New computer can't do anything......

[kcbass]

Got the preplacement board from abit today and installed it, and there's no chance in the computer's condition. I tried all the different BIOS settings described above, and I got the same results described above. I'm still waiting on the memory replacement, and I'm hoping that will be the trick. The only parts left in the system that I haven't RMA'd are the cpu, the cd-rom, and the floppy. If it's not the memory, I have no idea what it is... 

 

[jbWHO]

hmm....interesting read,
looks like you spent lotta time working on this & since you tried everything (ram,hdd,mobo,etc...)
why dont u try disable onboard video and try install w/ other video card?

hope everythign works out, g'luck

 

[xbassman]

Originally posted by: kcbass
Got the preplacement board from abit today and installed it, and there's no chance in the computer's condition. I tried all the different BIOS settings described above, and I got the same results described above. I'm still waiting on the memory replacement, and I'm hoping that will be the trick. The only parts left in the system that I haven't RMA'd are the cpu, the cd-rom, and the floppy. If it's not the memory, I have no idea what it is...

I'm betting it's memory.....,
but I have encountered one other situation that caused problems similar.
I had a board that the traces were too close to the mobo mounts and the case I was using had built-in mobo mounts. They were causing shorts in the system. I tested the mobo unmounted sitting on the box it came in and it worked fine. I had to ditch the case I was using for another that used the little brass stand-offs.

BTW- I had a similar night mare build like you are having when ECS introduced the K7S5A. Luckily though, I ordered from NewEgg and assembled right away so I didn't have to RMA anywhere than NewEgg. When my second board didn't work they refunded my money and I bought a Shuttle An35N ultra. Problem solved!

Also....You asked in an earlier post if Crucial ram is lifetime guaranteed. Yes it is. You can go to their site and use the memory configurator inputting your mobo (or name brand comp) and it will list compatable chips. They always ship second day air (free) with memory purchases.

 

[kcbass]

Thanks for that info. Yeah, my case does have built in standoffs, but i built 5 other computers this summer with the same cases and had no problems with them. I have those little red cloth washer things. Would those help? I tried putting those in earlier, but they wouldn't stay put. How would I get them to stay?

Unfortunately, I don't have any other vid cards I could test in my posesssion. Could you recommend a cheap case that does not have built-in standoffs and provide a link? 

 

[xbassman]

Yeah it's just about impossible to get those washer's to stay put underneath the board.

Here is a link to the best "cheap" case that I am aware of. CompuCase LX-6A19
They have a Black & Silver model or a beige one (currently out of stock)

 

[kcbass]

I know someone's probably cringing as they're reading this, but.....is there any way to "superglue" those washers directly to the board so that they will stay put? I mean, they're supposed to insulate from the case, right? 

 

[kcbass]

bump. Also, is anyone aware of a cheaper case than this? I've already gone way over budged on this computer with all the RMA's and new parts 

 

[kcbass]

bump

 

[xbassman]

before you buy a new case test with your mobo removed.....

Yes there are cheaper cases around but not near the quality of the one I pointed you to.

 

[kcbass]

I'm gonna have to wait on that stick of memory no matter what I do. They told me that they received my return and that they've already tested it, and they've got my new one ready to go, and that they'd notifiy me when they shipped it. If it's ready to go, why haven't they shipped it already....
Anyway, if it works with the board removed, is there any way I can use those fuzzy washers and keep the case I've got now? 

 

[kcbass]

bump 

 

[kcbass]

bump

 

[kcbass]

bump

 

[kcbass]

still waiting on some advice on using the red fuzzy washer things as an insulator for the mobo to the case...

bump

 

[xboxist]

These types of problems are what make companies like Dell very successful. You're going to tell people about this horror story on trying to build your own computer, and they're going to tell other people, etc.

I feel your pain! Sounds like a completely random bad component is giving you all of these troubles and there's no clear indication as to what exactly it is. I hope you figure it out soon.

 

[Fern]

Originally posted by: kcbass
still waiting on some advice on using the red fuzzy washer things as an insulator for the mobo to the case...

bump

All I can tell you is that I have never used them, and never had a problem. I can't figure out how in the heck they can insulate anything, unless you put one underneath the mobo (between the mobo and the brass stand-offs) and another on top of the mobo between the mobo and screws.

 

[yelo333]

I didn't read the whole first page(s), but It sounds to me like a simple memory incompatibility between the Mainboard, and RAM. Note the extreme amount of memory which fails the test to run the integrated GF4MX on nforce2 IGP boards:

http://www.nvidia.com/content/...emoryCompatibility.asp

Note that kingston does not pass...

Hope this helps...

 

[kcbass]

That's interesting...I emailed portatech about my memory since they say processing of an RMA takes up to 7 days on their end and they've had my memory for over 14, so maybe they're trying to find a stick that they can guarantee to be compatible with my board....I guess we'll see when they finally return it to me. 

 

[imported_Phil]

You may want to try the following to see if the motherboard is shorting out on the case:

Find a cardboard box that is at least the size of the motherboard, if not bigger. Place the board on this, making absolutely sure that there's nothing that can conduct electricity on top of the box! Install your RAM, CPU, heatsink and anything else that you need to get the motherboard to boot up (unless you have those parts already installed).
Connect up the power supply, make sure that there's no cables anywhere near the CPU fan
Attach the hard disk and CD-ROM drives, check the cables from each for any creases, breaks, bends or fractures.
Now, this is the tricky part. Examine the motherboard manual, and find the two pins that are for the Power Switch. Using a flathead screwdriver, touch the two pins together. Be very sure not to touch anything else with the screwdriver!. Use two hands to make sure you're steady if need be.
The system should now be on and running (if not, double-check the manual, and that the power supply is indeed switched on). Have a go at installing Windows again, and if it works, then your problem is that the board is shorting on the case, or something else. This should at least give you some idea if this is the problem or if something else is wrong.

If you hit any problems, or have any form of success, then please post back to let us know

Good luck!

[Edit] Don't worry about the red washer insulators too much, I use them by putting them over the top of the screwhole and then passing the screw through them, so they're on top of the board, not underneath. However, I've built hundreds of systems that don't use them, so they're pretty much a moot point.

 

[kcbass]

That's pretty much what I thought about the washer things. Like I think I said earlier, I built 5 computers this summer with the same case, and this is the only one I've had a problem with, so I very much doubt it's the case, but i'm gonna try what you suggest anyway when I get the memory. First, I'm gonna just try it inside the case in the hopes that it was a memory problem, then I'll give it a go outside, but either way I'll be sure to let you know. 

 

[WizeMan]

This is the exact problem that i have been faced with for the last week.

Having the Abit NF7-S2 (yes, not version 2 but S2 with bad overclocking capababilites but integrated SATA) i have experienced exactly what you describe. I have tried with 3 kinds of ram, TwinMos, Nanya and Elixir and none worked.

So last night i gave up and ordered a new PSU (Antec TruePower 380W) and 2 sticks of Corsair Value Select PC3200. Tomorrow i am going to assemble everything and i am counting on that it will work.

Please post your result when you get your new ram, i will be posting my results tomorrow.

Basically i find all of this really stupid, since this is the first motherboard i have experinced that is really picky about ram. I have tested all my ram sticks on my friends computers and they have all worked.

 

[kcbass]

Just got the replacement memory. The chips are samsung. Is samsung compatible? I'm trying to install windows now 

 

[kcbass]

ok, well no change so far...still gotta try taking the mobo out of the case 

 

[WizeMan]

Ok, so i got my new Corsair memory last night and i am now only waiting for the Antec TruePower PSU. So tonight i am going to assemble everything and see if it works.

Regarding new memory i basically went with the brand that everyone is suggesting, Corsair.
I thought that TwinMos should be good enough but now everyone is saying Corsair is the way to go, and since i now just want my computer to start working i ordered it. Sure i could have tried other brands of cheap memory but i will leave that to someone else, i just want to be able to play Doom3 again :-(

Hey, kcbass, i will be posting my findings and if it turns out that it works, we can with certainty say that it is a memory compatibilty problem ... and if this is the case you should really order some Corsair memory.

 

[kcbass]

Where can I get corsair for a decent price? Also, I've been lookin at that link that yelo 333 provided ( http://www.nvidia.com/content/...emoryCompatibility.asp ) and I'm having a hard time reading it... He says in his post Note that kingston does not pass... but kingston memory is listed under nforce2 compatible, so are they listing incompatible modules? Also, if you look at that list, my samsung memory stick (M368L6523BTN-CB3 with K4H510838B-TCB3 chips) is not listed. What does this mean? Please let me know how to read this page. Is it better to go with corsair memory, or with crucial?