I need help....go figure

[MacGyver]

Hey folks, thanks in advance for your help on this one. I admit, I'm a
crap magnet when it comes to building computers, always have been! I
don't know why I try it when I know I shouldn't, but I do like to
build them, they're a challenge...so here we go.

CPU: AMD X2 3800 Windows 89w
MB: ECS KA3 MVP for Socket AM2
Video: PCI Express ATI Radeon X1300 Pro
HDD is a Western Dig SATA with proper power and connection
Memory: 1GB PC2-4200 240pin DIMM in 2 pieces

Everything is installed and seated perfectly. When things were weird
the first time I retraced my steps and reseated everything.

There are four lights on the MB, one near the processor that's a
steady red. The other three are near the PCI slots both express and
non. They all flash...now I thought that this was a bad thing,
apparently there's not rhyme or reason as to how or why they flash.

Signal to the monitor....it doesn't say anything about check
connection. It just goes dark, or to sleep. Not sure which it is,
still researching. Nothing on the board beeps, and I made sure that my
speaker switch is installed. The instructions are iffy, but I tried
installing the plug either way just in case....still no sound. Could
be a good sign, although at this stage of the game, I'd rather have a
beep!

Everything else is in working order, fans, HDD powers up, CD-ROM
powers up, and that's about it. If I forgot anything, let me know, and
thanks in advance for all your help!

 

[Michael Hawes]

Hey folks, thanks in advance for your help on this one. I admit, I'm a
crap magnet when it comes to building computers, always have been! I
don't know why I try it when I know I shouldn't, but I do like to
build them, they're a challenge...so here we go.

CPU: AMD X2 3800 Windows 89w
MB: ECS KA3 MVP for Socket AM2
Video: PCI Express ATI Radeon X1300 Pro
HDD is a Western Dig SATA with proper power and connection
Memory: 1GB PC2-4200 240pin DIMM in 2 pieces

Everything is installed and seated perfectly. When things were weird
the first time I retraced my steps and reseated everything.

There are four lights on the MB, one near the processor that's a
steady red. The other three are near the PCI slots both express and
non. They all flash...now I thought that this was a bad thing,
apparently there's not rhyme or reason as to how or why they flash.

Signal to the monitor....it doesn't say anything about check
connection. It just goes dark, or to sleep. Not sure which it is,
still researching. Nothing on the board beeps, and I made sure that my
speaker switch is installed. The instructions are iffy, but I tried
installing the plug either way just in case....still no sound. Could
be a good sign, although at this stage of the game, I'd rather have a
beep!

Everything else is in working order, fans, HDD powers up, CD-ROM
powers up, and that's about it. If I forgot anything, let me know, and
thanks in advance for all your help!

What PSU? For basic test, disconnect ALL drives (data cables). If you
remove video card and memory, should give 'no memory' error, usually
continuous series of beeps. If not, is PSU, motherboard or CPU. If beeps,
add one stic of RAM, should give 'no video card' errror, and so on.

Mike.

 

[MacGyver]

The PSU is rated at 500w, it's a 20 pin, but the ECS is designed to
run on it without any boot problems. The video card does not require
any auxiliary power or anything like that. I found out on some other
website that if the LED's near the PCI ports are blinking then the add
card was not installed properly or not present.

I'll remove everything and boot it, to see what happens. When you say
add "one stic" even though it's a dual channel, should I add one or
both?

Thanks for the help!

 

[Ed Medlin]

The PSU is rated at 500w, it's a 20 pin, but the ECS is designed to
run on it without any boot problems. The video card does not require
any auxiliary power or anything like that. I found out on some other
website that if the LED's near the PCI ports are blinking then the add
card was not installed properly or not present.

I'll remove everything and boot it, to see what happens. When you say
add "one stic" even though it's a dual channel, should I add one or
both?

Thanks for the help!

Just one stick............ One thing that may be giving you a problem is
that 20 pin main power cable on the 24 pin MB. I know that some MBs say they
will work fine but I had a problem with an Asus P5GDC that was supposed to
do that. It would boot sometimes and go into the OS, and then just freeze.
Sometimes it would not boot at all or hang at the Windows screen. Once I put
in a good 24 pin OCZ 535w peak, 450w rated PSU all those problems went away.
The manual for the MB said that it SHOULD work, but it didn't.

Ed

 

[MacGyver]

Just one stick............ One thing that may be giving you a problem is

that 20 pin main power cable on the 24 pin MB. I know that some MBs say they
will work fine but I had a problem with an Asus P5GDC that was supposed to
do that. It would boot sometimes and go into the OS, and then just freeze.
Sometimes it would not boot at all or hang at the Windows screen. Once I put
in a good 24 pin OCZ 535w peak, 450w rated PSU all those problems went away.
The manual for the MB said that it SHOULD work, but it didn't.

Ed

----------------

So I tried it with one stick and same thing, nothing. What gets me is
that there's just no video output. I'd love to see something on the
screen but noooooo. I'll upgrade the power supply, that's a cheaper
option at the moment, and then see where we can go from there. I think
that the video card is definitely DOA. So on to replacing the power...

 

[Ed Medlin]

----------------

So I tried it with one stick and same thing, nothing. What gets me is
that there's just no video output. I'd love to see something on the
screen but noooooo. I'll upgrade the power supply, that's a cheaper
option at the moment, and then see where we can go from there. I think
that the video card is definitely DOA. So on to replacing the power...

Well, it worked for me. I am just going by personal experience and I hope it
works out for you. Good luck.


Ed

 

[MacGyver]

Problem solved....apparently after ripping my hair out, I found out
that the 4-pin CPU connector was bad. Everything was powering up so it
never dawned on me to check electrical. Swapped out the power supply
and it's fine....don't know why I didn't think of that to begin with.
Thanks everyone for your help!