Computer receives power, but no POST

[palswim]

I just finished building this system today:

Processor: 3500+ Athlon 64 Socket 939
Motherboard: Asus A8N-SLI Deluxe
Video Card: GeForce 6600 GT PCIe
Memory: 1 GB (2x512 MB) Mushkin PC3200 DDR
Hard Drive: Hitachi Deskstar 250GB SATA
Power Supply: Antec SL350 (came with case)
& an old DVD-ROM drive

When I press the power button, all fans and drives (if I have them plugged in) will begin activity, but the system refuses to POST or output anything to the screen.

This has happened every time I've tried to boot (i.e., the computer has never worked) and it doesn't beep at me when I take all of the memory out. It also does the same thing if I take the 4-pin ATX 12V line out of the motherboard or the 4-pin EZ-Plug out.

Searching around the forums, it seems like blaming the power supply for everything is the popular thing to do nowadays and I'm inclined to point my finger at it as well. Perhaps it won't boot because of the ghetto fashion in which I've re-secured the video card's fan (pin broke out of the box, so I threaded a paper clip through the hole). Perhaps I'm missing something.

A bit more about the power supply:
Its printed ratings (350W, 21A over +12V) are high enough for what the motherboard manual says, but not according to some anand users (who think that I need 30+A over 12V). It is also a 20-pin PSU, whereas the board has a 24-pin connector. But some people are reporting success with placing the 20-pinners in the 24-pin connection, and just leaving the 4 bottom pins empty. So I guess all this makes the power supply I have seem guiltier and guiltier, but I want to know if anyone has any alternate theories.

I do have a Vantec Stealth 350W supply lying around (actually in my other machine), but its printed ratings are worse than the power supply I have in my machine now.

anyway, thanks for taking the time to read this and for those of you who choose to respond with helpful messages, thank you for those as well!

ryan

 

[PezRadar]

I had the exact same problem just last night with an A8N but it was an AGP ... 3200+ AMD 64, and a 6600GT AGP not a PCIE

What I ended up doing was using a weaker video card and checking with my gf2 mx.. and it still wouldnt boot and my case came with a 420W but a 12v 13A reading on it..

So I then reset the CMOS.. it worked!

I tried my 6600GT.. dead..

I reccomend grabbing a new PSU i got a Aspire 500w with a 35A on 12v.. works like a charm.. glows blue and has rounded powercables..

I love it.. works great now

 

[palswim]

Yeah, I read your post last night, and it was one of the many sources the hinted at power supply insufficiency. But, I can't really test the video card since it's PCI-E and I've spent wayyy more than I planned to spend on this system already.

But, wouldn't the system at least beep at me if my video card wasn't in? I took the video card out and tried to start it and still, there was no noise save for the extremely quiet cpu fan, but the green light on the motherboard was on.

If nothing else, I guess I'll have to take the "Circuit City Challenge" (go to CC and buy something; use it and then return it when your needed parts arrive) again =P.

Thank you,
ryan

 

[PezRadar]

Funny enough I work at circuit city..

Um.. What i would do is pull out all memory.. and see if it beeps.. then at least you know your speakers in right..

Also did u try the CMOS?

And at the same time go find a new PSU borrow one.. MAKE FRIENDS cause all signs are pointing at that.. personally a 6800GT eats up so much power.. the thing requires 2 freaking 4 pins to be connected to it doesnt it?

 

[palswim]

Eh, I've put the speaker wire right-side-up, upside-down, sideways (not really), and out all together and it has never made a sound. Every boot, it does nothing. (I have taken the memory out.)

I've tried the CMOS once, but I'll definitely try that again.

Also, since my 6600 (GT) is PCI-E, it doesn't have any extra power connectors - it draws all its power through the PCI slot. But still, it is a beast.

And finally, my friends and I may try to squeeze everything out of our computers, but we're a bunch of poor college kids, so nobody's going to have a power supply to power my rig, and definitely no one will have a 24-pin power supply. So, I'll just have to take the "Fry's Challenge" (as a thank you for your help) instead =P.

 

[meltdown75]

$10 says it's your motherboard. My last Asus board was doing it too, it would only post about 1/10 times - very fussy. I bought a replacement board - another Asus (now that's what I call brand loyalty) and everything works fine. Now I can actually shut down my PC without having to worry about it not booting again.

Paypal me if i'm right...

edit: oh and btw i tried every swap you can imagine. Power supply, video, ram, cpu. The last thing I tried was the mobo and it was the clincher. best of luck!

 

[Blazer]

Funny enough I work at circuit city..

never seen it coming did he

all PSUs are not created EQUAL

 

[TheStu]

i had a similiar problem recently until i remebered i had the CMOS jumper parked in the off (clear) position, the machine will start for about a .5 seconds and then power off again.... check that and then check the CMOS battery....

 

[palswim]

Good job meltdown75 =D

I did the Fry's Challenge and lo and behold the computer boots! It was most definitely a DOA motherboard.

Now, I just have to stop this stupid BSOD problem (probably RAM - the RAM on their QVL list is so expensive tho!)