PSU/Mobo/CPU Dead? In progress...

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scirto

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Mar 29, 2015
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I've done a lot of reading on here and elsewhere on the good old Internets, because I'm a big proponent of searching for the answer before asking for the answer. Here's the issue I've got so far and the steps I've taken in an attempt to resolve it.

Past couple of weeks, my PC would randomly hard power reboot. Not a good sign, but I chalked it up to either a bad PSU or bad OC. Returned everything to stock, didn't notice any issues for a couple days. Not noticing issues for a couple days may be a red herring, as I then got a new case in the mail and attempted to rebuild...

Started to move my stuff from a BitFenix Prodigy M to a Raidmax Hyperion, taking the normal building precautions. I went a little gunslinger and just assembled the whole thing (minus GPU) before testing. Predictably, the PC would not boot. I'd get power for as long as my index finger stayed depressed on the power button, then it would shut down. It wasn't steady power, it seemed to fluctuate -- so no POST, no BIOS.

So I went barebones at this point (CPU, CPU fan, one stick of RAM) and tried again. Same result. First step from here, test the PSU (a four year old Rosewill 750W Bronze). I shorted the green wire and got a response from the fan. I tried testing some 12v peripherals on the PSU and was getting inconclusive results. At this point, instead of fully testing my PSU by spending time and money on testing equipment I didn't have, I decided to just replace it. Bought a Corsair 750W CXM (for now).

Still in a barebones state, I go to test again. Bottom line, same basic result. I'd hit the power button and I'd get a flash of power then dead. Oddly enough, I seemed to get a slightly longer period of power with the new PSU... So it's possible that the issue wasn't isolated to a single component. Still no POST.

Sure, this PSU could be DOA, but I'm hedging my bet that it isn't the case. I do have my previous mobo still, so I'm going to breadbox with that next. That should help me isolate mobo vs. CPU at least. Then again, if I get no POST or BIOS, it could still technically be the PSU...

Anyway, any input or advice as I continue to debug is appreciate... Including what might have caused the issue. Relevant specs and components are below:

CPU: i7 4770k
Mobo: Gigabyte G1 Gaming Z97 MARX
PSU: (1) Rosewill 750W Bronze, (2) Corsair CXM 750W
RAM: 4x4 Gskill (1x4 in testing)
 
Solution
1LiquidPC
If your older MSI board is powering up(even with 3 beeps), and Gigabyte board won't stay on, I'd suspect a board fault. If CPU contacts look bent/burned, it could be a failsafe turning off PSU unless your holding down button. I suppose its possible that your power button hold down that caused burnt look of contact pins.
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scirto

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Mar 29, 2015
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A little update to my own thread...

I removed my CPU from my Gigabyte mobo and went to inspect the contacts. Saw some gunk on them (corrosion? Thermal? Burnt?) Very carefully attempted to clean the contacts with success, so the processor seems to be intact.

I took a look at the socket on the Gigabyte and I definitely see some bent pins... Shelving that knowledge for now, as I don't know definitively if that's the issue. I don't know if I'd see these symptoms as a result of that, but I'm not discounting it.

I pulled out my MSI Z87-G45 Gaming to breadbox with it. Checked the pins there, everything looks good. Seated the processor, attached the ATX connectors from the newer Corsair PSU. No RAM, but that's okay. I just want to see sustained power. I shorted the power switch on the MSI and whaddya know... Three long beeps and sustained power. Those beeps I guess mean error with memory, which makes sense. I'm ruling the CPU and PSU as the points of failure.

I reseated the CPU back into the Gigabyte, wondering if the cleaned contacts were the issue. Same original result, so no fix.

At this point, I'm going to just have to see what I can do about these bent pins on the Gigabyte, reseat, and retest. If that doesn't fix the issue, what's the most likely problem?

1) Issue with a connector on the mobo to the 24 pin psu?
2) Issue with a connector on the mobo to the 8 pin PSU?
3) Blown capacitor?
4) Witchcraft?
5) Other?
 
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1LiquidPC

1LiquidPC

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Oct 11, 2014
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If your older MSI board is powering up(even with 3 beeps), and Gigabyte board won't stay on, I'd suspect a board fault. If CPU contacts look bent/burned, it could be a failsafe turning off PSU unless your holding down button. I suppose its possible that your power button hold down that caused burnt look of contact pins.
 
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Solution
S

scirto

Reputable
Mar 29, 2015
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4,510
Selected the best answer (well, only answer) because it was correct.

When I went back to straighten the pins back out as really my last option, I reseated the CPU and got a series of rapid beeps. Progress.

Looked up the beep pattern and it was either a power error or memory error. I had no RAM inserted, so easy to figure out the next step... Inserted a stick of RAM into the first slot, powered up. Got sustained power, powered down by itself after a couple seconds, then powered itself back up with a single short beep. I manually powered it down then up, got no power fluctuation, and a single short beep. That beep is the one I needed, as that's a successful boot on this Gigabyte board.

Going to touch up the pins one last time and I think I'm all set. Hopefully someone can use my debugging to help them with similar issues. Thanks for the input best answer, as it validated my thought process!
 
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