Computer just died...

lxpeery

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Jul 11, 2011
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Hey guys, you have all helped me many times over the last year or so, and I have never even had to post a question. But this is a sad day. So here goes.

I was browsing the interwebs tonight, when my computer suddenly died. The power and reset buttons on the case are useless, as are the same buttons on the motherboard. All 10 USB ports are getting power, and the lighting on the motherboard is working just like it would were the computer turned off. (It has a cycling glowing effect thing) Upon removing the power cord from the surge protector and directily plugging in to the wall outlet, I hit the button, and was rewarded with the fan leds activating for a split second, and then dying again. I then discovered that resetting the switch on the PSU had the same effect. It's too dark for me to do a full tear down and diagnose individual parts, and the motherboard on-board diagnostic system never has time to throw me an error. I guess I was just hoping for some advice on a place to start? I'm really worried that my PSU just gave up the ghost, but it's still in warranty. I'd just rather not deal with it. Build info is below.

Oh, the only thing that's changed recently was that I added another monitor. Not sure how this could be an issue, as it is under its own power. As another strange bit of info, my subwoofer keeps blipping at me. Whatever.

As always, all of your help and suggestions are much appreciated!

Build Info:

Asus Maximus V Formula mobo
Corsair 1050W PSU
EVGA GTX 680
Intel i7 3770K
Crucial 64GB SSD
Seagate Barracuta 1TB HDD
4X4 G.Skill Ripjaws RAM
Cooler Master HAF X Case
2 Asus 23" LED monitors
 


I would agree even though it should be a good quality PSU that does not mean it can't bite the big one. Do you have a spare PSU you can test your system with. It does not have to even powerful enough to run the system under load just to see if you can power on and say go into the bios. At least you would know and then could RMA if needed from there.

The only other thing I can really think of the way you described the problem would be the motherboard. And no I do not see the second monitor being the cause of the problem in any way shape or form. But if the interface cable had a short it might cause the rig to not power on. To rule it out just disconnect it from the PC and try to power on it is worth a shot anyway.
 

lxpeery

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Well, not sure whether or not they're actually working, but since they are all powered ports, I can, say, plug my phone in and see that it is getting a charge. So like I said, they're all getting power like they should.
 

TenPc

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Do you leave the phone connected all the time? Are there any other external devices that you also have connected prior to boot up and shutdown? Things like a phone, camera, USB TV encoder, X-box controller external hdd, etc.. how many of your 10 usb ports are occupied, and what are theose devices?

Also, there does not seem to be much use for the Corsair 1050W PSU, you don't seem to have a lot in your rig that requires as much as 950 watts on the 12v rail. Most people suggest having as much as 50 watts above the total peak power requirement.

Edit - What is the manufacturer and model of the motherboard?


 

lxpeery

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No, there is usually nothing besides the mouse and keyboard plugged in, the phone is the only other thing that I ever use. My reasoning for the extra wattage on the psu was that I plan on adding Liquid cooling and additional graphics cards as money frees up. Oh, the motherboard is an Asus Maximus V.

Unfortunately, I don't have another psu readily available, so I'll have to just do what testing I can and make a decision based on that.
 


Can you take a small piece of wire and jump the green and black wires on the PSU on the motherboard connector?

Be sure sure to disconnect all the outputs first.

This will tell you if the PSU will turn on at all. If the fan on the PSU doesn't spin it is definitely toast.
 

TenPc

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The PSU draws more power than its peak for a millisecond at boot up and it could be that the power board had other appliances running as well that may have caused a shortfall and the PSU is "fried". You won't really know until you test the PC with an other PSU. If your PSU has somehow died, it might also have affected other parts of the PC and they also may be fried or shorted.

Considering that you had tried the wall outlet as an alternative, the PSU should have powered on so that is the best indication of a blown PSU however, if you get a slight kick from the PSU, it could be the CPU has blown a gasket.

You may wnat to try reseating the CPU, re-apply thermal paste, just to make sure that the CPU is not at fault. Sometimes, users will not apply the proper amount of thermal paste and it dries up quickly especially in high end rigs.
 

lxpeery

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I know that it is long after this thread died, but I figured I would follow up for anyone who is reading this. After extensive testing of the PSU, I found that it was not producing any power. At all. A quick RMA and I was back in business.
 


I hope you get back to this thread as I just found it having started posting in all seriousness at the end of May.
Short version of a long RMA tale (and before I even start I found Corsair customer service to be excellent). I had an HX power unit start to lose 3.3v power and RMAd it, they were out of the 850's so sent me a 1000. I was stoked! Installed it, fired it up on the work bench (with monitor, kb etc.) and it worked. Shut down, unplugged peripherals, took it into the house, set it up, turned it on. Cool. Put it in sleep mode, came back couple hours later; no go. Had to unplug (not even turning it off worked), and then it might fire up. they cross shipped a new AX850 to me.
I have said this before: Thousands, perhaps millions, of power supplies are produced and sold, and some are bound to have problems. But I often ask, "why me, again".
Glad it's fixed.