Thread: First time computer build

I just bought all of the parts to build a new system and have had some major problems:

The first time I put everything together and turned the power supply on I immediately got a smokey smell. I think it came from the power supply. Then I would turn it on and everything would power up, but the monitor would not turn on. After a few more tries, the power supply just shut off and would not power up again. Again there was a smokey smell.

After this I did some research and found out that my raidmax has the general consensus of being a crappy power supply. I also found out that I was supposed to use those brass spacers on the motherboard.

I purchased an Antec TruePower True430 430W and put that in today with the mobo on the spacers this time. Everything powers up from the front button on the case, but I still get no video. Do you think it is the video card or did I screw something up by not using the spacers?

I know that my mother board only accepts 1.5 V AGP and not 3.3 V cards. I can't find those specs on my graphics card does anyone know what a XFX PVT36LRA GeForce FX5700 LE AGP 8X 128MB DDR Video Card w/TV-Out & DVI runs at?

Here's a list of my other parts:

Asus A8V-Deluxe Via K8T800Pro Athlon 64(FX) Skt939 Motherboard

XFX PVT36LRA GeForce FX5700 LE AGP 8X 128MB DDR Video Card w/TV-Out & DVI Retail

AMD Athlon 64 3200+ Processor Socket 939

Kingston KVR400X72C3A/512 512MB DDR400 PC3200 CL3 ECC Memory

Maxtor DiamondMax Plus 9 6Y080L0 80GB ATA/133 7200RPM Hard Drive

Raidmax Storm 847 ATX847WRP Mid Tower Gaming Case

Did you get video the first time it turned on? I powered up my computer for the first time with no spacers, the mobo died, and when I found out I needed spacers I returned it and got another one. It could be that you screwed up your motherboard, but you should rule everything else out before buying new stuff. If you have two sticks of memory, try each one individually(I got one bad stick of memory in each of the two kits I got) If you only have one stick, try a different one from another computer, or go out and buy another stick of the same and try that if it's in your budget. If you have another video card try that, same with the CPU. After all that if it still doesn't work, just take the motherboard back and say it didn't work from the box

I never got video at all. I realized that I do get lights on the keyboard, but I can tell that nothing is going on after powering up besides a few intital clicks. I am going to try a friend's video card and memory tomorrow. Unfortunately I don't know anyone with a socket 939 to test the other stuff.
Could the mobo be fried and still have the power button on the case still working? What are good signs that it is the mobo and what are good signs that it is the processor?

the 5700 LE is a 1.5v(AGP 2.0 and later) so its compatible with your board.

When you turn on the computer do you hear any beeps? (Like a Hard-drive beep, or an error beep, etc).

If the computer is turning on the motherboard seems ok. I doubt its the processor.

I think the solution may be simpler than you think. Double check all the basic stuff, cords, etc.

Definitely try your friends video card. Also make sure that you have your motherboard jumpers set correctly. If they aren't set right it won't load the bios.

Thanks for letting me know about the compatability. I tried my friend's video card, and got nothing. It doesn't even go to that beep. I tested the CMOS battery in a calculator, and it is still working. Unfortunately my friend didn't have any memory that would work with this mobo. As far as jumpers goes, there aren't many on this board. There are a bunch of USB ones a keyboard one and a CLRTC one. And they are all set at the default that the manual suggests. I guess I will have to take it down to a computer shop and have them take a look at it.