Motherboard basics and reinstalling cpu question

Ok, like a lot of threads on here, I am having trouble booting my newly built box. I get no beeps, and no post, and therefore no boot. I just stare at an idle monitor.

first i thought it was the video card not being recognized.
then i noticed there were no beeps.
then i searched online and tons of people had my problem.
then i found out that most people gave up and got a new mobo/cpu. i really don't want to have to do this.


I've tried it all but no luck. I am sure there aren't any shorts or anything.

My setup is:

athlon 64 2800+
chaintech vnf3-250 zenith value edition motherboard
asire x-dreamer ii case w/ 350w power supply
2 x 512 mb pc3700 corsair value select ram
chaintech fx 5200 video card

These are the bare minimums I am using to try to boot my computer. Before I send the motherboard back to newegg, I was wondering if someone could clear up some questions I have.

1. Has anyone had real-life experience with this problem and solved it without replacing hardware? if so, please post your solutions.

2. If my motherboard is getting power (indicated by the cpufan that is plugged directly into the mobo is spinning), could the mobo be fried?

3. Which is more likely to fail when you first purchase it

4. Could a weak power supply make a motherboard/cpu not POST? It seems intuitive to me that at least a POST could happen.

5. I get no beeps at all. I've tried to seperate internal speakers at differnt orientations, but I still get no beeps at all. Does this pinpoint the major problem to be the motherboard? Everything else in that jumper area works fine though (hd led, power led, power switch, reset switch, etc).

6. Could a bad Cmos battery prevent a POST? maybe the cmos battery was dead on arrival? I really hate to think it's the motherboard but i guess it's more common than i want to believe.

7. Finally, is it difficult to remove my a64 2800+ and retail heatsink/fan and install it into an entirely new motherboard?


if anyone has conquered the no post no beep problem in real life, please post how you solved it.

thanks for any replies,
benny

hi, i have this exact same problem and i'm sorry to say that i have yet to find a solution. i guess you've tried everything (like me) but u didn't mention trying only one of your memory sticks or clearing CMOS. I know thats only gonna annoy you if you've already tried but maybe u havn't. I heard moving the jumper for up to half an hour (instead of a couple of secs) when clearing CMOS could work. In answer to 2. I have also read that a fried mb can still get power, unfortunately! I had this problem b4 and fixed it by buying a new cpu so i guess they r pretty delicate and easy to fry. this time i tried replacing parts and its still doesn't work. I don't think it would be hard to move ur heatsink/fan to another board tho i hav no experience with that model. hope this has helped a little, where did u get ur parts from? I bought mine on eBay which may explain a thing or two! If i find a solution i'll let u know. plz do the same for me, cheers,

matt