486 Build Troubles \ VOGONS

486 Build Troubles

Topic actions

First post, by Gazirra

Posted on 2021-10-11, 19:39

Gazirra Offline

Rank Newbie

Rank: Newbie
Posts: 54
Joined: 2018-09-05, 00:42

I bought a 486 MB and several cards some months ago in a package deal. I also got a P8/P9 AT/ATX adapter, but it had no switch.I bought a switch and had a buddy attach some wires and leads to it.
Today, I hooked up the graphics card I got, added in a fresh battery, then set up the PC with a VGA monitor, the adapter and an ATX PSU. I turned on the switch, and nothing seemed to have happened.
To troubleshoot, I've tried a different PSU, power cable going to the PSU, switch the power leads, and making sure the VGA cable was attached properly.
Am I missing any troubleshooting possibilities or could I already have some dead electronics?

Reply 1 of 4, by Disruptor

Posted on 2021-10-11, 19:42

Disruptor Offline

Rank Oldbie

Rank: Oldbie
Posts: 1499
Joined: 2018-03-22, 18:31
Location: European Union

Do you have connected the P8/P9 to the motherboard in that way that the black wires are in the middle?
Do you have the speaker connected?
Do you have a port 80 diagnostics card?

Reply 2 of 4, by kikipcs

Posted on 2021-10-11, 19:48

kikipcs Offline

Rank Newbie

Rank: Newbie
Posts: 74
Joined: 2019-09-11, 08:53
Location: Poland

Check your memory. And the jumpers. May we learn the make and model of the card?

Also, get a POST diagnostic card. It's only 5-10$ and it pays off big time.

Reply 3 of 4, by retardware

Posted on 2021-10-11, 20:34

retardware Offline

Rank Oldbie

Rank: Oldbie
Posts: 1063
Joined: 2019-01-30, 02:00
Location: Cottbus, Germany

Gazirra wrote on 2021-10-11, 19:39:

I also got a P8/P9 AT/ATX adapter, but it had no switch.I bought a switch and had a buddy attach some wires and leads to it.
[...] I turned on the switch, and nothing seemed to have happened.

Does the switch connect the green and black wires?

Explanatory edit: Green is usually "Power on" on ATX and this needs to be connected to ground (black) to turn on the PSU. If these are not connected, the PSU won't turn on and nothing happens.

Reply 4 of 4, by pan069

Posted on 2021-10-11, 21:13

pan069 Offline

Rank Oldbie

Rank: Oldbie
Posts: 906
Joined: 2018-12-06, 06:30

How much memory do you have installed?
Did you attach a speaker/beeper (will give you error beep codes, which will be helpful)?
What CPU do you have and are the jumpers set correctly?

Post photos, it will help people here to better understand what board and set up you're trying to get up and running.

Go to top of page Go to top of page

Back to General Old Hardware