This question doesn't pertain to Linux & my hardware specifically, but I really need any advice I can get.

I installed water cooling over Christmas and while I was leak testing it, it leaked.

Inside my case at the time were (besides the water cooling components) :

Motherboard : Asus A7N8X-DX
CPU : AMD Athlon 2800+
Video Card : ATI Radeon 9800 XT
PSU : Thermaltake 420W PSU (not sure of the exact model)

Anyway, the PSU was sitting at the top of the case and I'm only mentioning it to be thorough.

There was no power connected to the board, so I let it dry out for 4 to 5 days.

I tested my Video Card in another computer and it survived.

When I tried powering up my Mobo / CPU, it'd get power for a few seconds then the fans on the power supply would stop running. I didn't get a POST or any Beep Codes.

I assumed my Motherboard was shot, so I ordered an Asus A7N8X-E DX board. I put it in only to get the same results.

I ordered a new CPU (the same chip) assuming that was the problem, put it in to get more of the same.

Finally, I picked up an Antec 430W PSU to see if that was it. Hooked it up and the fans would spin for a few seconds and then stop.

I've tried running both boards, with both chips, inside and outside of the case with both PSUs. I can't find a combination that seems to work.

The only guess I have is that the new board I ordered was DOA. I'd really like to get a few opinions before I put any more effort & possibly money into my computer.

I've also tried clearing the CMOS & reseting jumpers and what not too.

Any advice you guys could give me would be great, I'm running out of ideas.

Thanks a ton,

billspork

You are not trying to fire it up without video card, are you?

I've tried both with and without. I get the same results either way. I figure at the least I'd get the beep code for not having any RAM.

When I do have the Video Card in, the fan on it will spin for a few seconds (just like on the PSU) and stop.

billspork

Are you only connecting just those 4 components - mobo, PSU, CPU, and video card? If so, I'd suggest you connect the other basic things, such as RAM, some kind of bootable device like a harddrive or floppy, a keyboard, a mouse, and a monitor so you can see what messages (if any) might be displayed. Your post doesn't clearly indicate whether any of those things are attached or not, but assuming they're not, I think you'd have better luck analyzing what's happening with a machine that actually is capable of booting rather than what is essentially just a mobo with a CPU.

I will say that it seems *extremely* unlikely that both mobos and/or both PSU's and/or both CPU's would all be dead. I've never tried to fire up a mobo with only a CPU and video card installed, and I'll admit I don't know what kinds of results would be expected in that situation, but it wouldn't surprise me if nothing happened. As I said, if I were in your shoes I'd connect the other missing pieces try again. Good luck with it -- J.W.

I've tried going as far as PSU, MOBO, CPU, Vid. Card & RAM. I'm going to try hooking up a few more components tomorrow to see if I can at least get into the BIOS. If nothing works I'll pick up another board and try again. I'm just tired of wasting time and money on a machine that doesn't want to work.

Thanks for the input,

billspork

i had a similar problem with this same board. Ended up being the power supply. Thats when I learned that what a manufacturer says is not always the case as far as product specs.

True, but Antec is a top-notch quality brand, and "optimistic" tech specs seem to be more common with no-name generics of dubious origin. It's true that this unit may be defective, but at least in my experience Antec makes excellent equipment, and I don't think they'd resort to falsely upping the specs. Just my 2 cents -- J.W.

Also is true BIOS won't even start if video h/w is not present. Not sure about RAM.

Edit: And from PSU viewpoint it is not a good idea to start it up without at least one HD connected.

Video is not necessarily required in order to boot. Certain computers (eg, firewalls) may not have any real need for video output, and the term "headless" refers to computers that don't use monitors.

Obviously, this would be highly dependent on the specific equipment that is being used (not all mobos support this option) but strictly speaking, video hardware isn't necessarily required for booting. If you're building a new machine though, it would be pretty hard to accomplish unless you were using a monitor -- J.W.

Oh yes, I have one such a firewall. But he is building a desktop. This may not be a general rule, but my desktop mobo does just nothing without video and everything else in place.

I RMA'd the new board I ordered, I think that's the problem.

Thanks for all the input and hopefully I'll have my primary computer up and running soon.

billspork

Also, usually if you boot with a V. Card & no RAM there should be a beep code saying there isn't any RAM. I don't even get a beep code.

Maybe 'pretty hard' is not the word.

http://michael.gargantuan.com/FreeBSD/headless.htm

I actually figured out what the problem was while digging through forms.

Turns out that either Asus boards or Socket-A boards (not sure which one it is), will not boot without the right amount of preasure on the Socket. I was trying to boot with a heatsink sitting on it, but not properly attached (as I was swapping out cpus often).

Once I attached my heatsink it worked instantly.

Not something I thought would be wrong, but if it works then I'm gonna go with it

Billspork