Dead mb, cpu, or both?? Please Help!!!

[Tullphan]

I just put together a P4S533 mb w/P4 1.8a cpu, WD 80gb hd (8mb model), 2 sticks of PC2100 ddr (Compuwiz's) and a GF2 Ultra video.
The problem is, when I hit the power button, the front case fan spins for about a fourth of a sec, then quits. Nothing else. The green light on the motherboard is on, so it has to be getting power. I know the ram, video, and ps is good as I just removed it from a working system. I've changed the headers around just in case I might have gotten them backwards, but that didn't help either.
Can anyone help, please??

 

[mechBgon]

If you haven't already tried it, you might check the seating of the video card. Sometimes with a new motherboard, the card doesn't want to go past the second row of contacts in the AGP slot. Also make sure the RAM is fully seated. If that doesn't help, maybe the motherboard is grounding out on the case... try running it outside the case. Good luck

 

[flawedexistence]

Check me out on this...................If the mobo was grounding out, I don't think the case fan would spin at all, would it?

 

[mechBgon]

I've accidentally shorted my PSU's 12-volt line to ground with an unplugged 3-pin-to-4-pin adapter, and the PSU does shut itself off immediately But you're right, if that were the situation, I suppose the green LED on the board wouldn't be lit.

 

[Tullphan]

Like I said, it only spins for like 1/4 second...I don't even think it makes an entire revolution.
I'm almost certain the memory & video is seated properly...the memory seemed to snap in place with pressure & the holders popped into place. I'm afraid to push the video any further down...I don't know my own strength...hehe.

 

[mechBgon]

Try taking the video card out and see if the system fires up (it will beep error codes, but whatever). If you have a PCI video card, try that as well.

It just occurred to me that you might want to make sure the Clear CMOS jumper is not in the Clear position, too.

 

[o1die]

I have that board. Be sure your cpu heatsink fan is plugged in the right plug, or the system hardware monitor may shut it down. It's located above and left of the cpu, towards the backplate.

 

[Iron Woode]

I have had this problem before, but on AMD systems.

I just unplugged and then re-plugged the MB power connector a couple times and then it starts working right. I have no idea why some boards do this. Mine wasn't grounding out or anything.

Good luck figuring it out.

 

[Tullphan]

**UPDATE**
I've tried all of y'alls suggestions (which I greatly appreciate)...reseated ram & video...tried without video...checked "clear cmos" jumper...checked "chassis intrusion" jumper just for kicks...took mb out of case...all with the same results. Hit the power switch & the case fan and heatsink fan spin about a 1/4 revolution.
I hope this isn't bad news.

 

[Tullphan]

Anyone?
Please?

 

[grumm3t]

Originally posted by: Iron Woode
I have had this problem before, but on AMD systems.

I just unplugged and then re-plugged the MB power connector a couple times and then it starts working right. I have no idea why some boards do this. Mine wasn't grounding out or anything.

Good luck figuring it out.

That also worked for me. Disconnect power from wall. Turn off PSU. Disconnect PSU from motherboard. Wait a few seconds. Reconnect everything. If not, try loaning another PSU from a friend and see if that fixes it.