Socket 478 Problems

kevinheb

I have purchased a new Socket 478 motherboard and purchased a used processor from ebay. I originally bought the motherboard (Asrock P4i65G) to replace a broken motherboard. I then found out that the m/b doesn't support 400MHz, so I bought a new processor that runs at 533MHz (Celeron 2.4 D320). I have plugged it in (with 1 256MB memory stick installed), the fan kicks in for about a second then stops, and nothing else happens. My OH took the equipment into work for the IT department to test, and they reckon both work, so where I am going wrong?

I have built a lot of computers in the past, but not recently, and I
ve more experience with AMD than Intel, so am I missing something obvious?

Please help, I'm pulling my hair out!!!!!

startrekker

Double checked all connections to the motherboard?
CMOS seetings correct?
Additional 4 pin power supply plugged in (if supported) to the motherboard?

moneyuser

Have you plugged the 4pin connector in?

kevinheb

Yes, the extra 4 pin connector is plugged in, and have tried it with a different power supply. There is no CMOS jumper, the pins are just left bare

moneyuser

Where did you find out it doesn't support 400Mhz? According to the specs here it should do.

I take it is powering on for a few seconds and then turning off?

Try it without the memory and unplug all PCI cards and VGA card (if not using onboard)

kevinheb

That's odd moneyuser, the manual that came with the board states 533/800 MHz only, that may explain my confusion when I bought the board, because I was expecting it to support the 400 MHz chip that I already had.

OK, so having tried both processors previously, both respond in the same way, cpu fan spins for a second, then stops, and i have to turn the PSU off then on and try again. So yes, powering on for a second then turning off.

I haven't plugged in any cards to the board yet, and VGA is onboard

Like I've said, the IT dept at OH's work have tested the 2 CPUs and the m/b and have said they are working, and I have tried with a different PSU just to be sure, is there something obvious that I'm missing???

Thanks for the rapid responses

startrekker

You dont have a spare psu around to try, seems odd that it tries to start up and then nothing, but, you also have to turn the psu off and on,

kevinheb

what would that indicate, a short circuit somewhere??

Should it operate with just the one stick of memory? I've no experience with Dual Channel memory.

Little_John

I have been to alot of PC's with the same problem, I have been to alot of faulty pc's especially with asrock boards.
some blow the PSU others blow the capacitors on the boards

Have a look at the board check all the capacitors that the tops are flat and sealed not split, part of the reason the fan starts and stops is the caps dont cant hold the charge. asrock boards are inexpensive and use cheaper componenets compared to the asus boards.

crox

afaik Dual channel memory should be ok as a single, but if you want to use 2 as a pair then they have to match, not just size but speed and a few other things as well. If you have 4 slots then I think you can put 2 unmatched sticks in one of each of the twinned slots.

kevinheb

thanks for the info crox, that's what i thought.

Little john, like i said, it has been tested by an IT dept, so that should rule out a blown capicitor hopefully. I'm at a loss to solve the problem & just want to see the bak of the computer!!!!