new computer help....

[rubberman]

ok i got all my computer pieces and installed them into the case. I got a gigabyte MB with an AMD triple core cpu. Installed a 450w PS. only problem is that the PS has a 4pin and 6pin power connector. The new MB has an 8pin so i bought one of those 2molex to 8pin adapters. plugged it in all and powered it on. I get no Post screen or any post beeps. Monitor says no signal detected. Cpu/case fans come on, hdd spins, dvdrom powers on. Any thoughts?

[aedipuss]

what's the monitor cable connected to? motherboard built-in graphics or add-in vid card?

also you don't mention ram? inserted properly in the correct slots?

[rubberman]

monitor is attached via onboard VGA. 5gigs of ram(2 sticks of 2gb, 2 sticks 512mb).

[rubberman]

it would still beep i would think no matter what.

[johns0]

The 6 pin plug is only for video cards.

[rubberman]

i guess it was the ram. i took out the 2 sticks of 2gb and left the 2 sticks of 512mb and it booted to BIOS

[redwudz]

The 6 pin plug is only for video cards.

Yes. I would assume you got a four pin PS to 8 pin PS adapter, which should work fine with your setup. If that's what you have, maybe bad MB? It happens even with the best MBs at times.

I'm also assuming you have checked all connections already. But if the MB is powered up, you should get MB beeps from the speaker even if everything else fails. Of course a lot of newer MBs just use a piezo speaker, but even connected backwards, they should work.

EDIT: Saw the RAM post. You can try running Memtest 86 to sort it out. With most MBs, it can make a big difference which RAM slot you use. Check your MB manual. Most newer MBs use dual channel RAM, where the modules must match. But they would still work even without that.

[rubberman]

The 6 pin plug is only for video cards.

Yes. I would assume you got a four pin PS to 8 pin PS adapter, which should work fine with your setup. If that's what you have, maybe bad MB? It happens even with the best MBs at times.

I'm also assuming you have checked all connections already. But if the MB is powered up, you should get MB beeps from the speaker even if everything else fails. Of course a lot of newer MBs just use a piezo speaker, but even connected backwards, they should work.

EDIT: Saw the RAM post. You can try running Memtest 86 to sort it out. With most MBs, it can make a big difference which RAM slot you use. Check your MB manual. Most newer MBs use dual channel RAM, where the modules must match. But they would still work even without that.

the 2 sticks of 2gb are identical in brand and speed, same with the 512mb sticks. so do the same sticks go together in the same color ddr2 slots or 1 in each color?

[redwudz]

Same color slots if I remember correctly. Even if you put them in the other slots, they should work, but you may not get dual channel operation. DC gives you a maybe 10% increase in memory performance. When you boot the PC, the first B+W BIOS screen should say dual channel operation if you look there fast enough.

[rubberman]

its the 1 stick of ram that caused the problem. tried that stick in another computer and it wouldnt boot either.

[aedipuss]

most ram has a lifetime warranty. if you have the receipt send the bad pair back.

[charliedavidson]

You could also try cleaning the ports for the ram.. and if it a ram problem then you should be hearing a short beep from the cpu.. if not it might be another thing that is causing your problems..

[lacywest]

I really hate it ... when I find I have bad ram ... especially when I didn't check it right away and it's too late for the Return process to be used. ARRGGHH

[Jumpa]

While returning the ram also bring back the power supply because A 450 watt power supply is underpowered for that PC should have got at least a 750.
Especially if your doing a lot of video editing or running a few programs at once.
At least it would be in my case

[redwudz]

A 750W PS would be major overkill with a Micro-ATX MB with no SLI video cards. The amount of programs you run has no bearing on the size of your power supply.

The video card is now one of the biggest loads on a power supply, that's why some use a separate power supply cable. Hard drives, optical drives and fans don't use that much power. I have a couple of servers with nine hard drives each, five fans and a optical drive and the the 500W PSs run very cool. But they do have just on board video and the CPU isn't OC'd.

And welcome to our forums.

[Jumpa]

Thanks for the welcome sir!! I had a 500w power supply that was insufficient for my gaming needs. Hooking anything and everything up to my PC running sound cards , dual cores & video cards maxing out their F.P.S. and PS would overheat and trip I upgraded to a 750 same brand and problem solved . I like to think ahead If I can get it bigger I usually go for it. running multiple programs causes more CPU usage hence requiring more power. But you are correct not to a point of affecting your need of a larger PS . It just seems for my type of PC use and my buddies we all build our PC's using a minimal of 750w. Feeling it is better to have than to need. My brother doesn't use anything under 1000 w on his personal Desktop. He's the Tim Allen type.. More POWER GRRR GRRR I feel what really matters in a power supply is the brand name & the amperage on the +12v rail. Sorry to butt in I bought a cast that came with a 500w PS yet it was so light and flimsy "The PS" it didn't put out as much amperage as an old 250w I had laying around. So I like the nice heavy thick ga steel power supply's. Yet this gentleman's issue was with his ram so all this is really irrelevant isn't it? 5 GIG's HOLY COW that's overkill isn't it? LOL