Lyjotoblog

With the CPU, memory, and video card installed on the motherboard, and our case cables and power supply connected, now is a good time to do a quick power up test to see if we get video or not, and to make sure that the fans are all operating correctly.

1. Plug in your power strip to the wall and turn it on, and then plug the PC power cable that came with your motherboard or power supply from the surge strip to the back of the power supply. Make sure the power supply is set to the proper voltage (115v in the US) and that the switch is in the on position.
   
   
2. A small LED light may come on somewhere on the motherboard, telling you that the motherboard now has power. Your motherboard may or may not have such a light. 
   
   
3. Plug the monitor and keyboard into their respective ports.
   
   
4. Make sure your monitor is also plugged in to your power strip.

NOTE: Make sure you have the CPU fan connected to the proper place on the motherboard for power. Starting the computer without proper CPU cooling can cause damage to the processor, even if it does not run for very long.

Now comes the moment of truth. Go ahead and push the power button on the front of the case (it usually is the largest button on the front) and see what happens.

If all is well, you should hear the power supply fan, CPU fan and case fan(s) start, and see some video on the monitor for the first time. Here we want to make sure that all fans are operating as they should, and that we have video. If we can see something on the monitor, then it is very likely that the CPU and memory are operating properly and that everything is installed OK.

If everything that was just mentioned happens, then shut off the computer and move on to the next step.

Oh No, Nothing is Happening!

If the computer will not power on, then double check your power connections from the power supply to the motherboard and try again. Double check to make sure your power switch cable is installed correctly to the motherboard.

If you fail to see video then make sure your monitor is attached correctly. If you hear the fans starting but do not see any video make sure that you attached the second power connector from your power supply to the motherboard. It should be a smaller type connector.

If you are still having problems, reverse your steps and reinstall the memory and video card and CPU. If you cannot get the machine to power on at this point, and are sure everything is installed correctly, then it is likely that you have a defective component. You will know if the power supply is defective because the fan will not run when you power it on. Consult with who you bought your parts from for more assistance on troubleshooting and determining which part is defective.

The next step on how to build a computer is to install the hard drive and floppy drive.

Next Step: Install the Hard Drive and Floppy Drive >