So i've built about 6 computers before. Today i built my athlon 64 3200 system and it wont post and i think either the CPU or MB is DOA.

Spec:

Athlon 64 3200
MSI KT8 NEO
2x 512 mb corsair xms pc3200 (non ecc)
300 watt antec psu

The diagnostic lights don't go past the first stage which is the CPU testing phase so i'm lead to believe the problem is the CPU. However this seems strange because its a brand new retail box cpu. Won't post, wont do anything except run the cpu fan and diagnostics. This is with me testing it with just the ram, cpu, and a vid card that i know works. There doesn't seem to be any power going through the cpu at all because it doesn't even get warm or show any signs of life. But i'm also wondering if it could be the motherboard because i seemed to fumble with it a bit more than usual this time and i might have damaged it. Its also the first time i didn't use a static wrist strap but i was very careful about decharging myself constantly. Tried resetting the cmos.

I guess my next step is to RMA the cpu unless i hear otherwise. Any thoughts?

You did make sure all jumpers, especially the "reset CMOS" one were in correct position right?

Also try with only one strip of memory and maybe a different PSU, 300w isnt enough for an Athlon 64 3200+

I don't think that PSU is enough for that system. 300w would work for a Duron system or a slow AthlonXP one but I think the Athlon64 is unforgiving to an insufficient PSU.

Remove all drives (FDD, HDD, CD etc) and all PCI cards - leaving just the gfx card - and power it up - if it posts you know thats it EITHER one of your cards/drives OR the PSU can't handle the load of all your components
SO
From some nearby working machine (doesn't matter whos) grab the PSU (assuming its bigger than 300w) and shove that in your machine along with (and then without) all the cards/drives - if your machine now boots its the PSU.
If that gives no results then
Grab that same machine you had earlier and stick your RAM in it - if that machine boots its not the ram
Otherwise its rather hard to tell what has failed. Unless you know someone (or have another) A64 board to test your CPU it might be hard to determine what has failed.
However, if the board diagnostics have started and show a CPU error then it probebly the CPU.
I hope that makes sence

Steg

And here I am using a 250W PSU on an athlon processor that is overclocked to 2400mhz... not that I would ever reccomend actually doing that

Me reckons 750watt in Ethermax or Thermaltake Power Supply is enough power all of ur custom built comp

P.S. Look in ur manual for move the jumper in "normal" on RTC.

Good luck

750? there are NO 750 watt PSU's on the market
perhaps you mean 350, or 450, but the highest wattage PSU i know of is 550 watts....not quite 750...

Steg

Turns out the problem was the extra 12v connector that i didn't know about. All is well. Thanks for the help.

I bought a 650W PSU 2 months ago.

http://www.str8buy.com/650wap4andam1.html

OOOOPS!

Thank you for let me know

I meant 550 watts

Thank Steg!

:grinthumb

repeated

Ive said it 1 mil times; dont forget the 12 v plug !!!!!!!


dont forget : 12 v plug 12 v plug 12 v plug 12 v plug 12 v plug 12 v plug 12 v plug 12 v plug 12 v plug 12 v plug 12 v plug 12 v plug 12 v plug 12 v plug 12 v plug 12 v plug 12 v plug 12 v plug 12 v plug 12 v plug 12 v plug 12 v plug 12 v plug 12 v plug 12 v plug 12 v plug 12 v plug 12 v plug 12 v plug 12 v plug 12 v plug 12 v plug 12 v plug 12 v plug 12 v plug 12 v plug 12 v plug 12 v plug 12 v plug 12 v plug 12 v plug 12 v plug 12 v plug 12 v plug 12 v plug 12 v plug 12 v plug 12 v plug 12 v plug 12 v plug 12 v plug 12 v plug 12 v plug 12 v plug 12 v plug 12 v plug 12 v plug 12 v plug 12 v plug 12 v plug 12 v plug 12 v plug 12 v plug 12 v plug 12 v plug 12 v plug 12 v plug 12 v plug 12 v plug 12 v plug 12 v plug 12 v plug 12 v plug 12 v plug 12 v plug 12 v plug 12 v plug 12 v plug 12 v plug 12 v plug 12 v plug 12 v plug 12 v plug 12 v plug 12 v plug 12 v plug 12 v plug 12 v plug 12 v plug 12 v plug 12 v plug 12 v plug 12 v plug 12 v plug 12 v plug 12 v plug 12 v plug 12 v plug 12 v plug 12 v plug 12 v plug 12 v plug 12 v plug 12 v plug 12 v plug 12 v plug 12 v plug 12 v plug 12 v plug 12 v plug 12 v plug 12 v plug 12 v plug 12 v plug 12 v plug 12 v plug 12 v plug 12 v plug 12 v plug 12 v plug 12 v plug 12 v plug 12 v plug 12 v plug 12 v plug 12 v plug 12 v plug 12 v plug 12 v plug 12 v plug 12 v plug 12 v plug 12 v plug 12 v plug 12 v plug 12 v plug 12 v plug 12 v plug 12 v plug 12 v plug 12 v plug 12 v plug 12 v plug 12 v plug 12 v plug 12 v plug 12 v plug 12 v plug 12 v plug 12 v plug 12 v plug 12 v plug