BSOD while trying to install Windows

[Lonyo]

MSI K8N SLI Platinum
AMD 64 3200+
Geforce 7800GT
SB Audigy (1)
1GB PC3500 TwinMOS BH5
Enermax Noisetake 425 (420W PSU, 15A on 12V1, 14A on 12V2, ATX1.3 spec
Maxtor 10 series SATA 200GB HDD
LG DVD-ROM drive
5 case fans + 92mm HS fan (XP90C)

Plugged everything in, connected up the 6-pin PCIe connector using 2 molexes, plugged in 20 pin ATX1.3 connector into the 24-pin ATX2.0 mobo connector, plugged in 4 pin 12v to mobo 4pin 12v.
Upon first boot, the SATA drive wasn't detected (in either SATA3 or SATA4), DVD-ROM drive was fine.
Plugged in an old IBM 34GB 5400rpm HDD into IDE1 Master, detected fine, started to try and install Windows XP, BSOD. Somehow after some tried it got through to rebooting to continue install, finished the second part of install off the HDD, then tried to reboot again IIRC, and BSOD. Cannot get past this part.
Tried with Windows 2k, after loading all drivers, it goes to "starting setup", and then BSOD again.

What could the problem be? Is it likely mu PSU isn't playing nicely since it's ATX1.3 not ATX2.0 and the system really needs the 24 pin power connector? Could the mobo be DOA?

Tried: Different SATA cables for the SATA drive.
Tried: Different molexes for the graphics card power adapter
Tested: Memory with Memtest 86 (5 passes so far with no errors)

Cannot: Try SATA drive in a different machine (no other PC's with SATA)
Cannot: Try a different GFX card (no other PCIe cards or any PCI cards around)
Cannot: Try a different PSU (Other PSU is a 300W with 18A on 12v rail, ATX1.3 and is currently powering this PC)
Tried: Booting with RAM/GFX/HDD/DVD/no sound card
Tried: Underclocking RAM/CPU
Tried: Increasing CPU/RAM/NB voltage

I can't think of anything which could be broken except either the PSU being not enough and causing instability, or the mobo being dead.

 

[Fern]

the system really needs the 24 pin power connector?

Yeah, that would be my first guess. I'm thinking with the 7800GT etc your not gettin enough juice through the 20pins. Maybe an adapter would do the trick?

Otherwise I'd be thinking ram. Tried memtest86+ overnight?

Fern

 

[Lonyo]

Originally posted by: Fern

the system really needs the 24 pin power connector?

Yeah, that would be my first guess. I'm thinking with the 7800GT etc your not gettin enough juice through the 20pins. Maybe an adapter would do the trick?

Otherwise I'd be thinking ram. Tried memtest86+ overnight?

Fern

I'm Memtesting atm, 11 passes so far, going to leave it on overnight though, that was my intention.
It might have to be a new PSU then, one that will be future proof for if/when I decide to try out SLI.
Any chance the mobo could be the problem though?

 

[Fern]

Any chance the mobo could be the problem though?

Sure, I don't see how it can be ruled-out at this point.

Might wanna pull the ATX (20 pin) connector. I've heard of burnt pins etc with the 20 pinner on the 24 pin mobo's

 

[EatSpam]

Is it likely mu PSU isn't playing nicely since it's ATX1.3 not ATX2.0 and the system really needs the 24 pin power connector?

Bingo. Get yourself an EPS12V PSU from Zippy, Fortron, Sparkle, or PCP&C. Ditch the dual rail BS and look for something with a single strong 12V rail.

A 460W Zippy with a single 32A 12V rail is $95 at www.servercase.com.

 

[dev0lution]

Got access to another PSU you can test things out with? I've been running dual 7800GTX's on a neopower 480 on the MSI SLI board with no problem.