First build trouble

Discussion in 'Building a new PC' started by data365, Jan 6, 2009.

  1. data365

    data365 Member

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    Hi guys, i recently purchased some parts for my first build. They are

    Xion Solaris Black/Green ATX Mid-Tower Case with 450 watt power supply
    AMD Athlon 64 X2 4600+
    Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 250GB Hard Drive
    Patriot 2048MB PC5400 DDR2 667MHz Memory
    ECS A780GM-A Motherboard
    Dvd drive

    When everything is connected it, with a monitor and keyboard,mouse it does not boot. The fans connected directly to the board work and the cpu fan works. I tried changing the slot the ram was connected to but that doesn't work, i also cleared the CMOS, but nothing happened. I also tried a 512 mb 533 mhz ram chip but still no booting.I even rechecked all the connections,jumpers and the CPU
    but nothing happened. I also swapped hard drives and even tried a video card but stil nothing. All the front panel connections are right, and i've tried the power and reset button on the board itself but nothing happens.Note that there is no onboard speaker and my case doesn't have a speaker so i cannot do the beep test.

    I would appreciate any thoughts or suggestions.Thanks.
     
  2. Zeyf414

    Zeyf414 Regular member

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    I ran into this problem when I built my last system. I found that I had to disconnect everything except the CPU and RAM and attach it one at a time, For some reason it worked but it took me 3 days to figure out. Here are some other suggestions:

    1. I am suspicious of any power supply that comes with a case. Just because something says 450 watts doesn't mean it delivers and with your hardware I am thinking you need a little more power. Do you have some who has a multimeter that you can borrow to test your power supply? You can purchase a really decent Craftsman for $20. Make sure it is digital. There is a lot on the 'net on how to use it. It is not hard.

    2. Do the leds on your motherboard light up? Were you grounded when you built the rig?
     
  3. sammorris

    sammorris Senior member

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    The power supply in that PC is garbage, so get rid of that, Xion 'free with case' PSUs typically deliver less than a third of what they say they do before going bang, so you're already on a tight limit with 150 Watts. ECS boards are also pretty poor, that is just as likely to be the problem.
     
  4. data365

    data365 Member

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    Hey guys.i got it to work by changing the ram even though my board supports the original ram i had. Anyway things got worse, after getting it to boot and installing the updates and OS everything seemed ok until 2 days later. I was adjusting the the I/O panel and board trying to get it to seat better in the case and after that i pressed the power button and it didn't boot. I checked all the connections and screws,everything is fine. I would appreciate any suggestions. Thanks alot.
     
  5. Zeyf414

    Zeyf414 Regular member

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    Well both sammorris and I have stated our serious misgivings about your power supply. The PSU is the backbone of a system and regardless of the quality of the other parts -- and what you listed are very good -- if the PSU is faulty you will have the issues you mentioned. It may not have been your RAM at all.

    Question: How much can you spend on a new Power Supply?

    * It may be your motherboard because ECS doesn't have the greatest reputation but I do know of many people who use their boards without one problem.

    * Do you know someone with a Multimeter to test your PSU?
     
  6. sammorris

    sammorris Senior member

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    ECS boards have always been rife with problems.
     
  7. Estuansis

    Estuansis Active member

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    *shudder* ECS makes decent graphics cards but their motherboards are dire. The quality is terrible.
     
  8. sammorris

    sammorris Senior member

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    ECS only "make" decent graphics cards because all they do is slap the sticker on. I believe it's Foxconn work underneath.
     
  9. Estuansis

    Estuansis Active member

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    Foxconn isn't exactly reputable either. They have a few nice high end boards but that's about it.
     
  10. sammorris

    sammorris Senior member

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    Agreed, but I don't place them in anywhere near the same light as ECS.
     
  11. data365

    data365 Member

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    Hey guys i tested the power supply and it delivers what it says. Therefore i'm going to change the motherboard. Has anyone used this board: biostar TA790GX A2+ 5.x and if so can i have your opinions on it or can you recommend some other good motherboards for $150.00 or less.
    Thanks
     
  12. Zeyf414

    Zeyf414 Regular member

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  13. sammorris

    sammorris Senior member

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    How did you test it exactly? Very few people have loadbanks capable of drawing that much lying around.
    Either way, changing the board would be a good idea to rid you of an ECS, but I'd still change the power supply out of a matter of safety.
     
  14. Estuansis

    Estuansis Active member

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    Yeah I only know one guy in my town who can properly test a PSU. Both my OCZ StealthXStream and Corsair 620HX tested well over 700W before shut down. And the StealthXStream isn't even a high end unit.

    I'd personally recommend a Corsair PSU. Xion is actually well known for their crap PSUs. Especially a Xion 450W with any modern system is trouble from the start. I'd never in a million years trust a ~$150 motherboard and all my other equipment on a Xion PSU. I'd rather not use the PC at all until I could afford a better one. Bad PSUs DESTROY systems.


    This motherboard should do well:

    http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813136058

    And I STRONGLY recommend you get a better PSU. Maybe something like this:

    http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139001

    We wouldn't tell you to get a new PSU if we didn't think it was crucial.

     
  15. sammorris

    sammorris Senior member

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    Estuansis: OCZ units rarely break 50W above their max, and Corsair don't usually achieve much beyond 60-70, I assume you mean 700W a.c. input?
    The replacement unit need not be as expensive as the 520W HX, awesome unit though it is. You could do fine on a 400W CX, or 380W Earthwatts.
    Trust me, 380W is loads for that system. Where the Xion unit will fail is not providing anywhere near the 450W it says.
    http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139008
    http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371005

    Better value motherboard for your system:
    http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128075
    or, with integrated graphics:
    http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128352
     
    Last edited: Jan 21, 2009
  16. Estuansis

    Estuansis Active member

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    Over 700W draw at the wall. All rails to maximum safe spec and both ran strong.
     
    Last edited: Jan 21, 2009
  17. sammorris

    sammorris Senior member

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    700W at the wall is not even 600W DC output, let alone above it. However, the lower wattage OCZ units usually fare alright, it's just the higher ones that are bad, as they're pretty much all the same with different pricetags, that and the StealthXStreams are quieter.
     
  18. Estuansis

    Estuansis Active member

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    The machine read over 700 at the wall and at least 700 DC output for both. Damn, I should have written this all down XD

    But yeah they both broke 700W DC output before shut down.
     
  19. sammorris

    sammorris Senior member

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    Hmm, that's somewhat unexpected. What temperature conditions? 700W is about as high as a lot of OCZ units go (including the ones with more than 700W written on them)
     
  20. Estuansis

    Estuansis Active member

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    Well the StealthXstream is basically a 700W GameXstream. The guts are nearly identical. The room was about 75*F or 23.8*C. Temps on both PSUs were in the high 50s and the fans were cranked up.

    I've seen reviewers taking it to 750W before shut down. Both the 620HX and StealthXstream 600W are under-specced. They are both capable of more than the labels say.
     

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