Help with first build: Computer not turning on

MomoJan

MomoJan

MomoJan

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15 Oct 2010
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Hi, I recently bought new parts for a PC from overclockers and attempted my first build. After I put all the parts together, I turned on the power and a small LED light on the motherboard flickered for a second, but the PC didnt turn on.

I thought there may be a problem with a power supply (550w) , so I removed the graphics card to reduce the power needed. When I turned on the PC this time, the fans started to work, but they spluttered after a couple of seconds and turned off. I thought the power supply was dead at this moment, so took my old power supply (400w) and connected it to the motherboard (with the graphics card still removed ) and the same thing happened, a small green LED on the motherboard flickered for a second, but the PC didnt turn on.

I called Overclockers technical support, and described my situation. They told me that it was likely that the motherboard had short-circuited and that I should mail it back to them and they would send me a new one. So I sent it back to them, but it arrived back today and overclockers said that it was working fine :/ They said I should try switching the memory sticks around, so I did, but the computer still isn't turning on.

Can anybody help me with my situation? I am wary of sending back parts again, because I get charged an inspection fee if the part isnt't proven to be faulty.

I am sure that all the wires are connected correctly, because I have had them checked by various people who have built computers before.

The items I bought were:

CPU: Intel Core i3 530 2.93Ghz (Clarkdale) (Socket LGA1156)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-H55M-UD2H Intel H55 (Socket 1156) DDR3 microATX Motherboard
RAM: Corsair XMS3 4GB (2x2GB) DDR3 10666C8 1333MHz Dual-Channel
Graphics Card: HIS ATI Radeon HD 5830 1024MB GDDR5 PCI-Express Graphics Card
HDD: Samsung SpinPoint F4 320GB SATA-II 16MB Cache
Optical Drive: LG 22x DVD-RW
Power Supply: Cooler Master GX 550W Power supply
Case: Antec 300 Ultimate Gaming Case

I am pretty sure these parts are all compatible, but if they are not, could you please point it out? :)

Sorry for the wall of text, thanks for all the help in advance
 
You made sure all power cables were properly connected, not slightly out in anyway?

And yes, they are all compatible :)
 
1. Try the 550W psu in another computer to verify its working (also worth doing with the 400W one too).
2. Go over all connectors, detach them then look at the actual connector, making sure the pins are not bent or any debris there. Ideally do this with the motherboard manual open so you can cross reference. Just making sure everything is where it should be.
3. Take out one of the memory modules and try booting with only one installed.
4. Just check the cpu is seated properly on the motherboard, nice and firmly etc.
5. If you have a spare graphics card, could try booting with that one.
6. That motherboard has four memory slots, double check which ones the memory modules should be inserted into, probably 1 and 3.

All the parts do look compatible so now problems there from what I can see.
 
+1 to the check list above

Also, have you installed the motherboard on standoffs (look like these - second image down) or directly onto the metal PC case?

Also, if you can provide a few photos of the motherboard and all the connections (upload to an image host and paste the link here between "
"), we may be able to spot something that is out of place.
 
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Okay thanks for the quick replies.

The motherboard is on standoffs yes. I'll test the 550W power supply on another computer took check if its working. I'll upload pics of the connections asap.
 
If the motherboard is on standoffs, have you checked that the standoffs are in the right position. It could be that you have mis-aligned the standoffs so that the standoff is touching the mobo and shorting it out. Also check to see if the CPU cooler is plugged into the CPU fan socket on the mobo as I had a mobo once would not boot as it could not detect that there was a CPU fan connected and shut down to prevent overheat.

Also you are using thermal paste on the HSF as if you removed it and put it back on, then maybe the thermal paste aint working or if it it was an third party cooler, then did you put thermal paste on to begin with. Also test it outside the case by sitting on the box and connect the basic cpu, 1 stick of ram, graphic card and PSU and see if you can get into the BIOS with that to rule out a possible shorting with the standoffs.
 
Yeah thanks for the help guys :) Turns out the power supply was faulty.

However one problem has turned into another :/

My brother has the exact same power supply as the one I have ( He helped me choose which parts to buy ), so we just plugged his power supply into my system and the whole thing booted up. But now after he has plugged it back into his system, his system isnt turning on :/ Two of the phase LEDs blink red for a second on his motherboard but thats all that happens..

We've double checked and triple checked the wires, is it possible that his power supply has gone faulty as well? Seems these cooler masters are pretty tempermental...

Thanks for the help guys
 
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