A little knowledge is a dangerous thing...

[JustInspired]

...or an expensive thing!

I got a call yesterday from a young man who was trying to build a computer and at first I thought it was a joke call or someone trying to get free advice.

Him: "I built this computer; my first one and I cannot get it to power on. Sometimes the fans will start but they stop right away" I haven't got my CPU cooler yet, but I don't need that to try it out right? As long as I don't leave it running?"

Me: "I think its a very good thing it is not powering up. Running a PC with no CPU cooler could damage your CPU very quickly. It is possible the board has detected there is no fan present and won't remain powered on. I'd make sure you have a cooler first"

Him: "Oh, I got a cooler with my CPU but it doesn't fit. So I've ordered another one. I'll try it when I get it tomorrow."

Me: "OK, good luck then. Thanks for calling"

So it's morning and about 9am he's calling again. Same problem. So this time I tell him if you want it sorted, bring it in and pay to have it assembled. He's here in 30 minutes.
"My mate said this is really easy to put together but I'm not having much luck" he says sadly. "He's been helping me out via my laptop webcam"

I book it in and take a quick look at the hardware. Gasp! "So..." I say, "...really expensive experiment huh?"
"Yeah, I guess so" he says sheepishly.

Did an inventory and here's what he was putting together for his first ever build:

Haswell i7 4770K CPU
Asrock Z87 Extreme 4 motherboard
Two (yes 2!) GTX 770 Graphics Cards for SLi
Samsung 840 Pro 256GB SSD
Seagate 2TB HDD
16GB Patriot Viper RAM
XFX Pro Series PSU
Asus D2X Sound Card
Corsair Hydro Liquid Cooler - Pump-less
Antec Case

All in it comes to roughly £2000

Main error?

He'd screwed the motherboard straight onto the case - no brass post/standoff thingys. It's no wonder his stock CPU cooler didn't fit! Can't push the pegs into the holes with the board right up against the metal plate.

He then proceeded to plug everything in, bending bits in the process to get it all lined up.

Shockingly, it all still works!!!

 

[kpk1]

Luck was on his side..

 

[ComputerRepairTech]

Sadly this happens often enough to where its one of the first things I ask.

 

[Rosco]

WOW. well its is a nice system. HE is lucky for sure. I have had people call to ask if i would watch them build it. I guess they think i wouldnt charge or something.

 

[gunslinger]

Why would you lay down that kind of money and not even watch a youtube vid about how to assemble a new build?

 

[AndyM]

Definitely VERY lucky indeed. I've known VGA cards to catch fire when they're not seated correctly

Andy

 

[brandonkick]

Why would you lay down that kind of money and not even watch a youtube vid about how to assemble a new build?

I've seen it first hand, where someone had no motherboard standoffs and both a 4 pin molex AND sata power connector plugged into the same hard drive.

 

[Krynn72]

I've seen it first hand, where someone had no motherboard standoffs and both a 4 pin molex AND sata power connector plugged into the same hard drive.

I've seen the no-standoffs thing more times than I can remember (when something goes wrong, I always feel awful telling them they'd damaged their motherboard. Its usually kids just trying to learn and when I can see the disappointment in their eyes it hurts lol).

Thankfully I've never seen the sata and molex power thing before.

 

[Steve202]

Lucky bugger!

Definitely VERY lucky indeed. I've known VGA cards to catch fire when they're not seated correctly

Andy

Years ago (when I was 12-13 years old), I removed my CPU to apply some new thermal paste and to clean out the case. Plugged everything in, turned it on and could smell burning. Look down and could see smoke coming from the motherboard.

Turns out I put the CPU in the wrong way round and the motherboard had started to burn. Since then I always make sure the CPU is in correctly before I turn it on.

 

[carrcomp]

Years ago (think highschool) the IT person for my school board filled my friends truck with old computers they were recycling so I could have a go at diagnosing hardware and building some working machines from the broken ones.

Was alot of fun .. but the power supply cables weren't one big cable .. they were separate parts.

I put one in backwards. The plastic melted to the mobo, I was electrocuted (slightly) and every breaker in the house tripped.

I have never since seen a PSU with connectors like that one had.

 

[Blues]

carrcomp are you talking about modular PSUs? When I do a custom build I try and always use modular PSUs myself. I have never plugged up the cable the wrong direction to my knowledge nor do I know if it is even possible with these since it should be a straight pin to pin wiring to make it idiot proof.

 

[brandonkick]

I believe he is talking about AT style power supplies, they had two 8 pin (I believe) connectors for the power. I believe they were typically marked P8 and P9. I could see where reversing them could cause some problems!


ATX power supplies have one big 20 or 24 pin plug, which only fits one way.

 

[Blues]

I can't remember the last time I saw an AT PSU to even remember what they look like

 

[JustInspired]

I believe he is talking about AT style power supplies, they had two 8 pin (I believe) connectors for the power. I believe they were typically marked P8 and P9. I could see where reversing them could cause some problems!

Black to black on the six pin plugs right?

Haven't seen one in a few years but I've plugged in my fair share of AT connectors.

 

[SilverLeaf]

I still have an AT PSU at home. I was saving it to mod into a lab power supply....until I realized that almost all of the amperage on AT supplies are on the +5v rail. As I needed mostly 12v for my project, I used a spare Antec Smart Power ATX supply I had hanging around instead. Just as well, I suppose. I never liked the idea of having mains voltage at the power button; and this would have complicated my project considerably.

 

[technician218]

Wow, and it still worked. Amazing.

 

[B Trevathan]

and every breaker in the house tripped.

Wow I wonder how it did that.


Some neat old pictures:

Power switch:

Motherboard connection and PSU P8 & P9 connectors:

Look at that old motherboard, I see ISA and just a keyboard, how did we (I mean they) do anything back then?

The above picture is from a nice (old) site I just found: http://www.playtool.com/pages/psuconnectors/connectors.html


Look at this motherboard with both AT and ATX power connectors: