Newly built computer won't turn on, what is wrong?

drunkdog · May 28, 2014

Hi, I don't have much knowlage about computer hardware but I got a friend of mine which as built computers before to help me build my first computer. I was originally just going to upgrade my graphics card and ram but my motherboard and CPU was pretty old so we decided to change them out aswell. now pretty much all the parts are changed out except the power supply, cd-rom, harddrive and cabinet.

We assembeled all the parts and followed the manual for the motherboard pretty closely and everything seems to be correct. However, When we try to turn it on nothing happens except that all the fans turn on for about 1 second. Any idea to what the problem can be?

Someone Somewhere · May 28, 2014

http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/261145-31-perform-steps-posting-post-boot-video-problems

spooky2th · May 28, 2014

Is the CPU power connector plugged in? It is a 4 or 8-pin connector on the MB.

drunkdog · May 28, 2014

Someone Somewhere :

I'll make sure to check if none of these are the problem and come back with the results once I get the time to do it. thanks for the list.

drunkdog · May 28, 2014

spooky2th :

yes it's plugged in. it's a 4 pin but the slot in the motherboard has space for a 8 pin. But it doesn't have do be a 8 pin to work, or does it?

spooky2th · May 28, 2014

You probably need to get an 4 to 8-pin adaptor if your PSU does not have an 8-pin 12V power cable. Can also get a molex adaptor too.

Something like these might work for you:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIA2RP0YW5040&cm_re=4_to_8_pin_power_adapter-_-9SIA2RP0YW5040-_-Product

http://www.amazon.com/StarTech-6in-Pin-Power-Adapter/dp/B002O21XHQ

spooky2th · May 28, 2014

What is your PSU model? Most all new PSU's have an 8-pin power cable that can be used on a MB 12V CPU 4-pin too. They split in half.

drunkdog · May 28, 2014

spooky2th :

http://store.antec.com/Product/power_supply-earthwatts/ea-500d-green/0-761345-27504-0.aspx

I think this is the one I have, the color and sticker on the picture isn't exactly the same as mine but it looks the same and mine says earthwatts model / EA-500D on it so I guess it is the same. It's on of the few remnants of my old computer at this point.

spooky2th · May 28, 2014

According to the specs you should have the second half of an 8-pin CPU power connector. They fit together.

drunkdog · May 29, 2014

spooky2th :

there where a bunch of wires tucked away with strips by the guys who built the old computer for me that I cut loose and I uncovered a 8 pin connector. I tried using that one but still got the same result. Didn't find a second 4 pin.

Update: I also just tried to start the computer with no CPU power connector plugged in and the same is happening. (nothing turns on except the fans for about 1 second). So I guess that supports the theory that it is the CPU which isn't getting power. But not sure what I can do since the 8 pin I found didn't help and there doesn't seem to be a second 4 pin.

Someone Somewhere · May 29, 2014

They should normally be attached together, at most ~10cm from the plug of the cable.

drunkdog · May 29, 2014

Someone Somewhere :

there is no other 4 pin close to the other one. I have looked all over for a second 4 pin but can't find any. only found a 8 pin one, but that didn't help.

spooky2th · May 29, 2014

Try another PSU. It still could be the board or even the CPU. make sure the CPU is seeded right and make sure the 8-pin connector is seeded right too.

If you have a volt meter you could check the voltages from the 8-pin connector and see if there is 12V DC.

drunkdog · May 29, 2014

spooky2th :

I don't have any other PSU's unfortunately, so I can't just try with another one. But it worked perfectly fine on my old parts. Does some parts need more volts? Because that's the only reason I can think of for the PSU not to work on my new ones. And since all the fans get power (even though they still only spinn for 1 second) that must mean that the motherboard get power too (the graphic cards fans spin aswell and they only get power dirctly from the motherboard) so atleast the moherboard works to some degree for sure.

So what I'm most suspicious of at the moment is if it's actually the CPU wich is defect or that I might have damaged it under installation. Since I've heard they can be pretty fragile. I've checked the manuall multiple times and guides on the internet and the CPU looks to be correctly inserted, so does the 8 pin connector. But we (me and my friend who helped me) was not completly sure on exactly how to insert the CPU at the beginning and fumbeled it around a little bit, not much, but I'm starting to worry if we might have damaged it even though we tried to be careful.

I don't really have any other CPU's I can try instead either, except my old one, but I don't think it will be compatible with the motherboard since the old CPU is atleast 5 years old by now.

I'll see if I can test the Voltage from the 8 pin connector though.

spooky2th · May 29, 2014

Could have bent a pin or something with the CPU? Pull it out and look at it with a magnifying glass if you have one. Maybe can straighten out any crooked pins.

drunkdog · May 30, 2014

spooky2th :

Pretty sure I just found the problem. I removed the CPU and there is no pins on the CPU itself but these golden surface areas (best way I can describe it). But ther are bunch of small pins on the motherboard where the CPU touches the motherboard and about 5 of them is slightly bent.

Do I try to fix it? or do I need to buy a new one?

Also, now that the CPU is out, how can I store it without it getting damaged untill I get the motherboard fixed or replaced?

spooky2th · May 30, 2014

You can try to straighten out the pins with a small screw driver, knife or tweezers. I use a magnifying glass to do this.

Keep the CPU in a non metal container, a wooden or cardboard box. The original box would be great.

drunkdog · May 30, 2014

spooky2th :

Well thanks for all the help, it means a lot. I put the CPU and the fan for it together in a plastic bag, the kind you would put your lunch in, and put it in my closet. I keep the fan and CPU stuck togher because the cooling gel has gotten pretty gray and sticky (I guess it's suppose to?) and I don't want it to dry. cause I don't have any cooling gel, the gel wich is on it right now was pre applied on the fans side that touch the CPU.

I'll try and see if I can straighten up the pins, but in the end I think I'm probably gonna have to buy a new one, unless it turns out I got a incredible hidden talent with fixing these sort of things. Sucks to spend a lot of money on something and just break it, but that's just how it went I guess. Atleast I have learned some things.

Again thanks for all the help.

Newly built computer won't turn on, what is wrong?

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