So peeved....

L

lamb110

Gawd
Joined
Jul 6, 2006
Messages
602
Being the nice brother that i am i was going to build a computer for my brother since hes running a 1ghz Intel chip, from like 5-6 years ago. Here are the parts that i'm trying to use.

AMD 3500+
ECS RX480-A motherboard
ATI x1300 (gigabyte)
2 256mb AMPO ram (pc3200)
Sky Hawk/Eagle Tech 520W Power Supply
300gb Seagate HD

When i put it together it wouldnt start, it originally had a 400W crap PSU from the case, so i replaced it with the one i listed. After i put in the new PSU, it started up, i can get into the BIOS just fine, and i set it to boot from the DVD-rw. It does the initial coping of files, then lets me format the hard drive, and copies more files. Then when it restarts, i get the "Windows XP" loading screen for a few seconds then the screen goes blank. I can hear the dvd-rw rev up and the hard drive activity light looks like it is coping files, but the screen is black. The light on the monitor isnt blinking so its like the video card is sending out a signal.

At first i thought that it was the video card, so i pulled out another x1300 i had in another computer, and it did the same thing, but instead it just flashed a screen that looked like the matrix, just a bunch of green pixels.

I switched out the memory from the other computer, the same thing happened. Then i switched out the 3500+ to a 3800x2 from the other computer. When i switched out the CPU, it would do the same thing as before but instead of the green pixels it sounded like it changed resolutions a bunch of times before it re-started.

I'm thinking that its a problem with the pci-e 16x slot on the motherboard, because its seeing the memory fine each time, its seeing bother cpu's just fine, it recognized the hard drive (i tried a maxtor also to see if that was it), but it just wont show the windows setup screen after the first re-boot. Like i said it shows the bios just fine, and the first windows setup step (where you format and install the first set of files). I'm so lost here, this is the 3rd computer that i've built and i;ve never had something like this happen.
 
since it sounds like extra systems/components aren't scarce over there, did you try testing the PSU, CPU, RAM, GPU, etc. in a working system to see which is doing if. If all these components work in your other working systems then you can RMA the board.

Seems obvious but I though I'd mention it. It takes a bit of time but it pretty much garaunteed to work.
 
Dew itt right said:
since it sounds like extra systems/components aren't scarce over there, did you try testing the PSU, CPU, RAM, GPU, etc. in a working system to see which is doing if. If all these components work in your other working systems then you can RMA the board.

Seems obvious but I though I'd mention it. It takes a bit of time but it pretty much garaunteed to work.
Click to expand...
yea i have another DFI based system i use as a file server, i'll check all the parts on it and see it it works, i just ran out of time last night at midnight. I was also told to re-set the BIOS? someone on another board said that some of the earlier ECS boards came messed up. If so i'll RMA it and get another board, because i'm not going to deal with this crap again. I should of gotten another DFI board for $40 more :( I learned a lessen to not cheap out on parts.
 
HOLY HELL, i'm ripping that PSU out of there when i get home, i just read those threads that were posted, my god! i'll swap out the PSU from my file server, and see if that works. Again i got that craptastic PSU for like $25 from Newegg. Never, ever again, will i cheap out on products.
 
Ive personally had horrible luck w/ ECS motherboards, and will never buy one again.

My guess is that the mobo is where your problem lies.
 
well it was the PSU, i guess i had bad luck having both the cheapies blow. First the 400W that came in the case (thats a given) then that other 520W that i listed, and after reading the reviews its no suprise that it blew too. So i yanked the Best Buy brand PSU from my file server, and it started up no problems. I really needed to invest in a quality PSU for the File Server anyway, with 6 300gb drives, and a x2 3800+ i think its for the best that this happened, let me fine tune my trouble shooting skills :)

Thanks again for all the advice :D
 
Yeah yenno suprisingly Dynex (Best Buy Brand) isn't that bad. They sell their own power supplies, cases, etc and they arent too bad.
 
lamb110 said:
HOLY HELL, i'm ripping that PSU out of there when i get home, i just read those threads that were posted, my god! i'll swap out the PSU from my file server, and see if that works. Again i got that craptastic PSU for like $25 from Newegg. Never, ever again, will i cheap out on products.
Click to expand...

My friend, when he built his rig, had baught a $25 newegg PSU. It turned on until you bumped into it a little. It turned out it had faulty wiring. Investing in a quality PSU is definatly worth it instead of trying to save a quick buck.
 
Riddlinkidstoner said:
Yeah yenno suprisingly Dynex (Best Buy Brand) isn't that bad. They sell their own power supplies, cases, etc and they arent too bad.
Click to expand...
Dynex, thats the name i was trying to think of. I've had pretty good luck with them too, i only get them when i have a PSU blow up and i need one ASAP. Then i take it back if i get another qualtiy one within the 30days :)

NEVER again will i cheap out on a PSU, too much of a hassle. Antec all the way, i love the one i have in this machine.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top