggestion from amdskip on dropping down to 1 memory stick too)

 

[SlitheryDee]

CMOS jumper in correct position? The pin numbers on my MB are backwards from what the manual says they are. Took me a little while to figure that one out. Starting with the wrong position can cause what you're describing. If it is in the correct position try clearing your CMOS and restarting.

 

[fireontheway]

Check the auxillary 12V connector,make sure its plugged..

 

[ibex333]

ok... I have tried resiting the video card and the ram.. noyhing.. now I'll try the CMOS.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

If you've run out of things, try taking everything out of the case (I assume you're in a case now) and set the motherboard on the motherboard box (with foam pad if it came with one)... only have CPU, 1 stick of ram, videocard, and PSU connected. Connect monitor to videocard too.

You can start it up by shorting out the two pins that the power button connects to.

This will rule out any issues with case shorting out anything.

With the components outside the case, it is now easy to try reseating the processor too.

 

[homercles337]

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello
If you've run out of things, try taking everything out of the case (I assume you're in a case now) and set the motherboard on the motherboard box (with foam pad if it came with one)... only have CPU, 1 stick of ram, videocard, and PSU connected. Connect monitor to videocard too.

You can start it up by shorting out the two pins that the power button connects to.

This will rule out any issues with case shorting out anything.

With the components outside the case, it is now easy to try reseating the processor too.

Wise words...

By all, i should add, not just yoyo...

 

[ibex333]

Oh and one more thing. People say that the power supply connectors only go one way, so there is now way I can get it wrong. I beg to differ, because there's one large connector which is the 20pin one(i had to attach a 20 to 24 pin adapter) - this one I pluged into the mobo and I'm assuming this is the main one that gives the mobo the juice it needs. Also, there 3 sets of wires that have a bunch of 4 pin connectors on them. Some of these I connected to devices such as a big fan in the back, my DVD-Writer, and something else on the mobo. An there's also a wire that has a bunch of SATA conectors on it.
Somehow, after connecting everything, I am left with a bunch of wires that remain unused and are just hanging in there.. is this normal?

Dave Simmons says: Also make sure you've plugged in both the large and small (12V / "P4") motherboard power connectors. Well the large one I pluged in... But I dont think I have the small one. Is there a guide on the net that shows how to make sence of all the wire mess that is coming from the PSU? I look in the PSU and the MOBO manual, and there are just diagrams that are very unclear. There are no actual descriptions on what to do. All these wires are just a big mess in my case.

 

[ibex333]

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello
If you've run out of things, try taking everything out of the case (I assume you're in a case now) and set the motherboard on the motherboard box (with foam pad if it came with one)... only have CPU, 1 stick of ram, videocard, and PSU connected. Connect monitor to videocard too.

You can start it up by shorting out the two pins that the power button connects to.

This will rule out any issues with case shorting out anything.

With the components outside the case, it is now easy to try reseating the processor too.

Nah, I wouldn't want to reseat the processor at this point because I have nothing that I can clean off the thermal paste with, so that I can apply it again. Besides, putting in the processor was easy. I doubt I did it wrong. The manual was pretty descriptive on this. Put in the CPU, squeeze a bit of arctic silver on top, put on the heatsink, close the lock. That was all there is to it.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: ibex333

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello
If you've run out of things, try taking everything out of the case (I assume you're in a case now) and set the motherboard on the motherboard box (with foam pad if it came with one)... only have CPU, 1 stick of ram, videocard, and PSU connected. Connect monitor to videocard too.

You can start it up by shorting out the two pins that the power button connects to.

This will rule out any issues with case shorting out anything.

With the components outside the case, it is now easy to try reseating the processor too.

Nah, I wouldn't want to reseat the processor at this point because I have nothing that I can clean off the thermal paste with, so that I can apply it again. Besides, putting in the processor was easy. I doubt I did it wrong. The manual was pretty descriptive on this. Put in the CPU, squeeze a bit of arctic silver on top, put on the heatsink, close the lock. That was all there is to it.

Did you use arctic silver on the retail package HS/F?

 

[homercles337]

Dave was talking about the 4-pin connector that is arranged in a "square" configuration as opposed to a "rectangle." The rectangle power connectors are called molex connectors for your peripherials (graphics card, DVD, floppy, fans, etc).

 

[ibex333]

I'm not sure what you are talking about. It's Arctic Silver 5. I bought it from ZipZoomFly.
It came in a little 3.5 gram "syringe" like thingy.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: ibex333
Oh and one more thing. People say that the power supply connectors only go one way, so there is now way I can get it wrong. I beg to differ, because there's one large connector which is the 20pin one(i had to attach a 20 to 24 pin adapter) - this one I pluged into the mobo and I'm assuming this is the main one that gives the mobo the juice it needs. Also, there 3 sets of wires that have a bunch of 4 pin connectors on them. Some of these I connected to devices such as a big fan in the back, my DVD-Writer, and something else on the mobo. An there's also a wire that has a bunch of SATA conectors on it.
Somehow, after connecting everything, I am left with a bunch of wires that remain unused and are just hanging in there.. is this normal?

Dave Simmons says: Also make sure you've plugged in both the large and small (12V / "P4") motherboard power connectors. Well the large one I pluged in... But I dont think I have the small one. Is there a guide on the net that shows how to make sence of all the wire mess that is coming from the PSU? I look in the PSU and the MOBO manual, and there are just diagrams that are very unclear. There are no actual descriptions on what to do. All these wires are just a big mess in my case.

You need to line up pin 1 from the powersupply with pin 1 on the motherboard. There's a sticky thread at the top of general hardware about this.

The bunch of 4 pin connectors are called molex connectors. Don't connect any of these (or any other wires to peripherals except your videocard if it needs it until you get a POST working) It is normal to have a bunch left over when you're done.

The small 12v connector should be one with 4 pins but it should be square with 2 black wires and 2 yellow wires. It will plug into a different connection on the motherboard.

 

[ibex333]

Originally posted by: homercles337
Dave was talking about the 4-pin connector that is arranged in a "square" configuration as opposed to a "rectangle." The rectangle power connectors are called molex connectors for your peripherials (graphics card, DVD, floppy, fans, etc).

Oh.. I know what you are talking about. Yes, it was one of the first wires I pluged in. I'll check it again.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: ibex333
I'm not sure what you are talking about. It's Arctic Silver 5. I bought it from ZipZoomFly.
It came in a little 3.5 gram "syringe" like thingy.

The retail packages for A64s come with a heatsink and fan, did you use that or did you get a 3rd party heatsink (zalman, thermaltake, thermalright etc.)

The retail A64 heatsinks come with a thermal pad already and you shouldn't need any additional thermal compound.

EDIT: actually I've never used a retail A64, can anyone confirm this?

 

[ibex333]

You are absolutely right. But I wanted to use arctic silver. I went to amd's site. And there's instructions on removing the thermal pad. I did EXACTLY as they said. On Arctic Silver's sire there are instruction as well. They say that after scraping the pad off, one should clean it off with acetone or alcohol and then apply a small bit of the thermal greace in the middle of the processor "cap" and then put the heatsink on top, and lock it in place. They warn NOT to remove the heatsink after it has been set, because then I have to clean everything off again and do the whole thing over.

 

[ibex333]

heh.. do you think I could destroy the processor by using Arctic Silver instead of their thermal pad? Or mabe I didnt do it right? Well I dont know... I followed their instructions religiously. Did everything exactly as it is written.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: ibex333
You are absolutely right. But I wanted to use arctic silver. I went to amd's site. And there's instructions on removing the thermal pad. I did EXACTLY as they said. On Arctic Silver's sire there are instruction as well. They say that after scraping the pad off, one should clean it off with acetone or alcohol and then apply a small bit of the thermal greace in the middle of the processor "cap" and then put the heatsink on top, and lock it in place. They warn NOT to remove the heatsink after it has been set, because then I have to clean everything off again and do the whole thing over.

Ok, good. I was worried you had the pad and then a thick layer of AS on from your earlier posts.

Did you try taking it out of the case yet and only connecting PSU, CPU, HS/F, ram, and vid card yet?

 

[ibex333]

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello

Originally posted by: ibex333
You are absolutely right. But I wanted to use arctic silver. I went to amd's site. And there's instructions on removing the thermal pad. I did EXACTLY as they said. On Arctic Silver's sire there are instruction as well. They say that after scraping the pad off, one should clean it off with acetone or alcohol and then apply a small bit of the thermal greace in the middle of the processor "cap" and then put the heatsink on top, and lock it in place. They warn NOT to remove the heatsink after it has been set, because then I have to clean everything off again and do the whole thing over.

Ok, good. I was worried you had the pad and then a thick layer of AS on from your earlier posts.

Did you try taking it out of the case yet and only connecting PSU, CPU, HS/F, ram, and vid card yet?

I will do it now. I need some time, because I cannot have 2 PCs running. I have to disconnect this one and plug in the new one. I'll be back in a few.

 

[edmundoab]

honestly I have the same mobo and wanted to do a test run on it.
But I had a 20 Pin PSU instead.
the computer did not boot.
But everything else is running..

however it shows a red light labelled "debug "
i figured it should be because I used a 20 pin PSU on a 24 pin mobo without using a 20 pin to 24 pin converter.

 

[ibex333]

well, ppl say that you dont really have to use a 24 pin adapter. There'a a sticky in this forum on this topic. But I'd advise you to get one, because one dood said that his mobo fried because he did not use a 24pin adapter. (dont know if this is true or not)

As for me, I tried the CMOS. -- nothing. I reset the cards. nothing. I unpluged all the cables from PSU and pluged them in again. - nothing
It's almost like my WHOLE system is completely dead except the fans. At least that's the way it feels. I dont want to give up, but I think it's time for me to do so, as I have been struggling with this thing for 3 days now. Mabe some part/s is/are defective, but I cannot tell. If I wait too long I probably wont be able to RMA them either. The only way I can do this right I guess is if I take some classes on this stuff. And so, I guess I'll have to declare my stupidity and ignorance and drag this PC to someone who will milk me for my money like I've always done all my life. I feel so low...
People have assured me that building a PC is NOT hard. and ANYONE can do it. NO problem they said! Just read the manual they said. Heh. What can I say. Lesson learned.
Oh, and thanx anyway guys, for trying to help.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

It only takes 1 bad component for your system to not start. You could be doing everything right and just have a bad component.

So.................................. have you tried taking everything out of the case yet?

 

[the wombat]

Originally posted by: ibex333
well, ppl say that you dont really have to use a 24 pin adapter. There'a a sticky in this forum on this topic. But I'd advise you to get one, because one dood said that his mobo fried because he did not use a 24pin adapter. (dont know if this is true or not)

As for me, I tried the CMOS. -- nothing. I reset the cards. nothing. I unpluged all the cables from PSU and pluged them in again. - nothing
It's almost like my WHOLE system is completely dead except the fans. At least that's the way it feels. I dont want to give up, but I think it's time for me to do so, as I have been struggling with this thing for 3 days now. Mabe some part/s is/are defective, but I cannot tell. If I wait too long I probably wont be able to RMA them either. The only way I can do this right I guess is if I take some classes on this stuff. And so, I guess I'll have to declare my stupidity and ignorance and drag this PC to someone who will milk me for my money like I've always done all my life. I feel so low...
People have assured me that building a PC is NOT hard. and ANYONE can do it. NO problem they said! Just read the manual they said. Heh. What can I say. Lesson learned.
Oh, and thanx anyway guys, for trying to help.

Don't give up man! I'm sure you can figure it out!

 

[ibex333]

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello
It only takes 1 bad component for your system to not start. You could be doing everything right and just have a bad component.

So.................................. have you tried taking everything out of the case yet?

yeah except the processor.
I'm taking my PC to the computer store tomorrow. I dont think i got any other options, because if something is defective and I cannot find it it time, I wont be able to RMA it.
By the way.. I'm wondering how did you learn to build PCs?? Did u take classes? I tried reading books, but they are ALWAYS outdated. I tried the forums, but people cant SEE my computer so they can only offer advice and that dont seem to help. I really have no idea how people actually learn to build PCs and get hands on experience. I cannot afford to spend thousands of dollars on PC parts so I can play around with them, break them, then buy new ones....