New PC build problems--could use a little direction.

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walshj99

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Dec 3, 2012
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I completed my first build yesterday. Here are the specs:

i5-4690k
ASRock z97 Pro4
Nvidia GeForce 760 tf 2GB
EVGA 500W 80+ psu
Asus CD/DVD optical drive
1TB WEsterd Digital Blue HDD
128 Sandisk SSD
Asus wireless router
BenQ GL2460 24" monitor
CMStorm keyboard/mouse combo
Corsair Spec-03 case

Issues during build:
I had purchased a Noctua NH-L9i cpu cooler to replace the stock cpu fan. However, I couldn't get anything to power up when I breadboxed the build. I went back to the stock cpu and it worked fine. I switched back to the noctua and--nothing. I'm back to the stock CPU. (If it matters--intel had wrapped the coprds around the fan so tightly that they were resting on the blades and preventing them from spinning. I had to loosen them and use ties to hold them away from the blades.)

Here are the symptoms I need to fix:

First symptom: the computer doesn't want to start if I move it. I double and triple checked the power connections last night and everything seems seated correctly. No lose connections on the mobo or anything. Ditto the plug from the psu and the electrical outlet. When that happens, I have to hold the start button down for a few seconds.

Second symptom: no sound. Neither the monitor (connected through the back panel i/o) nor the front speaker jack (which I tried to use with headphones that are in working order) are able to get any sound. Windows thinks that Realtek is playing sound, though. I tried to troubleshoot it last night and it told me "this device is working properly.")

Third symptom: the psu fan seems pretty loud to me. Granted, my other computer has a dinky 300W psu, so maybe I'm just not used to it.

If anybody can point me in the right troubleshooting direction. I'd appreciate any advice you've got.
 
Solution
shortstuff_mt
There is a troubleshooting checklist in the stickies at the top of the forum for this type of problem. It sounds like an issue with the motherboard shorting if it works sometimes, but doesn't start when moved. Are you sure there is a motherboard standoff under each hole in the motherboard and that there are no extra standoffs that don't line up with a hole in the motherboard. I would perform all the steps in the troubleshooting checklist to narrow down what's causing the problem. There's also a link to the checklist in my signature.
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FoxVoxDK

FoxVoxDK

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When you breadboxed the build, did you do so on a mildly soft surface, did you by accident crush or bend any soldering points or otherwise on the bottom of the motherboard?

Is the CMOS battery properly seated and in good contact with its...well, proper contacts. :p

For the headphone jack on the front of the cabinet to work, the HD Audio connector (from the cabinet/case) must be properly seated on the motherboard.

Could you snap a quick picture of the connections from the cabinet to the motherboard pins? "Power" "Reset" "HDD LED" and so forth.
 
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walshj99

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I bread boxed it on the mobo box. The CMOS seemed properly seated, although unless it's falling out or askew somehow, I don't know that I would know a problem if I looked at it.

And I'm at work but I can snap a pic when I get home.
 
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shortstuff_mt

shortstuff_mt

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There is a troubleshooting checklist in the stickies at the top of the forum for this type of problem. It sounds like an issue with the motherboard shorting if it works sometimes, but doesn't start when moved. Are you sure there is a motherboard standoff under each hole in the motherboard and that there are no extra standoffs that don't line up with a hole in the motherboard. I would perform all the steps in the troubleshooting checklist to narrow down what's causing the problem. There's also a link to the checklist in my signature.
 
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Solution
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walshj99

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Thanks you, this is extremely helpful. I will take a look after work.
 
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brik94

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It was both but fixed. I assume it was a loose wire and I double checked everything and found nothing. Found that taking it apart, putting it back together fixed everything. Found out I connected my front speaker jack connector thing into the wrong port and that fixed that.
 
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walshj99

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OK, this fixed the problem. There was one standoff that I'd missed. Once I got it in and re-secured all of my connections, I have no more power problems and I'm getting sound from the front and back audio jacks when I plug in my headphones.

Thanks for pointing me in the right direction. I wasn't having issues with booting up, so I would have completely missed that thread if you hadn't mentioned it.
 
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