Alright, so I'm trying to build a computer with some old parts I had lying around here. (which used to be a single computer already so they must be compatible if they were before)
At first I tried to install the hardware piece by piece so I'm sure they all work...
I start by laying out the motherboard on a non-conducting surface so I don't get any shorts, plug in the PSU, plug in the CPU power cable/ Mobo power cable. I also insert the cpu (making sure it is secured with the little handle next to the socket), including the cpu cooler (with some cooling paste in between).
So this is my minimal setup, there is no need to install a GPU because that's something which was built in already.
Next, I start up the "computer" and the CPU fans start to spin, also the ones on the PSU..
After a while I'm starting to smell something weird from the CPU so I reseat the cooler and start whole over. This time everything runs but it still won't give me a single POST beep while when I tested it before it would beep allot and fast in a few sequences.
Now you all got a view of my situation, how am I able to troubleshoot a dysfunctional rig and how do I know which parts are definatly broken and useless? (any other suggestions are welcome too)