First time build gone wrong and I need help

Okay I'll install it into it's original machine and see if it works. I'll get back with the results.

My original machine would not post with the old power supply, the power button on the front just flashed orange. I guess the power supply got shorted out.

Well I don't think the PSU was bad because it worked in the system before I tried to put it in. So what could have happened during the building/troubleshooting process that could have messed up the second power supply?

Can't say what's happened with the second PSU, but it's probably because of your quick plugging in/unplugging procedure.
Either the board has a short or the power supply does.

What exactly happened to the first set of parts? Your PSU blew up and took the rest of your components with it?

Are you certain that your CPU is compatible with your motherboard? Is it only compatible with a certain BIOS version, which is newer than the first BIOS made for that board?

You may well have damaged that board by having the standoff in the incorrect place. Where was it placed in relation to the components on the motherboard? I.e. in the CPU area? If so you may have shorted the CPU, or a capacitor. In the most recent examples of this happening to an inexperienced friend, one of the CPU mosfets blew up.

That Raidmax power supply isn't likely to be of high quality or reliability, which is why it trashed everything in the first place. A quality PSU wouldn't do that. You'd be wise to invest in a Seasonic S12 or Corsair HX branded power supply. Your computer relies on having stable power going to its components continuously, it's the most important part, don't cheap out.

First set of parts PSU broke and I just decided to replace the mobo and cpu because my friend who was there said it was likely the CPU and mobo were damaged by the power supply.
My Cpu is compatible, however I don't know if it needs a BIOS update, but I have reset the Cmos/Bios multiple times. Also, I believe the standoff was around the region of the ram/cpu, but I'll need to double check that. And now with multiple failures I will indeed opt to buy a more reliable PSU and thanks for some suggestions.

Also my friend says that when he built is computer he didn't use stand-offs. How is that possible? Wouldn't the motherboard short out against the back of the case?

Just got done reading your whole thread. Your so called "Computer Literate" friend sound like a ruhtard. Have you tryed putting you PSU into the dell to see if the dell will post with the new PSU? if the dell wont post, the looks like you have 2 fried PSUs on your hands. go ahead and open the both up and grab the the wires you can inside to see if this fixes them! but seriously it sounds like your going around in circles with this build. It might be better just to leave it to a professional at this point. and by professional i dont mean "GEEK SQUAD".

That might explain it.

did not even think of those cases, forgot that they made those. i have never worked with them so it didn't even cross my mind but i remember seeing one at a computer shop i worked at for a little while. you try using the new PSU in the old DELL?

No, but I will in a little and I'll again be back with the results.

I know nothing on this, so hope you have good luck

Tested the raidmax PSU in a device that calculated its voltage and it is giving out a steady 120V, give or take one volt. I will test the raidmax PSU in the old dell machine soon.

Edit: Sorry I looked at wrong option, testing it right now to see how many killowatts are created it should be around .02 or .03 within 6 minutes so I'll be back with results.

WTF are you talking about? 120 volts in the AC line voltage.

So just recap on everything: power button led comes on, system will be given power without the cpu power connection put in(does not post but power actually runs through the motherboard and powers the fans and optical drive and hard drive), Phase Led 1 is on, I don't know if the others are supposed to be on, Both debug leds are off which means according to the manual that there is a cpu/chipset problem, standoff is not touching the back of the motherboard(any more), I have used new thermal compound for the cpu fan and cpu and that did not solve the problem, motherboard does not beep at all, hard drive leds do not come on and holding down the power button on the front for 4 or more seconds does not shut down the system, I have to use the power switch in the back.

help

i remember i had a same problem

My confusion extends well past yours. I'm at the point with believing that the 2 PSUs and the mobo /CPU are destroyed and need to be RMAed., and the new parts need to be taken to a computer shop for assembly.

Two pages ago, I flatly stated the that "hockeynutz" had no business putting his hands inside a computer. Nothing that has been posted since has disposed me to believe otherwise.


OR, this is just a mythological problem on a mythological computer and the OP is just trolling for attention.

Frankly, I'm leaning more to the latter. See ya!