No power to motherboard?

Ok this is getting ridiculous. Here's my problem:


Barton 3500 333Mhz FSB processor (AMD)
Asus A7N8X Deluxe Retail ( just got today )
Centon Electronics CL2 512MB DDR RAM ( 1 stick put into the 1 slot away from the two 'joined' slots )

Problem? Install the CPU/Heatsink combo, plug in the power to make sure the dang thing even runs and all I end up getting is the green indicator light that ( I'm guessing ) means that power is supposedly getting to the mobo. This has happened on 3 different boards, and is becoming quite irritating.

I've double and triple checked the connection from the PSU ( 300 and 400 watt supplies ) to the power strip. From the PSU to the computer and made sure the voltage was set correctly to 115 ( since I'm in the US ).

If anyone has any idea's on what I could be doing wrong, let me know. BTW There is no case ( the case I had didn't work with the first 2 ABIT nForce 2 capable boards I grabbed ). If this is a defunct board, I believe it will be the last time I purchase equipment from newegg. That'll be 3 consecutive boards.

I don't understand what the problem is, you don't have the motherboard installed in a case, so you're just plugging it and expecting it to turn on? Ever since the ATX form factor, the power of the system is bios controlled. You need the power switch that gets plugged into the motherboard to turn it on (or find the plug and just short it).

I still think I'm missing something, as what you're attempting doesn't make sense.

That was the problem, put a screw driver to the power IDE and it turns on, I completely forgot about that ( since 90% of my Mobo's have been in cases, but since this design didn't work with my current -albeit older- case, I had to make do without one ). One long ago I had a mobo without a case, and this was always the case to turn it on, I'd forgotten all about it .. Man talk about feeling stupid. -.-'

Thanks for the reply

Anytime, no one can pick out their own obvious errors, that's what the rest of us are for.

Especially when it is from computers 101

What do you mean by screw Driver? I have the same problem like yours. no power to Mb.

There's pretty much two ways to do the same thing. If you just want the power supply to turn on (like to test hdd spinup or something) then you can check around the net for ATX power supply specification. There's two pins in the plug from the psu to the m/b that, when shorted, turn on the psu.

Alternatively, those two wires, when plugged into the motherboard, are generally routed to another place on the board and stick out as pins. There's an area on the board where you plug in things like the hard drive and power LED's, PC speaker, and case power and reset switches. You'll have to check your motherboard's manual to figure out which ones do what. You should be able to just short the pins where the case power switch is supposed to connect (like with a screw driver), and it does the same thing pressing a plugged in switch would do.

I warn you, you should be sure you have the right pins, else you could screw up something worse than it is.

Perhaps the easiest ( and safest ) way to do it is not with a screw driver, but get a case, ( have your PSU turned OFF before attempting this ) and find the reset connector. Plug that into your power connector pins. Turn ON your power supply, and press the reset button on the case. You used to short the power pins. Motherboard should immediately boot. If your motherboard is already in a case, I hope you remembered to plug the power connector, to the power pins and the reset connector to the reset pins. =)

We have 50 Intel D845GLVA motherboards. I have 5 that have died. The green power light is on but I get no power through the board -- no fans no nothing. I tried a new power supply, took everything loose but the board – used a screwdriver across the switch connectors – put in a new MoBo and processor STILL NOTHING!!
Any Suggestions?
Ken kenr@alphaware.net