New Build - Power light flickers, but system won't turn on.

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stlshawgo

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Jul 18, 2014
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I have a freshly built mini-ITX system that I finally got fully assembled. In my first attempt to turn on the system, I got a flicker from the power-LED, then nothing. I got it to power up once by unplugging every unnecessary hardware from the PSU and trying again, but when I turned it off and back on again, I got the same flicker followed by nothing.

I'm a little stumped on this one.

My hardware involved:

PCPartPicker part list: http://pcpartpicker.com/p/NxzFbv

CPU: Intel Core i3-4130T 2.9GHz Dual-Core Processor ($127.98 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: ASRock H97M-ITX/AC Mini ITX LGA1150 Motherboard ($88.98 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($82.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Crucial MX100 256GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($109.99 @ Amazon)
Storage: Western Digital Caviar Green 1TB 3.5" 5400RPM Internal Hard Drive ($68.00 @ Amazon)
Case: Cooler Master Elite 130 Mini ITX Tower Case ($34.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Corsair CX 430W 80+ Bronze Certified Semi-Modular ATX Power Supply ($29.99 @ Newegg)

My power supply should be plenty.

So far I've tried:

- Re-seating everything plugged into the mobo. (Ram, Power, Fans)
- Unplugging everything unnecessary to power on
- Ran the paperclip test on the PSU and it was successful
- Tried with only one stick of RAM and then the other

I started running through this Sticky: http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/261145-31-perform-steps-posting-post-boot-video-problems

I do have a question about #2 and the CPU power connector. My PSU CPU cable is 8-pin, but my mobo CPU plug is only 4-pin. The sticky describes what to do if the opposite is true. I've read that it's ok to just plug in half of the 8-pin PSU plug, but I don't know if this may be my problem. I thought my board and PSU were compatible.
 
Solution
JeckeL




That's nice but the one that OP linked ( http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139049&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-_-na-_-na-_-na&cm_sp=&AID=10446076&PID=3938566&SID= ) does NOT split as you can see in the photos, it's a solid 8 pin connector, and the specs even list it as "1 x 8pin EPS12V CPU" instead of "1 x 4+4 CPU12V" which is what the specs say for ones that DO split...

OP, does yours split? Because the one listed in the link does not. And I can't see how it would be possible to plug half of a solid 8pin into a 4pin, if you could do that there would be no need to make the 4+4 split...
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JeckeL

JeckeL

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I'm not familiar with mini ITX, but does your ATX power supply fit inside that case properly? I would have assumed only mini ITX psu's would fit properly inside but like I said i've never seen or used any mini itx cases, boards, psu's, etc



So from the start you've had half of the 8-pin PSU connector plugged into the 4-pin on the mobo? I didn't even think that was possible but I've never tried it... I've seen situations where PSU's have two 4-pin connectors so you can either use a single 4-pin or two of them side by side but not the other way around
 
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Dunlop0078

Dunlop0078

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It is perfectly fine to use the 4 pin thats why it splits bc some mobos use 4 pin some use 8. Do u have motherboard speaker to hear the bios beeps? Try useing only one stick of ram. If that doesnt work and u have everything installed properly its probably a bad mobo or psu. Did you make sure to take off any extra standoffs in your case before installing the mobo there could be a standoff touching the bottom of the mobo shorting it out.
 
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Dunlop0078

Dunlop0078

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The cx 430 has a 4x4pin auxiliary power connecter so it supports both 4 and 8pin auxiliary power connectors.
 
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Dunlop0078

Dunlop0078

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I own it i can post a picture if u would like.
 
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JeckeL

JeckeL

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That's nice but the one that OP linked ( http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139049&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-_-na-_-na-_-na&cm_sp=&AID=10446076&PID=3938566&SID= ) does NOT split as you can see in the photos, it's a solid 8 pin connector, and the specs even list it as "1 x 8pin EPS12V CPU" instead of "1 x 4+4 CPU12V" which is what the specs say for ones that DO split...

OP, does yours split? Because the one listed in the link does not. And I can't see how it would be possible to plug half of a solid 8pin into a 4pin, if you could do that there would be no need to make the 4+4 split connectors...


 
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Solution
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stlshawgo

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Jul 18, 2014
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It does come with a solid 8-pin connector, not two 2x2s. I have it plugged into the 4-pin CPU plug on the mobo and it seems like a pretty firm connection. I've read in other forums that it's ok to do that, but this is the first time I've run into that issue. I've only ever seen 8-pin plugs on motherboards.

The case comes with four screw-in standoffs that I got pretty tight before installing the motherboard. Everything is pretty firm there too and I don't see anything touching anywhere.

The mini-ITX case I purchased is fully compatible with ATX PSUs.
 
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JeckeL

JeckeL

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Have you tried plugging in the other side of the 8 pin connector into the 4 pin plug? the ground wires are all the same, but i'm not sure if any of the 12v wires differ in any way...

 
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stlshawgo

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Jul 18, 2014
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It will only fit in one way. If I turn it around, the mobo screw blocks the plug.

I actually got the system to power on multiple times in a row. Both RAM sticks plugged in along with both hard drives. The only thing I left unplugged is the power for the case fans. Do you think there could be a short in a fan or the motherboard plug? I'm still weirded out by the fact that it works sometimes and doesn't work other times. I still have the 8-pin CPU power cable plugged into the 4-pin mobo plug.
 
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stlshawgo

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Jul 18, 2014
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Bottom line: beginner's error I think? I haven't put a machine together in quite awhile. For some reason the fans were in fact preventing it from powering on I think. I had the fans plugged into the cable coming from the PSU with MOLEX and a motherboard adapter. It freaked out because I had the case fan plugged into a MOLEX power connector and the motherboard both. I'm not sure if that should be a factor, but I've been able to re-create the problem.

I think I'm going to buy one of those two way mobo splitters for the fan cables and eliminate the PSU cable altogether. Just wanted to post this in case someone else runs into a similar problem.
 
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