Trackster11230 wrote:
> Hey guys.
>
> I'm pretty new to building computers. Over the past 2 months I've been
> buying all the required pieces to build my own computer.
> Anyways, I purchased a *used* MSI P7n motherboard (link to board
> below). When i bought it, I had no way of testing it, but the place said
> it was in working order and I had 2 weeks to test it broken and send it
> back. Granted, it probably wasn't the smartest thing to do by buying it
> without the ability to test it, but what's past is past. I continued to
> buy the necessary components. I got a core 2 duo that i KNOW works (from
> a friend), I pulled my HDD from another relatively new computer, along
> with the optical drives. I also bought a *used* rocketfish 550 watt, 36
> amp power supply (link below).
>
> Back to the point. I installed everything and plugged it all in. When i
> power it on, it POSTs, the LEDs on the mobo and front of the computer
> light up, my HDD starts up, and all my system and CPU fans start. The
> problem is, it doesn't do anything after that. My monitor remains dark.
> I've tried everything in my rather limited knowledge to isolated where
> the problem is but I'm having no luck in doing so. Here are some werid
> things that do happen though:
>
> -When the optical drives are attached to the mobo by IDE, they wont
> open or light up, but when i unplug the IDE, they open when the powers
> on.
>
> -No lights on the keyboard light up when the system powers up. I can
> push the NUM LOCK and it will light up but when i try to push it again,
> it takes a few tries to turn it back off (the light flickers). I have
> tried a few keyboards and they all do this.
>
> - took a close look at the CPU pins on the mobo and a few of them seem
> to be slightly bent. I used a credit card to straighten them out.
> They're still slightly bent (as seen by the way it reflects light) but I
> figured they're straight enough to connect their respective point on the
> CPU. could this be a problem though?
>
> So anyways, I'm currently at a roadblock and figured I needed to talk
> with people who understand this stuff much more than I do for any / all
> help. Thanks in advance!
>
> Links:
>
> mobo - 'MSI -- MICRO-STAR INT'L CO., LTD.' (http://tinyurl.com/o4xmeo)
>
> PSU - 'Rocketfish™ - 550-Watt ATX CPU Power Supply - RF-550WPS'
> (http://tinyurl.com/ob33fw)
>
> Also, I tried removing the CPU to see if the system would 'beep',
> noting the absence of a CPU, but it didn't. I removed the HDD and tested
> each stick of RAM and the computer didn't seem to notice a difference.
>
Not all motherboards may be designed the same way, but in my experience,
to make a beep sound, actually takes a lot of the motherboard to be
in a working state.
One beep is emitted by the BIOS code, as proof the beeper works. So
one beep alone, is not an indication of a problem.
If there are zero beeps, then it could be that the BIOS is not
executing for some reason.
The BIOS doesn't absolutely need RAM present, to start up. The BIOS
can run some of its code, using nothing but registers for temporary
storage. It has to do that, because some amount of setup work must
be completed on the memory controller, before the RAM starts to work.
A frequent reason for a failure to beep on a build, is forgetting
to install the ATX12V 2x2 power connector. It powers the processor
via the Vcore regulator. Make sure both the main power connector
(20 or 24 pin) and the processor power connector (a 2x2 or 2x4 connector)
are connected. In terms of wire color on the processor power connector,
two wires are yellow and two wires are black on the 2x2. The 2x4 has
four yellow wires and four black wires. Yellow is +12V. Black is ground.
You can strip a lot of hardware out of the computer, for your
"beep" tests. You can remove the video card(s). You can remove
all the RAM sticks. You can disconnect all the disk drives.
With just the processor, the BIOS it uses, the beeper speaker
connected, power supply, front panel power switch, you should be
hearing the beep tone for "missing RAM". When the RAM is installed,
the next beep tone would be "missing video". When the video is
installed, then error messages can be printed on the monitor screen,
as required.
Always remove all power from the computer, before adding or removing
components. You don't want any +5VSB floating around in there,
to damage stuff.
So start with beep tone tests, with a minimum of hardware, before
condemning the motherboard.
The very simplest test you can do, consists of the motherboard
with *no* components in it, the front panel power switch
connected, and the power supply connected. With that, you can
press the front panel switch, and note that the power supply
turns on. That proves the PS_ON# signal works. But that test
doesn't prove much. Adding a processor and a speaker,
allows you to verify whether any BIOS code can be executed,
beeping the speaker because of all the other missing
hardware.
Another thing you can check, is find the CPU support table
for your MSI motherboard, and see what version of BIOS is
needed to support your model of processor. Some motherboard
BIOS chips, have a sticker on top, with the release number
of the BIOS. In some cases, a board won't start, if the
BIOS is not modern enough to support a just-released
processor. You may need an older LGA775 processor installed
temporarily, to update the BIOS chip with an MSDOS boot
floppy.
HTH,
Paul
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