New rig won't POST!

[johnwillyums]

Hi all,

I just built my first pc (almost) from scratch and I can't get it to POST at all.

Here's the rig:

Overclocked Core i7 bundle from Overclockers.co.uk- Core i7 [email protected] Ghz, Gigabyte EX58-UD5 MB, 6GB Corsair XMS RAM, Noctua NHU-12P HSF.

I put this in a Cooler Master ATCS 840 case with a Be Quite 850W modular PSU

I then swapped out my Samsung F1 1TB drive into the new case. This contains my Vistax64/W7x64 RTM dual boot.
I also installed my XFX GTX 260 Black Edition GPU.

With the rig main components all in the case and the PSU and HDD connected to the mobo I decided to see if it would post so I connected to my Dell Ultrasharp 2408WFP.

It won't. I tried with HDD connected and without and it won't, tried putting a USB mouse and keyboard in, still won't post.

Then I noticed my GTX 260 did not seem to have power, at least the fan wasn't running but this may be for other reasons (maybe it's clever enough to know it's got nothing to do).
I swapped this out for an 8800 GTS and this fan runs but still no POST.

There is power in the mobo, HSF works and I get lots of flashing LEDs indicating heavy load but zilch on screen.

So even with only power into the mobo, no HDD connected, just a GPU and a monitor it won't post.

I've tried everything I can think, reseated the RAM, tried both GPUs again, looked at the PSU etc and various combination of the above and I've run out of ideas.

Hopefully I'm missing something obvious. Any ideas would be welcome.
I'm despondent

Cheers John

 

[Dwarf]

Hi John,

What interface does your monitor use? Is it VGA or DVI? If VGA and you are using a DVI-VGA adapter attached to your graphics card, make sure that none of the pins in the adapter are damaged or broken. I had this happen to me once, and a new adapter solved the problem.

 

[johnwillyums]

Thanks for your reply Dwarf. I'm using a DVI to DVI cable and I know it works cos I've re installed the release candidate on my "old" rig and the monitor is working fine with it.
I'm out of ideas and feeling rather foolish, J

 

[Barman58]

Hello John,

First thing is don't feel foolish - We've all been exactly where you are now

I don't know the actual MB that you have so can only give generic checks that I would do myself

The LEDs on the MB could give you an indication of any potential issue that is preventing POST

Have checked the online manual for the board and the LEDs are explained on Section 1.9 page 25 your printed manual should be the same but may not.

If you refer to the manual and check that all the LED's are in the normal state - report back any that are not - that should help one of the real MB guru's here guide you further

 

[theog]

Hi johnwillyums

With out me looking up mobo,has it get on board graphics,if yes, try on board.

 

[Adrian]

New Build will not pass post test

Welcome Will,
A commom failure of new builds failing the initial Post phase is an incomplete buid. IE: Connection/Install failure. Malfunction etc.
The most common in my experience is the failure to connect the LED micro pins in correct position/bent or damaged pins etc.
Attached is an image of your specific MOBO with the led posts circled.
Take a look at them, make sure you have them positioned and connected in the correct position.
Warning: The pins are very soft, be gentle!
Regards,
Adrian

 

[johnwillyums]

Thanks Nigel. I'll get on with that now and report back. There is a long row of LEDs on the right upper board and they turn into a multicoloured lightshow when I power up indicating heavy load. Also there appears to be the number 88 on its side at bottom right plus a constant blue light on the upper middle right.
I've got all the manuals but not particularly clear.
Interesting that my old 8800GTS 512 starts running it's fan whereas my newer XFX GTX 260 shows no sign of life. They both work fine in my "old" rig.
The PSU seems to be working and there is certainly power in the board.
I might try one RAM stick at a time what do you think?

Thanks for your support, J

 

[johnwillyums]

Adrian. Thanks, all I have in their is the power switch at the moment. Problem is the LED bundle came with the case and the Gigabyte schema is different so confusing.
Theog, I tried posting with no GPU card and all I got was less lights (less load ?) on this row of muticloured LEDs dow the top right of the board.
Cheers, J

 

[Corpsecrank]

I have the same type of board only AMD version.

Go into your BIOS and make sure the init display is set to your graphics card. I would assume pcie so make sure the proper setting is there save exit and then you should get some action on the screen.

If you still see nothing try clearing the CMOS manually using the jumpers on the board. Go in reset the init display again to the proper one.

It is always a good habit to clear the CMOS manually on any new board you have never had installed before. I have had a good deal of boards do nothing until I cleared it.

If none of that works I would RMA the board for a new one.

 

[johnwillyums]

Adrian. Just had a closer look at your pic. I don't have anything plugged in there. Only the power switch in the pin enclosure to the right of that in your photo. J

 

[pparks1]

I don't think he is getting anything whatsoever on the screen...so going into the BIOS setup is out of the question.

I've had this type of problem at work on server builds when the CPU wasn't seating properly. Or worst case....was malfunctioning.

As far as the lights, it's normal for Gigabyte boards to light all of those up during the post...but when you get to the end of the POST they all go out. I was concerned with my new Gigabyte board when I saw all the lights lit...but it's like some sort of a system check.

 

[Adrian]

Bare Bones Kit

Will when you purchased the coolermaster, was the psu already installed?
Was the mobo already installed?
The led pins were already connected?

 

[johnwillyums]

I have two seperate micro pins marked +P LED and -P LED. there are 3 pins in that area of the motherboard. Should I just try them there?
Cheers, John

 

[johnwillyums]

Adrian. The PSU and the case was a seperate purchase. The mobo, cpu (OCd) and RAM came as a bundle with the Noctua HSF which I had to install and the mounted the mobo in the case. J

 

[johnwillyums]

You're right pp I'm getting nothing on screen at all, J

 

[Adrian]

I have two seperate micro pins marked +P LED and -P LED. there are 3 pins in that area of the motherboard. Should I just try them there?
Cheers, John

John, from your responses this is a barebones build so my area of concern is the small micro pins that are attached from the cooler master tower and then connect to your mother board.
They must be connected from the tower to the mobo in the correct position. The pins are marked with very small tags, the led sockets are marked the same as the tags but are very small. They will be bundled and are already connected to the front panel of the tower.
Off the top of my increasingly small brain 1 would be marked power, 1 would be hdd sound, 1 would be marked HD etc.
These exceedingly small pins are often overlooked, how ever if they are not connected and in the correct positions on the mobo the system will fail to do the initial post.
Im attaching a representation of a generic cooloer master and your mobo so you have an idea of what to look for.
Regards,
Adrian

 

[Kawaii Momo]

When I built my computer, I was in the same position and looked around the net etc for a answer, my probem was I missed one connection from the cpu (and missed it like 5 times redoing all the connections) It was the power for the cpu, it wouldn't post or anything without it, just start up to a black screen. Might be worth a try to look over every connection you can in case you've missed something.

 

[Barman58]

One thing that I do find is that when you have been trying something for a long time the best thing is to simply take a break.

Give yourself an hour or so away from the problem - find something else to do for a while - something totally unrelated to PCs.

After the break re-start from scratch and often the error being made (assuming there is one ), will not happen.

John, take an hour then go back and as suggested above re-make all the connections exactly as you have done - it's worth a try

 

[Adrian]

Adrian. Just had a closer look at your pic. I don't have anything plugged in there. Only the power switch in the pin enclosure to the right of that in your photo. J

That indicates that you should have the Hard drive pin connected, the sound car pin connected etc.
Since these pins are not installed on the mobo there is a strong indication of Post Failure.
Look at your mobo manual and look at the section where it covers LED connections. remember that these LED's refer to your tower led's not the mobo's led's.
regards,
Adrian

 

[johnwillyums]

Adrian. It looks like we have the same case. Heres what I have in terms of double strand small female sockets-
Double female marked power switch
Double female HDD Led
Double female reset sw
2x Single female marked +P LED and -P LED.

I will take some pics of the area close up and post them.
I only have the power switch cable in ther right now and it is in the red area within the little enclosure at the bottom as seen in your pic. This contains a little yellow area with two pins, a red area with two pins a gap then an orange area with four pins. On the bottom row within this little rectangle there is a blue area with two pins, a pale green area with two pins and a brown area with one pin. So thirteen pins altogether.
Immediately to the left of this is an unenclosed area marked PWR LED with three pins in the top right.
As I say, I'll try and take some close up pics and post them.
Thanks very much for your help, John

I presume I have the power switch in the right place as it works.J