Building My First Computer (TROUBLE, Need help)

<< I stripped everything down to the bare essentials and still can't get the BIOS to boot.>>

Being Video,CPU,RAM ? (no hard drive,cd-rom or floppy connected)

You might want to check a few things

1) Are you trying it with only 1 stick of ram? (if 1 doesn't work swap it and try another solo.)
2) Is your VGA card pressed firmly into the AGP slot (2 clicks)

I'll read into the manual now but those are the 1st 2 things thave come into mind.

Also try with no RAM in to see if you get any beep codes to show the motherboard is responding.

Also try running the motherboard out of the case (obviously sitting on something non-conductive) with only the bare essentials.  If it runs out of the case then something is shorting it out when mounted in the case.

Just some info...

Always! wear an antistatic wrap when assembling your PC. Don't stand on a carpet while installing electronic deviced especially when touching fragile condensors or IC's. The charge you take when walking over a carpet is in order of kV and can be destructive for your hardware.

I would make sure that your jumper isn't for some reason set to 533Mhz , It's suppose to be on 1-2 (default) but if it's not. Change it.


CPU Frequency Setting (JP2)
JP2 is used to set the CPU frequency. You may choose to place the mini
jumper on pins 1-2 for auto detection or on pins 2-3 if you need to run
533MHz.
Pin 1-2 (Auto)(Default)
Pin 2-3 (533MHz)

And other stuff to check:
- CMOS jumper set to CLEAR, instead of NORMAL position
- bad connections
- faulty or inadequate power supply
- bad RAM
- faulty video card
- bad cpu
- bad motherboard

Oh something that slipped my mind, Someone had a similar problem and they never used the risers they connected the motherboard directly to the case. Did you use the risers?

That is correct.  Just the Video,CPU, and 1 stick of RAM.  I will try swapping out the RAM and reinstall the VGA card.  Even if it was one of those two, wouldn't the CPU heat up?  Thanks for the response.

I used a wrist strap so I don't think I blew anything up.  I am also working on a wood floor not carpet.  
I will try the motherboard out of the case.  
CPU Frequency Setting is on Auto and I checked the CMOS jumper and it is set right.  
The power supply has enough juice (600 Watts) and fires up alright.  
I will try without the RAM and see if I can get a beep.  Right now it does not beep at all.  


What kind of odds will you say for a person to get a bad motherboard and/or processor?  Is this something that happens often?  If it gets down to those two things which is more likely?

mlynch24,

Thanks for the response.  What is 800FSB and what does it do?  Why doesn't it work?

Thanks.

Looks like we all overlooked that, I was thinking along the lines of Quad-Pumped also so I wasn't calculating that.

Okay if everybody agrees that this is the issue.  What is the best way to remedy the problem?  What do I need to return/buy that will cause the least amount of pain/cost?

Thanks

It would probably be easier to get a 3.06 P4 533MHz FSB CPU

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=449493&CatId=260

A motherboard that supports 800FSB will give better performance.  However, if this is a Prescott cpu, you need a motherboard that specifically says it will support it.  In addition, you would have to get PC3200 RAM.  The least amount of exchange is the cpu, as crazijoe suggests.

Well isn't this great.  Their return policy say they will not refund on processors.  Anybody have any great ideas on this?  Thanks again for your help.

PLEASE NOTE: We only sell NEW processors purchased direct from the manufacturer or from factory authorized distributors. We will never sell a "pull" (which is a CPU removed from an assembled system at some manufacturing plant) or a used processor as other online vendors do without telling you. We are the largest CPU reseller in the Country, we offer the lowest prices in the industry on processors because we deal in such great volume. If you are comparing our price against another site with a much lower price, you are probably buying returns or pulls. Only accept genuine quality, buy from Us.

VERY IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING OUR RETURN POLICY ON CPU'S: Please note that all processors may be returned only for defective exchange. You must purchase a compatible heatsink and fan on the same order as the processor in order to preserve your warranty or exchange privilege. We are not able to accept returns for refunds on processors under any circumstances. All processors will be inspected and tested upon return and any damage caused by poor packaging, overclocking, or other tampering with the processor will be cause for the return to be refused, and exchange denied.

They will not refund but will they exchange?

I dont think that they will do either as the CPU isnt faulty. I would try to sell the CPU on eBay or something like that and then buy it again (the one with the 533 fsb of course.) of course there is going to be some speed deficite (something like 8%), but these proccessors are a real cheap now, so its probably not gonna cost you much more.

Hope this helps

>>Please note that all processors may be returned only for defective exchange. You must purchase a compatible heatsink and fan on the same order as the processor in order to preserve your warranty or exchange privilege. We are not able to accept returns for refunds on processors under any circumstances.<<

Looks to me like your stuck with it, You could try selling it to someone (that would get the most buck out of it) Or put it on Ebay or somthing like that with a reserve so you don't get ripped off.  If you bought it all from tiger direct you might get lucky and see if crazijoe's suggestion works and if you can exchange it for the 533Mhz.  
If you can't find any way to get rid of it let me know, I'll help you out.

I think you meant to for Mlynch24 to accept, and I am greatful if I even got an assist. He posted it.