Wits' End (Power Supplies Don't Work)

[dave_the_nerd]

Building a system around an AsRock H97M Pro4. Maybe this is a motherboard question.

I have tried four power supplies now.

One was a doorstop. (CX430.) Corsair also made the CX430M in my server, which is silent and never turns off, so they are automatically forgiven.

I've tried a "EVGA 430w 80 Plus" and an Antec Basiq VP450 as well (both purchased in the last week.) Both units test good on my little $2 PSU tester, and both units power up my other spare "parts" PC. But neither one will work with this motherboard.

Caveat - the EVGA unit worked once. One (1) time.

Finally, however, I have a 250w ITX-style PSU (Apevia ITX-AP250W) that powers the thing up fine - every time I press the blasted power button, without hesitation or failure. I had the rig running Prime95 all weekend, and I'm using it to post this. I'd just throw that in the rig and call it a weird day, but it won't fit, since it's a different form factor.

Is there some weird PSU requirement I'm completely ignorant of here, or do I just have the most selectively defective motherboard in the history of humankind?

 

[dave_the_nerd]

Addendum:

AAAHHH!!!

I tried a 100w PicoPSU & that worked too.

 

[dave_the_nerd]

Oh, and since somebody might ask - I've got all the parts out on a workbench so nothing is shorting against a case or anything. (Already thought that might be the problem.)

 

[master_shake_]

shocked the antec failed.

they are my go to 2u power supplies!

do you think it has something to do with haswell sleep states?

 

[davewnelson]

Sounds like motherboard. You could try rearranging the power cables differently or update/reset BIOS settings.

Or try one of these maybe (all Seasonic OEM)

Seasonic G-Series SSR-550RM $90
XFX Core Edition Pro P1-650S-NLB9 $92
Seasonic X-650 (SS-650KM3 Active PFC F3) $100
XFX Pro Series Black XPS-650W-3XB (P1-650X-XXB9) $99
Corsair HX650 $120

 

[dave_the_nerd]

Creepier and creepier.

Upgraded the BIOS (which had some fixes for sleep states, so it said) and disabled C6/C7.

The Antec PSU worked! Excited, I assembled the machine, only to find that it didn't work anymore.

However, the computer has started turning itself on after a few minutes. It's intermittent, so I haven't figured out if it's a delayed reaction to the power button being pressed, or if it's just magic.

I'm going to stop at MC and get a new motherboard tomorrow.

 

[MongGrel]

Might be a bit out of date.

http://whirlpool.net.au/wiki/psu_manufacturers

Use Antec a lot myself, but I guess they are mostly Seasonic, the main uses a Delta though I guess.

Sounds like something is up there besides a PSU problem to me though.

 

[dave_the_nerd]

Welp, I got a Gigabyte GA-H97M-D3H today.

SAME. PROBLEM.

It works with the dinky ITX PSU, but plugged into the others, it just won't power on.

WTH?

I am, however, pretty much convinced that there's something really stupidly simply I'm missing here...

 

[bigboxes]

Not trying to be a smart ass, but try a different motherboard.

 

[dave_the_nerd]

Not trying to be a smart ass, but try a different motherboard.

Another different Haswell mobo?

They all work with my little Celeron box. (1037U on a Foxconn board.)

I guess I could build a c2d rig with what I have left in the closet. I'll try that tomorrow.

This is weird though, right?

 

[bigboxes]

Another different Haswell mobo?

They all work with my little Celeron box. (1037U on a Foxconn board.)

I guess I could build a c2d rig with what I have left in the closet. I'll try that tomorrow.

This is weird though, right?

I don't understand why your mobo is being so picky. It should at least post with the crappiest of power supplies. I would try a different model or brand of motherboard. Yes, Haswell. Make sure your power supply is Haswell ready. That's all I can think of.

 

[dave_the_nerd]

Well... I feel like an idiot.

Turns out it was my workbench power strip/surge protector. I plugged it into another wall socket with the PSU that hadn't worked before, and it started up like a champ. (I turned it off and on like 10 times just to make sure.)

Turned off one of the other computers running on the workbench (they're usually 24/7 and I've never really thought about it since they pull <300w between them) and it powered right up.

So... yeah. Startup surge amperage or something must be a thing. I guess I have some PSUs to return to MicroCenter.