I think my motherboard is shorting on the case

Oliversin · Dec 27, 2013

My computer keeps going into a boot loop which can happen any time. Sometimes the boot loops go on forever and sometimes only a few times but it can occur while in windows, before the startup and before bios etc

I originally thought it was my motherboard that was faulty, so I got it replaced...it kept boot looping. So I thought it was my PSU, I also replaced that but it still happened. I tried using 1 stick of RAM etc. No luck. I tried reflashing my bios to the latest version but the boot loop persisted.

I have come to a conclusion that it's the case shorting my board out somehow. I am using standoffs and screwing the board onto them. I tried my set up out of the case on a cardboard box and it seemed ok, however I did not test it out of case for too long. As soon as I placed it back in, it would go back into its random cut outs again.

My current solution was using the anti static plastic that the motherboard came in, that I placed over the standoffs and screwed the board directly on top of it. It worked for most of the day (8 hours) but then it suddenly went back into its boot loop.

I really cannot figure this out! Please help. My set up is below;

I7 4770k ( with stock cooler)
Gigabyte z87m-d3h
Cool master GX 650w (haswell ready) PSU
GTX 670
Corsair XMS3 DDR3 1333mhz 16gb
Sandisk Extreme SSD 128gb
Fractal core 1000 case

lonewolf7 · Dec 27, 2013

I think its your Case Electronics is something to do with it. Specifically the front panel wiring of the case. Put the Mb back in the Case and try to remove all the front panel wires from MB,(PWR, RESET, HDD,LED), and short the MB PWR pins with a screw driver to start the PC, see what happen.

And try to borrow another PSU to test.

tyranthoth · Dec 27, 2013

I would agree it has to do with wiring somewhere make sure nothing is touch the board or to lose, hanging onto the mob, as lonewolf said check front panel wires and so on.

Oliversin · Dec 27, 2013

lonewolf7 :

This is the second PSU I have tried so it's definitely not the PSU. I will try the front panel wiring solution you mentioned and post my results. Thank you.

Tradesman1 · Dec 27, 2013

and remember each plug from the FP has a Positive (hot wire) and a Ground and has to be plugged in correctly

Oliversin · Dec 28, 2013

So I doubled checked the front panel connections and all seemed fine. The PC worked for a good 5 hours but went into the annoying shut down and unable to boot again. Maybe I should get hold of a new case? It wouldn't be a cpu issue? My idle temps were 25-30c , and max load temp up to 60c...so they seemed fine.

Tradesman1 · Dec 28, 2013

Can pull the guts and bench it, have a guide that might help here:

http://www.tomshardware.com/faq/id-1753671/bench-troubleshooting.html

lonewolf7 · Dec 28, 2013

Did you do the test inside the case without front panel wires connected ? And most CM's PSU's are not trusted unit, but not all. Specifically I wouldn't trust your PSU. Its a TIER 4 PSU, not Recommend for stressful situations. May not be able to put out full rated power above room temperature, and may slightly fail to meet ATX specs.

So try another known good working PSU and another case. And how did you check the front panel wires ?

Oliversin · Dec 28, 2013

I can't see why it would be the psu, as I have tried with another PSU too. I t would boot down from around 1% load.

I rechecked led the connections for he FP and all is in correct ports but haven't tried it with them all unplugged and the screw driver method yet.

Tradesman - will try this method of benching it all.

Thanks all

Tradesman1 · Dec 28, 2013

Keep us updated, I'll be in and out

lonewolf7 · Dec 29, 2013

Try the screw driver method, and keep us posted.

Oliversin · Dec 29, 2013

lonewolf7 :

tried the screwdriver method earlier with all FP cables unplugged. It seems to be working well at the moment, with the system being successfully booted for the past 5 hours. I will give it another 4 or so hours to see if it doesn't hang up on me. Does that mean there is an issue with the PWR button/connector?

Thanks!

lonewolf7 · Dec 29, 2013

It could be, or the whole FP wiring is faulty. So it will be better to replace the FP electronics ASAP, you can contact the vendor, they usually have spares. Or replace the whole case. And keep us posted on how it goes.

Oliversin · Dec 29, 2013

lonewolf7 :

That is quite annoying

I will actually go for a whole new case as this one is quite a squeeze. I got what I paid for I guess...so I think I will pay a bit more and go for a Corsair 200r case.

Thank you for the help!

lonewolf7 · Dec 29, 2013

I would prefer Corsair Carbide 400R or HAF 912/922.

Tradesman1 · Dec 29, 2013

lonewolf7 :

Oliversin · Dec 29, 2013

lonewolf7 :

Thanks all, will have a look into them!

Also, the computer had been good and health since.

lonewolf7 · Dec 30, 2013

You are welcome.

I think my motherboard is shorting on the case

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