New computer problems

Yesterday the final piece of my computer (the motherboard) came in so I started putting it together based on the instructions provided with the Gigabyte motherboard. I got the processor (AMD 64 3400+) in, then mounted the fan on top exactly the way the instructions with the processor said. My friend came over to help put together the rest of the computer. When we finished we plugged the computer in and pressed the power button. The power would come on for one second then shut off almost right after you let off of it. My friend who is helping me with this has put together lots of computers and thinks that it might be the power supply. We've tried everything else and it just wont start up. Does anyone know what we might be doing wrong or what part might be causing the problem?

AMD 64 3400+
Gigabyte motherboard
1 gig of Geil DDR ram
200gb Maxtor HD
Pionner DVD burner combo
Lite On Cd burner
Just Pc GAzelle case with included power supply (450)
Gigabyte ATI X800 (the one that is just under $400)

PSU is probably the cause. How many watts is it?

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Originally Posted by cka

PSU is probably the cause. How many watts is it?

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Sorry I just edited it, 450 watts

Is it all hooked up properly? Connections to all the devices and board, etc? Nothing on backward?

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Originally Posted by cka

Is it all hooked up properly? Connections to all the devices and board, etc? Nothing on backward?

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As far as I know yes. My friend seemed to (and should) know what he is doing. When we had the problem first everything was in, then he started taking pieces out one by one and trying to power up til it was just the motherboard and processor connected to the power supply (and the part that connect to the power button on the case).

Is the RAM two 512 chips or one 1gb chip? If it's two, I'd try the RAM in different slots, one at a time.

Also, is there an LED on the board to tell you that the machine is running? If so, does it stay on when the unit appears to power off? I would try removing all components that are not necessary to turn on and get some sort of error noise/indication and then add parts. But yeah, it's probably the P/S.

EDIT: Good timing. ;)

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Originally Posted by Mike

Is the RAM two 512 chips or one 1gb chip? If it's two, I'd try the RAM in different slots, one at a time.

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2 sets of 512, I'll try to do it but my friend is a stubborn ass that thinks he knows everything. He thought it mattered which side the heatsink/fan faced and moved it a few times, I looked it up and found out that it doesnt matter and now hes pissed at me. :rolleyes:

Have you got the heatsink and fan on properly. The first time I built mine (AMD XP) I forgot to plug the fan into the board.
The board is automatically programmed to shut down when the heat gets too high as to prevent damage, and so for 5 minutes I freaked out, as it turned on for a few seconds, then back off. Then I plugged it in. Whoopee.

Even if you did wire up the heatsink properly, I don't see why it isn't possible that the heatsink sucks. Maybe you should try another one. Does your friend have an AMD 64, if so borrow his heatsink for a day.

Good luck

On the AMD XP models it does matter which way round you put the heatsink, so your friend did have logic in his thinking.

Why did you get a CD burner and a DVD burner?
That was a waste.

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Originally Posted by burky

Why did you get a CD burner and a DVD burner?
That was a waste.

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I think the cd burner can burn cds faster than the dvd combo burner can

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Originally Posted by perkyskirt

2 sets of 512, I'll try to do it but my friend is a stubborn ass that thinks he knows everything. He thought it mattered which side the heatsink/fan faced and moved it a few times, I looked it up and found out that it doesnt matter and now hes pissed at me. :rolleyes:

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Well, generally, you want to pull hot air out of the case and pull cold air in. So you want to have the proc fan pull the air off the heatsink. But I guess if your exhaust fan(s) are powerful enough that isn't as much of an issue.

It sounds like he did the proper testing. I'd try another P/S. If not that, then the mainboard, then the proc. But then, AMD... maybe proc then mobo. Does the 3400+ have jumper settings?