My computer wont turn on suddenly - I am all out of ideas

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thefamous1

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May 1, 2012
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Alright guys, so I built this computer about a year ago and it worked great. And for some reason the other day I go to turn it on and - Nothing. Nothing happened.

At first I thought it was the case power button, so I tried to manually boot the computer by using a screw driver - nothing happened, but I am not sure if I did it correctly (just have to touch the ground and positive pins together right?)

I think my motherboard might be the problem, but I am unsure. There is no LED light on the motherboard - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157279

But when I plug in headphones that light up when they receive power into the motherboard's USB - they light up. If the motherboard is bad, but was still receiving power would it be possible for the USB inputs to be functional while the motherboard would still not function correctly?


I'm pretty sure the power supply is fine as the motherboard is getting power, so it leaves me with either the motherboard or the CPU (i5 2500k) as the issue. Any advice?

Thanks
 
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markwp

markwp

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Jan 22, 2013
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Check to be sure both the 24 pin and the 4/8 pin ATX plugs are firmly seated both on the board and at the psu (if modular). To jump on the m/b, the header pins for the power switch need to be continually shorted for the rig to stay on. If you short them momentarily, you only get power while they are shorted - your power switch is like a light switch - click on (continuing contact) click off (contact broken).

You can do the same thing by using the reset switch on the power header, just hold down the reset (it's momentary contact - like the screwdriver - when you release the switch, the connection is broken).

Mark
 
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thefamous1

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May 1, 2012
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The 24 and 8 pins are good and my PSU is not modular. When this first happened I thought it was my case (it was kind of old/not that great). I bought a Corsair 300R and received it today (needed a new case anyways) hooked up only the basics.

When jumping the motherboard with a screwdriver I have had no luck which makes me think it is the motherboard, but then like I said I am not sure as the onboard USB ports are still giving out power - but I am not sure how significant this is as I don't know if a motherboard would not boot but still power peripherals via USB.

Also, I did buy my i5 2500K used and my MOBO was purchased brand new a year ago.
 
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markwp

markwp

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Jan 22, 2013
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Ah! Try breadboarding the m/b outside of the new case. Could be that you missed a standoff or the i/o is not seated correctly and you have a short. If you get it to boot outside the case (put the m/b on a non-conductive surface), then you need to find where you are getting the short - typically a missing standoff or contact at the rear with the i/o ports.
 
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thefamous1

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Yea I think I will do that. I will try to boot outside of the case and also test my PSU with another PC. I do not have "known good" motherboard/CPU of the same chipset so kind of unlucky there.

Good 'old computer PC problems lol... ah, when this is fixed though it will be satisfying.
 
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thefamous1

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Thought I had it figured out. Still no luck, but some interesting results.

Came home last night and started to tinker with it and somehow I was able to jump it with the screwdriver. The system turned on and was working fine. I decided to attach the front panel power button and turned the system off and then turned it on. I was able to do this a number of times and it seemed like there were no issues.

This morning I go to turn on the computer with the power button and - nothing. It is now back in its current state and it does not even attempt to turn on.

Does this seem like a power supply issue? When it was running last night it was fine.
 
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thefamous1

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May 1, 2012
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Unfortunately the only PSU I have available is in an old HP. I think I'll purchase one tonight, I've been wanting to pick up a modular power supply.

Kind of a shame, I bought this one brand new a year and a half ago

Corsair CX600
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139028

I think I'll pick up a different brand this time.
 
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markwp

markwp

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Jan 22, 2013
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Corsair is usually pretty reliable, but there have been reports of capacitor issues in the CX series. IMO, the best bang for the buck today are the XFX psu's - made by Seasonic, priced right and available in various sizes both modular and not.

Mark
 
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thefamous1

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Still no luck. I bought a Seasonic PSU and finally had time to swap it in today and went to turn it on and nothing happened. The fans spin for a split second after trying to power it up, but the lose power. Not sure what to think now.. maybe a mobo issue.
 
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markwp

markwp

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Jan 22, 2013
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Sounds like the m/b at this point. It would be very odd for the cpu to just crap out, but the shorting of the power pins might cause the m/b to go, especially if you inadvertently bridged more than just the power and ground with the screwdriver.

Mark
 
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thefamous1

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May 1, 2012
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markwp

markwp

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Jan 22, 2013
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I'm pretty partial to Asus. I run the older P8Z68V-LX with my 2500k, and I run the AMD version LX on my wife's rig. If I had it to do over again, I'd step up to the LK version you are looking at just for the better VRM and power phasing. Good choice IMO.

Mark
 
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jb6684

jb6684

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Feb 20, 2011
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Before you go for a new motherboard, I didn't see this combo tried..... (My Logic: the power on switch in the old case might be bad)

- install the New power supply in the New Case....
- install the MB
- give it a try!

(I'm not much of the fan of the "screw driver as a switch" method...)

If that works, swap in the Old powersupply to see if your still good...

 
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thefamous1

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May 1, 2012
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Got the new motherboard and still no luck.... ah man this has been a tiring effort thus far. The fan spins for a split second and then shuts off and continuous attempts to power the PC result in nothing. I guess it is the CPU.

Not sure if I should go with an Ivy Bridge since I already have the Asus motherboard, or return it and go for Haswell.
 
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