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Is my motherboard the failing component (system doesn't post, no power)?

J

jaffa

Member
When I was using my machine yesterday it just went dead and now I can't turn it on. When I press the power button there is no sign of life at all (no fans, leds etc.). Everything is off. I suspected a dead power supply and borrowed my friend's (known good) Antec 550W. When I connected this to the computer and pressed the power button the processor fan ran for half a second and then turned off. If I press the power button again, nothing happens. If I disconnect the power supply from the system for a few seconds and then connect it again, the same thing happens when the power button is pressed (cpu-fan will run for half a second and then die again)

I have measured the output voltage in the molex connectors with a multimeter and when the power button is pressed the voltage level (as expected) rises at once, and then after the half second returns to zero again...

I have stripped the system completely (except for psu, cpu and motherboard) and no drives, cables or expansion cards were connected but still no sign of life or memory beeps. I have not tried to start the computer outside the case because I don't expect any short circuits (have not moved the computer recently) and don't believe that it would make any difference.

Question 1: Could the failing component be anything else than the motherboard?

Question 2: Could a failing processor cause this behaviour?

Question 3: Could this problem be caused by a corrupted CMOS-memory so resetting this might help?
 
Statement 1: I would still take the mobo/cpu/ram/video/ power supply and dry mounnt them outside the case, even though a short is not expected. It just narrows down those stupid unexpected things that can occur, and seems to make you pay more attention to details, so it can help still if you are totally lost.. -you can try reseating your cpu, ram, and video card. your pc speaker is connected properly right? if so, then if your mobo is good, when you take the ram out, and try to turn it on without the memory, it will beep code at you. if it doesnt beep without things like ram or a cpu not being present, then the mobo is bad.

Question 1: its possible but not very likely its other parts since it turns off instead of staying on with only fans running. i'd first start with taking it out of the case, reseating, and testing parts one by one in a working pc.
Question 2: also possible, but very unlikely since the computer turns itself off. when a computer turns itself off it means something like the motherboard, or powersupply, or something is shorting or grounding out against the case.
Question 3: its possible the jumper for the cmos is set to clear, or its not on. i seen motherboards turn on/off due to that, make sure you clear the cmos, take out battery, then put the jumper back correctly.
 
Thanks,

I will try to run the system outside of the chassis and clear the cmos/nvram memory. If that doesn't help I guess I will just have to get a new mobo...
 
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