Helping friend build computer...

RSanders

Senior member
Feb 23, 2003
293
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Ok. We got everything hooked up. His powersupply hasn't came in yet, so we took the one out of his old Dell, 200w, and shoved it in there. Heh

He has:
Athlon 64 3000+
3 Extra Fans
CDRW
80GB HD
Radeon 9600

Our problem is :
All of the fans come on, and I believe the harddrive is running. The CD-drive lights up in the front but the green light keeps blinking. We try to stick the little needle thing to open it, and when we get the cddrive open, it automatically shuts back. So it keeps wanting to shut itself, even when it is shut.

Nothing ever comes up.. and we never hear a beep. There is this red light at the top/left of the motherboard (looking from the backside of the computer) that appears.

We tried unhooking all the fans, except the CPU fan of course, and it still does it.

Our conclusion is that it is either the powersupply or the processor.

We are going to wait till the powersupply comes in and try that one, just in case.

What does this sound like?
 

nick1985

Lifer
Dec 29, 2002
27,153
6
81
ummm....arnt dell PSU's not supposed to fit ATX motherboards? i thought they had a special conenction. i hope you didnt jam it in there and ruin the computer...
 

Kaieye

Platinum Member
Oct 9, 1999
2,275
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If the Dell ps is what I think it might be, the mb might be toast. Dell intentionally changed the wires on purpose so you have to use a Dell ps instead of a generic ps...
 

dc5

Senior member
Jul 10, 2004
791
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Originally posted by: Kaieye
If the Dell ps is what I think it might be, the mb might be toast. Dell intentionally changed the wires on purpose so you have to use a Dell ps instead of a generic ps...

:shocked:
 

RSanders

Senior member
Feb 23, 2003
293
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0
Wow that is some shit. What about the red LED light? Hopefully the new powersupply will fix this!
 

ts3433

Platinum Member
Jun 29, 2004
2,731
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For the LED's message, look in your mobo's manual. I know on older Dells they used some proprietary wiring BS that can fry a standard motherboard.
 

allanon1965

Diamond Member
Mar 14, 2004
3,427
1
81
oh no....never never try to use dell parts in a custom or other pc, they make the damn things proprietary, fuggers! there are adapters that fix that, i have one, but only in case of emergency:)
 

RSanders

Senior member
Feb 23, 2003
293
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0
Adapters to fix what? :)

If his new PS doesn't work.. I guess he will have to RMA the motherboard.
 

allanon1965

Diamond Member
Mar 14, 2004
3,427
1
81
to fix the powersupply plug on a dell, they switched a couple pins and the adapter puts them back so you can use a dell powersupply on a standard atx mb.
 

EvilRage

Senior member
Dec 20, 2004
733
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This is the kind of crap that drives up the cost of goods for everyone else. Ugh.

RMA'd mobo > Mobo manufacturer sends new mobo, eats cost on fried mobo > Mfr raises cost on newer model mobo to pay for cost of junking/servicing old model fried mobos > Higher cost to consumers.

I hate people sometimes. RTFM.
 

RSanders

Senior member
Feb 23, 2003
293
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0
Get over it.. you will be thinking that when something of yours goes out and you want to RMA it and you can't.
 

Twigstir

Member
Dec 21, 2004
64
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Don't hate the dude, hate the people in big business that purposely try to screw you out of money to line their pockets. As you can see, they can screw more than just their customers out of money.
 

allanon1965

Diamond Member
Mar 14, 2004
3,427
1
81
the point he is making is that you caused the problem. not the component, you used a proprietary powersupply with a mb that was not designed to take that, just because the plug fits does not mean it is correct. the pin out on the dell plug is different than a conventional atx power supply. therefore it WILL cause big problems with the mb, quite possibly destroying it. that is not the fault of the manufacturer, but your fault, therefore an RMA is not justified. its the same as stealing the mb from the manufacturer, that is the point he is trying to make. as far as i am concerned, i agree with him, but you will undoubtedly RMA a product that you broke, and no one here, including myself will be able to talk you out of it, however, rest assured that you have made several DNT lists today, not trying to flame you dude, just stating the facts. caveat emptor.......
 

nick1985

Lifer
Dec 29, 2002
27,153
6
81
Originally posted by: RSanders
Get over it.. you will be thinking that when something of yours goes out and you want to RMA it and you can't.

you better not RMA that board. you broke it, not the company. you drive up costs for all of us. man up and pay for it.
 

EvilRage

Senior member
Dec 20, 2004
733
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Originally posted by: RSanders
Get over it.. you will be thinking that when something of yours goes out and you want to RMA it and you can't.

When it goes out due to normal wear/tear or a defect, not when I jam an incompatible power supply into my mobo and kill it.
 

ComatoseDelirium

Senior member
Dec 18, 2004
653
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RMA if all else fails, dont worry about some of these jack asses, the ability is their to be exploited, self gain over communal gain, go for it man don't look back, you'd just be the straw that broke the camals back if anything
 

RSanders

Senior member
Feb 23, 2003
293
0
0
1. It is my friend's computer.

2. He wanted to try the powersupply.

3. We don't know that the mobo is dead.

4. nick1985, It will be my friend's decision to RMA it, not just mine, so I will just act like you were talking to him, because I can't RMA the board on my own..

5. I just read where someone was having the same problems and he found out that the CPU wasn't in good on the motherboard, which reminds me of this:

We were installing the fan on the CPU, and we sat it on there, then we pulled it back off because we were going to re-fit it, and the CPU came up with the powersupply, which was ODD. We took the CPU off the fan (had to slide it off because it was hard to pull) and we sat it back down (used the lever to lock it in place, just like last time) and put the fan on it.. I will get him to check this tomorrow or whenever I go back over there.