GA-965P-DQ6 won't start

[mickn]

Hi

Just joined the forum, I hope there are some really clever people out there eho can help me.

System Spec's

Mobo- GA965P-DQ6 (rev 2.0)
Cpu - Intel Duo Core( not sure of model) LGA775socket
Zalman CMPS7000A Cooler
P/S CIC 650watt
Graphics Card - AT Radeon HD4850
RAM - Corsair 1024Mb, 800Mhz DDR2 (x4)
H/drive - Maxstor 120Gb Sata
CD/DVD Drive - LG IDE
Case - I-cute A78BN
Standard USB Mose & keyboard.

Ok, here we go, the Mobo,cpu, cooler, h/drive, cd/dvd drive were given to me, thry had just been moved from a system that a friend has upgraded.
I put it all together, powered up, and it booed up first time. Great I thought. Played around in the BIOS, setting time/date etc, and thought all was OK. So I put Win 7 Ultimate disc and drive and waited to see what happened. Well halfway through the install it died, as if I had switched it off. Hit power button again, fans tried to start, LEDs on fans and case flashed, are there it sat.
Ah I thought bad PSU, so straight back to the store, and changed it.
Put new supply in and hit on switch,    and nothing, same as before, just a slight spin of the fans on all the units, LED flashes and then nothing.
Have disconnected everthing but still no joy.
Reset BIOS, removed CMOS battery for around  four hours, re started and.... same as before.
Can anyone tell me how can I start the mobo, atleast to get to the BIOS, does anyone know the minimum you need installed to start the BIOS.
There is so much conflicting information out there that I'm losing sight of the problem.
Will a mobo get to the BIOS without a cpu?
Does it mean the mobo is gone?  the cpu gone? Ram gone?
If anyone could give me some ideas I would be eternal gratefull.

Cheers

MickN

[Dark Mantis]

Hi and welcome to the forum.

Just joined the forum, I hope there are some really clever people out there eho can help me.

Well sorry you have had a wasted jouney then but that doesn't apply to anyone here

I am bnot sure what yopur power supply is like but can youn post a link to it? Then I can get a better idea of it's capabilities. How much experience have you had of building systems?

[mickn]

This is the link for the PSU

http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=256613

It seemed to power system up ok the first time.
Not had a great deal of experience building from scratch, mainly doing upgrades to existing stuff. Never had a PC do this before.

Mick

[Dark Mantis]

Thanks for the info. In my honest opinion the PSU sucks. It should be more than enough to run what you have built but I wouldn't be at al surprised if that is your problem. It only has two 12v lines rated at 18A. If you check your manual on page 21 it says to make sure that the 8pin 12v connector mustb be installed for the motherboard to work. Your PSU only has one four pin 12v connector. Maplin are not very good for computer products and I would recommend that you use a retailer that only deals in computer parts. You will usually find the prices are better too.

http://download.gigabyte.eu/FileList/Manual/motherboard_manual_ga-965p-dq6_2.0(3.3)_e.pdf

[mickn]

The manaul is a bit different from the one that came with the boards, thanks for the link.
I'll search out a decent PSU for the weekend. I'm working away from home at moment so only chance I get to do things are weekends.
Strange how it started the first time, and then failed with another unit. I heard that some things from Maplins are a bit dobtfull, but I thought it would be man  enough for the job.
Any PSU that you recommend?

I'll let you know what happens

Thanks

Mick

[Dark Mantis]

Enermax, Corsair, Seasonic and Gigabyte are all good makes although there are plenty of others. Try to get one with a single 12v power rail for maximum flexibility and stability.

[absic]

Just to add my experiences of suspect CIT PSU's. I built a rig for a friend and was using a CIT PSU that exhibited exactly the same symptoms. The PC would start, then hang or wouldn't start at all or would run quite happily for a couple of days and then fall over. The PSU was replaced on 2 occasions, only to exhibit exactly the same behaviour. My friend took some convincing that it was in fact the PSU that was dodgy and it was only when I replaced it with a spare I had knocking around that the problem was cured.

He then spent the extra money on a 650 Watt Corsiar PSU and has had no further problems.

[Lsdmeasap]

NO BIOS without CPU.

Does the board post to BIOS without any hard drives or CD/DVD connected, try that if you have not already.

[mickn]

No doesnt get as far as the BIOS just a quick flick of the fans and a flash of the LED's, then nothing.

anyhow taking Dark Mantis's advice and get a 650w 12v 4+4 single rail one from Corsair.

I'll let you know how it goes.

Why do they hve to make everything so damm complicated???

MickN

[Dark Mantis]

Actually just had another thought Mick. When you built the machine up did you make sure that all the old motherboard stands were out and the new ones only in the correct places? Because you could get exactly the same problem with a short.

[mickn]

Hi

Yes I fitted new stands that came with the case, it only needed 3 as the other 6 were part of the case. I was thinking about putting some very thin insulating washers under the board, just stick them over the case mounts with a touch of adhesive to keep them in place. Always feel a bit uneasy about fitting the mobo directly on to the case.
I don't think a couple of mill will make any difference to lining up the board with the case.

Mick

[Dark Mantis]

No as far as lining up goes it shouldn't make any appreciable difference, however some motherboards actually need to be grounded through those points to make a good earth connection.

[mickn]

Power unit didn't turn up, thanks Ebayer, Oh well will have to wait till next week end now.

[Dark Mantis]

Ah, the joys of buying of Ebay. 

[mickn]

650w Corsair PSU came today, plugged it all in and still won't work. Uplugged everything and still no luck. It tries to start for about 1 second, switches off for about 4 seconds then tries to restart  again over and over again. Have check all hardware as far as I can, but no change. I have been through all the tests suggested by other memebers such as taking out memory sticks, but no luck. Theres no video output so I can't see if it is getting anywhere, no bleeps from theh mobo. I'm at a bit of a loss what to do next, perhaps its time to send this board to the nearest landfill site, before my  strees levels go through the roof!!