Building my first HTPC

O&B HCA500 Power Amplifier
Initial hiccups.

I have installed the components, the motherboard light is on, but the fan (even the smps is not working)

Is this a psu problem?

Most Net searches seem to point to that, need help if I need to return the component urgently.
 
sud98 said:
Initial hiccups.

I have installed the components, the motherboard light is on, but the fan (even the smps is not working)

Is this a psu problem?

Most Net searches seem to point to that, need help if I need to return the component urgently.
Click to expand...

Double check if you have connected the 4 pin power connector near the CPU socket.
 
sud98 said:
Have done so. Shouldn't the pus fan start running irrespective of any other connection?
Click to expand...

The 4 pin connection though necessary for the motherboard is irrelevant for the PSU. Check if the 20(+4) pin connector of the PSU is connected properly and if its still not turning on, then sure the PSU might be faulty.
 
Even after the 20+4 pin connector is plugged in the MB and the PSU does not turn up, then sure its faulty.
You need to return the PSU, but I believe that the PSU is a part of the case, so you have to exchange it for a new case.
 
Most likely a PSU problem. I had the same experience with a new PC I built about 2 years back. I tried swapping the PSU with one I had working in another machine to confirm.
 
Hi Sud,

One aspect came in to my mind, Just check if you have, properly and correctly connected the PSU power connectors. Check this snap

2vjvk8l.jpg
 
sam9s said:
Hi Sud,

One aspect came in to my mind, Just check if you have, properly and correctly connected the PSU power connectors. Check this snap

2vjvk8l.jpg
Click to expand...

But all this is later, right? I have connected it and it didnt work.

However, just connecting the PSU should start the PSU fan,right?

This one is for connecting it to the front panel of the chasis.
 
How will you turn the psu on without connecting the front panel connectors? Unless the board has switches on it to turn the machine on or you use a coin to short pins, there's no other way.
 
sud98 said:
But all this is later, right? I have connected it and it didnt work.

However, just connecting the PSU should start the PSU fan,right?

This one is for connecting it to the front panel of the chasis.
Click to expand...

Good point by Sam. Its not that the PSU will be running 100% of the time. It has to get the signal from the motherboard to provide the power. And thats done when you press the Power On button on the chassis (Which will work only if you have connected the chassis cables to the mobo.)

Many Mid end mobos do come with power on/reset button but most of these micro-atx mobos are low end and hence may not have such a button.
 
Last edited:
SMPS and the fan will start work when receiving the ON signal from the mobo. The fan will not work by just plugging into the power supply.
 
Thanks everyone.

Problem solved. The connectors to the front panel was a problem. While the diagram showed the power button a three pin and the power led a two pin, it actually was the reverse. So for now, use the power connector and not connecting the power LED.

Now, need to buy a graphics card to get HD audio and HDMI audio.

Loading Openelec through USB works fine, will buy a hdd later on.

As usual this forum rocks :)
 
Congrtts, sud.. :) so it was an incorrect connection after all, glad it got sorted and things are working now....
 
sud98 said:
Looking at buying this graphics card as I realised while the motherboard says HD Audio its analog as also the support for HD video.

Forsa NVIDIA GT630 1 GB SDDR3 Graphics Card - Forsa: Flipkart.com

I guess this should be enough for BD ISO/ 3D/DTS HDMA and DD TruHD.
Click to expand...

That's a good card, but I would suggest the one below. I picked it up myself for my newly build HTPC last month. Its a low-profile, fanless design with 2GB RAM. But priced a little more. I paid 4500/- and bought it from SP Road.

Asus website - Graphics Cards - GT630-SL-2GD3-L

Flipkart - Asus NVIDIA GT 630 2 GB DDR3 Graphics Card - Asus: Flipkart.com
 
sud98 said:
While it would make it silent, wont it cause issues with the temperature due to it being fanless?
Click to expand...

This card is especially designed for HTPC use and that is why its fanless.
Well, I've done GPU Temp measurement and the max temp it reached was 51C with a GPU load maxing at 30% while playing full blu-ray ISO (45 GB).
 
sud98 said:
Thanks everyone.

Problem solved. The connectors to the front panel was a problem. While the diagram showed the power button a three pin and the power led a two pin, it actually was the reverse. So for now, use the power connector and not connecting the power LED.

Now, need to buy a graphics card to get HD audio and HDMI audio.

Loading Openelec through USB works fine, will buy a hdd later on.

As usual this forum rocks :)
Click to expand...

When it comes to FPANEL connector, the mobo manual has always been confusing, since the time I first assembled a PC more than a decade back. It's not only 3 pin versus 2 pin, the + and - are never matched with the wiring of the chassis buttons that need to plug into the mobo for power l.e.d etc. Because the chassis you buy is never made for the specific mobo but a generic product.
G0bble
 
Finally got my HTPC up and running.

I have upgraded to XBMC 13 (openelec 3.95 beta2) which I was forced to as the Nvidia 630 Gt drivers were not supported in Frodo.

The picture quality is quite good, although havent been able to compare with my oppo.

I am able to now play 24 bit flacs which were an added advantage.

After a lot of trials, I was finally able to get my android/ios remotes working (the problem was I had checked multi ap isolation in my router).

Overall costs came out slightly more expensive than planned. Could have saved on the RAM as its hardly getting used (unless I double it in the future as a regular desktop ).

Thanks everyone esp. Saketb and sam9 for the troubleshooting tips.

Have seen my first movies - Elysium, Moon and American Hustle through the htpc and its been great.
 
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