[Zagadka] the Lian Li Project

Sankari · 9 Jul 2008 at 19:58

Tonight I finally begin work on my Lian Li build: "Zagadka".

Worklog is here. I'll probably come screaming back to you guys for help at some stage; probably when the mobo doesn't post, or something equally predictable. :rolleyes:

Special thanks to all the guys who sold me 2nd hand kit through the MM; you know who you are!

My last build was a Shuttle SN21G5, so this one's going be a challenge.

Monkey Puzzle · 9 Jul 2008 at 20:24

Haven't you been in the process of doing this for about the past 6 months?

Sankari · 9 Jul 2008 at 20:32

Um, sort of... most of that time has been spent finding a new job and scraping the money together.

But hey, at least it's happening now.

p4radox · 9 Jul 2008 at 21:29

All the best people have the A05-b.

Any case mods planned?

EdGey · 10 Jul 2008 at 05:59

nice

misterPK · 10 Jul 2008 at 09:06

Looks like you've been unlucky with the courier there mate, but at least everything is there and in reasonable condition.
Just one thing though, you've decided to upgrade the audio, but will a card that only cost £18 actually make a noticable difference?
Good luck with the rest of the build anyway!

PK!

Sankari · 10 Jul 2008 at 09:29

Thanks guys.

No case mods planned; I want this to be a classic low profile build. I have no idea if the sound card is better than the onboard audio, so will try both & see what happens. Rig sat silent as a rock when I powered it up for the first time, so I am now accepting all advice on how to connect the power leads, especially for the front panel, which is confusing the boggins out of me. :confused:

Is there anyone who can talk me through the power installation step by step? Eternal gratitude awaits you!

WJA96 · 10 Jul 2008 at 09:31

In the nicest way possible - have I missed something or are you just building a respectable PC in a Lian Li case?

Oh - and a bird seems to have pooped on your Merchant Marine flag.

WJA96 · 10 Jul 2008 at 09:34

Evangelion said:
Thanks guys. No case mods planned; I want this to be a classic low profile build. I have no idea if the sound card is better than the onboard audio, so will try both & see what happens. Rig sat silent as a rock when I powered it up for the first time, so I am now accepting all advice on how to connect the power leads, especially for the front panel, which is confusing the boggins out of me.

Is there anyone who can talk me through the power installation step by step? Eternal gratitude awaits you!

It's much easier than it looks. You need the pin-out from the manual and the bundle of cables from the front of the case.

The only ones that actually matter which way around they go are the two LEDs and they are marked with crosses on the motherboard for positive. Black is ALWAYS negative, so the white, blue or red one goes on the positive in that case. You can't damage the PC by hooking these connectors up wrong - it just won't start or flash a light at you.

B@Th*nG · 10 Jul 2008 at 10:27

it looks like pictures of your hardware with nothing done to it, am i missing something?

B@Th*nG

Sankari · 10 Jul 2008 at 11:17

Yes, I am just building a respectable PC in a Lian Li case.

Yes, my work log curently shows photos of my hardware with nothing done to it, as most work logs do at the early stages.

WJA96, thanks for your advice. What will the pin-out look like, and where in the manual will I find it? Mobo manual is rudimentary, with little or no detail whatsoever. :confused:

WJA96 · 10 Jul 2008 at 13:25

Evangelion said:
Yes, I am just building a respectable PC in a Lian Li case. Yes, my work log curently shows photos of my hardware with nothing done to it, as most work logs do at the early stages. WJA96, thanks for your advice. What will the pin-out look like, and where in the manual will I find it? Mobo manual is rudimentary, with little or no detail whatsoever.

It's on P30 of my manual. It's worth just taking a couple of minutes to orientate the motherboard the same was as the manual before you start. It should make like easier hopefully.

These are the ones you are looking for - down bythe SATA connectors

And this is the pin-out from P30 of the manual.

Sankari · 10 Jul 2008 at 17:47

Thanks, I've followed that diagram but still no power, though I do get a very faint "tick-tick-tick-tick" sound from the PSU.

A short, maybe? Indicative of incorrect wiring? :confused:

I'll double check the connections and try again.

My Li Li doesn't seem to have a wire for the "MSG" pins, so I have nothing to put there. Is it a significant issue, or merely a manufacturer's variant?

Sankari · 10 Jul 2008 at 18:00

And I take back everything I said about the manual; was just looking in the wrong place before.

WJA96 · 10 Jul 2008 at 18:18

Evangelion said:
Thanks, I've followed that diagram but still no power, though I do get a very faint "tick-tick-tick-tick" sound from the PSU.

A short, maybe? Indicative of incorrect wiring?

I'll double check the connections and try again.

You can just put a screwdriver across the power pins and it should start. Things that typically stop the thing booting are badly inserted RAM/graphics, a short (unlikely in that case as it was a new case and hopefully you only fitted motherboard supports in the places it has screw-holes - if not, remove the ones where there is no screw-hole. Do you have the speaker hooked up? That will usually bleep to tell you what's wrong.

I don't suppose you tested the board out of the case did you?

It could be a dud motherboard (it was second-hand, wasn't it?). Did it come with *** socket protector in place and were all the pins straight?

Evangelion said:
My Li Li doesn't seem to have a wire for the "MSG" pins, so I have nothing to put there. Is it a significant issue, or merely a manufacturer's variant?

I've never seen a case with those 'Message' light connectors.

Sankari · 10 Jul 2008 at 18:43

WJA96 said:
You can just put a screwdriver across the power pins and it should start.

Things that typically stop the thing booting are badly inserted RAM/graphics

Both fine.

a short (unlikely in that case as it was a new case and hopefully you only fitted motherboard supports in the places it has screw-holes - if not, remove the ones where there is no screw-hole.

All fine; screws only where screwholes exist.

Do you have the speaker hooked up? That will usually bleep to tell you what's wrong.

Speaker hooked up to appropriate pins.

I don't suppose you tested the board out of the case did you?

No.

It could be a dud motherboard (it was second-hand, wasn't it?). Did it come with *** socket protector in place and were all the pins straight?

What socket protector in place? :confused:

All pins straight; I examined the motherboard scrupulously upon arrival, and there's not a hair out of place.

I have connected the two 4-pin power cables to the twin sockets near the CPU; this is correct, yes? One power cable has "12V" on it, but the other is blank; are they both the same voltage, and will I need them both in to provide enough power for the quad?

I've never seen a case with those 'Message' light connectors.

OK.

Sankari · 10 Jul 2008 at 18:53

The "tick-tick-tick" from the PSU sounds like a fan, because it begins at a steady pace, continues even after the power is turned off, and slowly dies away into silence. But it doesn't sound like a fan running fast (unless the Enermax Liberty is just insanely quiet).

:confused:

p4radox · 10 Jul 2008 at 19:06

Are all the necessary power cable plugged into the board?

If it still doesn't work I'd try the following (not all at the same time obviously):

Remove all the front panel cables and just short the power pins with a screwdriver
Only one stick of RAM
Remove the graphics card and see if anything happens
Test the PSU. Unlpug the it from everything. Short the green cable with any of the black cables in the main 24 pin ATX connector. See if the fan spins or you get the same faint ticking noise.

And if nothing gives you any results take it all out of the case, plug it all in on a desktop and see if it works then.

WJA96 · 10 Jul 2008 at 19:25

Evangelion said:
I have connected the two 4-pin power cables to the twin sockets near the CPU; this is correct, yes? One power cable has "12V" on it, but the other is blank; are they both the same voltage, and will I need them both in to provide enough power for the quad?

Are these two joined together in some way? You usually get a whole 8-pin or a 4-pin, but I have seen detachables for when you just have a 4-pin on the board.

Sankari · 10 Jul 2008 at 19:55

p4radox said:
Are all the necessary power cable plugged into the board?

Yep, as far as I know. See my previous post for the cables I've plugged in; one main cable (the big ATX jobbie) and two 4-pin cables to the CPU section.

If it still doesn't work I'd try the following (not all at the same time obviously):

Remove all the front panel cables and just short the power pins with a screwdriver

Which power pins? :eek:

Only one stick of RAM
Remove the graphics card and see if anything happens
Test the PSU. Unlpug the it from everything. Short the green cable with any of the black cables in the main 24 pin ATX connector. See if the fan spins or you get the same faint ticking noise.

And if nothing gives you any results take it all out of the case, plug it all in on a desktop and see if it works then.

OK.