Just built a new computer, no power. *about to go postal*

[luckyquark]

I just recieved my parts from newegg, and built my system today.

Epox 8kha+
AMD Athlon 1800+
Chieftec case with a Foxconn (deer) power supply.

And some other parts that aren't relevant (I don't think).

Anyway after connecting all the power supply cables and IDE cables and placing everything in the case, the moment of truth came...and went. I get no power at all when attempting to turn on the computer. The power supply fan does not even move. I disconnected everything from the power supply except the motherboard, and had the same result. When I flip the black switch on the power supply, the light in the room flickers (the light is connected to the same surge protector as the power supply) so this seems to make me think that it is not completly dead, even if it is acting so. Anyway, i've tried everything I can think of, and I guess either the power supply or motherboard are not working, but I'm not sure. I know in previous threads a little graphic explaining how to test if a power supply is working has been posted, but I never understood what kind of wire I'm supposed to use on the cord. If someone could clear that up for me, I'd be very thankfull.

Anyway, I've been simmering about this for about 6 hours, trying to do anything to fix it. I spent all summer researching what parts I was going to get, and how I was going to build the computer, and the fact that it doesn't work is very, very discouraging. It doesn't help that I'm a college student and that right now I just spent $700 on a bunch of stuff that doesn't work.


Please help

[Brainchild]

Make sure the MOBO plug from the PSU is snapped into place, reseat the ram,cpu/hsf, and video card.

Make sure the switch on the power supply is on the proper setting, 115v for USA.

Make sure the Power, reset switches are connected properly.
if that fails.

Take it out of the case, and put it back making sure the mobo isn't touching the case anywhere causing it to short out. Or you can assmeble it on the table, a piece of wood, or something that doesn't have static electricity. or is a conductor, I always place the non-conductor bag the mobo came in under the mobo. try to fire it up that way.



Good Luck
BC

[cwizard]

Your best solution to test the power supply is to go to CompUSA and buy the ATX power supply tester. Putting wires in a power supply is not something I would suggest doing.

The tester is 14-15$. I've had ATX power supplies stop working as you describe. However, plugging them into the test bring them back to life for whatever reason.

Also, make sure your case connector wires are on the proper MB jumpters. Sometimes it's hard to tell which pins are the correct ones and you can be off by 1 which of course, will not work.

The graphic is for an atx power supply that has an on/off switch on it. All of the ones I have do not have this switch. The tester has such a switch. Also, if your power supply has that switch, make sure it is in the on position. You still have to use the soft switch on the case to actually boot up the computer.

Hope you get it going. I doubt that you have bad parts. Somthing is probably not hooked up properly. ATX will not let the machine boot if it finds something it doesn't like unlike the original AT power supplies.

Also, depending on the case, you might want to use fiber washers on all the screws that hold the board to the case. There are a few MBs that I've had to do this with.
And as Brainchild said, it couldn't hurt to take it all apart and slowly put it back together again.

Cwizard

[John C. Dechon]

Go here and do some reading:

http://www.compute-aid.com/atxspec.html

http://www.duxcw.com/faq/ps/ps4.htm

http://www.thetechboard.com/atx.htm

I think getting one of those ATX PS testing units for around $15 is a great idea...all of us who work on our own PCs chould have one.

John D.