Computer is completely dead, won't boot at all, help please!

tinkeng

Junior Member
Feb 28, 2010
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Yesterday I assembled my new rig. i5 2500K with an Asus P8P67 motherboard. I've done a slight processor overclock (4.0GHz) but no other tampering. There were no initial problems and everything was stable, including massive file transfers and gaming (The Witcher 2). Two times today I got a POST message saying that the CPU Fan had failed which caused a reboot. I went into BIOS and saw that temperatures were normal and that the CPU Fan was indeed spinning as it should. I figured it was a glitch. I went into Windows and used the computer for hours. The next time I booted, the error message appeared again, only that this time after the reboot the system wouldn't start at all. No POST, no nothing.

When I press the power switch there is a very small sound of... something. I only hear this when the case is fully open and I pay attention. I figure it's a normal part of the startup. The memory LED flashes red for just an instant, and then nothing. It's all dead. The fans don't start spinning, the screen won't show anything, I never get to POST. If I push the power switch again I don't even get the memory LED flashing or the small sound, it's just completely dead. If I pull the power cord and wait a while, It'll go back to producing the sound and the LED flashes again, once. When the cord is connected to the PSU, the standby LED is a constant green, indicating that the mobo has power.

I would be very surprised if it's a case of an overheated CPU. The system never crashed this morning, I closed it down myself. If the processor was overheated, the system would've crashed, right? For cooling, I'm using a Thermaltake True Spirit. The temperatures were normal (~40C) in both BIOS and right after an intensive task like gaming.

BIOS has been flashed to version 1850 (a beta driver) and there has been a single crash, when testing a WEI score. After the crash, WEI score was successfully tested twice, both with the small overclock and without. The PSU is a pretty old Antec Earthwatts 500W.

What do you think is the problem? Is there some way to rule out the PSU or CPU or mobo without getting extra parts? This is all very frustrating, and I'd be very thankful for your help.

Moved to Computer Help from Mobos
-ViRGE
 
Last edited by a moderator:

stahlhart

Super Moderator Graphics Cards
Dec 21, 2010
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Are you sure that the CPU is well seated in the socket, no bent pins? That's one thing to check that won't cost anything.
 

Athadeus

Senior member
Feb 29, 2004
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This should be in Computer Help.

Most likely you are shorting somewhere between your motherboard and case that you shouldn't be. Try setting up the core components outside of the case and test it.
 

chimi

Junior Member
Nov 6, 2011
2
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Check out for the cooler, if u have the intel cooler still with u then try and install and and reset the bios to defaults by removing CMOS battery.
 

tinkeng

Junior Member
Feb 28, 2010
15
0
0
Thank you for your replies, and thank you moderator for moving this to the correct subforum.

When connecting my old system to the PSU, it boots normally, so the PSU doesn't seem to be at fault (the only difference in connectors is that the old system uses a four pin connector to the mobo while the new system uses an eight pin connector). After establishing that I removed the entire system from the case, and connected everything again, using the old graphics card. Same dissapointing result of a quick LED flash, then nothing.

It seems to me that everything but CPU, mobo and RAM have been eliminated as problems now. The RAM was running at 1.65v, might that have caused the problem? I don't have any replacement DDR3-dimms to try out. The CPU was quite carefully and snugly attached to the socket, so I very much doubt there are any bent pins.

Any idea how to isolate the mobo, CPU or RAM as faulty?
 

Matt1970

Lifer
Mar 19, 2007
12,320
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Take the ram out and try to boot it. It should give you an error beep code. If it does it is more than likely bad ram.
 

stahlhart

Super Moderator Graphics Cards
Dec 21, 2010
4,273
77
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Did you try Athadeus' suggestion of taking the motherboard out of the case and putting the core components together out in the open?
 

Athadeus

Senior member
Feb 29, 2004
587
0
76
Yes overclocking voids warranty technically. I wouldn't say you were in the wrong trying to overclock a 2500k to 4.0 ghz though.

Try carefully following the CMOS reset procedure one more time? The MB probably is dead though :( Good troubleshooting and communication! GL
 

C1

Platinum Member
Feb 21, 2008
2,386
113
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There's an outside chance that the MB thinks that there is something wrong with the CPU fan (and maybe there is). When my older ASUS MB made a determination that the CPU fan wasnt spinning at the right RPM, then I would get an error during POST. I had to disable CPU fan speed sensing in the BIOS. A possibility is to replace the CPU fan or investigate it closely to ensure that it is satisfactorily operational and that includes providing proper feedback to the MB (sometimes there's even four wires needed for fan operation - for power and speed control/sensing).
 

tinkeng

Junior Member
Feb 28, 2010
15
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I've thought about the CPU Fan too, since that's where the trouble started. I've tried with three different fans, but no cigar. Only one of them, the original, has four pins though. Does the system really refuse to start without a CPU Fan?
 

tinkeng

Junior Member
Feb 28, 2010
15
0
0
I'm RMA-ing the motherboard tomorrow. Here's hoping I'll get a new one before Skyrim is released!

Thank you for all your help though, it's very much appreciated.