New system not working - what's wrong?

[cusimar9]

Hi all,

Just bought a bunch of computer bits, spent ages puttin em all together, but it ain't workin.

Here's what I got:

300W PSU
Athlon XP 1800 (with Heatsink + Arctic Silver 3)
MSI KT3 Ultra ARU 333
256mb 333mhz DDR RAM

I installed everything, plugged it in and .... nothing. I could actually smell a very faint burning smell coming from the PSU. BUT I tried the PSU in my old computer and it works fine.

Could the smell just be dust left in the PSU?

I checked and rechecked the cables from the case to the motherboard... even tried attaching the case cables to my old motherboard - that worked ok. And yes - I did plug the PSU into the motherboard!

The thing is... when I turn it on, not even the PSU fan starts up, which I presume is a safety feature of the Mobo.

I checked the Clear CMOS jumpers, they're on right.

There is one thing: I mounted the motherboard directly to the case - I didn't raise it with 4 mounts at the corners. Could this contact between the underside of the motherboard and the case be shorting it out?

If I try that and it still doesn't work - am I safe to assume the mobo's fried?

And just to have a moan at MSI - there's no troubleshooting guide at all in their manual. Good eh?

Cheers

[cusimar9]

AH - It appears it probably is that the motherboard is shorting out because it's attached directly to the Case without spacers.

Any chance I could have damaged the motherboard doing this?

[Jimstep]

There definitely needs to be spacers between the case and the motherboard to keep the motherboard elevated. If the motherboard is touching the case when the power was turned on, the motherboard is probably fried. That would explain the smell.

[setiguy2000]

Time to buy a new MB. One must ALWAYS, and I mean ALWAYS use the motherboard standoffs!! In addtion, try to use as many standoffs as there are mounting holes in the MB. This prevents the MB from flexing and possibly causing a fracture of the printed circuit traces in the MB when installing new PCI cards or memory.

[cusimar9]

oh oh

I've looked at loads of guides on "installing a motherboard", and none of them made a big point on installing the standoffs - infact some didn't even mention it! A bit of a skank if it's something that will definitely blow the board.

I'll try it tonight, hope i'm lucky. Else it'll be a quick ring to the shop denying all knowledge!

Cheers

[Peter M]

Excuse me ... but if you couldn't figure out something so bleeding obvious like that screwing the mainboard (with its exposed electrical contacts on the underside) directly to a conducting metal surface is Not A Good Idea (tm), then the absolute last thing to do is blame someone else.

regards, Peter
The amount of experience gained is directly proportional to the price of equipment ruined.

[cusimar9]

Thanks for your helpful reply Peter. If I'm ever feeling particularly suicidal I'll be sure to ask for your advice.

[Peter M]

I don't believe in euphemism-ism, and I'm not going to apologize for that either.

But what really pissed me off and made me write the above is that you intend to return it to the shop for a free replacement, trying to offload the cost of your being stupid to the shop. I've been working at the business end of such a shop desk for quite a while, now guess which kind of customer we loved the most. I really do hope the personnel in your shop will smell the truth (literally).

Good business conduct only happens when both ends play a fair game. Think about it.

regards, Peter

[Rugor]

Well it was an expensive lesson to learn; but the best ethical solution is definitely go buy a new motherboard and install it properly.

However, I am "impressed" that you could even get anything to mount with the mobo shorted out that way.

Good luck with your next one.

[cusimar9]

The motherboard didn't blow - it works fine now I mounted it properly.

Thanks for your "goody goody" advice, but I didn't need it after all

:p

[Jimstep]

The mobo must have been shorted due to contact. Tough board. Makes me feel better that I have an MSI mobo.

[Peter M]

Well if you managed to short it out at the PSU end of things, then you indeed were lucky because the board then doesn't even get powered.

Keep an eye on that PSU ... there might be some subtle damage that leads to not-quite-right voltages being put out, or poor regulation quality - causing unstable operation or finally :) physical damage to the mainboard.

regards, Peter