This is my first post, but I surely will visit that board more often.
OK, I had an old PC with only a PII 500+ Mghz. It was time to upgrade. So the idea was to keep the case, the PSU and to build a new system. Here is what are the parts I used to build my new system:
MOBO: ASUS A7N8X-E Deluxe (no idea of the Bios since I cannot boot)
CPU: Athlon XP 2700+ thoroughbred with fan coolermaster dream III
Graphic card: Leadtek Geforce 440MX AGP 8X 64
RAM: a pair of GEIL 256 mb DDR PC3200
I will not mention the rest. I just need to at least see something else than a blank screen.
I will mention that the case I own is not pretty and the PSU is ATX 2.0 (CODEGEN) 300W 115V/8A/60Hz. It powers with no problem the PC I am using to write this post (Pentium II 550mgHz, ABIT BX6 with 512 MB RAM, AGP graphic card, modem, two fans and other stuff).
here is what I have done: EACH TIME I DID SOME MODIFICATIONS (see below), I CLEARED THE CMOS (battery removal, wait with jumpers set to clear the BIOS)
1-I removed everything. Placed the mobo on the table on top of the antistatic plastic. I only had the power ATX plugged and the speaker (the loud beeper one) and my sound system, since that card comes with an integrated audio.
When I power up the PC, I have a blank screen, the monitor in stand by (it works since I am using it right now), I can hear that horrendous voice: "no CPU". But no beep (seems my speaker is dead, as when I think of it, I do not hear it anymore, even with my old system). Was happy to hear that voice though
2- I added the CPU, the thermal grease (not too much, I know), the cooler fan on it that was then plugged onto the board. I powered the PC, no beep, not horrendous voice. I tried the reset button. Nothing.
3- I tried all above with a PCI video card (ATI) that works (I tested it) so i am pretty sure I do not have a video card problem.I added the RAM too... nothing. No voice. The thing is like stuck to this point.
One thing I need to mention. Before i had the ASUS, I received a Soltek SL-75FRN L (loved that board), and I used the components above. I bought a P4 ATX 12V as it was requiered. I had a normal boot up with the hardware, I used with the ASUS. I was able to boot up 3 times, then, I had the blank screen. I thought i fried the board (the board has a COP system to shut down the system when the CPU gets too hot). I returned the board to get that ASUS... but still a blank screen.
I suspect my PSU is not good, and i will buy a new case tomorrow with at least 400Watts of clean power. That might do the trick... though, by looking over the internet it did not fix the problem for most. Does my minimal system with only a fan and a CPU needs that much power. I seriously doubt of it.
I wish I had another CPU to test. I think it is faulty, and I maybe fried it with the Soltek board (all jumpers were set correcty though). The CPU has not bend pins, no physical damage of any kind... at least nothing i can see under a magnifying lens. But it might....
Any other ideas? I (and especially my wife) am getting tired of this. In the past I built maybe 25 systems and was doing some PC maintenance for friends and colleagues. I stopped doing it. I thought that it was easier to build a system nowaday. Seems I am wrong: especially with AMD systems.
You tell me.
