ECS nFORCE3-A Combo From Fry's Setting Up - Help

[Alessandro]

I got in on the Sempron 2800+ combo from Fry's to build a comp for my mom. However, I'm having trouble setting up the system - it won't display anything on the monitor. What seems weird is that that CPU fan turns on immediately after the power supply switch is turned on - no need to hit the case power switch. In fact, the case power switch, despite hooked to the jumpers per the manual's directions, does nothing. I'll check tomorrow with another power switch but given its the Thermaltake Mambo case deal from Compusa I find it unlikely that that's the problem. I can hear the HDs turn on as well, will check for beep codes tomorrow (it's 3 AM here). Anyone have any ideas? What gets me is why the CPU fan turns on immediately.

I plugged in both the 20 pin and the 12+V power connector, powered all the drives sans floppy. CPU fan plugged into designated mobo connector right above the processor. AGP vid card plugged in, monitor connected. No other peripherals connected yet (mouse, kb, etc), was just looking for post. Thanks.

 

[Zap]

To troubleshoot a setup that won't turn on properly, you HAVE to remove everything from the case including the motherboard and power supply, and test outside the case.

Put the motherboard on something non-conductive and preferably softer than bare desk. Reinstall CPU and HSF, jumper CMOS to clear it (and make sure it is in the normal position afterwards). Hook up the PC speaker, power supply, install RAM and video card, and NOTHING ELSE. Now, see if it can turn on properly. If so, add in other components and test. If not, remove video and RAM, and see if it beeps through the PC speaker.

 

[bwnv]

My ECS wouldn't boot with a vga card when I first got it as the bios was set for pci. Try reseting the cmos if you don't have a pci vid card handy.

 

[Alessandro]

What gets me on this is why the CPU fan runs immediately once the PSU is plugged in, no start button needed. I've unplugged everything, but the CPU fan starts up immediately. I don't have another PSU to test to see if it's that. Just wanted to see if anyone else had this board and maybe it had jumper problems. I switched around the ones I saw in the manual and reset the cmos, but no luck. Is it supposed to power up immediately once plugged in?

 

[o1die]

My best guess is that you have a cable backwards, or the board is grounded against something in the case. The only way to be sure is to pull it out of the case, and do the bare bones post. Just be sure you have the power switch lead connected, as well as the 2 atx connections for 20 pin and 4 pin 12v. Hopefully, you'll get a beep code if everything is connected properly. No hardrive or floppy. Just one stick of memory, cpu/heatsink, and video. Some ecs bios' don't use beep codes. Ecs just didn't bother with them to save money on the bios program.