Which one?

[HxCProstitute]

So this is my first post here, I felt the site I used to use wasn't active enough so I decided to move here.

So what's happened is actually a pretty long story. I hadn't used my computer for a few days and when I used it it kept shutting off after about 10 minutes, and would take a few tries to turn on. The computer was running at ~60'C and then shutting off. It had nothing to do with being under load because it took just as long to shut off using the BIOS or playing Skyrim in high settings. After about 5-6 times of shutting off I discovered my Northbridge heatsink had come loose (again). I took it off, reapplied thermal paste, and reattached it. I plugged everything back into the motherboard ready to use my computer. I pressed the power button.. nothing. Nothing at all. The motherboard light was on to say that it had power, I triple checked everything was plugged in properly but still nothing. I even took it all out and reassembled. Nothing.

But then when I looked closer the graphics card fan (none of the others, though) spins a TINY bit. I thought it may have just been me shaking the case when pressing the on button, but I tried like 10 times with the same effect.

I heard a little.. well I don't know how to explain this sound.. a 'ck' sound. Very short. Not like 'kay', just ck. I don't know if you'll understand, this is the best I can explain it though.. this sound comes from the PSU as soon as I start pushing in the power button, the power button makes a sound (mechanical, not electrical) when it is pushed in the whole way.

So I have now come to the conclusion that either the motherboard or PSU has died. I need to figure out which one it is because I only really have enough money to buy one of them. I don't have any spare PSUs or any other desktops to test this in, which makes it really hard. Oh, and I don't have a system speaker, so I get no post beeps or anything.

My computer specs are here: http://www.overclock.net/lists/display/view/id/3776687

Thanks heaps for any help guys

 

[richaron]

It's kind of impossible to say which out of motherboard or PSU is dead. You need to test stuff with replacments to be sure.

You can check the PSU powers up using this method (the "paperclip test"). But this doesn't prove it's working 100%. That PSU isn't good quality so it could have died, but it's less likely.

Assuming everything is back where it belongs... I'd guess you killed something with static or physical force (probly motherboard). Either that or you have a short circuit (might not be dead), too much paste? motherboard touching case? bent pins? or something.

 

[HxCProstitute]

Thanks for that, I'll try that paperclip test tomorrow.

When you said I might have shortcircuited it and it may not be dead.. what do you mean? How would I recover it?
As for the case touching and too much paste.. it wouldn't be either of them, I've checked.

I'm really close to just saying fuck it and getting an Antec 520W (forgot the model but it's 80+) and an ASRock 970 Extreme3.

 

[richaron]

When you said I might have shortcircuited it and it may not be dead.. what do you mean? How would I recover it?

If there is a short circuit, sometimes just removing it will mean everything will work fine. It's hard to genralise with a short, basically there might be an electrical connection where there shouldn't be one. Maybe you bent components on the motherboard to touch each other. Maybe there are wires on the motherboard which are touching the case. Maybe some of the PSU cables are broken because they have been bent heaps. Maybe some of the front panel connections are playing up, or maybe one of the fans. You have to think about what might have changed when you pulled computer apart to fix the northbrigde heatsink.

To work out what's wrong unplug everything except for power|cpu|ram & see if the (psu/cpu) fans keep spinning when you power up. If that works you might be able to narrow down what is playing up. Otherwise (without replacements to test with) you will have to guess what's wrong. I can't help any more sorry.

 

[HxCProstitute]

Okay thanks heaps, I think I'm gonna triple check the northbridge..
I didn't really do anything to anything else..

If I save $180 I'm going to be really happy aha.
Thanks man

 

[mfenn]

I'd say that if you were messing with the mobo and the PC won't power on again, there is a good chance that something is wrong with the mobo.

At any rate definitely try what richaron suggests. Pull everything apart, including taking the mobo out of the case. Then "bench test" it with just the essential components (mobo, CPU, 1 stick of RAM, GPU, PSU). Also try powering the PSU up independently with the paperclip trick.