"$500 Paperweight" or "Scream Machine"

Ok, I went to the casino for Valentine's and my wife and I both came away in very good shape, so I decided to go buy some parts for a new machine. I got an MSI K7N2G-L w/ XP 2000+, 512MB Kingston DDR333, an 80GB WD 800JB, and a new case w/ 350w PSU (with the 12v cpu lead). I slowly and carefully put everything together, and when I hit the magic button, it seems ok - for about 3 seconds. I hear the fans start, the light on the CDRW and FDD light up, and I can hear the HDD spin up. The diagnostic lights on the usb expansion slot seem to indicate a video problem(they flash off very quickly), but like I said, this is a K7N2G - nForce2-based with the IGP, and it has the VGA port on the back panel. Plus, since this mobo supports only AGP 4x/8x video cards, I can't test with one of my old cards. I have tentatively ruled out the CPU(pulled this one and tested, same results), RAM (tried numerous configurations and switched with KG stick, no change), and drives (never seen a bad HDD or floppy cause a machine to not boot). All I can think of is bad motherboard or bad PSU...does anyone have any suggestions of things I may not have checked?????

Try resetting the bios? (little jumper somewhere on the mobo). Also try just cpu and memory. (unless that's all you have in it right now) That doesn't make sense that the agp ONLY supports 4/8x I'm willing to bet that an older card WILL work in it.

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Originally posted by Gollo
Try resetting the bios? (little jumper somewhere on the mobo). Also try just cpu and memory. (unless that's all you have in it right now) That doesn't make sense that the agp ONLY supports 4/8x I'm willing to bet that an older card WILL work in it.

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Tried with only CPU and only CPU and RAM...also tried a Duron 1.3(which is now in the system I am on). Also, the AGP slot is not like the AGP slots on 1x/2x/4x boards - it is backwards and has a lock on it to prevent the installation of older cards(i think the voltage on this one is like 1.5v or something...it's in the book in the other room). Tried wiping the CMOS, tried setting the FSB jumper to 100Mhz only support. I just realized I have an old Rage Pro PCI sitting in there...will try that and see if it helps. Perhaps the IGP is set to disable by default? A little asinine, but possible. I'll post agin whether it works or not, although if I don't post again tonight it probably worked and I am busy loading up everything I want on it.

To tell you the truth that sounds exactly like what happened to my machine when I first put it together. It turns out the processor burnt out (defective, my buddies did also and we bought them at the same time from the same place). Only thing is, you said that you tested the cpu. I dunno, I would seriously suspect the cpu, or perhaps something wrong with the motherboard/socket itself.

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Originally posted by Darksteel
To tell you the truth that sounds exactly like what happened to my machine when I first put it together. It turns out the processor burnt out (defective, my buddies did also and we bought them at the same time from the same place). Only thing is, you said that you tested the cpu. I dunno, I would seriously suspect the cpu, or perhaps something wrong with the motherboard/socket itself.

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That is the first thing I was thinking...along with maybe the PSU. Thing is, I looked at the SMC's on the underside, and none seem to be bad. I do notice a slight ozone smell...not strong at all, almost like that "new component smell", instead of the "grilled like a 2-inch thick steak" smell. Anyway, the PCI vid card did not work...I may contact MSI and AMD - see what they say. The only thing I didn't do that I usually do is use AS 3 on the HSF - I just used the stock cooler and the adhesive pad. Well, I'm just glad I didn't follow my usual practice of buying OEM parts...it may have actually saved me this time.

Found this review of the included PSU...

So at least according to this guy, the PSU should be OK...only difference between this one and mine is that mine is the B350, and the cables are all perfect for the case. Also, max output on mine is listed at 200w instead of the 190w he found.



Here is another one...

This one has the only reference to L&C waaaay down at the bottom...this guy had problems, though...

I'm gonna just go ahead and get a new antec or something and see if that does it.

Does it beep (is the speaker connected?) if you pulled the ram it should beep continuously - no beeping means cpu or motherboard. If you boot without the vid card (but with ram) it should also beep.

Did the keyboard lights flash on?

Try and test stuff the best you can. Take the cpu, mobo and ram to a friend or a store and have them check it (put it in a wroking system and fure it up). After that you know what was bad. I had to take my cpu and ram to a store to get it checked recently (only $20). Anyway, if you don't have a bad cpu and you ain't getting no beeps then bad mobo.



BTW! There is an awesome article on anandtech.com about running the Nforce2 boards with both banks of ram filed rather than using one bank. Apparently it increased the speed of the boards dramatically in some tests.
http://www.anandtech.com/chipsets/showdoc.html?i=1731

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Originally posted by ilovetheusers
...BTW! There is an awesome article on anandtech.com about running the Nforce2 boards with both banks of ram filed rather than using one bank. Apparently it increased the speed of the boards dramatically in some tests.
http://www.anandtech.com/chipsets/showdoc.html?i=1731

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That's exactly why I went with 2x256Mb sticks of Corsair XMS DDR400 instead of 1x512Mb stick on a similar system, prices being equal. :cool:

Archangel, you may want to check out http://www.nforcershq.com/ - their MSI forums could be helpful in deciphering what's happening.

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Originally posted by a d e p t
That's exactly why I went with 2x256Mb sticks of Corsair XMS DDR400 instead of 1x512Mb stick on a similar system, prices being equal. :cool:

Archangel, you may want to check out http://www.nforcershq.com/ - their MSI forums could be helpful in deciphering what's happening.

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Yeah, I got 2x256 Kingston DDR333...I checked out the forums and a LOT of ppl said they had power probs...my antec true330 is due on thursday...I just wish I wasn't so impatient. I've been waiting for a very long time to upgrade - my last was a forced upgrade b/c my processor burned out...I had been using the same rig otherwise for the past 2 years...

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Originally posted by NooNoo
Does it beep (is the speaker connected?) if you pulled the ram it should beep continuously - no beeping means cpu or motherboard. If you boot without the vid card (but with ram) it should also beep.

Did the keyboard lights flash on?

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No beep with the speaker connected in any situation, HOWEVER, the KB lights flash and one of the BIOS revisions is required to add the beep(not a good thing to leave out, being the industry standard for diagnosing problems...).

Had a similar problem once, went through pretty much what you have gone through. Finally got fed up and pulled the board out of the case--was my face red when I realized that they had put an extra standoff in the case, apparently it was shorting the board some how, luckily no damage was done, after removing it and reinstalling everything it was a happy machine. I felt pretty lucky--could have been an expensive lesson.

Archangel...have you tried a spare AGP or PCI video card? Perhaps the mobo's onboard video unit is defective? I've seen it happen.

I'm definitely thinking along the lines of the mobo-- the PSU should power that system fine. (i have the same one in my 2nd PC, in fact)

Here's a possible simple solution.....

Pull the power button lead from the board and use a small screwdriver or something else metal to short the pins. I've seen the power button get stuck on some ATX cases, which will let the system power on, then it would go right back off in a few seconds.

I know this will sound kind of dumb, but did you check the voltage setting on the back of the case? I built a system when I was 1st starting out & had roughly the same problem. The PS ended up being set to 220V instead of 110V. Boy was my face red :)

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Originally posted by qei
...that they had put an extra standoff in the case, apparently it was shorting the board some how...

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I checked the standoffs before I installed the board to ensure that they lined up - all six were in the right spots.

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Archangel...have you tried a spare AGP or PCI video card? Perhaps the mobo's onboard video unit is defective? I've seen it happen.

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The only spare cards I had (other than the PCI Rage Pro)would not fit - as I stated in an earlier post, this is an nForce2 board, with an AGP 4x/8x only slot.

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...power button lead from the board and use a small screwdriver or something else metal to short the pins...

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A good suggestion...may try it...

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...check the voltage setting on the back of the case? I built a system when I was 1st starting...

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I did check the voltage setting - I usually do that right before I plug in the power cord.


Well, thanks for all the suggestions, guys. My new PSU came in and it wasn't that either, so I called up the people I bought it from. None of the techs could figure it out (read: There wasn't a tech there), so I have to take the system back in tomorrow to have the lead tech look at it (switch parts around to see which one is bad). I think it's the motherboard - it's the only part that hasn't been switched out or replaced. We'll see tomorrow.

Ok, well, I got it up and running. Not a clue what it was that was causing the problem. I didn't realize just how loud my other machine was until I had to power it up to get some files off of it. That sucker is LOUD. The antec PSU really does a good job of balancing temp/fan speed.

I am now sitting here at work watching XP install...geez...I don't know why, but I feel like a little school girl meeting NSYNC or something.....

I'm thinking of getting the K7N2G-ILSR, I have an ATI all in wonder radeon 8500 and the box says "AGP 4X/2X BUS", will this card work with that motherboard?

Thanks

99% probability. I have an ATI AIW V7100 on my board right now...

Arch,

You have no idea what happened? You just woke up one day, turned it on, and it worked? You didn't change a thing?

... perplexed ...

m

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Originally posted by The Computer Valet
Arch,

You have no idea what happened? You just woke up one day, turned it on, and it worked? You didn't change a thing?

... perplexed ...

m

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Nonono...see, in my earlier post I said I was taking it in again, remember? You know that strange vibe that emanates from every workshop/store? The one that magically makes things work when their products come back?(I know this vibe exists...mine follows me around this base...) Well, we put it on the bench, looked around inside and determined everything seemed right, then plugged it in. POSTed, then turned it off. Took it home, installed XP Pro, BSOD. Re-install chipset/vid drivers, BSODx10. Finally realize that the vid card from my old machine is a GF2 and may support the 1.5v spec, throw it in, play mechwarrior 4: mercenaries(demo) for an hour. It's running fine right now, but I am not going to settle for a GF2...

Don't know if this was problem, (I see you got it working), but once I bought a new PSU and it did the same thing, fan would spin for a nanosecond and the lights would flash and then die. I messed with it for about 4 hours when i decided on pulling the PSU out and noticed something.

There was a huge gob of hot glue connecting a capacitor to the fan in the psu so when I turned on the power the fan would lock and the psu was smart enough to kill the power to itself to stop damage. Looks like someone went crazy with a glue gun. I cleaned the glue and trimmed it down using some scissors and it booted right up.