Frustrating computer problem

[nihil]

Well kyrios

You say you have built machines before, and you were using major brand name components that have quite clear instructions with them. That makes me think it was the CPU and not the build.

If you think about it, there isn't much of importance that you can connect to the wrong place. Sure, you might get a button or a sensor or possibly a fan wrong, but the machine should still boot

You were getting power and the I/O button was working. You had identified the speaker and connected it.

I guess the only thing I might have done differently would be to take the processor assembly to my local repair shop and ask them to test it (they charge about $8.50 for testing components), or take a chance and send it back to the supplier telling them it was a dud.

[JewishIntent]

Ok i have a good suggestion. Forgive me if this was already went over for i only skimmed the posts before mine. When I bought my first vid card, a GeForce 420 64mb state-of-the-art at the time, i didn't get any picture at all on my monitor and i know it worked since i was using it a few minutes before. My problem was that i didn't realize that the monitor needed to be plugged into the vid cards slot and not the mobo slot. When i had it plugged into the mobo i didn't get any picture or even that no connection detected screen. This may be something to try although at this stage i hope its not something this simple since you already bought all that other stuff trying to de bug your problem.

[The Duck]

JewishIntent, plugging his monitor to the motherboard VGA and not the video card would not be possible because his mobo didn't have onboard video... I actually have yet to see a PCI-E mobo with onboard video and I doubt they will ever make one...

[JewishIntent]

Duck: i see, this i didn't know.

[kyrios]

Yeah. I probably should have gone and tested it out. But since this was actually the first build for myself, I was being a lot more careful and everything. I wanted it done now! I should have probably taken the CPU and tested it out. But it just got me really really frustated. I waited on the parts for so long then, when I get it and assemble them it doesnt work... you get the picture, I was pretty angry. And I agree that it should still boot even though a couple of the front panel cables aren't connected correctly. But oh well, I sent everything back already, and hopefully i'll get my money back soon.
Did I already say I hate PCI Express, lol. And petnium D?
j/k

ANd yeah, my mobos didn't have onboard video JewishIntent. Thanks anyway.

[The Duck]

This was your first build!? I thought you said you have built many AGP based computers before...

[nihil]

Hey kyrios please don't be put off by this.

I know that building stuff in the past was a lot easier because dud components were rare,. Now the prices have dropped so much, we pay with sloppier QA.

That p1$$es me off, because the customer expects the lower price and I get no compensation for my time sorting out dud components

All this is working towards is driving the small guy out of business. The big boys just return & replace at the vendors expense.............they also have lots more on the shelf.

Hell if you are in the custom build market you buy to an order, you cannot afford shelf stock?

[kyrios]

Originally posted here by The Duck
This was your first build!? I thought you said you have built many AGP based computers before...

I have. I have built a few computers for other people. I meant a first build for my own computer.
Yeah I agree Nihil. Parts are crappier now.

[Johnny Fist]

I'm suprised to see noone mentioned anything about a Clear CMOS jumper that needed to be moved. Thats the first thing I would have suspected. I've seen a couple different boards from Gigabyte and PCCHIPs ship with the jumper in the clear position because it supposedly saves battery life. Before the computer will boot properly you have to move it to the other position.

[nihil]

Hi Johnny Fist and welcome to AO,

I've seen a couple different boards from Gigabyte and PCCHIPs ship with the jumper in the clear position because it supposedly saves battery life.

That is an "urban myth" I would say. I have used dozens of Gigabyte boards and never come across it. I have also seen plenty of PCChips boards (they are crap, ASRock are a much better budget option) and the same holds.

What might happen is the odd one gets out with the jumper set incorrectly. If you think about it, the battery will last at least 5 years and people won't look at the jumper and return the board as defective

In this case the boards (two of them) were Asus and Intel...............I have never encountered incorrect jumper settings on those either.