Building a Computer - Problems!! Advice needed!

I'm hoping that someone here can help me out. I am building a computer for the first time (parts listed at end of post), with help from an experienced friend. We loaded everything up into the case, powered the system on, and were unable to get it to display any video. We shut it down, eliminated component after component, and still were unable to display video (we used two different monitors, by the way, both confirmed as working on my old computer).

We got it down to MOBO, CPU/fan, power supply, 1 stick memory, and video card, and still could not display any video. We left it running for a few minutes, and suddenly it powered down on its own. We booted it back up, and it powered down in 30 seconds. Booted it up again, and it powered down in 60 seconds. Booted it up one last time, and it ran for a good five minutes before it powered down.

We tried my video card in my friend's computer, and it worked fine. We decided it would be best to send the MOBO/CPU/fan back to Portatech for inspection/exchange. They called me today to let me know that it worked fine when they tested it... they were able to display video, and did not experience any random shut-downs at all.

Any ideas about why this is happening? What should the next potential culprit be on my list? Bad power supply (the wattage, 650, should be more than sufficient)? Faulty video card? Faulty memory (shouldn’t be, as we tried each stick individually, with the same result each time)? Something as simple as a power plug not plugged into the MOBO (the Portatech guy suggested that we might not have plugged in the 2x2 aux power plug from the PS to the MOBO, but I know that we triple-checked all power supply cables)?

Also, we were unable to hear a post beep... can any of you tell if this beep should come from a (hidden) speaker on the MOBO, or if should come from the build-in sound card via my system's external speakers, or if it should come from a speaker on the case, which I need to connect to the MOBO? If the latter is the case, then I have no clue where to hook up these connections on the MOBO, and my friend couldn't find it either. Any input on that would be great as well.


Please help!! Do you see any parts below that would not be compatible with each other? Any assistance is more than welcomed!


Main parts:

Motherboard/CPU combo: ECS nForce4A-939 & Athlon x2 4600+ http://www.portatech.com/catalog/vie...D=13568&O=4336

eVGA 256-P2-N615-TX Geforce 7600GT 256MB 128-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 Video Card http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...rdware_vga_sky

CORSAIR XMS 1GB (2 x 512MB) 184-Pin DDR SDRAM DDR 400 (PC 3200) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model TWINX1024-3200C2 - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820145449

Ultra (2 x 512MB) PC3200 DDR 400MHz CL3 Memory
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicati...p?EdpNo=586829

Broadway Com Corp Okia-black-650 ATX 650W Power Supply 115/230 V cUL , UL , CSA
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817162014

Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 (Perpendicular Recording) ST3250620AS 250GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822148144

COOLER MASTER Centurion 5 CAC-T05-UW Black Aluminum Bezel, SECC ATX Mid Tower Computer Case http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811119068



Extraneous items:

MyHD TV Tuner Card:
http://www.digitalconnection.com/Pro...deo/mdp130.asp

Zonet ZFN2600 IEEE1394 3+1-Port Firewire PCI Host Card http://www.amazon.com/Plus-Port-Fire...116110-2756845

USB card
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg...X0DER&v=glance

LINKSKEY LKA-CR15BW 52-in-1 USB 2.0 Internal 3.5" USB Card Reader http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820309001


(NOTE: some of these links may now be dead)


THANK YOU for any help you can provide!!!!!

It really sounds like it'd be either the PSU or the CPU. The lack of a POST is suggesting a CPU issue, and when the CPU fails, it shuts down the system. This would also, obviously, lead to the vid card not operating. O_o

Second up is the PSU. It could also be responsible for a power-down, especially if it's faulty. You should check your mobo and the rest of your parts with a different PSU before moving on. You'll want to be careful proceeding if the PSU could be at fault, because it could fry the mobo. o_o This happened to me before.. and it really, really sucks.

I'd say those are the two factors most likely to be involved. For the CPU issue, double check that you have ample heat-distribution measures installed (heat-sink, that putty stuff, etc).

Good luck with that! Keep us updated!

Have a look HERE

flash the bios, it's a big possibility that the bios cannot support the cpu, check all voltage connections on the mobo, if it's a PCI-E mobo, there needs to be 3 power connection on it 20pin, 4pin-24volt and 4pin peripheral pin (near the PCI-E slot)

check the power supplies amps, anything under 20a for -/+12v can cause problems

be sure you mobo is well grounded, i suggest for troubleshooting purposes to build a bare bone first (no case)

if this does not solve the current problem, then replace mobo or cpu, recommended mobo replacement


if you wish to talk more with me, email at [email protected]
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AIM: Doragon haigara

Hey guys, thanks for the input. I installed the CPU pretty solidly, and made sure that it had enough Arctic Silver paste. Not so much that it was oozing out of the sides, but enough for good coverage. I will look into the PS as the lead culprit when I receive my MOBO back from Portatech.

If anyone can think of anything else that may be an issue, I would greatly appreciate your feedback.

Thanks again!

also, ECS motherboard sucks... i should know, my job sells them...

when you save up enough money, i HIGHLY recommend buying a much, much better mobo