New GigaByte GA-MA78GM-S2H Won't Start, Looks Dead

[jim evans]

I just installed a new GigaByte GA-MA78GM-S2H (Athlon 64 X2 5000+)
motherboard tonight and it won't do anything, at least anything
motherboardlike.

I have two power supply testers, an Antec and a Coolmax. They both say
the PS is good and the 12v and 5v check good with the MB powered.

It's been long enough I don't know what to expect. At first I started
it with nothing connected -- just power and case connectors to the
start/power button and the power LED. When I push the power button the
fans start (including the CPU fan) and the front panel power lamp
comes on. Nothing happens after that, no beeps, nothing. I then
connected a floppy drive and the lamp on it comes on and stays on,
nothing else.

I can leave it on for several minutes before tuning it off. The power
button on the front won't turn it off, I have to snap the rocker
switch on the PS.

I then connected the monitor (this MB has a built-in video card), the
keyboard, mouse and speakers. Turn in on -- same behavior as
motherboard alone -- no signal to monitor, no beeps, nothing.

Motherboards used to have built in speakers that gave beeps to
diagnose problems. Does this board have one? If not, should it beep
through the speakers?

Anybody have any ideas what's wrong or what other tests I can do

 

[Dave]

I just installed a new GigaByte GA-MA78GM-S2H (Athlon 64 X2 5000+)
motherboard tonight and it won't do anything, at least anything
motherboardlike.

I have two power supply testers, an Antec and a Coolmax. They both say
the PS is good and the 12v and 5v check good with the MB powered.

It's been long enough I don't know what to expect. At first I started
it with nothing connected -- just power and case connectors to the
start/power button and the power LED. When I push the power button the
fans start (including the CPU fan) and the front panel power lamp
comes on. Nothing happens after that, no beeps, nothing. I then
connected a floppy drive and the lamp on it comes on and stays on,
nothing else.

I can leave it on for several minutes before tuning it off. The power
button on the front won't turn it off, I have to snap the rocker
switch on the PS.

I then connected the monitor (this MB has a built-in video card), the
keyboard, mouse and speakers. Turn in on -- same behavior as
motherboard alone -- no signal to monitor, no beeps, nothing.

Motherboards used to have built in speakers that gave beeps to
diagnose problems. Does this board have one? If not, should it beep
through the speakers?

Anybody have any ideas what's wrong or what other tests I can do

OK, you have two problems. Most obvious is, the floppy drive data cable is
reversed on one end. The mainboard most likely will not POST until you
correct this. I'd suggest you remove the floppy drive data cable and LEAVE
it disconnected until you figure out your other problem.

The other problem is most likely a bad power supply. Yes, I know you said
you have a power supply tester. But this is the SPECIFIC reason I do not
recommend people "test" power supplies. Your voltages out of any power
supply (which is what your power supply tester or a multimeter or a
voltmeter would check) can all be within tolerance and the power supply can
STILL be bad.

Your original symptom seemed to point to a bad power supply. If the power
supply is bad, your system will do exactly what your system is doing. That
is, your fans will spin and your LEDs will light, but you will get no POST,
no POST beeps, and no video (as POST never runs, and POST must run before
video will be initialized)

Other possibilities:
- Aux power connector (CPU power) is not connected from power supply to
mainboard. Your motherboard should have at least two power connections from
the power supply. Are BOTH connected?
- CPU and /or RAM is not installed properly
- Mainboard is bad
- CPU is bad

But those last three I just listed are very remote possibilities. Probably
99% of the time or more, if you have a system that will not POST, the power
supply is bad AND the power supply "tests" as GOOD. Assuming you remembered
to connect the CPU power line, that is.

My advice, assuming that the power connections to the mainboard are
correct... before you do anything else, remove the floppy drive data cable,
then install a different power supply, of a different brand.

BTW, PLEASE tell me you did not recycle an older power supply to try to
power your new mainboard and CPU. If so, that's your problem. -Dave

 

[jim evans]

Have you tried it out of the case to see if it's shorting to
anything? < Like an improperly placed standoff? >

There are no improperly placed standoffs, but yes I raised it off the
chasis with a couple of pieces of wood. Made no difference.

Have you run through the procedure on page 92 of the manual?

It's page 94 in my manual, and yes as many as you can when it doesn't
produce video. That's about three steps.

I don't have any way to check the memory.

 

[jim evans]

OK, you have two problems. Most obvious is, the floppy drive data cable is
reversed on one end. The mainboard most likely will not POST until you
correct this.

Incorrect. I it is connected the same as it was in a earlier working
system, and I know which is pin one on both ends. Also, it was not
connected when I first started the system and adding it made no change
in how the system acted. I then disconnected it and it has not been
connected for the later tests. So, it cannot be the cause of the
problem.

Other possibilities:
- Aux power connector (CPU power) is not connected from power supply to
mainboard. Your motherboard should have at least two power connections from
the power supply. Are BOTH connected?

I think that may be it. I've never had a motherboard that required
the second power connector.

 

[Dave]

It's page 94 in my manual, and yes as many as you can when it doesn't

produce video. That's about three steps.

I don't have any way to check the memory.

It doesn't matter. Unless the memory is totally incompatible with the
mainboard, bad RAM would still allow the mainboard to POST. But with bad
RAM, you might get error beeps and error messages on screen, after video is
initialized. You might google to see if there is a known issue with the RAM
you bought, when installed in your motherboard. But I doubt if your RAM is
bad, and I doubt if your RAM is incompatible with your mainboard. Even if
it is, I don't think it is causing your board not to POST. So for the
moment, I would advise you to proceed as if the RAM is good. -Dave

 

[Dave]

I think that may be it. I've never had a motherboard that required
the second power connector.

Well to be technical, it is the CPU that requires the extra power.

If that 4-pin power connector near your i/o panel vga connector is not
supplied with power, CPU will not POST. I'm betting that since you've never
used this connector before, you will need a new power supply for it. I'd
suggest the following. -Dave

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817189005

Note this has more connectors than you will need. However, it is the least
expensive power supply I could find quickly on newegg that looks like it
will work for you AND is reasonable quality. I define reasonable quality as
not likely to fail within a few months and kill all the rest of your
components when it does. You can certainly find cheaper power supplies,
but it's not worth the risk.

 

[jim evans]

from the power supply. Are BOTH connected?

Well to be technical, it is the CPU that requires the extra power.

That was it.

If that 4-pin power connector near your i/o panel vga connector is not
supplied with power, CPU will not POST. I'm betting that since you've never
used this connector before, you will need a new power supply for it.

Actually I have a fairly new PS -- about six months old. My Antec
failed and I replaced it with one that seemed to have pretty good
ratings on the web. It has the CPU connector. I even wondered what
it was for when I installed it. (Note: I'm beginning to think
Antec power supplies are not all they are touted to be. That was the
second one I'd had fail in 5 years. I've switched brands.

 

[jim evans]

Was it defective or just not connected?

Just not connected.