300W ps not enough for Epox 8rda3+? (Fixed...TY)

[TommyShanks]

Hello all,

I receiced my new cpu in the mail today and spent the afternoon assembling and installing my new mobo. The new setup includes:

Athlon 2400+
2 256 mg sticks of PNY (Samsung chips) DDR 2700
Vantec HSF Model: VA4-C7040
Epox board 8RDA3+

The case is an Antec with a stock 300w power supply. I believe the model of the ps is PP300V.

The only other component I installed with the mobo is a GF2 GTS AGP card. There were 2 8mm case fans drawing power. Both the case fans and the HSF were connected directly to the ps and not the mobo. The drives included 1 floppy, 1 Imation CD-RW, and a 120 gb/ 7200 Western Digital HDD. The drives were all pre-installed and have been in use for some time, and were working normally just prior to new mobo installation.

What happened was this: I got everything on the new mobo setup and installed, but when I went to power up the comp, everything would powerup normally for about 4 seconds and then the power would cut off completely. I could hear a faint sort of beeping like an alarm coming from inside the comp, and it seemed to be coming from the power supply. If I hit the power button again nothing would happen. I would have to unplug the power supply before I could try to powerup again.

Can anyone tell me what is going on here? In the Epox manual it stated that 250w ps might not be able to power this board if fully loaded with cards, ect, and that a 300w ps was recommended. This ps had been working earlier in the day, powering an Asus A7V133, Athlon 850, 1 256 mg stick of PC133, the GF2 AGP card, a NIC, an SB Live sound card, a Taisol HSF, the 2 case fans and the 3 drives.

Do I have a power supply problem here, or is it something else?

Thanks in advance...

 

[mechBgon]

One possibility is that your heatsink is reversed, which would cause very rapid CPU overheat. The board would get a panic signal from the CPU, and it would shut down as if you'd pulled the plug. Ensure that the stepped end of your heatsink's base is at the top side of the board so it matches up with the solid-plastic end of the CPU socket... the step in the base is there for clearance over the solid end of the socket.

Also ensure that you have thermal compound between the CPU core and the heatsink, and if you used a shim, take it out. If your WD hard drive is on a cable by itself, ensure that it's jumpered for "Single Drive" as shown on the label.

If that doesn't help, also disconnect the case's Power button and trip the mobo's Power Switch pins directly using a piece of metal (screwdriver tip, etc) to make momentary contact.

Other than that, yes, a 300W unit could be inadequate, particularly if it's an older one. The original Antec 300W unit, the PP303X, was not very potent on the combined 3.3V + 5V rating, at 160W.

 

[TheCorm]

When you get around the 2400+ mark upwards you should start looking at a PSU that gives out at least 35A on the +5V Line, yours probably offers 25 or 30A.

But often beeping means that there is a problem with one of four things (listed in most probably order):

1. AGP Card
2. Memory
3. CPU
4. Motherboard

try looking in manual or online for what the diagnostic beeps refer too.

Corm

 

[TommyShanks]

It was a problem with the HSF seating properly. Thanks for your help and quick replies.

Now I have moved on to a more serious problem...WINDOZE!