Motherboard may be faulty, PSU pass clip test, comp won't start, which mobo to buy?

[Noplay]

1) 3 weeks ago my computer wouldn't turn on after power surge,
- replaced a new PSU and it work for a few days
- cleaned the dust from the HSF when I installed the new PSU along with everything
2) Then I started hearing an increasingly loud fan noise from the CPU HSF
-the noise was super loud and felt like it would explode anytime soon
- during start up, run for 2-3 seconds reboots, did it 2 times and eventually stopped altogether (I thought it was overheating),so I took off the Heat sink and saw dried up thermal paste.
3) replaced new CPU watercooler with new paste, new case (in case it is faulty power switch)
- hooked up everything, it won't even start.
4) took everything out and tested piece by piece
-power supply pass paper clip test, fans start, computer case buttons lights up.
- plug in mobo, 1 ram, no start
- tried to short power switch with screw driver, no good

Good news, somehow when I tried shorting the power pins it turned on, so I put the pins reverse to see if I can replicate it(I doubt there is a direction for the pings because it is just leads for initiation), but my wishful thinking worked.
Bad news is that it turned on with the power button and it ran for a long time, but nothing showed up on my display, so I tried rebooting it, but the reset button wasn't responding so I turned it off.
It won't start again, not even when I tried to short it with the screw driver.
Do you think it is the pins on the mobo are faulty or the case's button faulty or something worse in the mobo?
Any suggestion on getting a new mobo? is 2011 ones better than 1115?

So here I am debating whether it is faulty PSU or Mobo,
If it is mobo, are any of these on sale right now good pick? Budget probably 200-300. These also come with 8 gb ram, considering how expensive ram has gotten now $50 a pop for 8gb. Never used "Team" brand ram before.
Or go for no bundle ones?

newegg link

my spec:
mobo: Gigabyte GA-P67A-UD3-B3
SeaSonic Platinum Series 660 Watt
gfx card is sapphire Raedon 7950 3gb
i5 2500k cpu
1 x 7200rpm hdd
1 x dvd write drive
8gb gskills ram ddr3 1600

 

[Ketchup]

Considering the power runs to the motherboard, and then to everything else, I would think the board would be the first thing to replace, since you have already replaced the power supply. I have turned into a Gigabyte fan. The last 6 I have purchased have given me zero issues.

 

[Noplay]

Yea, it most likely is.
I assembled it outside of the case, and it turns on if the left side of the board is not touching anything, not even insulated surface, and then it starts but no post and no beeping.
Then I took the memory sticks out to hear any beeps from the on board speakers, there were none.
So I called in to Gigabyte and they said do a RMA.
Did you have any tips when shipping back the Mobo?
I have the original box but don't have any anti static bag. I have green foam to protect the box though, but I don't know if sending it in without static bag is bad.

 

[Ketchup]

Yea, it most likely is.
I assembled it outside of the case, and it turns on if the left side of the board is not touching anything, not even insulated surface, and then it starts but no post and no beeping.
Then I took the memory sticks out to hear any beeps from the on board speakers, there were none.
So I called in to Gigabyte and they said do a RMA.
Did you have any tips when shipping back the Mobo?
I have the original box but don't have any anti static bag. I have green foam to protect the box though, but I don't know if sending it in without static bag is bad.

Probably not, but they might make a big deal about it, esp. if they stipulate this. If you have a computer shop nearby, they may just give you one.

 

[Noplay]

bestbuy any chance?
and is it even worth doing RMA?
shipping is probably $20, then they may not do it and send it back.
Should I just buy a new board? I have my eyes on Maximus V

 

[Ketchup]

bestbuy any chance?
and is it even worth doing RMA?
shipping is probably $20, then they may not do it and send it back.
Should I just buy a new board? I have my eyes on Maximus V

I am sure Best Buy would be happy to get you one, for a price.
RMA decision would depend on what your time is worth I suppose. I have no experience with RMA though them, so I can't tell you how much "patience" you might need with the process.