New build PC not POSTing... any postmen out there?

slim01

slim01

slim01

Associate
Joined
1 Sep 2010
Posts
1,297
Location
Bristol, South West
Hi guys, building a new PC for a fiend and unfortunately it's not posting at all... I'm stumped. :s
I turn it on, the hard drive starts up, the card reader lights up, all 3 fans come on, but NO BEEPS, and nothing to monitor. My main problem is once its turned on, the only way to turn it off is to cut the power supply switch - i would try more stuff but im scared of damaging parts by turning it off this way. Also my IDE CD drive wont open, not suprising.

thought i cud be a system builder, my confidence has been well knocked...

mobi is an ASUS M4A785TD-V EVO
cpu is an AMD x3 445
ram is 2x2gb of OCZ ddr3 1333, low voltage edition ram (might this be the problem? I think the lower voltage stuff is used for i5, and i7. Would the PC still post or bleep with non working/compatible memory - or no memory at all?)
power supply came with a coolermaster elite 330 case
460W product no is rs-460-pcap-j3
Also have a gainward passive cooled 8600GT to try and get working with this
500gb WD caviar

I have a PCI POST tester card, and that does nothing (waste of money that was).


I have tried the following with NO changes...
>Moving the ram around, and then only trying one stick in a couple of slots (wheres it supposed to go? Asus just says
>I will try leaving the CMOS chip out overnight now to see if that works
>checked all connections
>unplugged the HDD, CD, and card reader (so its just the cpu and one dimm in the mobo).

CLUES
------------------------
I gotta be honest im VERY confused about the power connectors on my mobo... maybe this is where ive gone wrong.
The power supply has the usual big 20 pin motherbaord clip with "P1" on it - is this supposed to be missing one metal pin?
Close to this is also 4pin plug with "24" written on it. again looks normal, has 4 pins and orange/yellow/black/red cables. But it dosent seem to fit perfectly in the slot, unless you put it in 1st (which is what ive now done).

BUT there's also another two 4pin cables (blackx2/yellowx2) one with "P2" on it. Why do i have two for one CPU!? - they have different slots but both fit. Which one shall i use?

What do youguys reckon?

Hopefully hear from ya in the morning guys!
 
hey slim, have a quick read of the guide at the top which has some pics o but basically

MB-355-AS_400.jpg


You need your 24 pin (often 20 + 4 pin) connector plugged into the bottom connector here, all 24 pins need plugging in
And you need one of the other 4 pin connectors plugged into the connector at top right of pic, this is to supply the cpu with a bit of extra power directly, the 24 pin supplies the whole mobo incl cpu but the cpu likes a bit extra (especially if you do OC)
Is that what youve got atm?
 
pull the little plastic cover off the 8pin atx connector, that hides 4 of the pins, put the psu 4pin connectors together and stick em in.
 
stulid said:
pull the little plastic cover off the 8pin atx connector, that hides 4 of the pins, put the psu 4pin connectors together and stick em in.
Click to expand...

He would be hard pushed to do this!!!!

Read his OP and check the MB manual... the MB only has 1 x 4 pin ATX socket

As 95Rifles has said fit the 20pin + the 4 pin connector in the 24 pin socket (marked as No 2, right side, on page 1-7 of your manual) Just check the orientation of the plug(s) and socket (some pins have a half round/square shape and some square)

The other socket (No 2 top edge) will take either of the other two 4 pin plugs. Again just check orientation.

As regards to the RAM. As long as both sticks are correctly seated both in either the blue or the black slots you should have no problem (page 1-15)

Once you do get a POST, just check the voltage setting for your memory in the BIOS :)

If your are powering on using the case power button you should be able to power off again just by pushing the switch in again and holding it in for 4 seconds ( page 1-25 ) until the rig powers off. it may be worth a few moments to check the connections for your front panel as per page 1 - 25

DVD Drive check that you have set the jumpers on this device to Master or Cable Select ( page 1-23 )
 
Last edited:
+1 as 95thrifles said.
If PSU plugs are fine and PC won't work - check the memory in QVL list at Asus web page. It's Asus mobo, so if your memory is not there, it's a big chance motherboard will not support it -> so check mobo with any of listed there.
 
yeah that's what i thought -the mobo is a standard 24 pin socket and with my power supply it has the common 20pin connecter and a +4 pin one. Mobo has the usual 4 pin for the CPU which ive put in there.

tried leaving the cmos out over night and putting it back in - nothing.

Should i get a beep if i take the memory out completely? Im going to try one of my brothers sticks of memory DDR3 of course (my ddr2 wont work i guess?)
My memory ISNT in the QVL list ( i knew this before buying and idiotically belived someone when he said it may be fine anyway, just might not get dual channel ful speed).

Am i going to damage my parts by cutting off the machine off at the power supply?
the case button WONT power off the machine once started. Im thinking if it #POSTS it will do this (hopefully).

Im thinking of sending back some parts, but what could be faulty - the power supply, mobo or ram?!?!?!? i have no idea which it is if it wont POST.


Thanks for all replies so far
 
try taking out everything, incl cpu n ram n booting (just psu n mobo, nothing else, try doing it outside case too in case theres a case short) see if u get the error beeps associated with missing cpu, then put cpu back in n boot, see if u get error beep for no ram
 
How many people do you think ASUSTek would have to employ to keep the QVL lists up to date for the whole MB product range. A good guide... but a guide only!.

As 95th suggests lets try to eliminate the RAM or MB.

You do have a chassis speaker attached to the system panel connectors? to hear the fault beeps? :)
 
Essexraptor said:
How many people do you think ASUSTek would have to employ to keep the QVL lists up to date for the whole MB product range. A good guide... but a guide only!.

As 95th suggests lets try to eliminate the RAM or MB.

You do have a chassis speaker attached to the system panel connectors? to hear the fault beeps? :)
Click to expand...

I agree - ive always used it as a rough guide... but now im thinking its good peace of mind.

yes i have it attached as well as the other pins for power/pled/hdd led ect... i hope it's working though.


ok tried taking out all the memory - and i still get no beeps. does that rule out the memory being the problem? could it be defective mobo?
I have unplugged all HDDs and cd drives and everything else - just the mobo, cpu, connected to PSU (and of course speaker and power pins).

>Ill try taking the cpu out now
>ill also try taking the mobo out of case (although i dont see what good that will do?) when i get back from bank (to pay in money for new ram?)


I know its a pain but im going to try the cpu in my own AMD computer (am3 chips work in am2+ boards right?). its a REAL big pain but its the only way i can know for sure that its not the CPU right? Its an athlon this one, so is the memory controller different to on my own computer - a phenom? Will i gain anything from seeing if the CPU works in my own machine?

My bro is using his comp so ill borrow one of his ram sticks later. Not sure what socket to try it in though, asus dont say. I got 2 black and 2 blue slots, both colours are right next to eachother (odd - i usually see 1blue, 1 black, 1 blue 1 black).
Ive not heard of frying the mobo or memory with with LOWER voltages? Ive heard of people using this memory (googled "(my mobo) with (my ram)" and theres plenty of posts to suggest they an work together?).


im desparate for an answer! posted in a few forrums to get any help or my customer WONT be impressed!! thanks again for any help!! Im off to the bank so i can order some more memory - this time one from the QVL list!
 
If the mobo isnt beeping without any memory in Im tending to think its mobo tbh, it should give you the error code for no RAM present
Taking it out the case helps cos if for some reason theres contact between case n mobo it can cause a short (not entirely unheard of), so try posting with it out to rule that out, yeah its worth checking cpu in yours, and it will work, if it does work and still no joy posting out of case me thinks itll be mobo which needs RMAing, just to check test the RAM in yours too, and PSU, or try your PSU on new mobo, just in case
 
Arg this is not simple.

Yeah ive taken so much stuff out so now its just CPU and mobo, no ram. STILL no beeps, no signal to monitor.

next things on my list to try are

>take CPU out altogether - try
>try cpu in another machine - determine if faulty
>try my power supply on my own computer
>try rebuilding the mobo up on a cardboard box, with 1 stick of ram and cpu
>try my memory in my bros computer (i have ddr2, he has ddr3)

AARRRG!
 
im thinking its the mobo too, i have had problems building before but ALWAYS had beeps.i used to find them annoying but now i know thyre a godsend!
 
MB sounds like it's goosed to be honest !!!! :(

On the RAM front - the slots are colour coded to operate in banks (dual mode) for matched pairs. In your particular case, as stated before - a matched pair in either both blue or both black slots (banks). A single stick can be inserted in any slot (operates in single mode)
 
yeah i'm gonna call it a day (and nite)...

>tried the power supply in my comp, booted it up fine.
>tried my power supply on this comp, same again, every-things on but no beeps.
=a guy has suggested the BIOS may need updating to run the CPU, i have no idea of how to do this though I might find out and give it a try soon. I've heard you can do this with a usb stick but am i right in assuming that if the system wont even POST the last thing its gonna be able to do is look for/update the settings on the CMOS chip?


Im not even going to bother trying the new CPU in my comp, i'm pretty confident the mobo is screwed and have arranged to get a new one... gotta make my guy wait (another) week now *sigh*. I think from now on im going to look at other mobos, not just ASUS.

I'll keep you guys updated though, thanks for all your help and suggestions thus far, anyway i can leave good feedback for you guys here?
 
Feedback not required :)

We are a community of like minded people who learn from each other from novice to those weird super geeky types who hide under the stairs!!! lol :)

Let us know how you go

All the best................
 
Hahah cheers Essexraptor. I think once all this is done im going to come on these forrums see if i can help someone out with any suggestions. Only I wont have to worry about actually fixing anything for like 20 hours solid. lol

heres a link to some pics ive taken for you guys.
http://imgur.com/a/kiLDG/1

can you check the mini sockets for me please (as in the speaker and powLEDs) - they seem to be coloured differently to my other ASUS board and layed out a little odd to me... and it does seem a little odd that i cant shut the system down once its turned on dont you think?

mmmmm....... ive noticed that the powLED+ is green here, and powLED- is white.......... on my board its the other way around.

I've decided I am going to try my 550 x2 cpu soon... much to my dismay (i have a massive cooler takes about an hour to fit lol)... just to be sure its not the CPU.
 
BOOM! Found the puppy!!

just as i was about to give up!! Was the god dam rest switch, I knew something was off about those plugs, the reset button must be permanently stuck in, THATS why it wasnt shuttung down by the switch or POSTing. God what a stupid case, i dont think ill buy coolemaster again, the quality of this one is terrible (wobbly panels on front, permanently pressed in reset switch with shorted plug, easily scratched, very thin material & a cheapy looking psu with no braiding etc). Right now i can get back on building and hopefully this RAM will be nice to me and run at 1333.

Thanks guys, you gave lots of suggestions to help me crack it. :)
 
I always build with out the the front panel connections connected due to the ammount of problems they can cause, glad you fixed it :)
 
slim01 said:
BOOM! Found the puppy!!

just as i was about to give up!! Was the god dam rest switch, I knew something was off about those plugs, the reset button must be permanently stuck in, THATS why it wasnt shuttung down by the switch or POSTing. God what a stupid case, i dont think ill buy coolemaster again, the quality of this one is terrible (wobbly panels on front, permanently pressed in reset switch with shorted plug, easily scratched, very thin material & a cheapy looking psu with no braiding etc). Right now i can get back on building and hopefully this RAM will be nice to me and run at 1333.

Thanks guys, you gave lots of suggestions to help me crack it. :)
Click to expand...

Result!!!

Kept wondering why the bugger would not power off!!

Glad you found the problem :)

EDIT

Just noticed that I did mention this in post No 4 of this thread

to quote myself

quote:
If your are powering on using the case power button you should be able to power off again just by pushing the switch in again and holding it in for 4 seconds ( page 1-25 ) until the rig powers off. it may be worth a few moments to check the connections for your front panel as per page 1 - 25

Bum and double Dohhhhhhhhhh!!!!

never mind live and learn :)
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom