Help me troubleshoot

PaulStat · 30 Nov 2009 at 22:41

Hi Folks,

Well tonight I've tried to build my first new PC in years, aaaaaandddd it hasn't gone well, I got everything assembled (took bloody ages, shakey hands + small case is not easy), turned it on and here's what happens

- Hard drive wurrrs into action
- Optical drive wurrs into action
- System fan starts
- CPU fan starts
- Light on wireless card lights up (connected to one of the usb heads)

However

- No beeps
- Nothing on the monitor

I've tried reseating the RAM and re-connecting the case leads, but still the same. HELP!!

setter · 30 Nov 2009 at 22:54

Do you have the ram in the correct slots, both the 24 pin power connector and the cpu 4/8 pin atx connection plugged in? Also a full list of your components would help.

shinester184 · 30 Nov 2009 at 23:18

This is commonly a mistake of not putting 8-pin CPU power in. Have you remembered GPU PCI-e power in too if your card takes them?

RJC · 30 Nov 2009 at 23:20

Try a CMOS reset, this sometimes helps.

What is the full spec.

BoroRob_UK · 30 Nov 2009 at 23:56

What I often do is forget to connect the seperate 4pin power supply lead from the power supply to the motherboard?

PaulStat · 1 Dec 2009 at 06:04

setter said:
Do you have the ram in the correct slots,

Not sure what you mean by that? There are only 2 slots for the RAM

setter said:
both the 24 pin power connector and the cpu 4/8 pin atx connection plugged in? Also a full list of your components would help.

The motherboard is mini itx, the PSU didn't have a normal 24 pin plug instead it has a 20 pin with a 4 pin next to it, which filled up the 24 pin connector on the motherboard nicely.

Oh and yes there was another 4 pin atx connector which I have plugged in.

Specs are

Zotac 9300-iTX
Intel Q8400
4GB DDR2 RAM
1.5TB SATA-II HDD

I'm using the onboard graphics

PaulStat · 1 Dec 2009 at 07:17

Right then I have some more information, although I'm not sure why this is. If I remove one of the RAM modules it works! I've tried to see if it's one that's faulty, but it works for both of them if only one is inserted?

Here's what I have

Zotac GeForce 9300-ITX WiFi Mini-ITX (Socket 775) PCI-Express DDR2 Motherboard
Corsair XMS2 2GB (1x2GB) DDR2 PC2-6400C5 Memory Module (CM2X2G6400C5B4) * 2

So why does it work with one module but not two?

PaulStat · 1 Dec 2009 at 10:09

^^ Any suggestions?

Phage · 1 Dec 2009 at 12:52

Probably a dead RAM stick. Does the good RAm work in both slots ? If so, definitely bad RAM. If the good stick doesn't work in the other slot, you have aa bad slot and the mainboard will need to be RMA'd

PaulStat · 1 Dec 2009 at 13:08

Phage said:
Probably a dead RAM stick. Does the good RAm work in both slots ? If so, definitely bad RAM. If the good stick doesn't work in the other slot, you have aa bad slot and the mainboard will need to be RMA'd

Both sticks work in the one slot I've tried, I'll try putting them into the other slot. I don't want a dead motheboard, it took two weeks for OcUK to get it to me last time

wonko · 1 Dec 2009 at 15:07

What voltage is the RAM meant to run at?

PaulStat · 1 Dec 2009 at 15:33

Errr 1.9 I think

wonko · 1 Dec 2009 at 15:37

And the motherboard may be at 1.8V by default?
It might be a completely different problem, but I've got this on one of my motherboards with RAM that wants 2.1V - after a reset CMOS it only boots with one stick of RAM, and even then intermittently.

PaulStat · 1 Dec 2009 at 19:04

I think the motherboard is fooked, RAM is 1.8V, BIOS default is 1.9V and if I have either module in the other slot it doesn't work

RMA time.