Buddy's computer will not Post... HELP!

[TheDynamo]

:disgust: Ok, since shuttle's MB tech support email says delivery failure I thought I would pass this by you folks. Here's the story so far:

Old computer transfer to new computer due to dead motherboard (Intel 478 Rambus chipset) Was running a 2.4 GHz P4 Processor with 400Mhz bus speed and 512 MB Cache (northwood I think). The Shuttle does not support Willamette core chips and as far as I know Intel didn't make a 2.4 willamette.

We've since purchased a Shuttle AB60N Motherboard

----here's the stats----

Supported CPU: Socket 478 Intel Pentium 4/Celeron Processors
Chipset: Intel 865PE + ICH5
FSB: 800/533/400MHz
RAM: 4x DIMM for Dual channels DDR400/333/266 Max 4GB
IDE: 2x ATA 100 up to 4 Devices
Slots: 1x AGP 8X, 5x PCI
Ports: 2xPS2, 1xLPT, 2xCOM, 1x LAN,8x USB2.0(Rear 4), Audio Ports
Onboard Audio: Realtek ALC650 6-Channel Codec
Onboard LAN: Realtek 8100B 10/100Mbps Fast Ethernet
Onboard SATA: 2x Serial ATA
Form Factor: ATX

We also purchased some Corsair value ram DDR 400 (2x512) to run on this system.

Other assets include a 300 Watt PS, Radeon 9800Pro 128 Video Card.

We have re-seated the RAM, CPU and Video Card multiple times. We have yet to try putting a new PS in. The computer will start up, the HDD will spin up but no beep. Odd thing is that it's hard to hook the HDD and any of the CDROMS up.

Any ideas? Is it the power supply or is there something more sinister going on?

Any help would be VASTLY appreciated.

 

[jmarriott]

I just posted this over on Motherboard forum. Mine seems to be a PS problem as well, but I'm not getting spin up of anything - no HDD spin, PS fan spin, nothing. But the darnMB light is on. Like some power is getting through but not enough to make stuff spin.
------------------------------

I just built a mid-range gaming machine:

ASUS P5GD1
P4 3.0 (530J)
Corsair Valueselect 2x 512B
WD 80GB SATA
XFX 6600 PCIe 128MB
Generic 400W PS with 20-pin (ASUS recommends 24-pin)

It went together fine and ran OK for 2 days. Installed MoH Pacific Assault, played fine for a few hours last night. This morning was playing again - for much less time (15 mins) - and the machine died.

Symptoms:
MB light is ON, Case power light flashes on when PWR first pressed, then goes out.
Tried switching the RAM, removing processor, etc. NO POST BEEPS, no fan activity.

I'm not even sure it's the MB...why did it run OK and then die? Temps in BIOS and ASUS probe seemed fine.

Next step will be ASUS tech, but i wanted to check here first.

 

[mechBgon]

jmarriott, maybe your case's power switch is not working. Try making a direct momentary electrical connection between the motherboard's power-button pins as depicted in this photo. Also, make sure you're using the right pins, verify in your motherboard owner's manual rather than trusting the silk-screened markings on the mobo's surface. For example, in my photo, it may look like I'm doing it right, but the markings are actually incorrect on that motherboard model.

I also would not advise a generic PSU for that rig :Q Quality, quality, quality, with plenty of wattage for good measure. That's my story, and I'm stickin' to it :evil: Suggested PSU for you: Fortron Blue Storm, LED-lighted adjustable-speed 120mm fan, sleeved cables, PCI-E plug, 24-pin natively.

TheDynamo, a 300W PSU for a 9800Pro-equipped system with a Pentium4 might be a little skimpy unless it's a very good-quality one. Or it could be shot. But also confirm that he got his ATX12V cable and his video power cable plugged in, that his mouse and keyboard are plugged into the correct ports (green for mouse, purple for keyboard), and that he doesn't have stray standoffs under the motherboard in places where the motherboard doesn't want them (common location for that being the one shown here).

Hope that helps

 

[TheDynamo]

Thanks for the quick info, I'll send this to him. I'm hoping that it's just the PS and nothing else. If I can't reach tech support by e-mail I wonder how hard it would be to do an RMA More as things develop

-Rob

 

[Fern]

Originally posted by: jmarriott
Generic 400W PS with 20-pin (ASUS recommends 24-pin)

Check the ATX connector in the mobo (melting plastic, excessive heat). I've heard of problems with 20 pin v 24 pin.

Good Luck with it.

Fern

 

[Fern]

Originally posted by: TheDynamo
Thanks for the quick info, I'll send this to him. I'm hoping that it's just the PS and nothing else. If I can't reach tech support by e-mail I wonder how hard it would be to do an RMA More as things develop

-Rob

Befoer RMAing, I would test the mobo o/s the case with only CPU (HS+F), ram and vid card. Hook up monitor, KB and mouse and see if it boots.

Yeah 300 watt generic may not be enough. And as Mech says make sure that the 9800p has power connector attached to it, it won't boot w/o it.

Don't know how similar the chipsets are between the old and new mobo. But unless you've already taken steps to clear the old chipset drivers etc out of the old install on the HDD, be ready for driver conflict problems when she does boot.

Fern

 

[TheDynamo]

That did it, he just hooked the CPU, Ram, Video, Keyboard and Mouse up and the system POSTed fine 'n dandy. I just sent him out to go buy at least a 360watt PS (probably sparkle or some other higher quality PS) from the local yokel PC supply store. He REALLY wants to get that thing running, it's been down for almost a month. It must have been a miracle that the older PC was running under such a low wattage with that power hungry Radeon card. Thanks again for all the help.

-Rob

 

[jmarriott]

just thought I'd give an update on my situation: I replaced the generic "400W" PSU that came with my case with the Forton 400 recommended in a recend guide.

Fortron desc @ newegg

after some initial problems (it still wouldn't boot until the internal speaker was connected???) it works fine. the case runs a lot cooler and quieter.

Lesson: don't buy generic PSUs! i tried to cheap out on that component assuming a watt was a watt - but that is in fact not the case.

thanks to everyone who posted and emailed. it was reaassuring that so many pointed to the generic PS as the problem.