Dead PSU or not?

Xezat · May 12, 2013

So, my newly buildt computer, will only start sometimes.
When I press the power on button on the case, things may start up and work just fine. But often, when I press the power on button, I see the lights flash¨for a half second, and the fans spins for a second. And that's it.
My PSU is a corsair HX 850. I think, this issue may be the motherboard or the CPU too, but since everything works smooth when things want to start up, I lean more towards the PSU. I really don't think it's the CPU, because then I would have got error I guess, when booting. And the mobo seems to work very good too. So, is this a dead mobo or a dead PSU? And how can I really test the PSU? The paperclip test? A multimeter? Help! D:

markwp · May 12, 2013

Details of system?

Are you getting any beep codes?

Mark

Xezat · May 12, 2013

Not a single beep code.
It doesn't reach the POST, which is why I think it's either the CPU, mobo or the PSU which fails.

markwp · May 12, 2013

Have you cleared and reset cmos?
Any new hardware recently?
Can you get into bios, and will it stay running in bios?

Xezat · May 12, 2013

Well, I have tried to clear CMOS many times. It doesn't help.
Nothing new hardware, the whole computer is newly buildt.
IF the PC starts up, I can get in the BIOS and it stays there.
But it just wants to start if I am lucky. I have managed to install windows 7 on it though, and all the restarting through that process was no problem. It's just when you start up the computer things don't work as they should.

DaSpain86 · May 12, 2013

If you disconnect the power supply from the computer except the mother board, hard drive and a video card, do you still have this problem?

markwp · May 12, 2013

Double check all of your m/b connections, especially the EPS12v near the cpu. Make sure you have the correct connector(s) - either 1 or 2 four pin, or a single 8 pin depending on your m/b

C12Friedman · May 12, 2013

It's not impossible that the Corsair is not functioning properly, it does happen even with the best components. I've never seen a CPU intermittently fail - I have seen it on PSU's and motherboards though. The PSU would be my primary suspect here

Xezat · May 12, 2013

All the cables or connected.
I guess the PSU is the problem :/
I will do the paperclip test.
Do you think I should breadboard?

mbarnes86 · May 12, 2013

Hi

I would check the ATX 12V (4/8 pin) connector is making good contact
I have seen a burnt connector where there was bad contact (not pushed home)
This caused similar symptoms of intermittent start up

repair involved replacing ATX connector with one from a dead PSU.

Also check power switch cable to motherboard connection

check 5V & 12V on a spare molex connecter when you get PC started
(black red = 5V black yellow =12V)

best of luck

Mike Barnes

C12Friedman · May 12, 2013

The paperclip test in itself will tell you nothing. Using a multimeter while jumping the green and black wires on the 24 pin (with a paperclip) to see the voltage reading on each - this seems to be the most expanitory video video on how to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ac7YMUcMjbw - quality isn't great but the info is there

TenPc · May 12, 2013

It's not necessarily the fault of the PSU, it may actually be your other hardware or you have forgotten to plug in the 12v connector to the motherboard. Some motherboards have an 8 pin 12v connector but half of it is covered with a black plastic plug making it look like a four pin connector. It might even be your ram is incompatible with the motherboard, wrong voltage, spped or you have been fiddling round with overclocking. You might be using a network card that is more suited to a 10 year old PC.

What about DUST? Most people assume that dust is never an issue and yet it is the most likely culprit in many cases.
Air flow is a major problem that will shut down a system, check the PC health temps in bios if you can get some sort of boot up.
Thermal paste on the cpu should be adequate but not too thin or thickly applied.
CPU fan and heatsink should be properly seated
Loose connections for cables also cause issue.

You need to give the motherboard brand and model, the ram and video card specs, and any other hardware that might be included.

AllanRawr · May 12, 2013

I had a similar problem, it went on for about a day and a half before my PSU died (still stinks of burning

). Though I wouldn't link the two problems, as at the time I was using a really cheap no-brand PSU. Best of luck getting whatever the problem is sorted though.

Xezat · May 12, 2013

My specs are:
Mobo: Asus maximus v extreme
CPU: intel i7 3770K
PSU: Corsair HX 850
RAM: Kingston 10th anniversaire 1600 mhz 16GB (4x4) 1,65V. (My BIOS showed 1333mhz, mobo underclocked it?)
CPU fan: Noctua NH-D14
GPU: Nvidia EVGA geforce gtx 680
HDD: Seagate barracuda 2TB
CD/DVD rom: Something from ASUS

TenPc · May 12, 2013

RAM: Kingston 10th anniversaire 1600 mhz 16GB (4x4) 1,65V. (My BIOS showed 1333mhz, mobo underclocked it?)
The intel CPU i7 3770 only supports 1333/1600 mhz @ 1.5v
The mobo has a feature to reduce the ram speed if the voltage is not acompatible.
http://ca.asus.com/en/Motherboards/Intel_Socket_1155/MAXIMUS_V_EXTREME/#specifications

I'm not sure that the ram should be the problem considering the feaure of the motherboard however, you might have to acquire ram at 1.5v just clarify it. There does not appear to be anything else that is causing your issues, at this time.

The only other thing you can do is to reseat the Noctua D14, it seems to be popular and yet is in many threads where users are having problems with their PC, maybe just a coincidence, though.

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Dead PSU or not?

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