Corsair TX650 PSU Powers Up, but computer won't post. Is it the PSU?

[haze11111]

This time last year I bought a TX650 PSU during Neweggs black friday sale. It's been powering my PC just fine all this time.

Today when I hit the power button the computer appears to start up (motherboard lights turn on, fans spin up) but the monitor never receives a signal. Everything was fine yesterday, I used it all day and then shutdown via windows when I was done.

Here is what I have tried so far, nothing that I tried had any effect:

- Connected my PC to a CRT monitor (normal monitor is an LCD, but even if the settings on my PC are for an LCD I still should have seen it post)
- Swapped out the video card to one that draws much less power
- Switched to a different surge protector using a different outlet
- Unplugged all USB connections, ethernet, etc. Powered up, reconnected the monitor.
- Unplugged the dvd drive and 2nd HDD
- Unplugged the power cord to the PSU, switched off the PSU, let it sit for 30 minutes, plugged back in

I don't have another PSU I can swap in to test with. I wish I could narrow it down because I realize this could also be a motherboard issue. I'm convinced that something hardware wise failed overnight after I shut it down and I'm looking for any assistance that could help me narrow down the problem. Really hate to buy another PSU on black friday/cyber monday and have it not be the fix.

Thanks!

Edit: here are my specs:

Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo CPU E8400 @ 3.00GHz
Mobo: MS-7380 (MSI P7N SLI Platinum)
Video Card: Palit GTX 460 Sonic Platinum
PSU: Corsair TX650 Enthusiast Series
RAM: 4GB
Hard Drive 80 GB Intel SSD
2nd Hard Drive 149GB SATA
OS: Windows 7 Home Premium 64-Bit

 

[Puppies04]

OK first things first. Remove the CMOS battery from the mobo and unplug the machine from the wall then hold the power and reset buttons on the case for 30 seconds and reattach everything.

Report back with what happens.

 

[haze11111]

Done. I did assume that when you said reattach everything that I should put the CMOS battery back in. Machine powered up, but I saw nothing on the monitor. In other words no change. Thank you for the reply and I hope to hear another option to try.

 

[Ketchup]

If all the fans and drives consistently start when hitting the power button, yoy have reset the cmos and stll do not get video, I would suspect the video card.

Do you normally get a POST beep on your computer?

 

[Boondox]

If anything, I wouldn't suspect the video card to go before the motherboard. Pre-Core iX motherboards from MSI were pretty spotty for reliability and I am surprised that this one lasted as long as it did. It's easier to test the graphics card rather than to attempt to troubleshoot a motherboard that is no longer manufactured, not to mention a shoddy chipset to boot.

 

[ramj70]

I have the same problem as you with my sons computer, everything was working fine then boom no video signal.

I swapped out the RAM, nothing.
Swapped monitors, nothing.
Tried different video cables, nothing.
I swapped video cards, nothing.
I put in a different hard drive, nothing.
I swapped out the PSU, nothing.
I went to Microcenter and got a new mobo and CPU combo and replaced the mobo and CPU, still nothing.

I'm thinking the only thing it could be is possibly the case shorting something out somewhere?

 

[Boondox]

I would definitely check the build and ensure that there are no additional motherboard stand-offs making contact with the motherboard. This will cause a No-Power / No-POST / puff of smoke scenario.

PS: You're hijacking the thread.

 

[ramj70]

I would definitely check the build and ensure that there are no additional motherboard stand-offs making contact with the motherboard. This will cause a No-Power / No-POST / puff of smoke scenario.

PS: You're hijacking the thread.

Just letting him know that it could be a case issue and if it didn't come across that way my apologies haze ()

 

[denis280]

Do you normally get a POST beep on your computer?

Do you

 

[haze11111]

The post beep question is a good one, but for the life of me I can't say I know 100%. I am pretty sure it does not beep, I think the first sound I hear when it was working is the windows startup sound.

I removed the video card and installed an older one from another computer, but I still don't get any video. It's just powering up, but never posts or boots.

 

[denis280]

Humm!did you try removing and reseating the ram.and all plugs.and you might take a look for that little speaker

 

[haze11111]

Humm!did you try removing and reseating the ram.and all plugs.and you might take a look for that little speaker

Tried all of that.

I have also tried moving the video card to another slot but nothing changed.

What would I be looking for to determine if the case was shorting out the mobo? I doubt this is a problem considering nothing changed recently, but I'd like to know what to look for.

Also for Boondox, you mention this motherboard had a shotty chipset. If you were to replace it and use the same CPU, ram, etc, what mobo would you recommend? If I have to replace it I'd like to do so through newegg while they are having a sale.

 

[haze11111]

Progress!

While I had tried removing the dimms and putting them back in, I had not tried just one at a time to test the ram until today. I found that just one stick in slot 1 I can get to post and boot to windows.

Now I had all 4 slots populated with 1 gig dimms each, that's been working for long time until the no-post problem a few days ago. Once I knew each dimm was good by trying each one in slot 1, I tried the following configurations as described in the motherboard manual.

1-3, 2-4, 1-2-3-4

None of the three configurations allowed me to reach post. I can only do it with dimm 1 populated. I'm glad to make progress, but am sad that I'm down to one quarter of the ram I'm used to.

Is there anything anyone can think of that might be keeping those slots from working or is this motherboard now toast as far as using the other dimm slots?

 

[Virgorising]

http://www.computerhope.com/forum/index.php/topic,120848.0.html

 

[Steltek]

Out of curiosity, will the system boot to Windows with two memory modules installed if you disconnect your 2nd hard drive and any CD/DVD drive you might have installed? If the system boots in this manner, you have marginal power which would be indicative of a failing power supply.

If it still doesn't boot (which I suspect will be the case), it means you are likely in the market for a new motherboard or a system upgrade.

 

[haze11111]

I tried today to boot with two sticks and disconnected the dvd and 2nd hard drive. Same result, did not post. I can still get it to boot with just one stick, but it's so slow using 1GB of ram.

I looked at buying a replacement mobo but because it's an older CPU socket type the prices are a bit high. Similar boards that are cheaper that could use that CPU only have 2 dimm slots meaning I'd not only have the buy the mobo, but new ram also.

At that point I may as well buy a newer mobo, new CPU, and new ram. Not sure what to get and I don't want to spend a fortune.

 

[Steltek]

I tried today to boot with two sticks and disconnected the dvd and 2nd hard drive. Same result, did not post. I can still get it to boot with just one stick, but it's so slow using 1GB of ram.

I looked at buying a replacement mobo but because it's an older CPU socket type the prices are a bit high. Similar boards that are cheaper that could use that CPU only have 2 dimm slots meaning I'd not only have the buy the mobo, but new ram also.

At that point I may as well buy a newer mobo, new CPU, and new ram. Not sure what to get and I don't want to spend a fortune.

I agree at this point that the motherboard is likely shot. While Newegg did have one or two Socket 775 motherboards in stock the last time I looked from $50 to $70, it would seem to be a waste of money to invest in another S775 board short of finding a cheap DDR2 S775 board on eBay. You'd likely see better performance with even an Ivy Bridge i3 over your current setup, too.

If you want expert advice, post a new thread in the General Hardware forum. Make sure to include answers to the questions shown in the first post of the sticky thread, including what hardware you want to bring forward and whether your Windows 7 disc is OEM or retail as well.