New rig, Motherboard power LED on but no boot.

Motherbeard · May 17, 2013

Hello guys,

I am new to the 'homemade' PC community and I recently bought parts to build a completely new rig myself. I have installed everything using the internet and manuals but I only get a green power LED on my motherboard. I have tried everything, (Including the standard checklist guide on tomshardware.uk) double check all the connectors, get the motherboard out of the case and place it on a cardboard box, clear BIOS (using the button), MemOk!, using only one RAM slot etc etc but it still does not work. The power LED turns green when connecting the PSU but when I try to start it, it doesn't do anything at all.

Specs:

Mobo: Asus Sabertooth z77
CPU: Intel i7 3770k
CPU cooler: Corsair H100i
SSD: Samsung 256 GB 840 Pro series
RAM: Corsair 2x8 GB 1600 MHz Vengeance
PSU: Corsair AX 650
Case: Fractal Design Define R4
GPU not installed, will get one soon.

I'm a relative newbie when it comes to hardware so I request the help of you experts here

I think that the 'Motherboard' forum is relevant enough to place it here.

I hope that someone can help me, thanks.

chugot9218 · May 17, 2013

Have you tried shorting the power on pins on your MOBO to see if it starts that way? Also, you will want to make sure you have a fan plugged into the CPU_FAN header.

Motherbeard · May 17, 2013

chugot9218 :

I shorted the power pins and already had the CPU_FAN header connected, it still doesn't boot. I have uploaded some pics to give you a view on the situation (Note: The power connector from the case is not connected because I tried to short it)

I guess a imgur link is ok, http://imgur.com/a/JWydB

Thanks for the quick reply

dingo07 · May 17, 2013

i would disconnect the drive and the cables from it to the motherboard - install the other ram stick (it's Dual channel)

have you made sure your power connections are secure?

------------ UPDATE

I just noticed, based on your picture, that you have the single RAM stick in the wrong slot - taken from page 2-5 of the manual, it should be in the 2nd slot closest to the cpu

chugot9218 · May 17, 2013

Those would be my two first suggestions as well, there could be an issue with the drive/cable/sata port, and your supplemental CPU power may not be fully inserted, I think the light would be indicative that the 20+4 pin is plugged in correctly.

Yes, and as Dingo pointed out, you need to put it in the appropriate slots.

Motherbeard · May 17, 2013

dingo07 :

I have inserted the RAM both single slot and dual slot correctly now, still no boot. Also without the SSD connected not any activity at all.

chugot9218 · May 17, 2013

Did you make sure all your connectors were firm? And you were careful in installing the CPU? I know it sucks removing the heatsink but you might wanna check for damage to the socket/CPU as a last resort, make sure you have some spare thermal paste on hand, and also make sure non leaked off the top of the chip.

alexoiu · May 17, 2013

Try connecting a case fan to one of the PSU molex connectors. See if the fan does spin when starting the board. If not, then try the paperclip test for power supplies. Make sure that the PSU does work.

Motherbeard · May 17, 2013

Uploaded some new pics of how the power cables are connected.

http://imgur.com/a/kkDhc

Motherbeard · May 17, 2013

alexoiu :

The [strike]PSU[/strike] fans do not have molex connections, the controller does have one but still no activity at all. The paperclip test is hard to do since all the cables are sleeved black.

EDIT: Case fans, ofcourse

Motherbeard · May 17, 2013

chugot9218 :

I checked it really well when I applied the cooler, I will do this when nothing else works at all.

chugot9218 · May 17, 2013

Don't take any offense I am just trying to be thorough, from my knowledge, you simply short the pins inside of the plastic connector for the paper clip test, the sleeved area shouldn't have anything to do with it. Is that what you were trying to do? You could also try removing the 30mm fans from their headers, see if for some reason one of those is causing an issue.

alexoiu · May 17, 2013

Short the green and the black pins: http://powersupply88.com/atx-power-supply-pinout.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5FWXgQSokF4

Motherbeard · May 17, 2013

alexoiu :

I am a bit scared of doing this, there are multiple black pins. Just insert a paperclip into the green and black one and feel? Yikes.

Motherbeard · May 17, 2013

chugot9218 :

No, I meant that the usually coloured cables are black. I now know which ones I need to short, disconnecting the 30mm fans does not work. Could it possibly be a DOA motherboard/PSU?

alexoiu · May 17, 2013

Any black pin(in the pinout) would do (ground). Watch the video on youtube. Disconnect all cables from the motherboard when testing. This way you'll know if the power supply does work. Do you have a spare one?

chugot9218 · May 17, 2013

Just follow the pin out he provided, orient it in the same direction as the diagram, and short the green pin to the black one next to it. I think you want everything unhooked when doing this, it will basically see if your PSU can turn on at all. Watch his vid if you need further info. At this point, it is likely the CPU, MOBO, or PSU. The paperclip test can rule out the PSU.

Motherbeard · May 17, 2013

alexoiu :

Done, I hear a high-pitched noise, the fan turns on after 5 secs on around 15 RPM and turns down. I will post a vine video in a few mins.

UPDATE: Now the PSU doesn't do anything more at all. Not even the 15 RPM spin. Here is the Vine video. https://vine.co/v/bEFvLDLKVia

chugot9218 · May 17, 2013

Completely turn it off and unplug it, give it a minute or two to discharge it's capacitors, plug it back in and try (the paperclip test) again. If it is still a no go, I would say you have a bad PSU. That seems a little sluggish even without a load on the PSU.

alexoiu · May 17, 2013

Since the power supply is under warranty, I suggest RMA-ing it.

Motherbeard · May 17, 2013

Retried it after 5 minutes with disconnecting everything, a bleak 10 RPM spin for ~3 seconds then stopping again. I need to RMA it indeed. Thanks for the help guys!

So, RMA?

chugot9218 · May 17, 2013

Yeah, that sounds like pretty dismal performance from the PSU, even without a load on it. After that, you are looking at the CPU/MOBO, but PSU is sounding fairly likely.

Motherbeard · May 17, 2013

Thanks. I will RMA it to the Corsair point here directly. Thanks for the help guys, I wish I could pick more answers as a solution. I guess this can be closed because I'll open a new topic when my replaced PSU also doesn't work.

Greetings,

Max

chugot9218 · May 17, 2013

Lol good luck buddy, wishing you the best with the new PSU!

Motherbeard · May 17, 2013

chugot9218 :

I just remembered that the PSU only turns the fan on on about 150W load so I can't be sure if it really is the PSU, I have contacted Asus and I hope that I'll hear something from them.

New rig, Motherboard power LED on but no boot.

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