Just got a new motherboard Abit AT7-MAX2 and CPU AMD Athlon "Barton" XP2500+. On booting it up the system sounds like its booting but I get nothing on the display (it goes into sleep mode), makes using the PC interesting.
Then when I gave up and put the graphics card and PSU back into my original machine I get the same problem!
It may be the PSU coursing this, so a new one is in the post at the moment. Is there any posibility that it could be the graphics card?
Any suggestions?

What kind of video card?

Some AGP cards take an incredible amount of pushing to get them completely seated in the slot. Also some AGP cards are very picky with power supplies, especially if the have an onboard fan.

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Yeah, I would vote for the graphics card too. If you seem to be getting activity except for the video, it doesn't seem as likely to be the power, but still could be. I would double and triple check the seating of the video card and try again. If it still doesn't work, I would try another video card.

its a creative Nvidia GeForce 4 MX460, I also tryed it with my old Nvidia TNT2 M64 and the same thing happened.

Did you make sure it was well seated in the slot?? An AGP card with generally produce 2 solid click sounds as it is firmly seated. If it isn't firmly seated, it is not likely to work.

yes with both cards

Ok, I would check to make sure the CMOS jumper is set properly, I believe it is Abit that has been sending out boards with it set to Clear. I would also try clearing the CMOS to see if it works. You said something about the video going into sleep mode and this is probably controlled by the BIOS if that is an accurate description.

Next I would try a barebones boot, nothing but board, CPU, one stick RAM, power, video and keyboard. If you don't get POST, I would try it out of the case on cardboard (or other nonconductive material). If still no POST, you may have a bad board and/or CPU.

That said, I am not entirely clear if you have had POST. Does the system give one basic beep when you try to boot???

OK a quick update now when I turn the computer on, it turns its self off after about a second.

I have checked the jumpers and cleared CMOS. As I said the computer is turning its self off after about a second, so no beeps :(

edit

Power Supply, toast!!!! If you have tried two video cards in two systems and get the same results, with no beep codes, then the only thing left in common is the power supply. Just be absolutly sure you have FULLY connected the powersupply to the motherboard(even i get fooled and I do it 10 times a day), it must click going in and the catch must engage. Just to make bad news worse, its a possibilty when it fried, it took your new MB with it. Take the MB back if it doesnt work with a new PS, regardless of any stated warranty by the vendor they are the only ones who can RMA it. Im curious, what wattage was your PS? 300 or better I hope.

I tryed it with 2 PSUs, my old one was a 230w and my normal one a 550w, no change.

TheTim,

I am really confused. You tried it with 2 power supplies: what did you try, the motherboard, the video card or something else??? Did you try the barebones boot? Did you try the boot out of the case? Did you check the connections like Honcho suggested? Please be very clear about the troubleshooting you have done and what results you got so that we don't just keep shooting in the dark trying to come up with ideas....:confused:

OK.
I tried the motherboard with 2 different PSUs, 2 different CPUs, and 2 different graphics cards. In different configurations. All in a barebones system out of the case. I have checked and double checked the connections.
I now believe that the problem is the motherboard, since I have ruled out the other possibilities.

Since I only have today and tomorrow to fiddle with the computer (then I have to get down to some serious work), I have ordered another motherboard :(.

Thanks for all your help though, I'll keep you updated on what happens.

It sounds like it probably is the motherboard with the testing you have done, so hopefully the new one will work...

Good luck...

Ok I said I would keep you updated.
First the good news, the new motherboard arrived today :) .
And now the bad news, 1st problem was a long beep then a short stop, another long beep, followed by a short stop... and so on. No problem I thought I'll look it up on the net.
Except Abit liked to keep in an utter state of confutation, on the bios chip it says 'Phoenix Bios' however there is no such set of beeps :mad: . But looking through the manual, it states that the bios is ahead bios :confused: .
Well eventually it turned out that the beeping was an error message for the memory :( .

Next the computer decided to stop beeping all together, not a good sign.
There was a tiny noise however coming from the motherboard. I eventually got down to one possibility, I have removed all the components bar the CPU (and checked all fans), so I took it off... Great no noise :D ... final test I put the CPU back on fired up and... *a small popping sound* :eek: and a small amount of smoke from the VIA chip :( .

Well, using all of my diagnostic skills at their highest level, I would say you have a bad board there....:D :( :eek:

Did you happen to read the thread about the bad capacitors?

http://www.pcguide.com/vb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=21744

I wonder if this or the other board had anything to do with this problem??? Anyway, it sounds like it is time for another board swap....this is just not going well for you:rolleyes:

You poor bugger. listen, forget mucking with bios's and all that other crud, did you do what i suggest? did you return to the vendor with your board and cpu and ask them to test them? The best reason to do this isnt just warranty but because they will have parts to swap in and out, and would have tested the cpu in another board. they would have tested another CPU in your board. I suspect they would have reported that both were dead. One has obviously toasted the other and now both need replaceing. Return both, tell them they are dead , and they will test both to verify it. I realize you have a real desire to do this on your own, however it is obvious its time to relent and let the pros test it, before you're out a few hundred bucks, if you arent already.