Gaming PC build help (~€600)

jaykhunter · 08-02-2012 1:09am

Since i've got the Mobo/CPU/Heatsink/GPU/PSU/RAM installed, after the wiring all that's left is the SSD. I've an external DVD-Writer and the monitor connects externally to the GPU.

Also, there's a lonely small speaker attached via short red and black cables to a tiny 4-pronged end. What's that!:o

cherryghost · 08-02-2012 1:11am

You have it wired up already?

jaykhunter · 08-02-2012 1:16am

i'm stuck on the mass of wires coming from the PSU. The PSU manual is almost non-existant and the ASRock one isn't very idiot-proof, lol. Could you have a look at my previous 2 posts and see if you can match the wire with the diagram? It'd help me out a lot

:)

cherryghost · 08-02-2012 1:28am

Ah I'm such a derp, misread it.

Roight, the 2 x 4-pronged blue wires labelled CP and U1: goes into label 3 on the figure.

The 3 red daisy-chained wires, PC1 Express (6 prongs) SLI ready (6 prongs) and then a 2 pronged one: plugs into the back of the graphics card. I think just one fits in, not entirely sure on your graphics card. Rest is for more power hungry cards/multiple GPUs

3 black daisy-chained 4-prong power leads and at the end of those, 1 small 4-pronged wire: goes into your chassis exhaust

The 4 black 4 daisy-chained sata cables: One into your SSD and the other into your HD, though you've got an external one so you don't need the second one. The rest is for extra HD's etc

The power cable 20+ and 4P goes into labelled ATXPWR1 - label 10 on the figure.

from front of chassis, USB, HD audio and AC97: USB into label 20 or 21 or 22, HD audio into label 28.

from front of chassis, Green = Reset SW, Red = HDD LED, Orange = Power Switch, Blue = 2 pronged power: goes into label 18. the pins should have PWR +/-, HD +/- labelled over the prongs so its pretty self explanatory.

Chassis Exhaust - Power cables (in and out): the 3 black daisy-chained 4-prong power leads and at the end of those, 1 small 4-pronged wire is used. The small 4 pronged wire goes into label 35 on the motherboard

That's it really. Make sure everything is seated correctly, plug your CPU fan into label 1, connect a sata cable from SSD to label 7/8/9/11/12/13 and away you go.

Hope that helps a bit

EDIT: I'm inspired to sort out my cables now :P Thanks

jaykhunter · 08-02-2012 2:48am

This is going fantastic! Have I told you that I love you!

Just the SSD and the fan that's attached to the window pane of the chassis and i think we're good to go!!!

Does it matter what power source i use for the SSD?

edit : the blue/white power cable, i think it's for the front fan -- does that connect to anything? I don't have a proper fan for it. but if i can get it to spin without one, happy days lol. Any ideas?

jaykhunter · 08-02-2012 3:28am

hooked everything up; monitor works but the new rig doesn't power on. Kettle lead works (tried it out with the monitor)...any suggestions? Like there's not a peep.

_AVALANCHE_ · 08-02-2012 4:57am

Obvious one but easy missed, is their a little flipswitch on the back of the case, probably where the power cord goes in?

Monotype · 08-02-2012 10:04am

Enderghost is correct in all those cables, but just to double check the main ones to the system. You have connected to the motherboard:
-A large 24 pin connector
-An 8 pin connector
-The orange & white connector for the power switch from the case. Also make sure that this is in the right pins.

jaykhunter · 08-02-2012 10:45am

Cheers, I'll go thru all the connections again. Weird though, it's completely dead - would the new comp need to be connected directly to the wall? I have it connected to a multi plug brIck.

Markd250 · 08-02-2012 10:47am

Maybe a stupid question - motherboard standoff screws are in the case, right?

jaykhunter · 08-02-2012 10:51am

The screws that lift the mobo slightly off the case and screws screw into the mobo locking it into place? Yep! for better or worse the psu is completely dead when I plug it in and switch it on, any ideas?

ShadowHearth · 08-02-2012 11:27am

Sorry I was not here to help ya, I was on bed

. Waking up at 4:00 in the morning is not nice!

So do you get some lights on motherboard itself? Even of it not turning on? The other thing: fans should be working from psu if you connect them directly. So this wy you can see if psu working or not.

Very comman issue: wrong way connecting from panel in to board. I did that mistake, because I had small paper explaining it, which was totally different from one in mobo manual.

Asemtioned before: check the pins on which mob is lifted in case.

deconduo · 08-02-2012 11:36am

-Make sure the PSU is turned on, there's a little switch at the back of it.
-Try booting using the button on the motherboard rather than the case switch.
-Make sure the 24pin and the 8pin motherboard connectors are in the right way around and are secure.

cherryghost · 08-02-2012 12:04pm

Ah flip sorry, I fell asleep.

Pretty much what decon says. Make sure they are in correct, though the pins dont fit in any other way from what I'm aware of.

Another guess is that you have the PWR lead from the chassis to the motherboard on the wrong pins.

jaykhunter · 08-02-2012 12:28pm

Thanks for ur replies, I'm sure it's something stupid but it's just not happening

re-checked the wiring...

Would anyone be able to come over to have a quick look? I'm off O'Connell St.

Serephucus · 08-02-2012 12:30pm

Are there any LEDs on on the motherboard at all?

jaykhunter · 08-02-2012 2:12pm

Nah it's platform shoes man! (dead) No lights or a peep of life. I'm sure it's the wiring, something's connected to the wrong part or piece.

I'll upload some pics from the inside, lemme know if you spot anything? Sorry for large photos.

405918_326926714012318_100000849760774_858069_1268069794_n.jpg

405918_326926714012318_100000849760774_858069_1268069794_n.jpg

Closer look at above and below the graphics card

418717_326926737345649_100000849760774_858070_397851192_n.jpg

421476_326926670678989_100000849760774_858067_1255075369_n.jpg

jaykhunter · 08-02-2012 2:20pm

Near the bottom there's a 4-daisy-chained lead (2 SATA, 2 Molex power) one power is going to the SSD; and the last power cable is attached to a power lead that goes to the front of the chassis.

There's a daisy-chain of molex power inputs and one is connected to the back extractor fan, the next to the blue/white cable

There's a loose red 2-pronged lead, the other red leads are going into the graphics card....and the AC97 i couldn't find a place for?

I hope someone can see something wrong!!! (thanks so much for your help....you guys are so awesome

)

ShadowHearth · 08-02-2012 2:26pm

Os that same mobo and parts after your smoke bomb event with fans? Just new psu?

There should be some sort of led on mobo. Very basic and small. It should light up even if pc not turned on. Just make sure psu is on.
Like mentioned before: from panel connection. It's very easy to **** up there.

The other best thing to do: take everything apart and put it back together. Sometimes it can be some very silly small thing that is not connected etc.

Serephucus · 08-02-2012 2:30pm

Is the switch at the back of the PSU turned on? ( I Position )

If yes, and nothing's happening, pull out the big 24-pin connector from the motherboard, and (turning the PSU off before-hand) get a paperclip - or anything metal - and stick it in port 16 (green) and any of the black ports (3, 5, 7, 15, 17, 18, 19). Then turn the PSU on at the back again.

This is the same thing as you turning the power on from your case / motherboard, and it'll rule out the PSU as an offending component, and point to the motherboard being at fault.

http://www.smps.us/atx-connector-20-24pin.jpeg

Oh, make sure to unplug all the other cables from the PSU first (just in case). Easiest bet is to pull them out from the PSU side, versus the individual components.

ShadowHearth · 08-02-2012 2:33pm

Serephucus wrote: »

Is the switch at the back of the PSU turned on? ( I Position )

If yes, and nothing's happening, pull out the big 24-pin connector from the motherboard, and (turning the PSU off before-hand) get a paperclip - or anything metal - and stick it in port 16 (green) and any of the black ports (3, 5, 7, 15, 17, 18, 19). Then turn the PSU on at the back again.

This is the same thing as you turning the power on from your case / motherboard, and it'll rule out the PSU as an offending component, and point to the motherboard being at fault.

http://www.smps.us/atx-connector-20-24pin.jpeg

Oh, make sure to unplug all the other cables from the PSU first (just in case). Easiest bet is to pull them out from the PSU side, versus the individual components.

This. Do it now m8. We will have to rule out component by component.

cherryghost · 08-02-2012 2:54pm

AC97 doesn't go anywhere. It's in the event that the board has a different integrated audio which it doesnt. Was about to mention Serephucus' suggestion.

ShadowHearth · 08-02-2012 6:45pm

Right lads... He must have tried the method above and died, because we haven't heard a word from him so far...

I would suggest to delete all your messages in this thread and delete accounts. When some one asks you say that you don't know a thing and newer even heard of boards.ie!

jaykhunter · 08-02-2012 6:53pm

Ha ha ha! Side-tracked; landlord was over today. Seeing that nothing's on at all I'm still hoping that nothing's actually dead. Will report back after I retry your suggestions

jaykhunter · 08-02-2012 7:54pm

Hey guys, can you confirm this wiring layout?

424916_326638167374506_100000849760774_857581_401403781_n.jpg

CPU Cooler to #1

Blue CP & U1 4-prongs to #3

Blue/White cable from front to one of the black daisy-chained molex power cables

SSD connected via red SATA to sata port on mobo (#7-9, 11-13) and one of the black daisy-chained molex power cables

Tiny 4-pronged cable @ end of black daisy-chained molex power cables to #35.

Back exhaust fan's molex cable to one of the black daisy-chained molex power cables

Grey HD audio small cable to #28

Grey USB small cable to #20

Red/White, Green/White, Orange/White to #18
[There are 2 rows of 5 boxes (the top right hand one has no prong)
so i've it set up :
[empty, empty, Orange, Orange, no prong]
[red, red, green green, empty]

Tiny speakers cable #17

Big-ass power 20-pin + 4 to #10

PCI & SLI into GPU

Front fan molex cable to one of the black daisy-chained molex power cables

UNCONNECTED :
A lot of SATA connections
red 2-pronged that the PCE & SLI are chained to
AC97 that's connected to the HD Audio

Serephucus · 08-02-2012 7:57pm

Your hard drives are powered by SATA power cables, not molex.
35 is a 4-pin fan header. The only thing that goes there is a fan.
The 2-pin bit on the GPU power cables only goes there if there's space for an 8-pin (6+2-pin) connector.

jaykhunter · 08-02-2012 8:18pm

OK! So the PSU works - did the paperclip trick and it works! renewed optimism.

If i were to connect just the power cables 20+4 to the motherboard and turn it on, should i see a Mobo light? and is that ok to do (if nothing else is plugged in?)

Serephucus · 08-02-2012 8:46pm

Yup, and that's the next thing I'd tell you to do. Go do that, and report back.

In fact, you shouldn't even need to turn it on, there should be some LED someplace that will turn on when it detects connection to a PSU on standby.

jaykhunter · 08-02-2012 8:58pm

OK!!! No LED but i connected the 20+4 and the Power on -- now both the PSU AND the CPU fans are spinning!! It might be in my head but i got a little colder, lol.

Will connect everything else and report back

:)

cherryghost · 08-02-2012 9:07pm

The excitement continues to build!

Serephucus · 08-02-2012 9:24pm

Hm, that's weird. What board do you have again? The past three boards I've owned all had LEDs of some sort on them to indicated connection to a power source. The fans spinning doesn't necessarily mean a working motherboard, but it's a step in the right direction alright.

Monotype · 08-02-2012 9:44pm

If there's a fault in the power switch on the case, you can just short the two power switch pins on the motherboard to start the PC.

jaykhunter · 08-02-2012 11:58pm

Its a z68 mobo, arctic 550w psu. Dis- and re-wired the comp but it's completely dead again - so checking out the main psu power 20+4 power connector and the boot-up little red green and orange leads

If those don't work, any other suggestions? Should a z68 have an LED? Oddly enough the external DVDwriter attached to the USB of the mobo is turning on...

deconduo · 09-02-2012 12:37am

Strip it down to just the motherboard, RAM, CPU and take it out of the case. Connect only the 24pin and 8pin power cords, nothing else. Try to start it by shorting the power switch pins on the motherboard. It will be down at #18, just put the head of a screwdriver between the two pins.

If that doesn't work I can call over to you tomorrow evening.

greenheart · 09-02-2012 2:45am

Heye jaykhunter
I see you got the case

Did you get the pics I sent?
Just to let you know I got it built from hardwareversand and the power supply is at the top of the case not the bottom like in your pic, don't know if this makes a difference or not but just taught id let you know anyway.
I got a ssd aswell but I didn't order a 2.5 bay (or whatever its called) and it's sitting in perfectly.
Hope you get it going!

jaykhunter · 09-02-2012 3:24pm

Hey greenheart, no i didn't get the pics u sent, could u try sending it again?

in any case, i really would appreciate you taking a look this evening deconduo, whenever you're free! Check your pm

took your advice; shorted it out and both the fan & cpu are on & spinning! can't find an led on though?
fans spinning; empty case

jaykhunter · 09-02-2012 9:32pm

IT LIVES!

All thanks to Deconduo!

Holy shít, this is amazing!!! WOOO :eek::pac:

ShadowHearth · 09-02-2012 9:59pm

well i hope you gave him a good BJ for his work

so what was the problem?

jaykhunter · 09-02-2012 10:24pm

WHAT! lol

I don't know really, I think it was me! He came in, tested it and it was working; put it in, yep it's working, and installed windows and we're off and running! Even sorted the cables out!

:) I think the computer knew it's time to stop faffing about when Deconduo came in the room!

If i were to hazard a guess at something mechanical it'd likely be the case, it's not the newest/most expensive one out there. Or maybe that it's a mid-tower that everything's in a small space & wires might've gotten pulled out a little

WOOT! The room is definitely bluer!

So what's first on the PC shopping list? Skyrim?

Serephucus · 09-02-2012 11:00pm

I dunno if you've played it, but I find Just Cause 2 to be a lot of fun. Haven't actually played Skyrim myself yet. Starcraft 2 is always worth a look as well.

ShadowHearth · 09-02-2012 11:14pm

Okay. You new to pc?

So first of all get steam.

Them get league of legends, which is free to play.

Team fortress 2 is free to play too.

I personally dislike skyrim with a passion. I would get witcher 2 instead. It's cheaper and way better rpg by all standards. By the time you finish with witcher 2 skyrim might drop in price.

Bf3 is a must on pc.

Starcraft 2 amd war 2 retribution if you want some proper rts on pc.

Settlers 7 - great economy/strategy war game.

Just from top of my head here

Completionist · 10-02-2012 12:24am

Just remember, Never buy anything from steam that isn't on sale!:P

Serephucus · 10-02-2012 12:52am

^ That. My game count is currently at 91, and I think the only game I didn't buy on sale was Portal 2.

ShadowHearth · 10-02-2012 8:38am

Lads are right. Steam is great platform for your games, but don't buy anything if it's not on sale. Steam got really better lately and they have daily sales, weekly sales, weekend sales now. It's advisable to check steam everyday to see what's on sale.

Fluffy88 · 10-02-2012 9:53am

I'm not a mad gamer but I found the Half-Life 2 series really good.

I have to completely disagree with ShadowHearth on his selection, well some of it.
I got both Skyrim and Battlefield 3 at Christmas.
On Skyrim I have cranked up about 135 hours, BF3 I have about 2 hours(and I loved BF2).

I'm playing Portal 2 now coz I'm bored, it's okay a bit of fun.

But what's the point in playing Half-Life or Portal on a beast of a computer? At least not as your first game. I'd go for something that needs some power and will look amazing!! My recommendations would have to be Battlefield 3 and Skyrim. Just go for the one that interests you the most.

ShadowHearth · 10-02-2012 10:11am

Fluffy88 wrote: »

I'm not a mad gamer but I found the Half-Life 2 series really good.

I have to completely disagree with ShadowHearth on his selection, well some of it.
I got both Skyrim and Battlefield 3 at Christmas.
On Skyrim I have cranked up about 135 hours, BF3 I have about 2 hours(and I loved BF2).

I'm playing Portal 2 now coz I'm bored, it's okay a bit of fun.

But what's the point in playing Half-Life or Portal on a beast of a computer? At least not as your first game. I'd go for something that needs some power and will look amazing!! My recommendations would have to be Battlefield 3 and Skyrim. Just go for the one that interests you the most.

It's matter of taste, not wrong or bad list.

For examples clocked in only 10h in skyrim and I can barely play even 10 mins, without puling or meeting one more robot npc copy pasted from village before.

And I clicked in 95 hours in t bf3 already and I am playing it very very lightly.

ShadowHearth · 10-02-2012 10:19am

Plus my list was made with mainly pc exclusives or games which are just super superior, over console versions of it.

Fluffy88 · 10-02-2012 10:43am

ShadowHearth wrote: »

It's matter of taste, not wrong or bad list.

For examples clocked in only 10h in skyrim and I can barely play even 10 mins, without puling or meeting one more robot npc copy pasted from village before.

And I clicked in 95 hours in t bf3 already and I am playing it very very lightly.

Sorry I probably should have said in my post. I'm not trying to say your wrong. Just giving a different opinion. Skyrim is a great game in many respects and well worth a play through for most people.

If you only buy it to look at the pretty landscapes it would be worth it :P
Battlefield 3 should be a great game too and I am very surprised I haven't played it much, but maybe it's just not for me.

Trevor451 · 10-02-2012 5:23pm

jaykhunter wrote: »

WHAT! lol

I don't know really, I think it was me! He came in, tested it and it was working; put it in, yep it's working, and installed windows and we're off and running! Even sorted the cables out! :) I think the computer knew it's time to stop faffing about when Deconduo came in the room!

If i were to hazard a guess at something mechanical it'd likely be the case, it's not the newest/most expensive one out there. Or maybe that it's a mid-tower that everything's in a small space & wires might've gotten pulled out a little

WOOT! The room is definitely bluer!

So what's first on the PC shopping list? Skyrim?

Yeah skyrim is must buy now with the advent of the content creator and mods

Be sure to pick up the HD texture pack (for free) as well

jaykhunter · 12-02-2012 3:22am

for my first ever proper pc game, chose to head to Skyrim! First elder scrolls too, and so for my first ever meme...

Also, I dunno about these HD texture packs. I think you need to see 'em running side-by-side to tell the difference!!

Gaming PC build help (~€600)

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