installating ASRock 4CoreDual-SATA2+core 2 duo, unresponsive PC!

Dani723 · 22 Aug 2008 at 13:22

Hi there. Thanks for taking the time. Ok, when my computer crashed without reason a few weeks ago, I couldn't turn it back on, and after trying forums, decided to get it sent in. The techie's told me the problem was narrowed down to the mobo or CPU, and it would cost at least £50 more to find out which. So I finally took the plunge and went for the newer CPU'S, and PCI-E, and DDR2 technology...sort of.

I chose the AsRock 4CoreDual-SATA2 because it was a 'half-way house' board, and I could use my older tech AGP Sapphire X1950 pro and 2x500MB of OCZ DDR PC-3200, 400 Mhz platinum RAM. They can still easily hold their own in games. I also got a 2.13Ghz core 2 Duo processor, and a top of the line Zalman CNPS9700 heatsink for overclocking headroom. The PSU is a sumvision 650W. I use windows XP professional.

Anyway, I connected everything as well as I know how. I built this PC originally a few years back, and much that I learned is now gone, but I knew to discharge static electricity by touching the downstairs PC with both hands.

There weren't any overt problems with the main cables that can only go in one place, both power cables etc..But I may have put the front panel header connections in the wrong places. Could somone tell me (or link me) how to connect PW-SW, PW-LED, RESET-SW, HD-LED, all 2 pin affairs, as well as the sound one's, such as (MIC), a one piece 7 pin connection which I think might be for USB, and an unmarked 4 pin connection. The case is an antec 160w, I can't find information about the connections from searching for my case. I have a creative Audigy 2 ZS soundcard, do I even need to make the sound connections? Are any others unneccessary?

Is the ground (GND) wire always white with PC's?, I've tried the front panel headers both ways round though.

When I try to turn the PC on, nothing happens, not even that important beep, what does that indicate?

Is there another way to turn the PC on, bypassing the front panel to know that's the issues? Could the jumpers be useful here?

Thanks a lot, I'm lost here.

pastymuncher · 22 Aug 2008 at 14:14

That's really not a very good board by the way. DDR2 is very cheap now so it would have been better to do it properly. I know it would have meant a new graphics card as well but you can get a 3850 for under £53 from here and it would have beat your 1950pro.

This could be your psu at fault if your pc died before. Sumvision is'nt exactly a quality psu.

Anyway. Your case connectors that go to the front panel pins on the board should have a little triangle on the positive side. It is small so look carefully. Your mobo manual should tell you where it all goes. As for the sound, if you use a sound card then you don't need to connect the front panel sound wires to the board. You need to disable on-board sound in the bios when you get it to boot.

Check all your connections and make sure the 20/24 pin atx plug and 4/8 pin auxilary plugs are pushed in all the way. Make sure you have'nt accidentaly turned off the power switch at the rear of the psu.

Have'nt a clue about the jumpers. You will need to have a good read of the manual. No doubt they will have to be set a certain way for your configuration.

Guardsmon · 22 Aug 2008 at 15:38

if you feeling lucky after doing all of above you can start your computer by shorting the 2 power pins with a screw driver. Check the manual as to which they are and use a screw driver or something similar to short the 2 for a second. If the computer starts you know your front panel connections are faulty or wrong, but as said above, I would have thought its your PSU thats gone.
Possibly ask a friend if you could borrow theirs for a few hours. - just check it has the right connections and enough juice before you go plugging it in.

Dani723 · 22 Aug 2008 at 16:50

Thanks, I tried all that and yet no cigar. I really need the pc up and running soon for work, so I've taken it in for repair. He had a free preliminary look at it, swapped out the power supply, checked the front panel headers were connected right, took everything out that wasn't essential for it to load, and nothing happened. Not a sound. He's confounded by it, and says he'll need to call in a specialist, as he's fixed my pc recently, and knows it has to be the motherboard or the case causing the problem.

That was very recently, I'm just very unlucky when it comes to technology.

Thanks anyway guys.

ron3003 · 22 Aug 2008 at 22:59

Motherboard shorting out on the case? Do you have the brass risers fitted under the motherboard? And also only have risers where there is a corresponding screwhole on the Asrock?

Dani723 · 26 Aug 2008 at 16:10

I do indeed have brass risers fitted underneath. I can't answer the second part, because it's in for repair, but I think I put them under every screwhole, and used a screw in every one.