Installed new cpu & motherboard; now computer won't boot up

Discussion in 'PC hardware help' started by bridq, Aug 13, 2006.

  1. bridq

    bridq Regular member

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    Hey everyone, my friend an I installed a new ASUS AV8 motherboard and AMD x2 4600 cpu into my computer. Everything seemed to install ok, but when I tried to boot up the computer the BIOS never appeared and the screen was blank.

    The computer powered up, didn't make any weird noises, and the fans were all spinning. The monitor cable was connected and I still had a blank screen. My friend thinks it's because this combo will only power up using DDR 400 RAM. Right now I'm using 1 gb of kingston DDR 333 RAM ( 2 x 256 modules, 1 x 512 module).

    He believes that if I buy the DDR 400 RAM that should fix everything. I what he is saying true? Do I really need to upgrade to the faster RAM also? Thanks in advance for your help.

    By the way here are my specs:
    Graphics card: NVIDIA GeForce 6800 Ultra (256 MB)
    Motherboard: ASUS AV8
    RAM: Kingston 1024 MB (PC2700 DDR SDRAM)
    CPU: AMD 64 x2 4600
    DVD Writer: SONY DVD RW DRU-500A
    Windows XP professional
     
  2. Rob1026

    Rob1026 Regular member

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    did you hook up the atx part of your motherboard? that is one of the most common problems read and check and post back ciao!
     
  3. elokito

    elokito Regular member

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    try it with just 1 512 stick
     
  4. ddp

    ddp Moderator Staff Member

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    disconnect all drives off the psu & motherboard. clear the cmos as have found it to kickstart a system that normally not post at 1st.
     
  5. bridq

    bridq Regular member

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    I tried it once with only 1 512 RAM stick installed and it still wouldn't boot up. What is the ATX part? My friend did most of the installation and I just watched and tried to learn. DDP When you say disconnect all the drives do you mean hard drives, graphics card, and pci slots? What are the PSU and CMOS?

    So is it the RAM that is probably preventing the computer from booting up? If no weird noises are being made does that mean that all of the components are hooked up correctly? Thanks again everyone for your help.
     
  6. ddp

    ddp Moderator Staff Member

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    remove both data & power cables from drives. read motherboard manual about cmos. psu is power supply unit.
     
  7. Rob1026

    Rob1026 Regular member

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    the atx is like a four or six pin plug located on your motherboard you have to power it up or system will not boot read your mb user manny to find it not hard to find
     
  8. g4techtv

    g4techtv Guest

    make sure you have conected the third power connector called ATx12V to supply additional +12v power to the board
     
  9. Rob1026

    Rob1026 Regular member

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    ^ did you not read only of the thread?!? i posted that twice!
     
  10. bridq

    bridq Regular member

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    I give up; I'm very inexperienced when it comes to replacing motherboards and CPUs. I also remember my friend bending one of the CPU prongs when he installed the chip. He bent it back into place, but I hope that's not what's preventing the bios from coming up. Tomorrow I'm going to take the computer to Fry's electronics and have their computer techs have a look at it.

    I hate to pay to have them fix it because I'm sure it's just probably one cable that needs to be connected and they'll charge me a lot of money to "fix" it. Thanks everyone for taking the time to try and help. Your assistence is always appreciated.
     
  11. bridq

    bridq Regular member

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    So I went to Fry's and paid them to fix my computer. It turns out that the auxillary power cord wasn't connected. So I'm out $75 bucks but at least they fixed everything.
     
  12. Rob1026

    Rob1026 Regular member

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    which in turn is the atx 12v lol shoulda read the manual! truthfully you win some and you lose some! i had a hard start at first but overtime youll get better hope your comp is up and running to a good start ciao ciao
     
  13. ddp

    ddp Moderator Staff Member

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    i guess you didn't see Rob1026's 2 posts about that connector in this thread?!
     
  14. bridq

    bridq Regular member

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    Yeah, I guess not. I wish I knew that the ATX is the same as auxillary power cord. :-( Now I am out $69! Well now I know for next time.
     
  15. ddp

    ddp Moderator Staff Member

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    teach & learn
     

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