CPU not getting power? What is going on?

[rickjames]

I've just built a new computer and the EPoX nForce 4+Ultra motherboard has three LED indicators to show the power status of CPU, Chipset, and DRAM. Well, I was trying to figure out why my monitor would not turn on, and then realized that the LED is not lighting up for the CPU. All the systems fans are spinning though. I'm not very experienced in troubleshootingh hardware, so I can use all the help I can get.

The PSU is an Enermax ATX 12v and both connectors are secure in the motherboard.
Any ideas on what could be the problem?

Thanks!
Jeff

 

[fuzzynavel]

It is concievable that you have a dead CPU!!

Do you have anywhere that you can test the CPU..

 

[rickjames]

Unfortunately, I have no way to test it.

 

[SlitheryDee]

I doubt that the cpu isn't getting power. Are you sure that the LED indicators show the power status of the components? Is there a section in your MB manual that specifically told you this?

 

[Nocturnal]

What I would do is take your motherboard out of the case, lay it on some type of anti-static bag. Just leave the memory, and video card on the motherboard. Try to get it to boot without anything else connected. If it at least boots to the BIOS screen then you know you have a problem somewhere else and you can add the components piece by piece until you pin point what is causing it not to boot.

 

[rickjames]

Yes, inside the manual is says "Onboard LED indicators to show the power status of CPU, Chipset and DRAM. You know immediately where to look if the system fails to start."

Oh, there is another LED on the board that displays "FF", and when I looked that up on google, a site said that that means the system posted (or booted) successfully. I could not verify this at EPoX's site though.

 

[rickjames]

Nocturnal: I do have the motherboard in the case right now, but nothing is connected except the PSU, the video card, and the ram.

 

[SlitheryDee]

Originally posted by: rickjames
Nocturnal: I do have the motherboard in the case right now, but nothing is connected except the PSU, the video card, and the ram.

Taking the MB out of the case eliminates the possibility of a short occurring inside the case due to a misplaced riser, screw, etc. It IS possible that your CPU is bad, but I seriously doubt it.

 

[rickjames]

Ok, well as much as I dread taking the motherboard out, I will do it. Haha.

 

[rickjames]

Ok I've taken the motherboard out, layed it on an antistatic bag, and the only thing plugged in is the PSU, video card, and ram. This time all the LED power indicators are lit up (so evidentally the CPU is getting power) but my monitor still never gets a signal.

Also, the motherboard's error code LED displays "FF" for a moment, then "44", then "C1", then everything shuts off after about 30 seconds. According to the manual,
FF = Boot attempt (INT 19h),
44 = Reserved.
C1 = Detect memory;
auto-detection of DRAM size, type and DCC;
auto detection of L2 cache (socket 7 or below)

 

[Nocturnal]

Do you have two sticks of memory? Try only one and try all slots if possible. Do you have another video card? Try that as well.

 

[SlitheryDee]

Is your CMOS jumper in the correct position? If so, have you tried clearing your CMOS?

 

[rickjames]

I've been trying to run 4 512 sticks of Corsair Value Select DDR, and now I've tried running one stick at a time in the first DIMM slot. This is strange, with 3 of the sticks, I would recieve multiple errors on the LED, all ending at C1 (something about memory), but then when I used the other memory stick, the BIOS came up. However, after trying one of the first 3 sticks, and recieving more errors, I put in the stick that let me in to the BIOS. Now it will just act like all the other sticks; monitor will not come on.

So does this sound like bad memory, incompatible memory with the motherboard, a bad motherboard? I'm clueless. I can imagine I would have 4 bad sticks of Corsair though.

 

[rickjames]

SlitheryDee: CMOS is in normal mode.

 

[imported_Phil]

Originally posted by: rickjames
I've been trying to run 4 512 sticks of Corsair Value Select DDR, and now I've tried running one stick at a time in the first DIMM slot. This is strange, with 3 of the sticks, I would recieve multiple errors on the LED, all ending at C1 (something about memory), but then when I used the other memory stick, the BIOS came up. However, after trying one of the first 3 sticks, and recieving more errors, I put in the stick that let me in to the BIOS. Now it will just act like all the other sticks; monitor will not come on.

So does this sound like bad memory, incompatible memory with the motherboard, a bad motherboard? I'm clueless. I can imagine I would have 4 bad sticks of Corsair though.

It sounds like bad RAM because of a faulty motherboard, to be honest. I think your only way around this is to RMA the motherboard and the RAM, sorry

 

[SlitheryDee]

Do you have a friend who's computer will accept ddr ram, and will allow you to test yours in his/her rig?