False Hope.....

[aj2k8]

:brokenheart: OK, so after a loing while of testing, I take out all but the bare necessities of my newly built non-working computer. To my satisfaction, the little green light turns on!!!!!! but nothing else... no fans... nothing... so I quickly add the graphics card and... NO LIGHT!!!! the light flashed on for a sec, then whent off... The light still works without the graphics card...

 

[mechBgon]

You newbie!!! As punishment, you must list all of your computer components so we can help you solve this problem!

 

[aj2k8]

Processor: INTEL p4 2.66Ghz
Case: Powmax 0212-03 4HL (Very kool looking )
mobo: DFI p4x400-AL
Ram: 1 * Hyper X 512Mb PC 4000
CD: 52x24x52

 

[aj2k8]

Processor: INTEL p4 2.66Ghz
Case: Powmax 0212-03 4HL (Very kool looking )
mobo: DFI p4x400-AL
Ram: 1 * Hyper X 512Mb PC 4000
CD: 52x24x52

 

[BD231]

Your Intel is broken, I think you need an AMD.

 

[mechBgon]

That's a help How about the video card, what brand/model is it?

 

[airfoil]

Originally posted by: BD231
Your Intel is broken, I think you need an AMD.

Very helpful! It should work wonders on that DFI P4 mobo.

aj2k8, I suggest you take all the components out of the case, including the power supply. Place the board on a non-conducting surface, then connect the CPU, RAM & AGP carefully.

Also, make sure you have the 2 connections for power to the mobo connected right.

 

[KGB1]

Originally posted by: aj2k8
:brokenheart: OK, so after a loing while of testing, I take out all but the bare necessities of my newly built non-working computer. To my satisfaction, the little green light turns on!!!!!! but nothing else... no fans... nothing... so I quickly add the graphics card and... NO LIGHT!!!! the light flashed on for a sec, then whent off... The light still works without the graphics card...

Lemme get this straight, you attempted to place a graphics card while the system was turned on? Wonderful, it's a suprise you didn't see a puff of smoke once you placed it in.

List
Processor
Motherboard
Ram
Video Card
Power Supply


Tips, make SURE heatsink is placed correctly, the ATX switch and lights are placed correctly from the case. Make sure cpu is not DOA (test in another system if you have) also check ram if it is DOA also.

 

[aj2k8]

1. I didn't put it in while it's still on...
2. By 2 power connections do you mean that big one + that little 12w next to the cpu??
INTEL ROX!

 

[aj2k8]

ps: Graphics card is some sort of ATI RADEON 64mb
RADEON ROX!

 

[mechBgon]

I think aj2k8 probably means the green light that signals that the motherboard has a live power supply hooked up, not that his system was actually up and running. Otherwise he is doing a marvelous job of bullet #2 in my signature

aj2k8, I hope you won't take offense at this, but in my opinion PowMax is one of those companies that worries more about what their product looks like than how well it's engineered, at least when it comes to their power supply units. Whether the actual problem is the power supply unit or not, I would bail it if it were me. Again, that's just my opinion. If you wanted a suggestion, an Antec SL350 or higher, or an Enermax 365-series or Sparkle Power 350W+ unit, would be some of the ones that people find to be worthwhile, reliable ones.

Now back to the project here... I'm wondering

• Is your four-pin ATX12V power-supply plug hooked up to the motherboard? This is the odd square 2x2 plug with two yellow wires and two black ones.
• If you have a video card that is designed for a power plug to come straight to it from the power supply (Radeon 9600Pro, 9800Pro, high-end nVidia cards), is that plugged in?
• Did you ream the video card right down to the bottom of the AGP slot? There's two rows of contacts in there, not one row like in PCI slots, so don't be shy.
• If the video card is a really old one, stop because old AGP 2x cards aren't electrically compatible with most modern mobos

 

[z0dz]

i kinda have the same problem... when i first hooked everything up and turned power supply on the LED lightbulb on the motherboard was on indicating that the motherboard had power was on, but when i pressed the power button on the case it would start for half a second and then turn off. After I unhooked everything, then hooked it back up again checking to see if i made a mistake on something when I couldn't figure it out, i turn my power supply on and fans spin for a few seconds, but my motherboard LED never shows that it has power.

I got one of those cases that suck too, but I'm on a low budget so I really dont care... as long as it's working anyway. It's a RAIDMAX with a 350w PSU and a 80mm fan in the side that i bought for 26 bux off newegg.com

other sh!t -

MB ASUS A7V600-X VIA KT600 RET N82E16813131486 3/9/2004 4:44:22 PM 1 $69.99
CDRW LITEON|52X32X52X LTR-52327S BK N82E16827106197 3/9/2004 4:44:22 PM 1 $35.50
CPU AMD|2500/333 ATHLON XP BARTON R N82E16819103379 3/9/2004 4:44:22 PM 1 $80.00
HD 80GB|SAMSUNG 7200/ATA133 SP0802N N82E16822152010 3/9/2004 4:44:22 PM 1 $68.50
DDR 512MB|64X64 PC-3200 D-E% N82E16820999330 3/9/2004 4:44:22 PM 1 $78.00
CASE RAIDMAX ATX-208BP 350W N82E16811156106 3/9/2004 3:51:09 PM 1 $26.00
40gig western digital hd
some floppy from other computer
geforce4 mx440 from other computer

if anyone can help it would be much appreciated

 

[NokiaDude]

Make sure everything is fully plugged in.

 

[mechBgon]

Originally posted by: z0dz
i kinda have the same problem... when i first hooked everything up and turned power supply on the LED lightbulb on the motherboard was on indicating that the motherboard had power was on, but when i pressed the power button on the case it would start for half a second and then turn off. After I unhooked everything, then hooked it back up again checking to see if i made a mistake on something when I couldn't figure it out, i turn my power supply on and fans spin for a few seconds, but my motherboard LED never shows that it has power.

I got one of those cases that suck too, but I'm on a low budget so I really dont care... as long as it's working anyway. It's a RAIDMAX with a 350w PSU and a 80mm fan in the side that i bought for 26 bux off newegg.com

other sh!t -

MB ASUS A7V600-X VIA KT600 RET N82E16813131486 3/9/2004 4:44:22 PM 1 $69.99
CDRW LITEON|52X32X52X LTR-52327S BK N82E16827106197 3/9/2004 4:44:22 PM 1 $35.50
CPU AMD|2500/333 ATHLON XP BARTON R N82E16819103379 3/9/2004 4:44:22 PM 1 $80.00
HD 80GB|SAMSUNG 7200/ATA133 SP0802N N82E16822152010 3/9/2004 4:44:22 PM 1 $68.50
DDR 512MB|64X64 PC-3200 D-E% N82E16820999330 3/9/2004 4:44:22 PM 1 $78.00
CASE RAIDMAX ATX-208BP 350W N82E16811156106 3/9/2004 3:51:09 PM 1 $26.00
40gig western digital hd
some floppy from other computer
geforce4 mx440 from other computer

if anyone can help it would be much appreciated

I might be able to help with that Thanks for the parts list, it helps get our brains in gear

One of the main causes of a system starting but then shutting off, is if the heatsink is installed backwards instead of like this picture, so start with that. If it's reversed, try to gently unclip it. When it's reversed, it bears all the clip pressure down on just the edge of the CPU, and so there's a danger of breakage, but stay optomistic and good luck. You may also be wise to put a credit card below the clip to catch your screwdriver if it happens to slip out of the clip and try to gash the motherboard.

If the heatsink's on the right way then we can work on it some more.

 

[mechBgon]

One more suggestion for z0dz: if the heatsink is installed in the correct direction, then ask yourself this:

:Q ~ now, did I remember to take the protective plastic slip off of the square of thermal compound before installing the heatsink...?

If you didn't, then unclip and take that slip off, then reinstall the heatsink and give it another try. Good luck, and welcome to the Forums

 

[ronnn]

Maybe the processor is not seated properly. Any beeps during startup?

 

[aj2k8]

OK, well I didn't take the little plastic strip from the heatsink... The only problem is... I CAN'T TAKE THAT DAMN FAN OFF!!! HOW DO YOU GET IT OFF????? :|

 

[aj2k8]

And also, my graphics card isn't that old... I did plug in the 4 pin .... my graphics card doesn't eed a direct power supply (I've used it before)

 

[z0dz]

i took the plastic thing off, but with the thermal compound thing... i accidently ripped it off, so what i did was buy some antec thermal compound for CPU's and heatsinks. I applied that. Had lots of pictures to show exactly how to do it, so I'm pretty sure that I did it right.

And i'll check if i installed the heatsink backwards.. I'll post if it works afterward, or if it didn't.

And what I did to remove the heatsink was take a flathead screw driver, and is a little hook latch thing on the heatsink you can stick it in. Push down on the screwdriver and push it off the hooks. Don't press to hard tho. You might try that.

 

[mechBgon]

Originally posted by: z0dz
i took the plastic thing off, but with the thermal compound thing... i accidently ripped it off, so what i did was buy some antec thermal compound for CPU's and heatsinks. I applied that. Had lots of pictures to show exactly how to do it, so I'm pretty sure that I did it right.

And i'll check if i installed the heatsink backwards.. I'll post if it works afterward, or if it didn't.

And what I did to remove the heatsink was take a flathead screw driver, and is a little hook latch thing on the heatsink you can stick it in. Push down on the screwdriver and push it off the hooks. Don't press to hard tho. You might try that.

Also view the video clip from my heatsink-installation guide and notice how the screwdriver can be used to lever the clip outwards to get it clear of the lugs. Imagine running that video clip in reverse, and there you go

Ooops, my brain is not quite in gear yet. aj2k8, your retail-boxed Intel CPU comes with a heatsink that has a coated foil thermal pad stuck to the bottom, if I'm not mistaken. The foil has a coating of phase-change thermal compound on each side and it does belong on there. The instructions above are useful to SocketA (AMD AthlonXP/Duron) owners, but probably not to you.

 

[z0dz]

everythings hooked up right. i figured out that my videocard wasn't completely plugged in.

now if i could only get my power button to work... -_-

 

[mechBgon]

Originally posted by: z0dz
everythings hooked up right. i figured out that my videocard wasn't completely plugged in.

now if i could only get my power button to work... -_-

Asus's mobo markings are sometimes confsuing. Give me about 15 minutes to download the manual and look at it. A7V600-X, comin' up.

 

[AIWGuru]

Use a screwdrive on the pin block in pair of two until it turns on.

 

[fireontheway]

Originally posted by: aj2k8
And also, my graphics card isn't that old... I did plug in the 4 pin .... my graphics card doesn't eed a direct power supply (I've used it before)

?

 

[z0dz]

screwdriver thing didn't work... it's almost like the block is dead