Hey there.

I have just bought myself a new bunch of computer components to build myself a new computer, put the lot together and turned it on and... not a lot happens. The PSU and CPU fans spin, but there is no beep and nothing comes up on screen. I unplugged everything from the motherboard apart from CPU and PSU fans, RAM and master hard drive to eliminate them from the equation, but still no luck.

I cant have put the processor in wrong because it wouldn't have fitted, right? It just slotted nicely into place. I earthed myself on my radiator before touching the motherboard, didn't touch any pins on the processor chip or anything. All that happens is fans spin. I don't know what's wrong!

Motherboard: Foxconn K8M890M2MA
CPU: AMD Athlon 64 X2 2.2ghz AM2 slot
400W Power Supply

Any ideas, anyone? Help is much appreciated as ive been waiting to get my components for about 2 weeks, and now they've come and it's not even working so im being quite impatient about it.

Thanks

Did you use TIM (thermal interface material) to mount the CPU? This is typically a pad, factory mounted on the heatsink, or thermal paste applied by the user.

Did you connect both power connectors to the motherboard as noted in Chapter 2, Page 9 of your manual?

I would pull the motherboard out the case and place it on a flat, non-conductive surface. Then verify you installed standoffs only in the case mounting holes that correspond to mounting holes in the motherboard. It is important to note that cases support 1000s of boards so there will be more hole in the case than holes in the motherboard. If there are any extra standoffs, they may short critical circuits, and can cause permanent damage.

Connect the PSU, CPU/Heatsink Fan (HSF) assembly, monitor, 1 stick of RAM, and keyboard and that's it - NO drives or USB devices. Then carefully short the two pins momentarily on the motherboard's front panel connector that normally are connected to the front panel power switch. This will signal the PSU to power up. At this point, you should see the graphics BIOS splash screen, and then the motherboard BIOS POST, RAM count, etc. The system will then freeze when it cannot find a boot sector on a hard drive.

If you don't get that far, I would swap RAM sticks and try again until you go through all the sticks. Then try another PSU. Note that fans work on +12V but the motherboard needs +5V and +3.3V too.

If you get to the point where it seeks boot sector, power down, unplug then connect the HD and try again.

PS - I deleted you other thread in Hardware on the same topic. Please only post in one forum.

Thanks for your reply.

Yes, i used the thermal pad and no, there is only one power connector on the PSU. There were no other standoffs other than those i used to mount the motherboard.

You said:
"Connect the PSU, CPU/Heatsink Fan (HSF) assembly, monitor, 1 stick of RAM, and keyboard and that's it - NO drives or USB devices."

I have tried all that and still nothing. And as for replacing the RAM, i thought that if it was a RAM problem it beeped several times, as apposed to not beeping at all? There is basically no beep and no bios splash screen, nothing at all. But the PSU and CPU fans to spin. I cant use another PSU simply because i don't have another one to test.

I've come to the conclusion there is a fault with either the motherboard or the CPU, would you agree?

Thanks again, and sorry about re-posting, was just really desperate after spending £150/$300 on computer stuff and it not working :\

Normally the beep pattern for RAM is as you described for missing RAM or RAM that cannot be found. But a bad RAM module may be preventing the RAM check from even occurring, so no beeps.

I agree it sounds like the motherboard or CPU, but it could still be the PSU.

HOWEVER - you said,

there is only one power connector on the PSU

Your motherboard REQUIRES the additional 4-Pin ATX 12V connector to run. As I stated above, in your motherboard manual, Chapter 2, page 9, it clearly shows 2 connectors. If your supply does not provide the 4-pin ATX 12V connector, you can get adapters, but I would consider getting a new PSU as yours is obviously out of date, or a generic. Note that high-tech digital electronics needs good clean stable power. Do not try to save a few quid by buying a cheap, generic, or off-brand supply. It is not worth it in long run.

I just found it... the extra power...

You have NO idea how grateful i am for that. My heart is going crazy right now. I know it's only a computer but... OMG i feel fantastic now i know it works. Give me your address and i shall send you a keg of your favourite beer!

Thank you SO SO SO much !!!!!!!!!!! Like superly. I would say i love you but..... yeah. THANK YOU!

lol - no problem. Glad you got it going. Now to make sure it stays running fine, I suggest you run through Cleaning Out Malware and build yourself an arsenal of anti-malware tools.

Ok i will do that - thanks again for all your help. Just installing XP now. Although i had to install it on the second hard drive, because on the first it told me that it was "not a valid Windows XP partition" even though i created it using the XP disk. Any ideas? Thanks again