New Build Issues - Tech Support Forums

sc057 · October 5th, 2008, 09:58 AM

I mounted the motherboard correctly into the case and also installed the CPU and heatsink. Then I connected the PSU to the motherboard using it's 4 point plug (above the CPU) and also the 20+4 plug. When I switched on the PSU to check whether I set up the case fans correctly nothing happened. Now I'm trying to figure out what the problem is... is it the PSU or is it the motherboard? How do I test the PSU without needing another PC? If I just plug it into a power socket outside of a PC should it work? Or does it only work when connected to a BIOS?

Thanks for any help.

Steve R Jones · October 5th, 2008, 10:49 AM

Having one or more of the case wires to mobo hooked up wrong could cause this.

sc057 · October 5th, 2008, 12:19 PM

The only wires I have plugged into the motherboard are the 4 point plug, the 20+4 pin plug, the CPU fan, and the wire for the power switch. I've also joined the plugs for the rear and front fan together as you're supposed to do with this case. My only doubt is that I've connected a molex pin connector from the front of the case, (which I assume is where the fans draw power from), to the corresponding molex from the PSU. Other, than that I can't see where I've gone wrong unless the PSU or motherboard is damaged.

KarmaKiller · October 5th, 2008, 12:43 PM

You haven't mentioned RAM. DO you have that installed?

If so, I do a bench test.
Pull the motherboard from the case. Set the board on something non-conductive, like a cardboard box. Hook up only the bare essentials.
-CPU, Heatsink Fan, ONE STICK of RAM, and VIdeo(if you have onboard use it now.)
Then with a screwdriver, touch the power pins on the board, and see what happens. This will rule out grounding out as a cause. If it works, then try with both the RAM sticks in. If it still works, then try your video card.

RamonGTP · October 5th, 2008, 01:51 PM

Here's how you test the PSU with nothing hooked up

Get a paperclip or wire and bridge the GREEN wire to any of the BLACK ground wires on the ATX connector. Flip the switch and see if the fan spins. You may want to have a hard drive hooked up to it becuase some PSU's don't like it when there is no load at all on them.

sc057 · October 6th, 2008, 09:20 AM

Thanks for the advice guys.

I had another look at the motherboard and the manual, and I discovered that the wire for the power switch was positioned incorrectly. I moved it into the right place and the PSU now fires up, along with the CPU fan and the case fans.

Unfortunately I now have a new problem - I can't enter the BIOS, but I will start a new thread for this problem.

sc057 · October 6th, 2008, 10:11 AM

These are the components of my new build:

Nexus Real Silent 400W PSU
Intel Core 2 Duo E8500
Geforce 9800 GT 512 MB (PCI-E)
MSI P35 NEO Socket 775 DDR2 Motherboard
Samsung DVD/RW
Soundblaster Audigy SE/7.1 (PCI) -- I have taken this out.
Corsair XMS6400 2GB 800 MHz RAM

This is what happens when I power up my PC:

1.The power LED lights up on the case.
2.The fans in the power supply and, the graphics card, and the CPU start up.
3.I'm not sure if the hard disk starts up. I don't see it's LED light up on the case.
4.The screen goes black then displays a message from the graphics card's BIOS. Just reporting it's specs.
5.The motherboard displays it's splash screen, inviting me to press <TAB> to switch to POST or <DEL> to enter BIOS setup.
6.Then I hear a single beep from the PC internal speaker.

When I press <TAB> or <DEL>, nothing happens.

What I have tried:

1.I'm using a PS/2 keyboard.
2.I've cleared CMOS by moving the jumper sleeve from pins 1-2 to 2-3, and then putting them back, while the PC is switched off.
3. I also removed my sound card which I'm not sure I installed correctly.
4. I have also removed one stick of RAM and powered up the system, then repeated with the other stick.

This has not solved the problem but I think clearing CMOS has stopped the following message, which was showing up on every fourth PC restart:

=================================================
AMIBIOS(C)2006 American MegaTrends, Inc
A7360IMS V1.7 021908
Intel(R) Core(TM)2 CPU E8500 @ 3.16GHz, Speed: 333 *9.5 = 3164 MHz

Press DEL key to enter Setup Menu
F11 to enter Boot Menu
Memory frequency for DDR2 800 (Single-Channel)
Initializing USB Controllers.. Done
(printed in red colour) Warning!!! The previous performance of overclocking is failed, and the system is restored to the defaults setting,
Press any key except "DEL" to enter setup...

(I press a key)

Entering setup...

Keep current BIOS setting (Y/N)
Press (Y) to continue or press (N) to load some item default setting.

(I have tried pressing Y and N at this point but I get the same result. It prints out the following message then I get no more chances for input. Incidentally, the single beep that I hear appears to sound exactly after the message below has been printed.

2048 MB OK
================================================== ====

Thanks for any help.

EDIT -- BTW, I'm aware that the graphics card requires at least a 450W PSU. Mine is only 400W. I can't take the Graphics card out as the motherboard has no ports for my monitor, so it must be plugged into the GPU card.
Also sometimes when I power up from cold the power dies after 5 seconds and then powers up again as if nothing happened. edit-- I've since read that this is normal behaviour for this motherboard.

**RicheemxX** · October 6th, 2008, 07:00 PM

Lets keep this all in one thread it'll make life a little easier.

Instead of using the jumpers to clear the CMOS try removing the battery. Leave it out for 10-15 mins. Remove some of the none essentials drives, extra memory ect. If you still can't get into the bios you might check to see if there are any updates and possibly flash with a new version. I'd say that would be a last resort but its always an option.

||Console|| · October 6th, 2008, 07:17 PM

This is just my gues but , maybe your Mb needs a bios Upgrade to use the Wolfdale even more so if it is a E0 stepping .

sc057 · October 7th, 2008, 08:57 AM

I've now tried removing the battery, and disconnected the hard drive and optical drive. The problem still remains.

I have looked on the official MSI site below and it states that the latest BIOS is 1.7 which is the same version as my BIOS. I think this BIOS version is compatible with my chip (E8500) but I'm not sure. Could someone check on this?

MSI Site

MSI -- MICRO-STAR INT'L CO., LTD.

However, I also found this page which lists a 1.8 BIOS.

Weekly News & Update

I don't know whether to trust this page though.