Help! I don't know what's wrong.

Tsunamy

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Jun 27, 2014
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About 3 days ago I was on my computer when suddenly it just shuts off out of nowhere, it seemed like a power surge but I'm not sure as my dad recently gave me an APC surge protector and I've only been using it for a week or so, never had this happen before and it was late, so I decided I'd figure it out in the morning. When I woke up and tried turning my computer on, nothing happened. I opened it up and pressed the power button to see what was going on, nothing. I heard a low buzzing noise from the psu so I went online and ordered a new one. I assumed that mine was dead after browsing the internet for a bit. It came in and I replaced it today. I plugged in all the new wires and modular cables etc. just like before. I was excited and ready to get back to my normal life. When I click the power button... Nothing. That same heart crushing low buzzing sound. I've tried reseating the ram, taking one stick of ram out, taking out the video card, checking the pins on my cpu for bent pins. I'm not sure what else there is to do now. I built the computer about 8 months ago.

Here are my parts
Motherboard: MSI Z87-G45 Gaming
CPU: Intel Core i5-4670K Quad-Core
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 Evo
Video Card: MSI N770 TF 2g
RAM: Corsair Vengeance Red 16gb (8x2)
HDD: WD 1tb
PSU (Originally installed): OCZ ZT Series 650w fully modular
PSU (That I bought to test if it was the PSU gone bad): NZXT. 550w hale82 v2

If you have any ideas please feel free to share as soon as possible!
 

Tsunamy

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Jun 27, 2014
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There's just a power button that doesn't seem to actually do anything. It's called APC Back-UPS RS LCD 700 Master Control UPS
Also I've tried plugging the computer directly into the wall socket, and a wall socket in another room. Don't ask why I'm just trying everything
 

Tsunamy

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Jun 27, 2014
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A lamp worked in the socket for both the wall and the power strip. I pressed the circuit breaker reset on the back, lamp still works fine just like before. Computer still makes low buzz for a second then nothing. The power supply was set to on every time I tried to run it.
 

Tsunamy

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Jun 27, 2014
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I saw something about cmos online but when I went looking on my motherboard I couldn't find a clr_cmos thing or anything similar to it. I'm not sure it has one
 


I try and not be in too big a hurry. could be something really odd, could be a fried board. could be a cpu..........????

OP............. this machine was okay prior to the ups being involved?
 

Tsunamy

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Jun 27, 2014
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Yea it was running perfectly fine before using the new power strip. Had been running for 8 months solid nothing like this. Occasionally the ram would act up and say that all the rams being used but then a restart would fix that.
 

Tsunamy

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Jun 27, 2014
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Once in a while the ram would be using all 16 gb out of nowhere, and when I checked the task manager nothing was there. No reason at all. I'd close everything and the ram would still be at 100% So I'd just restart and let it sit for a while or run a boot time scan on avast antivirus and it'd all be fine after that back to the normal ram usage, and I could look in the task manager and see exactly where every last percentage is being used.
 

Tsunamy

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Jun 27, 2014
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How would I reformat? and what is maggotware? My computer won't even turn on at this point.
 
that hitting the power on switch and all you now get is that hummm from the psu to me don't sound good like its trying to supply power to the board and cant or its hitting a dead short look over the board for cracked , leaking or swollen capacitor's or any funny discoloration [you may have to remove the board to look at the bottom side] sniff around to check a burnt type smell check the best you can under th e vrm's heatsinks for same as cap's
 

westom

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Mar 30, 2009
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Most every answer is possible. And maybe another 50 more. You replaced a PSU on nothing but wild speculation. Every other answer is based in that same wild speculation. Consider a completely different strategy.

Two strategies are shotgunning (replacing good parts until something works) and 'follow the evidence'. This second solution means collecting hard facts. Make a conclusion only after facts (ie numbers) exist. In your case, that means one full minute with a digital meter. By following some specific directions. Numbers from six wires will result in a reply that identifies or exonerates each component - without wild speculation. So that a failed part is the only part replaced.

Again, you can continue to shotgun. Or get a meter and ask for directions. To find the defect before replacing anything. By taking less time. And also learn how a computer really works.


 

Tsunamy

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Jun 27, 2014
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Where would I get such a meter and if I did would you be able to teach me about it and/or direct me towards someone/a video that could teach me about it

 

westom

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3.5 digit multimeters are sold in any electronics store (ie Radio Shack, Maplin), in big box stores (Walmart, Home Depot, Lowes), Harbor Freight, and sometimes even in grocery stores. Typically can be found for less than $20 and sometimes for only $5. Follow specific directions provided only if you request it. Numbers from six wires are chock full of information that can be provided after those numbers are posted.




 

Stypher

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Sep 9, 2012
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I had a somewhat similar issue. Would a multi-meter help? of course, however there are a few things you can do without one before anything.

1. First take your mobo out of the case
A. Look for any blown capacitors (those things that look like round drums, there should be many)
B. To identify a blown capacitor, just look at the top and sides. If there is a broken section, its broken. If the top of a capacitor is sorta bulging, its a good indicator there is a short on your board.
2. Look all over your mobo and look for any small burns or scorch marks.
3. A hard cmos reset might be a good thing to try, i read before you couldn't find a cmos reset button. You can use a hard reset method. Easier to just watch this video for that https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rdHH9KrceR0#t=91
5. If possible, record a sound file of your computer after you hit the power button, might be missing something.
 

westom

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One of the first things we must teach new techs. Never make changes until after facts are collected. How to exponentially complicated a problem? Disconnect any wire or remove a motherboard. With each new unknown created by changes, problem complexity increases exponentially. Even static electric damage can result. A meter provides major information without risking or disconnecting anything.
 

Stypher

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That is exactly opposite of what new techs should do. If you actually read the earlier posts, he isn't proficient with computer hardware side of things. To ask someone who doesnt know how to use a multi meter to try and figure out where the power isnt flowing ,is terrible. Your assuming he has your own techincal know-how. He should break it down into simple steps and learn more about his rig. Break it down and rebuild it. Takes 15 mins and will give a better idea of what is wrong as he trouble shoots his parts one by one. New techs should learn to do it right and not look for a short cut.