Homebuilt PC Problems

Dom09 · May 28, 2013

I have built a new PC but when I turn on the power supply, no fans spin in the case, psu or cpu fan and it doesn't boot. However, if I plug in something to usb, it receives power but everything appears to be dead. I have checked all of the connections and I think I have built it correctly. These are my specs:

CPU: Intel Core i5 3570k
PSU: Corsair CX600 builders series
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-Z77X-D3H
Case: Zalman Coolermaster Z11 plus
RAM: Corsair Vengeance low profile 1 x 8gb stick
SSD: Samsung 840 series 120gb
I do not currently have a gpu.

I would be very grateful if someone could help identify the problem. I have tried to boot with just the ram, cpu and psu but no luck? Thanks.

fannatick · May 28, 2013

Have you checked your heat sink to make sure its seated correctly, make sure something isn't causing a short in the board and if you have an extra power supply you could swap in to make sure its not that.

Richard Naylor · May 28, 2013

First step (MOST IMPORTANT!) is to take everything out of the case. Set up the motherboard on a non-conductive surface such as a chopping board or table top with the RAM, PSU, CPU and SSD. Plug in the monitor and keyboard/mouse.
Make sure you have plugged the PSU into the SSD and CPU and main plugs on the motherboard.
Power on using the button on the motherboard.
Does it boot?
If not, power off and change the slot the RAM is inserted into.
Try again.
If no fans spin and the same thing happens I would suspect the PSU (although Corsair make great PSU's so this might be a rare occurance). Another thing is the motherborad/CPU could be dead. Try with a different power supply if possible and see if that works then report back.
If it does work first time, make sure your motherboard is correctly spaced from the computer case. It could be shorting out on the metal.
Also it would be very helpful if you could take a photo of the connections for us to see if you have missed anything out...

jayambroziak · May 28, 2013

To me, it sounds like a power supply problem. Almost as if your 12+ volt is bad. This has all the signs of incorrect or no voltage to the motherboard. Most likely the 12+ volt rail is dead. Fannatick had a good idea in using another power supply to see if it'll start up.

daship · May 28, 2013

Sounds like you plugged your powers supplys 24pin plug onto the motherboard and you DID NOT plug in the Power supplys 4/8 Pin to the motherboard. There is a 4 or 8 pin power slot next to the CPU that has to be plugged in or you will get symptoms that you describe.

Dom09 · May 28, 2013

Wow than you so much for the quick replies, I was worried when putting the motherboard in that it may short the board (this is my first build). I have plugged the 24pin connector to the motherboard and the 8pin to the CPU and I have checked these but I will check with the heatsink and also take the motherboard out if that doesn't work and i'll post back.

Dom09 · May 28, 2013

I have reseated the CPU fan and reconnected all of the power cables, still no luck. I have tested though, with my external hard drive. It has a light to show when connected and when plugged into the motherboard USB and front ports on the case, it lights up. So I know I have connected the front ports right and it doesn't seem like a dead motherboard because the ports are getting power (although the fans aren't). I also have taken the motherboard out of the case and put it on a wood surface. The same happened, I could still get power to my external hard drive but it would not boot and no fans were spinning?

Also to mention, I do not have another power supply but I am almost certain that there is something wrong with the one I have as everything else appears to be working. However, the fans are not working when connected to the motherboard so could this be a motherboard failure even though the ports are getting power, or is it a power supply failure? Thank you for the help, I hope this isn't to amateur of me or an obvious mistake.

fannatick · May 28, 2013

This is tough. Are you sure the heat sink is correctly and securely installed? When I installed my 212+ I couldn't mount it one way because it kept shorting out my mobo. If nothing powers on, even for a second, I would tend to lean towards the power supply. If you don't have another one or can't get another one just for testing, I guess you would have to RMA it.

Dom09 · May 28, 2013

I don't have my evo 212 yet, so I am just using the standard intel one that came with the processor to see if everything worked (good thing I did check) and it seems pretty standard to install, I have checked and it seems to be ok. While the motherboard is out of the case, I could try and take a picture it that would help? I could try putting the fan in a different way round?

fannatick · May 28, 2013

If you can take some pictures and upload them, that would be great.

bikeordie1 · May 28, 2013

Does ANYTHING happen when you press power to boot? It may be a stupid question but perhaps the power button on your case is not connected to the MB or connected incorrectly?

bikeordie1 · May 28, 2013

Reason i ask if the power button is connected and to the right header, is your MB supports charging of USB devices when the system is off. This would light up your external devices even if you've failed to initiate a boot in the first place.

Dom09 · May 28, 2013

I have moved the fan position and (sorry for the bad quality) these are the pictures of the fan. I can also get some of the 24 pin connection and 8 pin, if you would like?

Sorry for the long time before the reply, I was sorting out the pictures.

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Edit: I do have similar quality pictures of the connectors but I am 99% sure that they are in correctly.

Dom09 · May 28, 2013

When I press the power button, nothing happens, it stays the same. I flipped the connector around in case I put it the wrong way round but still, when I press the power button, nothing happens, no fans move, no lights come one, just the external hard drive that stays on. Could this be the front port connector of the power switch then? I could attempt at taking a picture (although, as you can probably see, they aren't the best quality)?

Also to add, I don't think my motherboard supports charging when the system is off.

bikeordie1 · May 28, 2013

Gigabyte lists - GIGABYTE On/Off Charge™ for USB devices
http://www.gigabyte.com/products/product-page.aspx?pid=4144#ov

So it seems that's what your seeing when your external HD lights up. Not that the system is partially booting/turning on

Dom09 · May 28, 2013

So does that mean that the power supply is ok? I just need to check the power switch connector? But surely, when I turn the power supply on, its fan would move or something would turn on?

Just to update, I have tried the power switch again, it is definitely correct, I tried both ways, and still nothing.

Dom09 · May 28, 2013

If I got another power supply, would that help to identify the problem? As I don't have another power supply, is there another way to test if the power supply is failing?

fannatick · May 28, 2013

Yes, that should tell us if it's the power supply or something with the motherboard.

Also, did you double/triple check the connections, like the motherboard connections?

Dom09 · May 28, 2013

I have checked and changed the connections about 5 times each, I hope they are right. I could send pictures of all of the connections if that would help? I think I might need to buy another power supply then and use that. Would anyone have suggestions of a cheap power supply I could use? I don't want to spend too much on this.

Dom09 · May 28, 2013

Also to ask, if the power supply (the new one I got) still didn't work, what the problem be? The motherboard? If so, would that mean that my parts would be dead in some way? Sorry to ask all of these questions but I would just like to know if I may end up sending back all of my parts if the motherboard of power supply is broken. I hope not!

fannatick · May 28, 2013

You could always pick up an Antec power supply (depending on which video card you'll be adding in the future).

If you get a new power supply and it still doesn't boot, then it would most likely point to the motherboard. In that case, you would RMA the motherboard and wait until you got the new one to test it.

fannatick · May 28, 2013

You could always pick up an Antec power supply (depending on which video card you'll be adding in the future).

If you get a new power supply and it still doesn't boot, then it would most likely point to the motherboard. In that case, you would RMA the motherboard and wait until you got the new one to test it.

Dom09 · May 28, 2013

I was thinking of adding a GTX 660 ti or radeon hd 7950 so I would need about 600w. For now, I could always try to borrow a power supply and test that. If, though, it was the motherboard, would the parts currently installed be ok?

fannatick · May 28, 2013

If the motherboard is dead, they would send you a new one (RMA), in which case your parts should work. If you're referring to your parts being affected if your motherboard is dead, they shouldn't be but you'd be able to test everything when you get a new power supply to test, then if that doesn't work, get a new motherboard.

Dom09 · May 28, 2013

Thank you so much. So first, get a new power supply and test the system. If it works then it was the power supply that was faulty, if not, then it is probably the motherboard. I am 99% sure that my building has been fine, I think it is the parts. This is my first system though so I do hope that I built it correctly! Thank you very much fannatick, I assume that you are an experienced builder, you've been really helpful!

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