Hi guys, I'm having incredible problems with making my new dual xeon machine to work properly. I'm just out of ideas. Let me explain my situation from the start and if you could help out I would really appreciate it.
List of things I bought:
2 x Xeon 3.6Ghz EMT64
ASUS NCCH-DL
4Gb DDR400 OCZ Performance
WD Raptor 74Gb
Seagate 300Gb NCQ 7200.8
X800XT PE AGP
Lian Li V1200B case
Thermaltake 680W PSU
NEC 16x DVD-R/RW
ASUS 16x DVD-ROM
Now this is what happened. First of all I'm extremely pissed that ASUS has their boards on the market with freakin' BETA bios that doesn't work right. I flashed it to 1.03 version and it started working properly. Now on to the problem.
This thermaltake PSU booted the machine with only one CPU working, since I tried to plug in 4-pin connector to 8-pin 12V connector and it actually happend exactly what I expected. Only one CPU was recognized, not enough power. Then I ordered 4-pin 12V to 8-pin 12V convertor adapter from Thermaltake too, to be still able to use this power supply. While I waited I went and picked up at local store a Vantec 520 black aluminum EPS12 PSU with proper connectors. When I plugged in that PSU everything booted fine, so I decided what a heck I'll put in the rest of the components and the X800XT PE and try to use the system while I waited for this above mentioned convertor. After a while the incredible noise from Intel stock cooling solution was getting on my nerves so after writing in several forums I decided to go with http://www.newegg.com/app/viewProductDesc.asp?description=35-108-046&depa=0]these[/URL].
I was so happy when they arrived because I thought "hey @ 28dBA they should be very quiet). I replaced the stock fans with these, used Arctic Silver Ceramic and while still using Vantec 520W booted the machine. At first glance in BIOS everything looks good, so I continue booting Windows. I install CS:S just to see how this video card works and after an hour of playing the whole system just reboots. I go into the BIOS and I see horrible things. CPU1 @ 70C, CPU2 around 60C and 3.3V voltage is at 0.
So I say damn, this power supply is probably not enough. So I start thinking what to do next. In the meantime I get the 4-pin to 8-pin converter from Thermaltake and all happy go ahead and replace the PSU using the 680W Thermaltake.
I boot the system, check the voltages and everything seems good, so I proceed to Windows. First thing I noticed in Windows is that it looked like power management was off although it wasn't. I installed new ATI drivers and go ahead went to restart. BAM, the system shuts completely down and I can't even turn it on with the hardware button. I was like WTF! After 10 minutes, I try to turn it on again and it boots. After 15 minutes, the system shuts down again. So I thought damn, this power supply is totally messed up. I apply for RMA with newegg and all pissed I order a $250 http://www.newegg.com/app/viewProductDesc.asp?description=17-103-438&depa=0]Enermax 600W PSU[/URL] and pay overnight shipping. Next day, PSU arrives and I'm like if this sh!t doesn't work, I really have no idea what the problem is. I plug it in with default cables 24pin and 8pin 12V to the motherboard, hit the on button and fook it only powers the system for a split second and then goes off. I can't turn it on again. At this point I'm furious. I spent over $6000 buying stupid things just to make this thing work and still nothing. Btw, I have no idea if I'm using this Enermax properly. By default you see 24pin cable with one pin/cable missing (very strange) and one small separate pin cable that goes beside it. You get 2 adapters (one 24-20pin adapter and another 24pin but with a female plug for that one small cable). I guess that's for opterons, but if you would look at newegg you can see the photos. Now I'm just about without ideas.
In all this crap taking out PSUs and getting them back in, I powered the system without the power cable attached to the X800XT PE and since that moment I can't get the graphics card to post anything anymore. Tried it in my other computer and nothing, it's like it's dead. Did I mess it up? Probably. Btw, at this point none of the fans RPM shows up in bios, like they are dead, however they still work. The CPU temperatures on idle go all the way to 55C. Well at this moment, I decide to put in some old AGP card and use the Vantec 520W PSU again. Again, it boots up correctly, but after a while the system shuts down. When I was just about so pissed that I wanted to RMA Refund everything and order the dual Xeon configuration from some online store, I decide to put the old stock coolers back into the machine. Btw, I bought a new ASUS NCCH-DL motherboard because I thought I fu*ked up the motherboard with all these PSU adventures. With older video card inside and Vantec 520W the system boots up but now I can see everything fine. Fans show up in BIOS, temperatures are fine (~40-43 on idle) and voltage is great. I boot the system up and everything works great. The system doesn't shut down or anything. Now I ordered another X800XT PE and hopefully will work with this setup now.
Now I'm asking you what the hell is going on? I want to buy a great worry free power supply because I'm afraid that Vantec 520W is not enough for this setup and also I need like crazy new cooling solution for this machine because now, with old stock coolers back it's so loud that it's unbearable. I'm returning the TT PSU and Enermax PSU for a refund and was thinking about PC Power & Cooling 510 XE PSU but I'm just afraid that it won't work again. I'm also totally idea about the CPU cooling solution that will actually work.
I know this post is sooooo big, but I'm really out of idea and I decided to post on one of the most respected forums on the web because I thought if anybody would know it would be you guys.
Thank you so much.
Best,
Boz
List of things I bought:
2 x Xeon 3.6Ghz EMT64
ASUS NCCH-DL
4Gb DDR400 OCZ Performance
WD Raptor 74Gb
Seagate 300Gb NCQ 7200.8
X800XT PE AGP
Lian Li V1200B case
Thermaltake 680W PSU
NEC 16x DVD-R/RW
ASUS 16x DVD-ROM
Now this is what happened. First of all I'm extremely pissed that ASUS has their boards on the market with freakin' BETA bios that doesn't work right. I flashed it to 1.03 version and it started working properly. Now on to the problem.
This thermaltake PSU booted the machine with only one CPU working, since I tried to plug in 4-pin connector to 8-pin 12V connector and it actually happend exactly what I expected. Only one CPU was recognized, not enough power. Then I ordered 4-pin 12V to 8-pin 12V convertor adapter from Thermaltake too, to be still able to use this power supply. While I waited I went and picked up at local store a Vantec 520 black aluminum EPS12 PSU with proper connectors. When I plugged in that PSU everything booted fine, so I decided what a heck I'll put in the rest of the components and the X800XT PE and try to use the system while I waited for this above mentioned convertor. After a while the incredible noise from Intel stock cooling solution was getting on my nerves so after writing in several forums I decided to go with http://www.newegg.com/app/viewProductDesc.asp?description=35-108-046&depa=0]these[/URL].
I was so happy when they arrived because I thought "hey @ 28dBA they should be very quiet). I replaced the stock fans with these, used Arctic Silver Ceramic and while still using Vantec 520W booted the machine. At first glance in BIOS everything looks good, so I continue booting Windows. I install CS:S just to see how this video card works and after an hour of playing the whole system just reboots. I go into the BIOS and I see horrible things. CPU1 @ 70C, CPU2 around 60C and 3.3V voltage is at 0.
So I say damn, this power supply is probably not enough. So I start thinking what to do next. In the meantime I get the 4-pin to 8-pin converter from Thermaltake and all happy go ahead and replace the PSU using the 680W Thermaltake.
I boot the system, check the voltages and everything seems good, so I proceed to Windows. First thing I noticed in Windows is that it looked like power management was off although it wasn't. I installed new ATI drivers and go ahead went to restart. BAM, the system shuts completely down and I can't even turn it on with the hardware button. I was like WTF! After 10 minutes, I try to turn it on again and it boots. After 15 minutes, the system shuts down again. So I thought damn, this power supply is totally messed up. I apply for RMA with newegg and all pissed I order a $250 http://www.newegg.com/app/viewProductDesc.asp?description=17-103-438&depa=0]Enermax 600W PSU[/URL] and pay overnight shipping. Next day, PSU arrives and I'm like if this sh!t doesn't work, I really have no idea what the problem is. I plug it in with default cables 24pin and 8pin 12V to the motherboard, hit the on button and fook it only powers the system for a split second and then goes off. I can't turn it on again. At this point I'm furious. I spent over $6000 buying stupid things just to make this thing work and still nothing. Btw, I have no idea if I'm using this Enermax properly. By default you see 24pin cable with one pin/cable missing (very strange) and one small separate pin cable that goes beside it. You get 2 adapters (one 24-20pin adapter and another 24pin but with a female plug for that one small cable). I guess that's for opterons, but if you would look at newegg you can see the photos. Now I'm just about without ideas.
In all this crap taking out PSUs and getting them back in, I powered the system without the power cable attached to the X800XT PE and since that moment I can't get the graphics card to post anything anymore. Tried it in my other computer and nothing, it's like it's dead. Did I mess it up? Probably. Btw, at this point none of the fans RPM shows up in bios, like they are dead, however they still work. The CPU temperatures on idle go all the way to 55C. Well at this moment, I decide to put in some old AGP card and use the Vantec 520W PSU again. Again, it boots up correctly, but after a while the system shuts down. When I was just about so pissed that I wanted to RMA Refund everything and order the dual Xeon configuration from some online store, I decide to put the old stock coolers back into the machine. Btw, I bought a new ASUS NCCH-DL motherboard because I thought I fu*ked up the motherboard with all these PSU adventures. With older video card inside and Vantec 520W the system boots up but now I can see everything fine. Fans show up in BIOS, temperatures are fine (~40-43 on idle) and voltage is great. I boot the system up and everything works great. The system doesn't shut down or anything. Now I ordered another X800XT PE and hopefully will work with this setup now.
Now I'm asking you what the hell is going on? I want to buy a great worry free power supply because I'm afraid that Vantec 520W is not enough for this setup and also I need like crazy new cooling solution for this machine because now, with old stock coolers back it's so loud that it's unbearable. I'm returning the TT PSU and Enermax PSU for a refund and was thinking about PC Power & Cooling 510 XE PSU but I'm just afraid that it won't work again. I'm also totally idea about the CPU cooling solution that will actually work.
I know this post is sooooo big, but I'm really out of idea and I decided to post on one of the most respected forums on the web because I thought if anybody would know it would be you guys.
Thank you so much.
Best,
Boz
Please see this thread for info on NCCH-DL/PSU advice form Augustus:
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