How to assemble a PC

[LH3]

Can anyone link me to a good guide on assembling pc,something that's more up-to-date?Thanks.

 

[mcurphy]

http://www.mechbgon.com/build/index.html

Pretty good guide that covers sata and the newer socket chips.

 

[Roguestar]

http://tomshardware.co.uk/2002/09/04/building_your_own_pc/index.html

 

[Zepper]

mechbgon's site woud have been my recommendation as well - after all, he's an ATer!

.bh.

 

[AMDIntel]

I am building a brand new PC with the following components:

New Antec Sonata I Case with 380W TruPower PSU
Intel DG965WH Mobo
Core2 Duo E6600
Kingston ValuRam 5300 2 * 1GB memory
Seagate 160GB SATA
CPU Fan provided by Intel (as part of Retail Processor kit)
optional front case fan from ThermalTake
Rear Case Fan from Antec

I finished connecting all the cables as suggested by the Motherboard Quick Reference and I attempt to turn on the front panel's Power On Switch. I can see my rear case fan, CPU fan and front case fan rotate for a fraction of a second and then stop. I see a steady Green Glow from the Motherboard LED somewhere around the CPU/mobo power sockets. Otherwise, nothing. no beeps, nothing on my monitor.

Please help this newbie! What could be wrong?

 

[Zepper]

Welcome to the AT forums, AMDIntel.

I'd suggest you go and read up at Mechbgon's site linked above. If you've got all the points there covered, then check t his:

Boilerplate-01:
. Common causes of failure to boot (no video, no beeps) assuming PSU isn't totally dead:
1- RAM, CPU and/or AGP video card not seated properly, a bent pin or corrosion.
2- Drive data cable on upside down or only on half the pins or shifted a pin or two (usually Floppy or Zip drives).
3- CMOS needs to be cleared (AC power must usually be disconnected or . attempts to clear CMOS may fail) Unless your mobo does not use a power-off CMOS clear - check your mobo manual for specific info.
4- On some new mobos there is a CPU protection feature (esp. on Asus/Asrock Athlon/Socket A mobos) that will not allow the system to start if there is no fan (or a fan without a working speed sensor wire) connected to the CPU Fan power connector on the mobo (specifically marked "CPU Fan"). If you tried to start your machine without a fan properly connected, you have to attach a proper and working fan and clear the CMOS before it will boot.

Just as an aside, I'm no fan of Value Ram. I've had two of those fail on different occasions on my own machines (sample size: four modules) means a 50% failure rate in my hands. I don't recall EVER having a Samsung or Micron/Crucial module fail.

.bh.

 

[AMDIntel]

Thanks Zepper:

I will check all the 4 possible reasons, but I know and verified that my boxed CPU fan's connector is correctly plugged into the socket labeled 'CPU fan'.

 

[Zepper]

Well the fan's speed sensor may not be working.

Also some CMOS batteries are shipped disconnected - a piece of plastic or paper tape under the battery that has to be pulled out or a jumper that has to be set to the Normal position. If you find this to be the case, then once you connect the battery, you should also do the CMOS clear procedure to be sure it is starting with full default settings.

Also you may have installed the memory modules into the wrong socket(s) Many require a pair of modules to be in sockets 1, 3 rather than 1, 2... Check your mobo manual carefully on this point.

.bh.

 

[Heller]

Perhaps its a grounding issue? that happens alot if your not careful, take everything out lay the mobo ona cardboard box, plug in accessories (psu/videocard) and see if it post.(you get a bios screen)

 

[AMDIntel]

Zepper/Heller91:

Thanks for your replies. I am going to try all your solutions tonight. Quick question:

A couple of my friends think that my PSU might be bad. It's a brand new Antec TruPower 380 PSU shipped along with my Antec Sonata I case. Also, when I turn my 0/1 switch on the back of my case, my Mobo LED glows a steady green.

Is there a simple way of telling if the PSU is bad? The only other PSU that I have is attached to an old (working) Compaq Pressario PC, whose PSU is a whopping (?) 110W with a 20pin ATX cable

 

[Heller]

Hey amdintel,

if you want i can talk you in real time via aim/msn messenger, whi;e your assemblingincase u run into any probs, but i honestly think its a grounding issue. if you want to run to your local circuit city/best buy/compusa store and grab This
but i do think its honestly a grounding issue.

 

[AMDIntel]

Heller91:

Thanks for the offer. I will follow up on your earlier advise and first try and get my MOBO to post. If so, I will ensure that my Front Panel Power connectors are connected properly on to the board. If not, I will try and send you a private msg. to request you to come online. Would that work?

 

[Heller]

Originally posted by: AMDIntel
Heller91:

Thanks for the offer. I will follow up on your earlier advise and first try and get my MOBO to post. If so, I will ensure that my Front Panel Power connectors are connected properly on to the board. If not, I will try and send you a private msg. to request you to come online. Would that work?

JzHxxx
is my aim

heller91@gmail.com

is my msn messenger

if you need help just contact me on one of those above methods.

 

[Gautama2]

I had the same issue with fans half-starting, it was the mobo. RMA'd it and now it works fine, though this may not be your problem.

 

[Trashman]

besides the 24-pin power connector don't forget or check that you have the 4-pin power cable connected as well...thought i'd through that out as well, could have been overlooked.

 

[trOver]

welcome to the world of building your own pc and not having it post on first boot. Dont get mad at it and break anything. Usualy when i just walk away from it for a couple of hours and come back, i make some process. It will eventually work. Dont lose hope.

 

[AMDIntel]

Thanks for all your suggestions. Heller, I followed your suggestion and took the case w/ just the power supply to my local C'USA store. They plugged the 24pin connector to their PSU tester and told me that the PSU was bad. I guess I will have to deal with Antec there.

Next, I went ahead and got a Antec (again!) SmartPower 2.0 400W power supply and re-did all the connections. Also replaced my stock heatsink fan with Coolmaster XDream 775 and that was a much simpler install compared to the Intel stock fan. Cross-checked my mobo quick reference and made sure that all the steps were in order. Paid particular attention to both the 2 x 12 power connector and 2 x 2 connector. Then I do the following:
1. I turn on my 0/1 switch on the back of my PSU to 1. Green mobo LED glows steady green.
2. Press the Power switch on the front panel. My rear fan and CPU fan start to rotate steadily and continue to rotate.
3. Nothing on the monitor, no audible beeps from the mobo and the only noise is the steady revolutions from the rear case fan and CPU fan. I did not see the front fan (connected directly to the mobo's front fan slot) rotate either.

What's wrong now?

 

[Roguestar]

Reseat the memory and graphics card and try again. Failing that, take all but one stick of memory out and put it in a different slot and try that.

 

[bruceb]

That is a nice web site for a how to build a pc.

Nice work Mechbgon

Mods should sticky that link so folks can find it easily.

 

[AMDIntel]

Re-seated the memory (in fact, removed 1 1GB stick, leaving only 1 1GB stick on Channel 0 DIMM 0). Power on, nothing on screen, no beeps from motherboard, only PSU Fan, Case Rear Fan and CPU Fan are rotating. Front Panel LED (Antec Sonata) glows. That's it.

What's wrong, espl. since I have checked and replaced my case with a new Power Supply?

 

[mcurphy]

Here's a couple useful links you can try to narrow down your problem and help diagnose what's going on.

PC Troubleshooting Guide

Troubleshooting Guide for No POST

It may be your motherboard. I had a very similar problem a few months ago and it turned out to be my mobo. I had all the same signs that you are getting, and I swapped the cpu, psu, graphics and ram and still could not get a post.

GL :thumbsup:

 

[AMDIntel]

I am just using the inbuilt graphics that comes along with the Intel DG965WH, no extra graphics card. Also, I read elsewhere that the case speaker connector is useless for this mobo, since the speaker comes installed on the mobo. That being said, any reason for no beeps at all. I have swapped the memory modules, and still nothing. Even my optical drives do not open.

Also, isn't it curious that the rear case fan and the CPU fan run, but not a twitch from the case front fan?

 

[AMDIntel]

I removed the memory modules as well, thinking that the board has to issue a beep for that. No luck there, either?

Please help!

 

[AMDIntel]

Help!

After speaking to Intel Technical support, clearing CMOS, the technician agreed to RMA the mobo. Got the new motherboard (same DG965WH), cleaned up heatsink and re-applied paste, attached to new mobo. same symptom
Power LED glows fine, the CD drives open/close, case fan and CPU fan spins fine.

No POST, no beeps. What could be wrong now?

 

[zbalat]

Only plug in ONE optical drive as a master (on it's own channel). Leave the other optical drive unplugged until your OS is installed.