My first DOA system. Need help.

CaxusCaxus
edited February 2004 in Hardware
So i've built about 6 computers before. Today i built my athlon 64 3200 system and it wont post and i think either the CPU or MB is DOA.

Spec:

Athlon 64 3200
MSI KT8 NEO
2x 512 mb corsair xms pc3200 (non ecc)
300 watt antec psu

The diagnostic lights don't go past the first stage which is the CPU testing phase so i'm lead to believe the problem is the CPU. However this seems strange because its a brand new retail box cpu. Won't post, wont do anything except run the cpu fan and diagnostics. This is with me testing it with just the ram, cpu, and a vid card that i know works. There doesn't seem to be any power going through the cpu at all because it doesn't even get warm or show any signs of life. But i'm also wondering if it could be the motherboard because i seemed to fumble with it a bit more than usual this time and i might have damaged it. Its also the first time i didn't use a static wrist strap but i was very careful about decharging myself constantly. Tried resetting the cmos.

I guess my next step is to RMA the cpu unless i hear otherwise. Any thoughts?

Comments

  • GnomeWizarddGnomeWizardd Member 4 Life Akron, PA Icrontian
    edited February 2004
    static wrist wrap! lmao! worked in a pc store for years and never wore one! umm is it grounding out? did you try a diff PSU? Try takeing it out of the case and running it. also make sure the cpu fan s on right these ones are a pain in the wazoo :banghead:
  • CaxusCaxus
    edited February 2004
    Haven't tried it out of the case yet. You think that could make a difference?
  • edcentricedcentric near Milwaukee, Wisconsin Icrontian
    edited February 2004
    Yes, take it out an try it.
    Does the MSI require a fan on a specific header to boot?
    Any jumper setting on the mobo?
    Are you sure that the PSU is alright?
  • GnomeWizarddGnomeWizardd Member 4 Life Akron, PA Icrontian
    edited February 2004
    The fan on mine is plugged into the board since there is no other cpu fan you can use on that board as of now that will give as good of performance as the stock one. HTe PSU comes to mind if you could try another one that would be good. No jumpers on my msi board
  • Trash80Trash80 Calgary, AB
    edited February 2004
    Stupid question, you've checked the 115v switch on the PSU back? Unlikely the problem but could't hurt to check. Oh yeah, problems like this are commonly the mobo, doubt it's the proc.
  • CaxusCaxus
    edited February 2004
    Ok, i'm an idiot. It appears that there is a separate power connector for the cpu. Its a little square 12v like a molex folded in half. I don't have that particular connector on my power supply so i'll have to find an adapter or buy a new psu.

    Or is this something completely different?
  • profdlpprofdlp The Holy City Of Westlake, Ohio
    edited February 2004
    Look for a PSU that says "Pentium 4 Compatible". I know this is an AMD board, but it uses the same extra funky connector.
    msi.jpg 11.4K
  • EyesOnlyEyesOnly Sweden New
    edited February 2004
    If your mobo's got it, you must use it. I would Get a new psu. If the psu has it but your mobo doesn't, don't worry. Only p4 and AMD64 use that connector as a must. The abit nf7 has it too but not many other socket a boards. So get a new psu. They all have it nowadays atleast the good ones like antec.

    Edit
    Prof beat me to it.
  • Straight_ManStraight_Man Geeky, in my own way Naples, FL Icrontian
    edited February 2004
    Ok, the PSU Type needed is ATX 2.03 12V.

    As others said, a P4 compatible uses the AUX connector that supplies extra 12V juice. This is NOT a CPU connector per se, it is a 12V line pair used for 12V supply. P4 or AMD CPU itself do not need, SATA needs to supply 12V to SATA HDs for those motherboards that supply ambedded SATA connects. Plug lots of case fans into motherboard, you will also need the AUX (12V) connector used.

    There is no 12->3 V stepdown transforming circuit on the motherboards, they step down from 5 and 3 volts with small coils and use caps to store juice. Put too much high voltage load on mobo withou the AUX connector supplying power, and the caps nevr get charged. No PSOT, then.

    MSI lights come on AFTER check if they are green, bad CPU is normally RED LED or LEDs in same place (yes, they use dual color LEDS) or NO CPU indicator LEDS if CPU is not seated right or bad out of box(DOA). IF CPU LEDs per table in manual are lit green, then CPU has checked GOOD. BUT, if you use SATA or SATA to a dongle on an IDE HD or HDs or lots of fans hooked up to motherboard, than the AUX connector needs to be used. If you have what looks like a CPU good but board goes no further and no SATA, then look at how the LED and switch jumpers are connected first and power case fans off of motherboard. Polarity of those jumpers is important, and the fan power load can overload board.

    I have gotten P4 boards with no SATA hooked up running without any AUX connect many times, including MSI, and ditto AMD boards that ahve the connector. BUT, if you do not put this connector on an plug SATA power jacks and HDS onto board, than you get a drain that leaves board without enough juice (power) left to post after powering SATA hookups.

    Only other thing is, do you have lots of fans plugged into board??? If so, then you also might need the AUX connector-- so an ATX 2.03 12V PSU is still needed to supply anough 12V power as CPU draws more juice out of CPU and ATX 2.0 PSUs that are also 2.03's are needed to have enough power capability to feed fans and SATA without draining board of power flow for rest of board.

    What I have here, for a P4 board, and same should be true for your AMD chip, is that fans are hard-tapped into the unused AUX leads for power. I have no SATA in use. AUX connector on mothrboard is not connected. With all the case fans plugged into motherboard I had to have the AUX connector also connected.

    BUT, you do need the PSU with those 12V leads, as it has enough umph top feed what the CPU and a fast video card will draw in watts plus lots of 12V without using a second linear PSU for 12V alone. And, the 2.03's switch faster to meet need for load changes.

    Fix is right (you need that kind of PSU), but the 12V is not used for CPU itself.

    John D.
  • GnomeWizarddGnomeWizardd Member 4 Life Akron, PA Icrontian
    edited February 2004
    D00d let me get a link to the kick butt psu i just got in

    Here it is! nice psu with all cables wrapped and coplors in the psu!
    http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=17-153-012&catalog=58&depa=0
  • CaxusCaxus
    edited February 2004
    Are you sure, Ageek? It specifically says in the mb user guide that that connector is needed to supply power to the cpu.
  • profdlpprofdlp The Holy City Of Westlake, Ohio
    edited February 2004
    Many P4 motherboards (and even AMD motherboards) have an extra 4 pin ATX12V (square) connector to which you are asked to connect an ATX12V power connector from P4 compliant ATX 2.03 power supplies. This connector is designed to provide extra current on the 12V rail - most manuals will say that this connector provides extra power for the CPU and it is recommended that you connect the ATX12V plug if your power supply provides one.

    If your power supply does NOT provide an ATX12V connector you might be wondering if you can still safely run your motherboard. Well there IS a chance that the motherboard can get damaged, but we've seen situations where, even by accident, users have forgotten to plug in the ATX12V connector and yet they are running their systems just fine. The real risk is in having inconsistent voltage supplied to your components, which can result in intermittent problems (such as spontaneous reboots).

    The best solution, if you don't have a P4 power supply with this extra plug, is to buy a 4pin molex connector that converts your regular 4pin molex power to a 4pin square connector for your motherboard. Also, some motherboards today have inline 4 pin connectors that replace the need for the 4 pin square connector. With these you can connect using the regular device power connectors from your power supply. As with any other issue, read your manual carefully to make sure you are connecting everything

    Found it here .
  • GnomeWizarddGnomeWizardd Member 4 Life Akron, PA Icrontian
    edited February 2004
    yes that is true but the A64 platform needs all the juice possible. My 431 watt PSU couldnt give enough to supply The board cpu my 2 hds my 2 cdrom and My video so my card was always clocked slower due to save power Its takes ever watt to runs that board / cpu
  • Straight_ManStraight_Man Geeky, in my own way Naples, FL Icrontian
    edited February 2004
    I would give it a 480. That is usually the next major step for ATX 2.03 12v PSUs.

    John D.
  • Straight_ManStraight_Man Geeky, in my own way Naples, FL Icrontian
    edited February 2004
    Caxus wrote:
    Are you sure, Ageek? It specifically says in the mb user guide that that connector is needed to supply power to the cpu.

    That is weird. I have never had to use that 12V connector if I do not load the motherboard with case fan draw by connecting case fans to motherboard for POWER. I THINK I found an exception to the "rule," though. Hands-on found one, that is. Basicly, once you load the board with the need to power case fans, the board is loaded close to max for anything that needs lots more wattage. BUT, no boards have 12->3 V transformers(which would be big and gen an EMI field as they use tight windings) on them that I have seen. Electronically, the connector supplies 12 V.

    Most manuals say you MIGHT need to connect, and technically, THAT 'MIGHT' is right. And it is right due to the fact that the motherboard cannot run lots of 12 V devicesa like 3-4 case fans, CPU fan, SATA drive motors, and STILL power CPU.

    IF you connect case fans to motherboard for power, you need 12 V AUX connector hooked up, but that connector supplies 12 V juice ONLY. CPU does not draw 12 V into itself, and that is how what is in your manual is confusing to point of being untrue, from the motherboards I have used(10 kinds that need an Aux connector for AUX supply). You will want a more robust PSU than you probably have, it will come with a 12 V AUX connector on ends of harnes wires if you get right kind for board, so answer is STILL get right PSU and then if you want to hook case fans to motherboard you DO get to use AUX connector.

    The manual writer in far east oversimplified and in oversimplifying said somehting that was not LITERALLY true(MUST is not true, MIGHT is), though often needed becuase of what else was intended to be hooked to motherboard.

    John D.
  • CaxusCaxus
    edited February 2004
    Yup, it was the power connector. Works fine now even with my 300w power supply.
  • EyesOnlyEyesOnly Sweden New
    edited February 2004
    That's good to hear.
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