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Please help me troubleshoot

mercanucaribe

Banned
Oct 20, 2004
9,763
1
0
It won't boot up. Fans spin up sometimes, but never any POST. Sometimes the CPU fan stries to spin but apparently doesn't get enough power.
I've tried two power supplies, a 400W and a 300W, both with the 4 pin connector. I thought I discovered the problem when I realized that I hadn't tried to start it with anything but the video card connected to the PSU, and my PSUs are both Sparkles that require load on the 5v line. So I plugged in a HD, and fans actually spun up. I thought the problem was solved, but after I put everything in my case and tried again, nothing happened, and nothing has happened since then.

Components:
Intel E6600
2gb OCZ DDR 800
Geforce 7950GX2
ECS PT890T-A (exchanged, thinking ECS junk was the cause of my problems, 2nd didn't work either)
Gigabyte 965P-DS3 (just bought, because I figured the odds were good that two ECS mobos didn't work, judging by the fact that 2/3 at Fry's were returns with a $2 markdown).

I'm getting frustrated. If it was the CPU or RAM, wouldn't the fans still spin? HELP!!!
 

mercanucaribe

Banned
Oct 20, 2004
9,763
1
0
Well it says about something like 160 watts (I can't remember now), if I select a 2.2ghz Core Duo and 2 PCIE 16x cards. I'm going to buy a 500W today. Although.. Microcenter has a 400W with a 120mm fan for $20.
 

Boyo

Golden Member
Feb 23, 2006
1,406
0
0
Your problem is that you buy cheap PSU's. You get what you pay for.
 

mercanucaribe

Banned
Oct 20, 2004
9,763
1
0
I got a Thermaltake 500W powersupply, and it works!! I guess I didn't need to buy that Gigabyte mobo after all. However.. it seems to have some sweet settings in the BIOS. I had no idea you could set the FSB to 266 and the RAM to 3x for the full 800mhz.
I can't wait to install Windows etc tomorrow. It will be a nice upgrade from my Athlon XP and Radeon 8500 (my 9800 pro died!).
 

mercanucaribe

Banned
Oct 20, 2004
9,763
1
0
This stuff is fast, and really quiet. The 7950GX2 is quiet and cool, and the CPU fan is quiet too. I remember box HSFs being small and noisy.

My 3dmark06 score is only 4800 though. Similar systems were getting 7000+ according to the comparison tool.