- Mar 27, 2015
- 4
- 0
- 4,510
(may be reformatting nicely soon, but I'm trying to get this issue through ASAP first. ;D......)
Hello fellas.
I am having a pretty annoying problem with my computer, which I cannot solve on my own no matter how much I troubleshoot and look around for info (all the posts I've read so far around the web about related issues basically point to the same stuff: did you plug the PSU in? did you connect all cables? clear CMOS/remove battery/switch RAM around/freeze your motherboard or deep fry it for 2 hours in a large baking pan etc.....)
After noticing my computer was making a lot of noise after moving to the country where everything is eerily quiet, despite it being built using a Fractal Design R4 case, I decided to inspect it and noticed not only the front fan was completely dead (though I haven't went as far as opening it and re-soldering.), the rear fan and (stock) CPU cooler were making clicking noise, and the PSU at the time (Corsair SmartPower-750, which was a rush local purchase because I had the rest of my build already and PSU's can be a whole universe on their own and it seemed to fit the bill at a nice price.) was about as loud as a vacuum cleaner, on top of the fact I tried running a stress-test on my processor which became over-temperature after one minute - leading me to go ahead and splurge a bit since I seemed to have some headroom right now.
So I bought a new PSU (Seasonic X-1250), pair of case fans (Cougar CF-V14HP's) and cooler for my 4790k (Noctua NH-D15) (as well as a set of Logitech Z506 speakers, as my old Z313's too, were making a lot of noise. and that, just by being plugged in. (not related to input or noise.) and, might as well save on shipping costs while I'm ordering something !!.....), which arrived the next day just about 12 hours after shipping. (thanks Newegg. Amazon always takes much longer, when I have to resort to using them. (Canada))
After putting the new pieces in, I noticed my PSU would make a loud clicking noise, the computer would start up, and immediately shut down with another click, so I thought my PSU must've been defective (though it was working perfectly before hooking up to the mobo. and apparently that's either normal or common with this PSU.), which was ruled out by using the pin shorting technique which I'd just learned about. (almost 15 years after building my first computer. rofl.)
So, eventually I'd tried everything I know and could dig up on the internet, as I mentionned, and still don't quite know what could be the problem.
The computer boots now, somehow, after reseating the CPU and HSF a few times, but will automatically shut down within a minute, only to reboot and such over and over again.
I never had a video signal before, but even now, I still don't, despite the computer powering on correctly, whether I use the onboard video or not.
That, coupled to the fact neither my case nor my mobo offer a computer speaker, has me really puzzled about what could be the problem.
I'm 90% sure the RAM has nothing to do with it, as it won't even go into POST and I believe a working computer without RAM will at least get to POST, and last time I fried my CPU (or mobo, don't remember as it's been over 10 years.), I don't recall it powering on at all.
All of which has got me thinking it must be the motherboard. (could have to do with a shorting, but I highly doubt so as I have a mobo-friendly case with a cutout and standoffs, and I tried finding any loose parts or screws and couldn't find or hear anything, so I haven't tried pulling the whole thing out yet as it would take a lot of time and the issue might be easier to find through other means.)
Also, neither Intel nor ASRock have been able to help me any further on this issue at the stage I'm at.
I already have a new mobo coming in (the Fatal1ty Z97X Killer, also by ASRock. looks great on paper, decent reviews, and was 10% off. ;D.......) on priority, just in case, and ASRock has also offered to RMA the board which I pretty much can't do because of it is such a long process and I need to get back on track ASAP, but hopefully I'll be able to find out at least if it is indeed the mobo, or possibly the CPU (or even the RAM) before it gets here.
That being said, I don't have a car, and getting a taxi to town to get it checked would cost me more than buying a new board completely, and I highly doubt any of my neighbours would have any swappable hardware compatible with last year's high-tier technology in a $1500 computer.
.....
Here are the things I've tried, in no particular order:
- Reset the CMOS.
- Take out the battery.
- Tried different RAM slots, and different RAM in different slot combinations. (have 2 sticks.)
- Tried no RAM at all.
- Stripped down to the bare necessary.
- Looked around for loose connections, loose screws, possible shorts or broken components.
- Tried with my old PSU.
- Short-pinned my current PSU which is working 100% fine. (runs for ever without a hitch using that method.)
- Tried different power cords.
- Reseated every single connection and core component.
- Looked under the CPU for any dirt or such, and on the mobo for any broken pins.
- Even tried booting with just the CPU and no heatsink (never know), to see if I could at least get something on the screen. (immediately shut down after 2 seconds of course.)
- Contacted Intel and ASRock support.
- Basically anything you could find in your troubleshooting guide, or any other such resource on the 'net.
- Googled for about 6 hours with every perspective possible of the situation.
- Cursed at ASRock and Fractal Design for not having computer speakers.
- Was even desperate enough to go and cut off one of my spare speakers' wires to hotwire it as a beeper speaker. (ended up not doing it, as per recommendations. apparently NOT a good idea.)
Unfortunately, didn't have the time to order an electrical testing kit along with the mobo as I would need to shop a bit for that alone and I needed to get it in by the 12PM deadline, but I'll try and get the stuff ASAP as it seems it could always be useful. And also, a grounding strap. (read next point.)
Lastly, it MAY have been some static or a short or other electricity-driven phenomenon, as although my best efforts to keep grounded at all times before touching my box's core, apparently you need to touch a NON-painted surface, and everything inside my case was painted, and neither Fractal's manual nor my mobo's build guide made similar statements.
Just learning that now is quite painful, and this is about my 6th or 7th computer I've built by myself. Maybe I should have spent even MORE time reading about computer building and components and electrical theory. (also, had some problems with mounting the HSF as the included manual was frankly a little confusing, and I might've dropped a few screws and also possibly made contact with the mounting bars and other things inside the case, along the putting it on and removing it back and forth in all the wrong ways possible (and constantly trying to keep its base and the heatspreader free from all the dirt I could see floating in the room with my work light.), (first time being forced to change my stock cooler ever. and before, I would've never had the budget to anyway. ;D.......) though nothing serious, as it's mostly all just PCB around the CPU area)
And, lastly for real, when I was cleaning off the thermal paste from the CPU, it was so dry that instead of being wiped off it just caked and fell on the sides like paint, so I thought the liberty of removing the processor and taking care of it to make sure it would not impact the computer in a negative way, so I may have touched something inadvertently at that moment (much before reading about the not being grounded by touching painted surfaces thing.) (though not the CPU's underside or the pins themselves.). Just thought it was worthy of mention, as I'm frankly about to twist my head off at this issue, and I've done a LOT of troubleshooting (even for other people) and parts-swapping and general hardware reading in my life.
(note: cooler is on and fans are working and plugged into the CPU_FAN1 header as should be, as I think a computer will not boot if it doesn't detect some kind of CPU cooling IIRC.)
Well, that's all I can think of for now. On that note, thanks a lot, and hopefully with a bit of real expert(s)'s help I'll be able to enjoy the dedicated soundcard and Proteus Core mouse I have on the way with my new 5.1 setup before Nazeebo gets taken out of the free rotation next week. ;D.......
- blackmoon9
- Essentials
CPU: Intel i7-4790k
Mobo: ASRock Z97 Extreme3
RAM: 2x8GB G.Skill Ripjaws 1600mhz DDR3 modules
PSU: Seasonic X-1250
CPU cooling: Noctua NH-D15
Rest is removed or disconnected currently, except for the GPU which I put in occasionally to double-test for a signal.
(oh gawd. i just noticed Newegg shipped my mobo with Purolator. turns out I apparently mistakenly went for Ground shipping (though I'm 100% sure I chose Express I when I was offered the option.) while having a hard time going through the order process on top of having 2 minutes left to proceed to order, and now it's out of the warehouse. Dx..... WHY, OH WHY !!..........)
Hello fellas.
I am having a pretty annoying problem with my computer, which I cannot solve on my own no matter how much I troubleshoot and look around for info (all the posts I've read so far around the web about related issues basically point to the same stuff: did you plug the PSU in? did you connect all cables? clear CMOS/remove battery/switch RAM around/freeze your motherboard or deep fry it for 2 hours in a large baking pan etc.....)
After noticing my computer was making a lot of noise after moving to the country where everything is eerily quiet, despite it being built using a Fractal Design R4 case, I decided to inspect it and noticed not only the front fan was completely dead (though I haven't went as far as opening it and re-soldering.), the rear fan and (stock) CPU cooler were making clicking noise, and the PSU at the time (Corsair SmartPower-750, which was a rush local purchase because I had the rest of my build already and PSU's can be a whole universe on their own and it seemed to fit the bill at a nice price.) was about as loud as a vacuum cleaner, on top of the fact I tried running a stress-test on my processor which became over-temperature after one minute - leading me to go ahead and splurge a bit since I seemed to have some headroom right now.
So I bought a new PSU (Seasonic X-1250), pair of case fans (Cougar CF-V14HP's) and cooler for my 4790k (Noctua NH-D15) (as well as a set of Logitech Z506 speakers, as my old Z313's too, were making a lot of noise. and that, just by being plugged in. (not related to input or noise.) and, might as well save on shipping costs while I'm ordering something !!.....), which arrived the next day just about 12 hours after shipping. (thanks Newegg. Amazon always takes much longer, when I have to resort to using them. (Canada))
After putting the new pieces in, I noticed my PSU would make a loud clicking noise, the computer would start up, and immediately shut down with another click, so I thought my PSU must've been defective (though it was working perfectly before hooking up to the mobo. and apparently that's either normal or common with this PSU.), which was ruled out by using the pin shorting technique which I'd just learned about. (almost 15 years after building my first computer. rofl.)
So, eventually I'd tried everything I know and could dig up on the internet, as I mentionned, and still don't quite know what could be the problem.
The computer boots now, somehow, after reseating the CPU and HSF a few times, but will automatically shut down within a minute, only to reboot and such over and over again.
I never had a video signal before, but even now, I still don't, despite the computer powering on correctly, whether I use the onboard video or not.
That, coupled to the fact neither my case nor my mobo offer a computer speaker, has me really puzzled about what could be the problem.
I'm 90% sure the RAM has nothing to do with it, as it won't even go into POST and I believe a working computer without RAM will at least get to POST, and last time I fried my CPU (or mobo, don't remember as it's been over 10 years.), I don't recall it powering on at all.
All of which has got me thinking it must be the motherboard. (could have to do with a shorting, but I highly doubt so as I have a mobo-friendly case with a cutout and standoffs, and I tried finding any loose parts or screws and couldn't find or hear anything, so I haven't tried pulling the whole thing out yet as it would take a lot of time and the issue might be easier to find through other means.)
Also, neither Intel nor ASRock have been able to help me any further on this issue at the stage I'm at.
I already have a new mobo coming in (the Fatal1ty Z97X Killer, also by ASRock. looks great on paper, decent reviews, and was 10% off. ;D.......) on priority, just in case, and ASRock has also offered to RMA the board which I pretty much can't do because of it is such a long process and I need to get back on track ASAP, but hopefully I'll be able to find out at least if it is indeed the mobo, or possibly the CPU (or even the RAM) before it gets here.
That being said, I don't have a car, and getting a taxi to town to get it checked would cost me more than buying a new board completely, and I highly doubt any of my neighbours would have any swappable hardware compatible with last year's high-tier technology in a $1500 computer.
.....Here are the things I've tried, in no particular order:
- Reset the CMOS.
- Take out the battery.
- Tried different RAM slots, and different RAM in different slot combinations. (have 2 sticks.)
- Tried no RAM at all.
- Stripped down to the bare necessary.
- Looked around for loose connections, loose screws, possible shorts or broken components.
- Tried with my old PSU.
- Short-pinned my current PSU which is working 100% fine. (runs for ever without a hitch using that method.)
- Tried different power cords.
- Reseated every single connection and core component.
- Looked under the CPU for any dirt or such, and on the mobo for any broken pins.
- Even tried booting with just the CPU and no heatsink (never know), to see if I could at least get something on the screen. (immediately shut down after 2 seconds of course.)
- Contacted Intel and ASRock support.
- Basically anything you could find in your troubleshooting guide, or any other such resource on the 'net.
- Googled for about 6 hours with every perspective possible of the situation.
- Cursed at ASRock and Fractal Design for not having computer speakers.
- Was even desperate enough to go and cut off one of my spare speakers' wires to hotwire it as a beeper speaker. (ended up not doing it, as per recommendations. apparently NOT a good idea.)
Unfortunately, didn't have the time to order an electrical testing kit along with the mobo as I would need to shop a bit for that alone and I needed to get it in by the 12PM deadline, but I'll try and get the stuff ASAP as it seems it could always be useful. And also, a grounding strap. (read next point.)
Lastly, it MAY have been some static or a short or other electricity-driven phenomenon, as although my best efforts to keep grounded at all times before touching my box's core, apparently you need to touch a NON-painted surface, and everything inside my case was painted, and neither Fractal's manual nor my mobo's build guide made similar statements.
Just learning that now is quite painful, and this is about my 6th or 7th computer I've built by myself. Maybe I should have spent even MORE time reading about computer building and components and electrical theory. (also, had some problems with mounting the HSF as the included manual was frankly a little confusing, and I might've dropped a few screws and also possibly made contact with the mounting bars and other things inside the case, along the putting it on and removing it back and forth in all the wrong ways possible (and constantly trying to keep its base and the heatspreader free from all the dirt I could see floating in the room with my work light.), (first time being forced to change my stock cooler ever. and before, I would've never had the budget to anyway. ;D.......) though nothing serious, as it's mostly all just PCB around the CPU area)
And, lastly for real, when I was cleaning off the thermal paste from the CPU, it was so dry that instead of being wiped off it just caked and fell on the sides like paint, so I thought the liberty of removing the processor and taking care of it to make sure it would not impact the computer in a negative way, so I may have touched something inadvertently at that moment (much before reading about the not being grounded by touching painted surfaces thing.) (though not the CPU's underside or the pins themselves.). Just thought it was worthy of mention, as I'm frankly about to twist my head off at this issue, and I've done a LOT of troubleshooting (even for other people) and parts-swapping and general hardware reading in my life.
(note: cooler is on and fans are working and plugged into the CPU_FAN1 header as should be, as I think a computer will not boot if it doesn't detect some kind of CPU cooling IIRC.)
Well, that's all I can think of for now. On that note, thanks a lot, and hopefully with a bit of real expert(s)'s help I'll be able to enjoy the dedicated soundcard and Proteus Core mouse I have on the way with my new 5.1 setup before Nazeebo gets taken out of the free rotation next week. ;D.......
- blackmoon9
- Essentials
CPU: Intel i7-4790k
Mobo: ASRock Z97 Extreme3
RAM: 2x8GB G.Skill Ripjaws 1600mhz DDR3 modules
PSU: Seasonic X-1250
CPU cooling: Noctua NH-D15
Rest is removed or disconnected currently, except for the GPU which I put in occasionally to double-test for a signal.
(oh gawd. i just noticed Newegg shipped my mobo with Purolator. turns out I apparently mistakenly went for Ground shipping (though I'm 100% sure I chose Express I when I was offered the option.) while having a hard time going through the order process on top of having 2 minutes left to proceed to order, and now it's out of the warehouse. Dx..... WHY, OH WHY !!..........)
. If you get any beep codes please let me know!
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