Power Source Problem?
- Thread starter Clark031
- Start date
Could be a DOA motherboard, bad switch.Only Jumper on the board is the CMOS jumper and I've reset that several times. I've checked and rechecked the "Power Button," "Reset Button," and LEDs, they are all hooked up correctly. I have removed the motherboard from the case and powered it up (with only the CPU and memory installed), but no fan movement or lights on the motherboard when I powered it on.
The only sign of "life" from this has been when I plug the system in the fan will make about 1/2 a rotation, this has happened twice.
One more question to try something... I have my old computer and it has a 250W power supply (with a standard 20-pin connector), whereas this case has a 350W power supply. With the new power supply there is the standard 20-pin connector, but it also includes the 4-pin 12V connector as well.
Can I...
1) move the 350W power supply to my current system and test it even though the 12V line woud be dangling?
or
2) move the 250W power supply to my new system without a 12V connector to plug into my new motherboard?
Will either of these tests work?
Thanks in advance
The only sign of "life" from this has been when I plug the system in the fan will make about 1/2 a rotation, this has happened twice.
One more question to try something... I have my old computer and it has a 250W power supply (with a standard 20-pin connector), whereas this case has a 350W power supply. With the new power supply there is the standard 20-pin connector, but it also includes the 4-pin 12V connector as well.
Can I...
1) move the 350W power supply to my current system and test it even though the 12V line woud be dangling?
or
2) move the 250W power supply to my new system without a 12V connector to plug into my new motherboard?
Will either of these tests work?
Thanks in advance
Check if there's any dirt or space between the cpu and the heatsink,or if there's enough paste between the components....if it doesn't fit 100%,you can get the problem you describe...
I plugged my 350W PSU into my current system (with the 12V Connector dangling) and nothing happened, acted just like my new system. Does this mean that it is the PSU?
And I did check to see if the heatsink was properly secured on the CPU, but the way my motherboard is set up the heatsink fits in a plastic square around the CPU, which leaves little room for error, plus once it is in there the fan/heatsink has a locking mechanism that ensures it is on there tight. I used Arctic Silver as my Thermal Paste and it was clean when I put it on... both directly out of their plastic covering.
And I did check to see if the heatsink was properly secured on the CPU, but the way my motherboard is set up the heatsink fits in a plastic square around the CPU, which leaves little room for error, plus once it is in there the fan/heatsink has a locking mechanism that ensures it is on there tight. I used Arctic Silver as my Thermal Paste and it was clean when I put it on... both directly out of their plastic covering.
Last edited:
Coaster
1
@ Clark031,
Suggest acquiring a multi-meter and check to pinout voltages of you power supply to ensure that it is working correctly.
The following are links that provide the pinout voltages for your power supply.
20 Pin Connector Pinout
http://www.hardwarebook.net/connector/power/atxpower.html
4 Pin Connector Pinout
http://www.hardwarebook.net/connector/power/atx12v.html
Perchance if you need additional connector pinout voltages for your troubleshooting the following link provides additional information.
http://www.hardwarebook.net/connector/index.html#PowerSupply
Best Regards,
Coaster
Suggest acquiring a multi-meter and check to pinout voltages of you power supply to ensure that it is working correctly.
The following are links that provide the pinout voltages for your power supply.
20 Pin Connector Pinout
http://www.hardwarebook.net/connector/power/atxpower.html
4 Pin Connector Pinout
http://www.hardwarebook.net/connector/power/atx12v.html
Perchance if you need additional connector pinout voltages for your troubleshooting the following link provides additional information.
http://www.hardwarebook.net/connector/index.html#PowerSupply
Best Regards,
Coaster
Update: I obtained a new working power supply, no difference (note: the old power supply was dead). I have put the motherboard in a new case to see if it was the power switch, no change. I removed the heatsink, cleaned the thermal paste off of the processor and heatsink, then reapplied... still no change. I have installed the RAM in my current computer so I'm guessing that wasn't the problem.
Does this mean I have a faulty motherboard? Or would it be a faulty processor?
Thanks!
Does this mean I have a faulty motherboard? Or would it be a faulty processor?
Thanks!
It could be a "killer component" problem
See "the bad seed" and the following page too
http://www.pcstats.com/articleview.cfm?articleid=1720&page=5
http://www.pcstats.com/articleview.cfm?articleid=1720&page=6
One bad component, can murder several other pieces of hardware before it's discovered - if the first PSU was not simply non-functional, but mafunctioned - it could have done some damage.
Take care when moving suspect components around!
See "the bad seed" and the following page too
http://www.pcstats.com/articleview.cfm?articleid=1720&page=5
http://www.pcstats.com/articleview.cfm?articleid=1720&page=6
One bad component, can murder several other pieces of hardware before it's discovered - if the first PSU was not simply non-functional, but mafunctioned - it could have done some damage.
Take care when moving suspect components around!
I have tried my new PSU in my old and new system... It works in my current system and doesn't in my new one. I have tested it in my current system before and after testing it in my new one.
So far all components have checked out except for the motherboard and CPU. Since it is a 64-bit processor I have no way of testing it since this is my first 64-bit capable motherboard. Likewise, I have no other processor that works with this motherboard.
For a component to be "killed" is it necessary for power to run through the system at least once? If so, I have never seen any evidence that power has ran through the motherboard, judging mainly by movement of the CPU fan.
Thanks!
So far all components have checked out except for the motherboard and CPU. Since it is a 64-bit processor I have no way of testing it since this is my first 64-bit capable motherboard. Likewise, I have no other processor that works with this motherboard.
For a component to be "killed" is it necessary for power to run through the system at least once? If so, I have never seen any evidence that power has ran through the motherboard, judging mainly by movement of the CPU fan.
Thanks!
The CPU fan is plugged into the CPU fan point, I presume, anmd not into one of the others - as seeing no CPU fan, may be a lockdown.
The dead PSU make me very suspicious though, Are there any motherboard mounts unaccounted for, that could be shorting, though if the PSU shorted, I think the signs would be obvious.
Make sure that the case speaker is connected, or if there is neither a case speaker nor an onboard beeper, bodging up one is essential - I'd never be without the ability to hear a beep code, even though some people disconnect the case speaker to silence the startup beep.
First PSU dead, now with that replaced, the system is still dead... coincidence?
Did the PSU kill the motherboard or CPU?
Did the motherboard kill the PSU?
Power does not need to run for long enough to see - if the first PSU was the culprit, it could fry itself and the motherboard without a flicker.
If you bought all the parts from the same place, then this is something I'd be trying to lay at their door.
The dead PSU make me very suspicious though, Are there any motherboard mounts unaccounted for, that could be shorting, though if the PSU shorted, I think the signs would be obvious.
Make sure that the case speaker is connected, or if there is neither a case speaker nor an onboard beeper, bodging up one is essential - I'd never be without the ability to hear a beep code, even though some people disconnect the case speaker to silence the startup beep.
First PSU dead, now with that replaced, the system is still dead... coincidence?
Did the PSU kill the motherboard or CPU?
Did the motherboard kill the PSU?
Power does not need to run for long enough to see - if the first PSU was the culprit, it could fry itself and the motherboard without a flicker.
If you bought all the parts from the same place, then this is something I'd be trying to lay at their door.
ipdave
1
I had a similar problem. Moved, my system died, would not stay powered on. Ended up killing 2 mb's and 3 pwr supplies. Suspected bad CPUs, but they tested good at a local computer store. But the mb's tested bad. Seems a mb took out a ps, and it got passed around.
Ended up building an AMD64 3000 system with a FIC board, now runs great.
Ended up building an AMD64 3000 system with a FIC board, now runs great.
Thanks for the suggestions...
Looks like it was probably the Motherboard that was the "killer component." I took my new, unfunctioning, system to a local computer store, decided to have them test the power supply. He unplugged the 20-pin connector from the motherboard, plugged it into the testor. The lights lit up for half a second, then went blank. Thought I had lost another power suplpy...
Went ahead and unplugged everything from the motherboard, drives, etc. Tested it again, but this time I didn't even get a flash out of the testor. In a last ditch effort we unplugged the PSU from the wall, then plugged it back in and tested the PSU with nothing hooked into the motherboard. The PSU worked perfectly. We tried this with a brand-new PSU and it functioned in exactly the same manner.
I'm going to be sending the motherboard back and hoping/praying that it didn't screw my new processor over!
Thanks Again!
Looks like it was probably the Motherboard that was the "killer component." I took my new, unfunctioning, system to a local computer store, decided to have them test the power supply. He unplugged the 20-pin connector from the motherboard, plugged it into the testor. The lights lit up for half a second, then went blank. Thought I had lost another power suplpy...
Went ahead and unplugged everything from the motherboard, drives, etc. Tested it again, but this time I didn't even get a flash out of the testor. In a last ditch effort we unplugged the PSU from the wall, then plugged it back in and tested the PSU with nothing hooked into the motherboard. The PSU worked perfectly. We tried this with a brand-new PSU and it functioned in exactly the same manner.
I'm going to be sending the motherboard back and hoping/praying that it didn't screw my new processor over!
Thanks Again!