Have to press power button 20-30 times before PC boots?!

3t3P · 1 Sep 2013 at 23:10

Wasn't sure if a mobo or PSU issue hence posting here.

It randomly started a few days ago that I have to press the chassis/case OR mobo power button many many times before eventual boot.

Then the system runs fine as normal.

Never seen this before, any ideas?

wazza300 · 1 Sep 2013 at 23:58

could be psu,could be cold boot issue? once warm does it startup fine?

usually memory related if it cold boots

Ross1234 · 1 Sep 2013 at 23:59

maybe the connection to the power button is loose?

Andrew_McP · 2 Sep 2013 at 00:37

My problem wasn't quite as bad as that, but I had a similar issue and changing the PSU cured it. In my case it was more about having to wait an increasing period of time before the switch worked. Your issue might be the same, I just realised I was wasting my time pressing the button for a while. :-)

David Bisset · 2 Sep 2013 at 07:44

I've recently resolved a similar sounding issue, in my case it was the PSU at fault. I tested it via unplugging it from everything and putting a paperclip into the green wire connector and a black one next to it, then turning on the power. It twitched around, didn't spin up for a while. New one and all is good.

Other things to try (as suggested by visitors to my thread):
Switch the reset & power buttons in case a faulty button. <- not likely if the mobo power button shows same behaviour!
Re-connect your power & data cables in case one is loose.
If overclocking try removing the OC and see if that solves things.
Check if there is a green light on your mobo, if red it may indicate it isn't getting enough power.
Try building outside the case in case there is a short (e.g. on the standoffs)

I hope one of them works/helps narrow it down!

3t3P · 4 Sep 2013 at 02:39

Gah hope its not the PSU, this one although new is already an RMA from Corsair as first one had a strange squeal that bugged me.

The mobo lights are on as normal and yeh I need to press the mobo power button multiple times to get the PC on.

Today it did it again, I held down the button for 5-6s then on next press PC booted, don't know if its conicidence.

Where do you mean by green light? The only one I can see that is green is the 'rese't button

Ace Modder · 4 Sep 2013 at 10:04

3t3P said:
Gah hope its not the PSU, this one although new is already an RMA from Corsair as first one had a strange squeal that bugged me.

Corsair moving to a cheaper/less quality OEM didn't help their brand strength sadly. Don't get me wrong no PSU vendor has a zero % RMA rate, but Corsairs seem to be increasing.

foster grant · 4 Sep 2013 at 10:14

Ace Modder said:
Corsair moving to a cheaper/less quality OEM didn't help their brand strength sadly. Don't get me wrong no PSU vendor has a zero % RMA rate, but Corsairs seem to be increasing.

This is why one would be seeing more Antec PSUs being added when a member asks for a spec check I suppose ?

3t3P · 5 Sep 2013 at 00:48

Well the FAQ or Corsair PSU Support section does have a bit about 'I hit my power button but the PC doesn't come on'

It recommends hooking up just one fan and trying the green to black pin short on the 24pin connector so i'll give that a whirl.

Good thing I have a seven year warranty on the AX series PSU!

edit:
I think I know what it was.

Had back panel off to install an old HDD.
The drain tube bung/stopper was up against the rear of the CPU!

It may have been shorting there, miracle my PC works at all!

Repositioned it and it booted on first power button press

PSU is fine it would seem thank goodness

edit edit:
whats weird is that although power-on is now solved, PC has reverted back to no signal out of primary GPU until PC has been on 5 mins then reset.

I read it was to do with PCI-E capacitors not charging properly on Asus Mobos and not properly activating the primary display GPU in SLI.

So now the short is gone the PC has gone back to its old annoying habit!
Think I prefer the shorted-out version!

Just for info of this thread determined that it was the power monitor plug that was causing the problem (the PSU was plugged into this).

I think it has an internal battery and it was running low, eventually the display was fading and the unit beeping at me.
Took the plug out and run PSU directly into socket and now boots evertime

edit edit edit:
For further reference it was not the power meter plug at all.

Going to have to hook up old PSU to see if that's the issue

Moar for the archives:

Put in my old HX620 Corsair PSU and it worked first time. Got RMA going through with corsair now.
Second time I have RMA'd their flagship range PSU!