BleepingComputer.com: Computer buidling problem

Ok, I'm new to all of this so please be patient with me.

Basically, I think I got all the wiring done right after 2-3 hours of pain.

But now, the first thing was that the power was on but there was no picture on the monitor. Fans were running and everything. I try fiddling with the graphics card again (I wasn't exactly grounded at the moment, so I don't know if I fried it or anything).

Now, the power doesn't turn on at all. Any of you guys had this problem and know how to fix it. I only left it on for 5 seconds at most each time before I pulled the plug.

I really hope I didn't mess anything internal in those few moments I forgot to put a strap on. Either that or a bad power supply will be absolute hell for me.

Please, help me get through this...

A more minor problem is how to get the optical drive attached to the case. The manual says to mount rails on the side of the case, but I don't see any way of that working. Plus it says nothing about using the many screws I ended up with...

This post has been edited by gamebreaker04: 04 February 2009 - 10:31 PM

We really need more information, IE what parts you use, case, etc. etc. You also might want to take it apart (make sure your grounded) and double check everything to make sure theres no fry marks from when you messed with it from not grounding yourself. also, some PSUs have a little switch on the back by the power plug, its possible while you were messing around behind it that you could of flipped it to the off spot on accident which would explain why it wont turn on at all, but I doubt its ur video problem. So get back with us on what exact equipment your using and we can help you more. :D

Indeed, we need to know exactly which parts you are using with your PC before we can offer any specific suggestions. I had a rail mounted optical drive, I had to screw the rails into the drive then slide it into the PC. There should be small screw holes on the side of the drive.

After watching a video, I got the optical drive on, but it doesn't line up well.

Anyways, here are my specs:

Intel Pentium E5200
Asus P5QL-E Pro
2GB Kingston DDR2-800
Sapphire Radeon HD 4830
Western Digital Caviar SE16 640GB
Samsung SH-S223Q
Antec Sonata III w/500W PSU

Thanks for all of this by the way.

Im thinking it may be your Power supply, antec makes good PSUs yes, and the 4830 requires a 450 watt PSU, but theres more to a PSU then wattage, you need to have the proper amperage as well. its very possible you fried the power supply by having to much hooked up. Check on your power supply for the 12v rails, if its a single rail system you need more then 18amps on the one rail, im thinking you need at least 24-38 amps, if its a multiple rail system you probably need at least 18 amps on each of the main rails. If you have a way, Id try and test the PSU out and see if its still working or not.

The PSU in that case is a Earthwatts EA500 which has two 12V rail @ 17A, I don't believe that it was fried by an overload.

If it isn't that, what else can it be?

Oh, maybe this might be important. Do I need to plug in the PCI-E wire from the power supply to anywhere? Maybe I need to add power specifically to my graphics card or something, but I don't see any place for that.

Would me also not attaching the optical drive correctly to the case the first time while still attached to the motherboard and psu have any effect in messing something up? I swear "mount the rails to the side of the drive" was something I could not comprehend for a while...

Also I accidentally touched the fans a couple of times while it was on (couldn't tell it was running or not). Maybe that did something?

EDIT: Okay, after moving the fan wire out of the way a little bit, the motherboard lighted up, and I was able to turn it on again. I don't think it's a PSU problem... Can someone possibly explain this...

Oh, and the fan of my graphics card isn't moving at all. I think I need to plug a power supply directly into it or something.

As for now, the graphics card is the main issue. What are some suggestions? I tried taking the graphics card out, but it was locked down by some lever on the motherboard. I didn't want to use much force, so I ended just putting it back in before I could do anything. Right now, I I just want some trick to taking it out and blow on the PCI-E slot or something.

This post has been edited by gamebreaker04: 05 February 2009 - 10:44 AM

Was the graphics card fan running at first if it was then you may off forgot to plug the cpu power in on your m/b

Did you plug in the six-pin PSU connector to the graphics card?

450 Watt or greater power supply with 75 Watt 6-pin PCI Express® power connector.

In addition to the dual-slot PCI Express 2.0 graphics card was a 4-pin molex to 6-pin PCI-E power adapter.

This post has been edited by dc3: 05 February 2009 - 11:15 AM

No, I didn't maybe that's my problem. I gotta see where that connector is though..

Okay, every time, I have to press the on button several times before the motherboard finally turns on. What's the problem there? I checked the power switch wire to the motherboard and everything...

EDIT: nvm, got it

This post has been edited by gamebreaker04: 05 February 2009 - 11:30 AM

UPDATE: Got to monitor to display! YES!!!!!!

Got an error message though. It says no Gate Express installed? Translate?

And sorry for the double post.

This post has been edited by gamebreaker04: 05 February 2009 - 11:41 AM

Express Gate is on the CD that came with the Asus motherboard, install you drivers as well.

Okay, I'll do that after installing Vista. Thanks for all the help guys.

I'm gonna double post so people can start gathering here again. Here's the new problem:

It was working fine and I was done installing all the driver cds and formatting my hard drive. I also installed a CD that came with a mouse and keyboard I bought. When I went to reset it, I must press something that I thought was the reset option on the start menu (it's Vista, so everything is rearranged). Now there is no picture at all.

And here I thought I passed the hard part...

Maybe it's a monitor problem. My last pc had no picture also and that was with the same monitor

This post has been edited by gamebreaker04: 05 February 2009 - 03:17 PM

"Maybe it's a monitor problem. My last pc had no picture also and that was with the same monitor "

In order to determine what the problem actually is you need as many known good components as you can get.
If the monitor was not showing a display with your last PC & is showing no display with the new one then the monitor is suspect.
You need to get a monitor you know, or are reasonably sure, works right .
It's rather hard to fix a problem when you don't know if it's the PC or the monitor !