Urgent computer (building) help

timosyy · May 18, 2006

So I was building a computer for a friend ... put everything together, plug it all in, start it up real quick w/no moniter or anything connected & comp wide open (just to check) and ... nothing.

No fans running- its like it wasnt even plugged in. PSU fan didn't even budge. Nothing heating up, no whining, um ... nada. I think theres a faint electrical buzz like maybe theres a surge of something but nothing is happening. Sometimes the CPU fan will nudge like half a centimeter when I hit the power button.... but it did that even when I had turned the switch on the back off (which made me go wtf).

I thought maybe I had the power button connector backwards but that wasn't it... Then I thought maybe the 4-pin power connecter was in the wrong way (motherboard has a 24 pin ATX connector, 20 in one spot and the 4 next to it), but when I turned that around still nothing.

I'm thinking its either a dead PSU (which would suck but ok), or I messed up royally (which would NOT be good).

Thoughts?

Edit: Antec Sonata II & Asrock 939 mobo

Goosemaster · May 18, 2006

I think theres a faint electrical buzz like maybe theres a surge of something

:laugh:

either psu isn't plugged in correctly, bad psu, bad board, or bad board becasue of psu....or the board is shorted out due to contact with the case...

drinkmorejava · May 18, 2006

I'm guessing PSU.

the buzz is most likely from an inductor coil in the PSU which is either broken or is getting more power through it that it was designed for.

keeleysam · May 18, 2006

There's a short.

jordanz · May 18, 2006

Yeah.. I think you probably did something stupid, and look at me: I'm black.

biff 24 2000 · May 18, 2006

my thought maybe a loose connection somewhere or possibly a dead PSU but i hope it works out for ya

Goosemaster · May 18, 2006

Originally posted by: jordanz
Yeah.. I think you probably did something stupid, and look at me: I'm black.

?

her209 · May 18, 2006

:laugh::laugh::laugh:

SlitheryDee · May 18, 2006

Dead PSUs can do that.

also

Originally posted by: keeleysam
There's a short.

Check to make sure you don't have any misplaced standoffs/loose screws etc. behind the motherboard.

So step 1 is pull the MB and make sure nothing's back there shorting it.
Step 2 is find another PSU and test the system with it.
Step 3 is report back if that doesn't work.

timosyy · May 18, 2006

Not sure how it could be a short or how I'd go about "fixing" that... no way the motherboard could be touching the case (besides the supports...)

Um... advice?

How weird is it that even the fan in the PSU doesnt turn on?

Edit: I would do some serious diagnostics with my computer (only source of swappable parts I can get to atm but thats ~10 miles away and its nearly 1am...) Um..

Gonna take out mobo and check for loose screws.

everman · May 18, 2006

wrong forums but quickest response ftw?

Indeed, but coherent, or helpful?

What you need is a piece of pie, a hamster, piece of cheese, and a plunger. You know the rest...

The Batt?sai · May 18, 2006

Originally posted by: Goosemaster

Originally posted by: jordanz
Yeah.. I think you probably did something stupid, and look at me: I'm black.

Click to expand...

?

in before the lock

or thread move lol

dquan97 · May 18, 2006

I worked on a computer that did that...it was because of a bad PSU

SlitheryDee · May 18, 2006

Originally posted by: timosyy
Not sure how it could be a short or how I'd go about "fixing" that... no way the motherboard could be touching the case (besides the supports...)

Um... advice?

How weird is it that even the fan in the PSU doesnt turn on?

Edit: I would do some serious diagnostics with my computer (only source of swappable parts I can get to atm but thats ~10 miles away and its nearly 1am...) Um..

Gonna take out mobo and check for loose screws.

Make absolutely sure that every standoff ("support") lines up with a hole in the MB and that there are no extra ones that don't line up. Loose screws are generally unlikely but misplacing standoffs is pretty common.

Edit: I must be in a GH mood and not realize it...

Geekbabe · May 18, 2006

Originally posted by: timosyy
Not sure how it could be a short or how I'd go about "fixing" that... no way the motherboard could be touching the case (besides the supports...)

Um... advice?

How weird is it that even the fan in the PSU doesnt turn on?

Edit: I would do some serious diagnostics with my computer (only source of swappable parts I can get to atm but thats ~10 miles away and its nearly 1am...) Um..

Gonna take out mobo and check for loose screws.

test the MB outside of the case,set it up on a board with cpu, ram, video, keyboad, plug in the PS connector and see what you've got. if it won't boot, recheck that your cpu,ram etc are seated correctly etc.

MasterAndCommander · May 18, 2006

I'm guessing improper MB contact with the case...happened to me many times.

Reckoner · May 18, 2006

What kind've power supply?

Amplifier · May 18, 2006

Putting a 20pin PSU into a 24pin motherboard wrong can be instant death for a motherboard's chipset. Pray it's the PSU

bleeb · May 18, 2006

PWNED. Try using another power supply and see if that works.

timosyy · May 18, 2006

What kind've power supply?

The bundled 450W Antec Smartpower

I'm guessing improper MB contact with the case...happened to me many times.

Not as far as I can tell (just took the mobo out and re-checked)

test the MB outside of the case,set it up on a board with cpu, ram, video, keyboad, plug in the PS connector and see what you've got. if it won't boot, recheck that your cpu,ram etc are seated correctly etc.

CPU, RAM, is seated correctly. Testing the MB outside the case will have to wait for tomorrow but I hate leaving my friend with a half-open non-functional case w/o some conclusion before leaving tonight.

Make absolutely sure that every standoff ("support") lines up with a hole in the MB and that there are no extra ones that don't line up. Loose screws are generally unlikely but misplacing standoffs is pretty common.

There are no extra standoffs/supports- they all match up to a hole on the motherboard- every single one. I made doubly sure of it since it was a friend's ... normally on mine I just connect the 4 corners & a few in the middle or something, but this one has all the supports matching up and none missing/no extra.

Putting a 20pin PSU into a 24pin motherboard wrong can be instant death for a motherboard's chipset. Pray it's the PSU

It was a 24 pin PSU into a 24 pin motherboard.

rezinn · May 18, 2006

Originally posted by: timosyy
Um... advice?

Don't build computers for people unless you know how.

timosyy · May 18, 2006

Originally posted by: bleeb
PWNED. Try using another power supply and see if that works.

The only PSU I could try that with is my home computer's ... which is a 350W and I don't think could handle the hardware plugged into his mobo. I could do it the other way around though... Take his PSU home and plug it into my comp. That would have to wait until tomorrow though and I hate to leave a friend hanging like that.

Dead comp, half open, parts strewn across the room, boxes everywhere, 2am, etc...

So, thoughts on culprit? PSU would be the easy way out but it seems I'd rather blame a mistake on my part.

timosyy · May 18, 2006

Damnit I really have to go home... bump & i'll check when i'm home I guess -_-

Feel like crap.

daniel49 · May 18, 2006

I assume its set for 110?

her209 · May 18, 2006

Do you have a power cord connected to the power source?

Urgent computer (building) help

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