New PC Build; Wont power on

4steviewonder

Im having a little trouble with a new build I put together yesterday. The parts are as follows:

Intel i5 2500k
Gigabite GA z68 AP D3 (Rev 2)
Corsair Vengance CMZ8GX3M2A1600C9 4GB 1600MHz 1.5v
MSI Radeon R9 270 2GB
XFX PRO550W Core
BitFenix Merc Alpha
Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO - Intel/AMD
Samsung SSD 840 EVO Basic 120GB SATA 6Gb/s
TP-LINK TL-WN881ND
WD Blue 1TB 6Gb's

The Processor, Motherboard, RAM and GPU were all bought used with the GPU having not been used only for testing.

I first installed the CPU and RAM sticks (2 X 4GB) into the MB and hooked it up to the PSU outside of the case just to test the parts. When I turned it on seemed to work fine with only a single beep from the speaker piece. When I tried again it began to power up and stop and power up and so on so I tested each RAM module individually. It seems as though one stick is faulty. I then removed the battery to clean the BIOS and never tested the rig again until everything was in the case and hooked up. I replaced the default cpu cooler from the initial test with the Coolmaster 212 Evo when installing it in the case. Once everything was hooked up inside the case including HDD,SDD, DVD drive, GPU and all the cables attached I powered it up again and it booted up and began to load up the vista installation for some reason. I wanted to test the other stick of ram before I installed the OS so I just powered it off by holding down on the Power button on the case. Since then I haven't been able to boot it up at all, no green lights or any sign that the parts still work. I installed the extra Ram, and tried power it up again without it. I then unplugged the Hard drives and disk drive, GPU to test the core parts but it still didnt work. Today I removed all the components in the case and tried only the MB, Cpu and Ram outside the case as before but I still got no response. I'm not too sure what to do or what may be causing this to happen when the inital tests seemed promising. I tested the PSU using the metal pin in the green and black 24pin connector and it worked so it can't be a faulty psu.

The only other thing of note was that the coolmaster heatsink was moved slightly whilst installing the 2nd stick of ram. It never seemed locked into place like the default cooler and I could slide it along the top of the cpu. I reinstalled it multiple times but it was still able to move on top of the cpu.

Just to note I reverted back to the stock cooler for the most recent "out of case" tests. Also this was my first time putting a Pc together from scratch.

Can anyone shed light on the problem?

Thanks.

Baked.noodle

Just a thought, but did you by any chance put the CMOS battery back in your motherboard upside down?

4steviewonder

I don't think so. I checked it again and the CMOS battery is facing up with the + logo.

frozenfrozen

Have you installed all of the motherboard stand-offs?

4steviewonder

I didn't install any because the mounting holes in the case were already raised from the case itself. I read that stand offs are not required when the mounting holes are raised.

Baked.noodle

Try booting the motherboard, one stick of Ram and the CPU. The IGPU should provide graphics. If this won't boot the it's more than likely a problem with one or all of these basic components. After that, try a different PSU if you can. If the problem persists it is probably the motherboard as CPU's are quite tough and unlikely to brake. You could rule out the RAM by trying it in another PC. Unfortunately, you have to rule out each component to get the PC up and running.

frozenfrozen

4steviewonder wrote: »

I didn't install any because the mounting holes in the case were already raised from the case itself. I read that stand offs are not required when the mounting holes are raised.

I would've guessed that was just for airflow. If you can't find the problem somewhere else I'd install all the stand-offs. Check the manual for the mobo and the case to see if they say otherwise.

4steviewonder

Baked.noodle wrote: »

Try booting the motherboard, one stick of Ram and the CPU. The IGPU should provide graphics. If this won't boot the it's more than likely a problem with one or all of these basic components. After that, try a different PSU if you can. If the problem persists it is probably the motherboard as CPU's are quite tough and unlikely to brake. You could rule out the RAM by trying it in another PC. Unfortunately, you have to rule out each component to get the PC up and running.

Last night I tried to boot it up outside the case with just the cpu and the working stick of ram and I got nothing. I tried a cheap psu aswell to rule out that but the result was the same. I'm not even getting a green light on the board when I turn on the psu. I don't have any other system I could use to test each part for functionality. I'm based in the West which means I'll never find someone close by who could help me test the parts either.

Baked.noodle

I'm no expert but I think it is unlikely that the CPU had failed. If you have fair cause to believe the RAM you used is OK, and you tried another PSU and the PC did not boot I would suspect the motherboard. Perhaps you shorted the board by accident. I know a guy who blew his board by messing up USB connectors. If the board has died it may be under manufactures warranty, though this is unlikely given that its a couple of gen's old. You could attempt to RMA the board through the Gigabyte website. In the end you might have to pick up a compatible motherboard on Ebay or somewhere. It could be the CPU, but I would be confident enough that it's the motherboard.

One more thing, on some PSU's there is a switch on the back that has to be flipped if the PC is using European power as opposed to US power. Don't know much about this so maybe somebody else can help you there (If indeed you do have this switch). It could cause components to fail I believe.

Was just looking at the Manuel and in the trouble shooting (P.97) section it says the motherboard should emit beeps if there is a CMOS/BIOS Rom, Power or RAM/Motherboard error.

Gadgetman496

What method did you use to power the system on when out of the case?

It sounds like your Mobo shorted while in the case without standoffs?

frozenfrozen

I think we're being too quick to assume something extreme has happened.

Take everything a part, install the motherboard to the case with all the standoffs, plug everything in and check and check and check again until you're sure it's all right, then try boot it up again. Make sure you have the little motherboard loudspeaker installed too so you can decipher what is wrong if something is indeed wrong.


If you get the same outcome again then we can go from there but we should really completely rule out the chance of it being something trivial like the mobo shorting out on the case (which will a lot of the time do no damage, it will just not work. YMMV).

4steviewonder

gadgetman496 wrote: »

What method did you use to power the system on when out of the case?

It sounds like your Mobo shorted while in the case without standoffs?

Touched the + and - power pins using a philips head screwdriver with the mobo on top of its cardbaord box.

4steviewonder

So I tried to install the stand offs but there was only 2 and in the case manual it said they were for mATX boards only. I Installed them in the opposite corners of the case but the board wouldnt fit in with them on so I removed them and mounted the board without them. Tried the ram and cpu as before with the same result. I just tried the psu with an old cheap LGA775 board without a cpu or ram just to see if a green light would turn on and it did. I shorted the power pins and the psu and red light turned on also. I can't even get that much from my current mb and I checked for leaking capacitors but all seem fine.

frozenfrozen

Looks like its a dead mobo in that case .

4steviewonder

So would you think its ok to go ahead and order a new mobo? Could I get your opinion on the one below. The price on hwvs is about 72EUR whilst its only 58 on dabs.

dabs.ie/products/gigabyte-z77-ds3h-s1155-intel-z77-ddr3-atx-8307.html

I can get the same one on pixmania but I'm not sure who would be the more reputable retailer between themselves and dabs.

Im a new user so cant post links and images etc.

Baked.noodle

Same board can be found on Amazon for £45.99 with free delivery. Seems like an OK board if you don't want to really push an overclock as far as possible. Irish tax will add a few Euro in checkout. I don't think there are any USB3 connectors on the motherboard for the front of the case.

seraphimvc

yup my immediate response of the problem is that somehow you fried your mobo, and everyone seems to agree on that

dont worry at least you can rma one back, get the amazon if you cant wait any longer, their refund service is excellent as well just so if the problem turned out to not be your mobo (but it probably is).

satguy

4steviewonder wrote: »

So would you think its ok to go ahead and order a new mobo? Could I get your opinion on the one below. The price on hwvs is about 72EUR whilst its only 58 on dabs.

dabs.ie/products/gigabyte-z77-ds3h-s1155-intel-z77-ddr3-atx-8307.html

I can get the same one on pixmania but I'm not sure who would be the more reputable retailer between themselves and dabs.

Im a new user so cant post links and images etc.

Go for the one from Pixmania,, They never let me down when I buy stuff from them. I can't say that about dabs, they have let me down..

4steviewonder

I actually went for the one on amazon as I also needed another 4GB stick of corsair ram and it turned out to be a few euro cheaper than both dabs and pixmania. I'll update this once it arrives.

4steviewonder

Just to update you on what happened. The motherboard was indeed the problem so ive now got the computer up and running. The only issue I have now is that I seem to get quite a few crashes,freezes and errors from time to time. Also cpu z says that my memory's max bandwith is 667mhz. Ive enabled the xmp from the bios.