PC suddenly stuck in 1 second start loop...think it's the mobo...Help!

Ozzy24 · Jan 13, 2014

I have an i7 2600k running on a Gigabyte Z68P-DS3 v2, with a geforce gtx 550 ti that is split between a 32" full hd led (for gaming and movies) and a normal 18.5" led for normal work. Well i was just playing bioshock infinite on my full hd led and suddenly my PC just went dead and then got into a loop of starting for a second (fans spin n light up) n then just dying,starts up for a second n then dies. I tried a working 350W PSU (after taking out my graphics card-I usually use a 500W PSU) and it was doing the same thing. I think it's this mobo I am using, it's a Gigabyte Z68P-DS3 (version 2). I actually replaced it some months back as the previous one wasn't booting and now it looks like this one is refusing to allow the PSU to do its job...did I short it out or something?

Ozzy24 · Jan 13, 2014

I did strip it to bare minimum, tried powering up using alternative RAM and still got nothing. When you say no drives, you mean no DVD disc drive and HDD?

Ozzy24 · Jan 13, 2014

u_gonna_squeal_b4_we_cookya :

I did strip it to bare minimum, tried powering up using alternative RAM and still got nothing. When you say no drives, you mean no DVD disc drive and HDD?

Ozzy24 · Jan 13, 2014

u_gonna_squeal_b4_we_cookya :

I tried unplugging all drives and it still didn't work, then I unplugged all the case wiring and upon re-plugging them I see when I hit the power, the fans light up for like 1/4 of a second and then just dies and now it doesn't try and restart like before. I tried taking out case wiring and jumping it with a metal screw driver and I got the same 1/4 second power to fan before dying so I don't think it's the case wiring. Now, I have to switch the PSU off and on just to get the 1/4 second power jump to the fan before it dies. This is the PSU I am using

http://www.extremepcs.co.za/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=136

It's only 2 years old...used a 500W because my GPU demanded atleast a 400W power supply, not sure if this PSU has surge protection or not though? I did try and jump it initially and it works fine. I jumped it yesterday with a fan and it worked fine, although I hope the PSU is not frying all my mobos? In terms of the RAM I use 2 sticks of 4gig DDR3 each, not sure the voltage but they are the same sticks I used on my old board. However my old board didn't do anything like this, it just stopped booting into windows (it would start and everything as usual, but just refuse to enter windows and kept restarting).
I did reset the CMOS battery and have never overclocked this PC, not sure what could be causing this mobo failure?

Ozzy24 · Jan 14, 2014

u_gonna_squeal_b4_we_cookya :

I have started a claim on my mobo as it is under a 3 year guarantee. Is there anyway to confirm if it has two +12v rails? Yes the GPU does get power from the PSU, however I do have a 6+2 pin PCI-E power cable coming from the PSU and that's what I connect to the GPU, is it possible that despite using these cables directly from the PSU, there is still insufficient wattage? By the way, will these PSU's be a good replacement?

http://www.phoenix-tech.net/SA/Corsair-VS550-PSU.html

http://www.phoenix-tech.net/SA/Corsair-CX500-PSU-.html

I will research the RAM in the mean time.

Ozzy24 · Jan 15, 2014

u_gonna_squeal_b4_we_cookya :

Thanks I am still researching my RAM but I wanted to ask you, when my PC died suddenly and started this issue, I was playing Bioshock Infinite in 1920x1080 resolution. Before I used to stick to a 1280 x 768 res because my small monitor couldn't support better resolutions till I got my full HD. Could playing with this res have triggered this whole thing?

Ozzy24 · Jan 16, 2014

u_gonna_squeal_b4_we_cookya :

Ozzy24 :

It is possible but I highly doubt it. 1280x768 (sometimes called 720p+ or WXGA and is actually considered high definition as well) does use less GPU computing power than 1080p but the difference in actual power from the PSU wouldn't be that much different. Your GPU would still be pulling about the same watts and amps from the PSU in 720p+ than in 1080p. This is because in a lower resolution, your GPU will be producing more frames per second while in a higher resolution the GPU will be using the same amount of computational power to produce less frames per second. You would have to play a very old game that doesn't use up the entire GPU and run it in a very low resolution to make a noticeable difference. If you are playing BF3 or Crysis 3, for example, you are probably using close to 98% or 99% of your GTX 550 in both of those resolutions regardless of detail or effects such as AA and AF.

Ah ok thanks, good to know!I have researched both my RAM sticks and can confirm both are 1.5v. So it looks like the weak point of this whole rig and the probable cause is the PSU, just waiting on the mobo to be replaced now by the PC shop I got it at and then going to stick a Corsair CX500 in there.

Ozzy24 · Jan 16, 2014

u_gonna_squeal_b4_we_cookya :

Thanks I will definitely look into a power strip with a surge protector. I do remember that recently when unplugging my power strip that powered my PC from its extension, a couple times I heard an electrical buzz saw a bit of sparks so this may have affected the PSU somehow, but again, thanks for all your advise thus far I have learnt a great deal in a short amount of time!

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