My first build

Totalrod2 RemoveThis @aol.com wrote:
> I just finished installing a new motherboard: Gigabyte M61P-S3.
> Everything is brand new, including the Sata-II hard drive. So there is
> no operating system or anything. I plugged it in for the first time
> tonight, hoping to start programming everything and I'm already
> running into problems. Firstoff, the new 12-volt main cooling fan is
> not working (I plugged it into the "cooler fan power connector" on the
> motherboard). Secondly, my monitor won't kick out of sleep mode when I
> turn the computer on. Any ideas why this could be happening?
> Bryan

Are both power plugs connected ? There would be a larger main
power connector, plus the 2x2 ATX12V connector that feeds
the processor.

Paul
 >> Stay informed about: My first build 

The Motherboard is a Gigabyte M61P-S3 which has been installed into an
old Dell Precision 420 workstation "mini-tower".
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i98/totalrod2/DSC_0120.jpg?t=1203489114
I haven't tampered with 20+4 plug in question:
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i98/totalrod2/DSC_0124.jpg?t=1203489157
I know, it's not a great photo. The label on the power supply says
"Lead Power" model: LEAD-600 (600w max). I think I probably should've
got some of those rubber feet to put behind the motherboard for
support. I'm not really forcing anything ("force" was probably the
wrong word). It's just that there's really no support in that
particular area behind the plug....I'm afraid to push too hard.
Hopefully you'll have a better idea than the one I'm thinking of
(disconnect everything and remove the board to install those rubber
supports behind it).
Bryan
 >> Stay informed about: My first build 

Totalrod2.DeleteThis@aol.com wrote:
> I was afraid of this. My processor fan is working. So I figured it
> might be the main power connector. I'm using an old workstation mini-
> tower. Which is making access mighty difficult to connect that plug
> (but not impossible). The real problem is the lack of support behind
> the main power connector. I'm scared that if I force the plug too
> hard, I'll crack the motherboard. I tried to get my other hand in
> there to hold the outer edge of the board (the plug is located on the
> edge of the motherboard) but there isn't enough room for both hands!
> Are there any tricks (or tools) of the trade? Has anyone else run into
> this problem? I wish the darn plug would just snap in place, but that
> would be too easy. What can I do? There must be a better way of doing
> this without the risk of breaking the board.
> Bryan

Hold on there, sparky.

What are you forcing ?

The insertion force shouldn't be that high. Make sure you are using
the correct connector. I just checked the 2x2 ATX12V connector on
my spare computer, and the 2x2 inserts with fingertip force. I
can seat the connector and have the little latch snap, by using
only one fingertip.

The Mini-Fit Jr connector family are keyed. The plastic on the male
and female connector parts, have shapes. The shapes prevent the
thing from being plugged in the wrong way. In theory, the connector
should only fit one way. You can use the latch on the connector,
and the mating gadget on the other one, to figure out the correct
orientation.

Before you do anything else, could you tell me:

1) Make and model of motherboard.
2) Make and model of power supply (check the label on the PSU)

I want to make sure I give you good advice. For example, there
are motherboards with 20 and 24 pin connectors. There are
power supplies with 20 or 20+4 main connectors, as well as
the completely separate ATX12V 2x2 connector.

It is a bad thing, if you remove the "+4" part of a 20+4
hinged connector, and insert that "+4" part into the
ATX12V 2x2 connector. So if you tell me more about the
equipment, I can review what you should be doing.

Paul
 >> Stay informed about: My first build 

Totalrod2 RemoveThis @aol.com wrote:
> The Motherboard is a Gigabyte M61P-S3 which has been installed into an
> old Dell Precision 420 workstation "mini-tower".
> http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i98/totalrod2/DSC_0120.jpg?t=1203489114
> I haven't tampered with 20+4 plug in question:
> http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i98/totalrod2/DSC_0124.jpg?t=1203489157
> I know, it's not a great photo. The label on the power supply says
> "Lead Power" model: LEAD-600 (600w max). I think I probably should've
> got some of those rubber feet to put behind the motherboard for
> support. I'm not really forcing anything ("force" was probably the
> wrong word). It's just that there's really no support in that
> particular area behind the plug....I'm afraid to push too hard.
> Hopefully you'll have a better idea than the one I'm thinking of
> (disconnect everything and remove the board to install those rubber
> supports behind it).
> Bryan

The "mini-tower" here lists 410W. You have a 600W supply, so I guess the
supply has been changed ? I would think, based on the motherboard description
in the Precision workstation 420 (dual Pentium III, 840, rambus), that
it would have been highly unlikely to have a 24 pin main power connector.
And an old computer like that, probably would not have had a 2x2 ATX12V
power connector either. (Introduced in P4 era.)

http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/ws420/en/ug/specs.htm#power

OK, there is a picture here of the old motherboard. I downloaded one of the pictures,
adjusted contrast and brightness in Photoshop, and I count a 2x12 connector
and a 2x8 connector. So if you really have the old power supply in there,
chances are, the connectors are not the right type. Back in the days of
things like the P3, a 20 pin main connector would have been the standard,
so it isn't likely, if they used a 24, that it has the same pinout as
today's 24 pinner.

http://www.centrix-intl.com/showpix.asp?pixsource=09410w.jpg&pixselect...410w-2.
http://www.centrix-intl.com/details.asp?productid=2502

If you want a spec for a 24 pin power supply, the kind you might use with
the M61P-S3, you'd look here. Compare the wire color listed on page 37
for the 24 pin connector, against the connector you are using. While
your photo matches the colors, for half of the connector, I cannot see
the other half.

http://www.formfactors.org/developer/specs/ATX12V_PSDG_2_2_public_br2.pdf

These are previous generations of ATX standards, for reference if you need them.
The last one, the 1.1 version, is from the days when -5V was on the main connector.

http://www.formfactors.org/developer/specs/atx/ATX12V_1_3dg.pdf
http://web.archive.org/web/20030424061333/http://www.formfactors.org/d...loper/s

I can see a Lead Power 600W here, and this looks like a more recent supply.
The connectors look like they'd work better with the M61P-S3.

http://cgi.ebay.com/600-Watt-ATX-Computer-PC-Power-Supply-LEAD-POWER-N...W0QQite

Based on the picture, I see that your "20+4" connector is slightly askew.
The 4 pin part looks seated, but not the 20 pin part.

OK, since the board is 12" x 8.6", the holes on the right edge of the
motherboard would be missing. And you're right, the connector, since it
is right out near the edge, is unsupported and flapping in the breeze.

All you have to do, is place the right sized object underneath the edge of the
motherboard, to give it support. If you have some spare standoffs, put
them under there. I'd probably find a scrap of wood of the right
thickness, to stick underneath there. Then you should be able to
finish seating the 20 pin portion of the 20+4.

When you're finished, the "ATX_12V" connector shown in the manual, should
have a 2x2 connector, with two yellow wires and two black wires, plugged
into it. The main connector is 24 pins, and you can verify the wire colors
against the ATX 2.2 spec above (page 37).

Don't turn the power on, until you've verified everything is in order

HTH,
Paul
 >> Stay informed about: My first build 

Totalrod2 DeleteThis @aol.com wrote:
> The Motherboard is a Gigabyte M61P-S3 which has been installed into an
> old Dell Precision 420 workstation "mini-tower".
> http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i98/totalrod2/DSC_0120.jpg?t=1203489114
> I haven't tampered with 20+4 plug in question:
> http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i98/totalrod2/DSC_0124.jpg?t=1203489157
> I know, it's not a great photo. The label on the power supply says
> "Lead Power" model: LEAD-600 (600w max). I think I probably should've
> got some of those rubber feet to put behind the motherboard for
> support. I'm not really forcing anything ("force" was probably the
> wrong word). It's just that there's really no support in that
> particular area behind the plug....I'm afraid to push too hard.
> Hopefully you'll have a better idea than the one I'm thinking of
> (disconnect everything and remove the board to install those rubber
> supports behind it).
> Bryan

Older Dell machines have non standard ATX power supplies. The faded
colours of the cables in the photo would seem to suggest that the
original PSU has been retained. You would have been better off buying a
new case in the first place.

Install a new PSU


Martyn
 >> Stay informed about: My first build 

Count de Monet wrote:
> Totalrod2.RemoveThis@aol.com wrote:
>> The Motherboard is a Gigabyte M61P-S3 which has been installed into an
>> old Dell Precision 420 workstation "mini-tower".
>> http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i98/totalrod2/DSC_0120.jpg?t=1203489114
>> I haven't tampered with 20+4 plug in question:
>> http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i98/totalrod2/DSC_0124.jpg?t=1203489157
>> I know, it's not a great photo. The label on the power supply says
>> "Lead Power" model: LEAD-600 (600w max). I think I probably should've
>> got some of those rubber feet to put behind the motherboard for
>> support. I'm not really forcing anything ("force" was probably the
>> wrong word). It's just that there's really no support in that
>> particular area behind the plug....I'm afraid to push too hard.
>> Hopefully you'll have a better idea than the one I'm thinking of
>> (disconnect everything and remove the board to install those rubber
>> supports behind it).
>> Bryan
>
> Older Dell machines have non standard ATX power supplies. The faded
> colours of the cables in the photo would seem to suggest that the
> original PSU has been retained. You would have been better off buying a
> new case in the first place.
>
> Install a new PSU
>
>
> Martyn
>

The color and position matches a new 24 pinner, so I don't think
he's blown it yet Based on his motherboard manual, the visible
wires (pin 1 in lower right corner) are the right colors. I can see
the color of the wires on 1 thru 12, but can't see 13 to 24. So
he'll have to check those are correct as well. I suspect he has
a modern supply mounted in that old case (why, I don't know - like
how it got there doesn't make sense).

Paul
 >> Stay informed about: My first build 

I do have a video card, but the monitor is not plugged into that yet
(it's plugged into the motherboard). I want to get my bios set up
first, then I'll worry about installing the drivers for my cards,
printer, etc. Paul, thanks for all the information. I'm going to cut a
piece of wood and hopefully there will be enough room to get it in
there. Martyn, I'm using a Lead Power ATX power supply (identical to
the one Paul posted a picture of). The case is the only part of the
old Dell that's being used. Everything else is brand new right down to
the CD-Rom. I don't know why, I just like the basic beige tower.
Bryan
 >> Stay informed about: My first build 

Totalrod2.RemoveThis@aol.com wrote:
> I just finished installing a new motherboard: Gigabyte M61P-S3.
> Everything is brand new, including the Sata-II hard drive. So there is
> no operating system or anything. I plugged it in for the first time
> tonight, hoping to start programming everything and I'm already
> running into problems. Firstoff, the new 12-volt main cooling fan is
> not working (I plugged it into the "cooler fan power connector" on the
> motherboard). Secondly, my monitor won't kick out of sleep mode when I
> turn the computer on. Any ideas why this could be happening?
> Bryan

Does your new video card have an auxiliary power connector? Have you
connected it up to the PS harness? Monitors come out of sleep when they
sense video and I believe that many modern video cards won't even begin
to work unless they have the secondary power feed.

Also, if your video card has multiple outputs (DVI and analog for
example) it may be possible that the wrong one is coming up active and
is not feeding the monitor -- I got bitten by this one myself some years
back. I'd would have hope by now that the manufacturers would have all
gotten such trivialities sorted out but I wouldn't bet on it.

--
John McGaw
[Knoxville, TN, USA]
http://johnmcgaw.com
 >> Stay informed about: My first build 

Bingo. I the power connector is properly seated. I also switched the
monitor connector. It was plugged into the motherboard, I moved it to
the video card. Now the screen works! But the main cooling fan still
isn't running. How many amps should this fan be? Right now the fan
that's in there is 12-volts DC / 0.3A. I wonder if I'm using the right
one. The old Dell motherboard used a 12-volt DC / 0.50A main cooling
fan.
Bryan
 >> Stay informed about: My first build 

Totalrod2.DeleteThis@aol.com wrote:
> Bingo. I the power connector is properly seated. I also switched the
> monitor connector. It was plugged into the motherboard, I moved it to
> the video card. Now the screen works! But the main cooling fan still
> isn't running. How many amps should this fan be? Right now the fan
> that's in there is 12-volts DC / 0.3A. I wonder if I'm using the right
> one. The old Dell motherboard used a 12-volt DC / 0.50A main cooling
> fan.
> Bryan

Likely your MB is one that senses the presence of a video card on the
bus and disables the onboard automagically. If you prefer to use the
onboard video for testing or setup then removing the card should allow
it to work. Since you know the video card is working I wouldn't bother
switch back now.

You can probably test your fan by hooking it directly to the PS if it is
connected to the MB's case fan connector. Many fans come with an adapter
to allow that and I must have ten of them in the junk closet although I
know that doesn't help you a bit. The current rating on your fan sounds
perfectly normal, BTW. I get really nervous hooking high-current fans to
MB fan headers having burned out a couple of them while experimenting.

--
John McGaw
[Knoxville, TN, USA]
http://johnmcgaw.com
 >> Stay informed about: My first build 

It looks like I have one of those "SMART" system fans. I disabled this
feature in bios, but the fan still doesn't work. I guess I'll need to
get an adapter to plug it into one of the molex connectors from the
power supply. The bios indicated that all my drives are detected
(floppy, harddrive, CD-Rom and USB drive). One thing I can't
understand: When I put my utility CD in (the one which came with my
Gigabyte motherboard) a screen comes up saying "Gigabyte Xpress 2
recovery" and it gives me just two options: "Back" or "Reboot". Both
of these options reboot the computer. Is there something I'm missing?
I don't have an operating system yet. Does it need to be installed
before running the utility CD?
Bryan
 >> Stay informed about: My first build 

Totalrod2 DeleteThis @aol.com wrote:
> It looks like I have one of those "SMART" system fans. I disabled this
> feature in bios, but the fan still doesn't work. I guess I'll need to
> get an adapter to plug it into one of the molex connectors from the
> power supply. The bios indicated that all my drives are detected
> (floppy, harddrive, CD-Rom and USB drive). One thing I can't
> understand: When I put my utility CD in (the one which came with my
> Gigabyte motherboard) a screen comes up saying "Gigabyte Xpress 2
> recovery" and it gives me just two options: "Back" or "Reboot". Both
> of these options reboot the computer. Is there something I'm missing?
> I don't have an operating system yet. Does it need to be installed
> before running the utility CD?
> Bryan

Yes, installing the OS, and then using the motherboard CD, to get
the chipset drivers, would be a good idea. "Xpress 2 Recovery" would
have something to do with reflashing the BIOS, and you don't want to
do that right now.

Paul
 >> Stay informed about: My first build 

Thanks again Paul. I'll keep y'all posted. This could take awhile. I'm
trying to install Linux (and you're talking to a guy who never did
figure out how to program his VCR!).
Bryan
 >> Stay informed about: My first build