This is bad news because the only parts that you are re-using are, as I understand it, the case and power supply (now replaced),
HDD, and graphics card.
The HDD and Graphics card checked out okay on another computer, and the power supply was replaced. HMM.
I would go back and re-test the HDD and graphics card on another computer just in case the failing (?) power supply smoked them.
Not likely unless the graphics card has it's own power connector. But I would try it. Also, you are actually able to SEE stuff on
the screen, because you know that you are seeing the POST, so that the graphics card is okay.
Now, after a good scream and, perhaps, a cry, I would do a few more things, one at a time. I don't know how experienced you are, so
I'll just give you the spiel.
First, I would re-install the cpu and cpu cooler, making sure that the heat-goo (artic silver or whatever) has been properly
distributed. I have done this many times, but the last time I did it (I replaced a crummy ASUS motherboard with an EVGA) the
computer shut down very fast, but after the POST. Looking at the cpu, I discovered that somehow part of the cpu did not have the
artic silver on it thick enough. After cleaning it off and replacing it, the computer worked much better. It had been shutting
down automatically when the cpu got overheated. It is conceivable that your cpu is overheating very rapidly for some reason. Boy,
I hope that your power supply did not trash the cpu! I doubt it, because it did get that far. I mean, you got a bios notice at the
top and then a description of the basic system and then the POST and then no further, right?
Then, disconnect as much as you can and still get the computer to boot up to the POST. You'll need to keep the video card and one
stick of memory. Test it, then test the other stick. One at a time. See if you can get farther than the POST. You might have to
have the hard drive connected to give the power supply a load. The less that you have connected the better. No cd or DVD drives or
sound cards or anything if you can help it! Not even the internet or printer. You do need the keyboard, but not the mouse.
If you can not get past the POST with the stripped system, then you have something fundamentally wrong. If the graphics card and
HDD check out on another computer, then it is your motherboard, cpu, or memory. And if the system fails with both sticks of memory
(I assume that you have two or more), tested one at a time, then it is probably not the memory as it is unlikely that more than one
stick of the memory failed at the same time (unless the power supply some how cooked them). If you have success, then add pieces
one at a time to see if you can find the piece that is causing the trouble.
Of the above, given your description, thermal shutdown seems most likely.
There is another possibility that you need to be sure to check. If this is a new motherboard and you have a large amount of memory,
are you certain that the POST is not doing a full check? When I build a new computer, I always run the full POST to make sure the
memory is okay. This can take a long time. (Five minutes?) Then, I go into the cmos settings and tell it to use the quick POST,
which bypasses the memory test. If your old computer had its cmos battery fail (they last about three years give or take a few
years), then the cmos settings are lost and you likely default to the full POST with the long memory test.
I'm sorry if you know all this already. If it is all new to you, then feel free to ask any more questions. It never hurts to have
someone else go over things that you might have missed.
Dean Kukral
----- Original Message -----
From: "jimi moore" <[log in to unmask]>
Thanks Dean for your insightful reply. In fact we got a PS tester and the ps
was bad! We bought another one..checked it before installing it and it was
fine...low and behold. The same results for the system..can't get by post!
This was a bundle from tigerdirect which i've never had a problem with
before but i'm starting to wonder now.
jim
----- Original Message -----
From: "Dean Kukral" <[log in to unmask]>
> It sort of points to the power supply, doesn't it? You had the same
> problem with the old system, and the other two parts test okay
> in another system, so it is reasonable to suspect the power supply.
>
> Also, your two basic "known's" are not correct. First of all, some things
> could be going and/or lit up, but the power supply still
> could be weak enough to not be able to boot the whole system. Second,
> things could have come dead on arrival. Many of the bad
> reviews on NewEgg.com come from people who got bad products. Some even
> returned the product and got another bad product
> replacement! I think that you are right to think that this is rare. But
> I can tell you that I once got an ASUS motherboard, which
> in the past was known for quality, with bad networking hardware right out
> of the box.
>
> One thing that you might try is to unhook the power to the hard drive and
> see if you can get past POST. That would indicate that
> the power supply can supply a little power, but not enough to get the job
> done. The one problem with this test is that some power
> supplies need a load to start up, and the motherboard may not be enough of
> a load by itself.
>
> http://www.pcpower.com/support/ATX_troubleshoot.htm has a check for a
> power supply, but it is a very poor test. Your power supply
> could be failing and still pass this test. (I have had a power supply
> that passed this test but was no good.) You might try it
> anyway. If it passes, then that does not mean anything, but if it fails,
> then you know that the power supply is bad.
>
> Make sure that the motherboard is standing well off of the case so that
> there is no chance of the traces on the bottom of the
> motherboard touching the case, except where the stand-offs are screwed in.
>
> If you can borrow a power supply to try the system out, then that would be
> ideal. Swapping in new parts one at a time can get
> expensive. Cheap power supplies are not too bad (nice to have a spare),
> but powerful game power supplies can run pretty expensive.
>
> And, of course, there is the time-honored technique of disconnecting
> everything and adding components one at a time, with the caveat
> that the power supply may need a load to run at all. So, you may have to
> leave a drive connected.
>
> HTH
>
> Dean Kukral
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "jimi moore" <[log in to unmask]>
>
>
> I've recently started building a new computer. I believe I've assembled
> all
> of the parts and connections correctly. The problem however is that upon
> booting up, the system doesn't past POST. There are no sounds, and no
> beep.
> There is also no red light showing at all. However all of the fans are
> spinning, and there is a green light on the motherboard, so I know it's
> getting power. My system specs are as follows:
>
> Power Supply: 700W GameXstream
> Motherboard: Asus P5N-D
> Processor: Intel Core 2 Quad Q6700
> RAM: Two 2048MB sticks of DDR2 Corsair RAM.
> Graphics Card: Nvidia 8800 GTS
> HDD: 500 GB Western Digital Caviar
>
> The HDD, Graphics Card, and Power Supply are from my old system. Now, the
> reason for building a new one in the first place was that my old one was
> having the exact same error. I know the HDD works, because I've tested it
> in
> another machine. I've also tested the Graphics Card in another machine.
> Both
> worked flawlessly. I highly doubt it's the Power Supply, because of the
> green light on the motherboard and the fact that all of the fans spin. I
> also doubt the new parts I've ordered were shipped dead on arrival. Hence
> we
> have a problem that really confuses me. I am getting the same error in my
> new machine as I was having in my old, but the only things that could be
> the
> problem I'm certain are not.
>
> So, can anybody help me out here?
>
> Jimi Moore
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