can't get new build to boot/post

[orangehenry]

I'm putting together a new build based on Raj's 15 Drive Budget Box. The only components I have changed are getting an AMD Athlon II X2 260 instead of a Sempron 145 and for now I'm hooking the HDDs, housed in the norco straight into the mobo.

 

However, I can't make the motherboard reliably post/boot. I'll hit the power button, all the fans will start, as will the lights and the pci cards will power on. This happens everytime - however I can only get a picture on the screen, at best every 8/9 times I try. I thought perhaps the motherboard was ruined so I tried an MSI 970A-G46 and this works even less often (I got picture/mobo boot screen once).

 

I really don't want to have to pour a heap more money into this trying to figure out what component is stuffed. Can anyone offer any advice?

 

thanks!

[Rajahal]

Are you using the ASUS M4A78LT-M, or another motherboard?

 

The behavior you are seeing could be caused by a lot of different things.  The most common culprits are:

- Loose connection (reseat everything, including the CPU)

- Underpowered or defective power supply (I assume you are using the Corsair CX500 V2, which should be fine)

- Defective motherboard

 

Also, make sure that you've plugged in both the fat 24 pin and small 4 pin power cables to the motherboard.

[Johnm]

if you swapped mobos and it still persisted, look to cpu, power supply, memory issues. look for a bent pin on cpu. try different ram or 1 stick at a time..

 

make sure cpu power header is plugged in..

 

possibly bad psu but not very likely

 

any beeps to give ideas?