Need help troubleshooting ... save me please

Mini-Hammer · 31 Dec 2014 at 18:48

Symptoms:

Motherboard lights are on yet the machine refuses to post.

8 / 22 pin connectors firmly connected, tried different ram slots also one stick, cpu is 100% seated correctly.

Computer spec:

i7 4790
asus maximus hero 7
corsair vengeance red 2400 2x8gb
2 x asus strix 970 gtx
corsair rm1000
nzxt phantom 820

So this is a new build that i've been in utter agony with over the past three weeks, i've had shipping delays and i "assumed" my first motherboard had fried so i bought a new motherboard / cpu / ram (i had a first gen i7, g1 guerrilla, triple channel ram), so it seemed logical just to update everything seeing as i just bought two 970 gtx's.

The reason i assumed it was orignally my other motherboard is because i had the PSU tested in a shop (granted, i live in China, so i don't know how well that can be trusted), i watched him plug it into a test bench and it posted. ALSO when i recieved my new components, tonight, new years ... i breadboarded the machine and i watched it post ... As soon as i assembled in my machine and went to post, boom ... exactly the same issue i had with my previous motherboard.

Help me please ... it's killing me, i want to toss it all out of the windows, i recently bought a asus swift monitor and the two 970's ... i've been aching to use it all for nearlly a month now.

Mini-Hammer · 31 Dec 2014 at 19:01

All connections are sound 100%, i've even tried bare minimum, mobo / cpu / ram / gpu / power supply and needed connectors. I get nothing from it, no post.

I took it out the case and breadboarded it again, and its kaput ... same symptom, mother board lights up, not fans spin and no post.

I was over the moon when i bread boarded my new components tonight and i saw it post ... only to be slapped in the face again once i got it in the machine, cables nice and tidy and got the same shiz i had from older motherboard.

Mini-Hammer · 31 Dec 2014 at 19:07

i tried with no gpu's and still, the cpu fan didnt spin up, no error codes on the maximus motherboard (it has the little digital number screen to show whats wrong).

I only have the new display port wire required for my asus swift monitor, dont have older cable or converter to even try the suggestion.

Mini-Hammer · 31 Dec 2014 at 19:19

Well i had a spare bad/old psu (it still works 100%) ... its a chinese brand low watt (not even sure what watt), i plugged the 22 pin in, but the psu only came with a 4 pin connector for the cpu, i plugged it all in firmly, but still just light on the motherboard and the cpu fan didn't spin up.

I didn't know if the 4 pin connector instead of the 8 pin would be an issue ...

It makes me really worried, because not a few hours ago did i have all these new components outside of a case and got a post screen, i didnt get any activity from spare psu and im really hoping thats because its only a 4 pin connector.

I've never done the paperclip test neither ...

Mini-Hammer · 11 Jan 2015 at 09:21

Update:

So the NEW motherboard was dead, i assumed it was just my god awful luck that i got a DOA board, i had everything tested in a shop (i'd like to point out that the power supply was tested on a test bench too) and the only thing that wasn't working was the motherboard. So after a long and agonising time i got a new motherboard, rebuilt the machine, took the utmost care when building (as i always do, i've build plenty machines over 20 years), before the build i plugged the 22 / 8 pin into the motherboard to make sure i had some life (error code appeared, cpu fan spun up and all seemed well). I put the whole machine together, pressed the button to boot, BOOM powered on for a second and it died again ...... now i get no response from this second new motherboard at all. Same symptoms as last time, no error code no response from the board at all.

This is what is getting me, it has to be the power supply right? Even though it booted up a test bench, do you think it's because when i plug everything i use into it ( 4 HDDs, 2 970 gtx, etc...) its drawing more of a load than when it was testing and its frying my components ...???

I really hope my graphics cards are ok, its nearlly been two months now and i haven't used them once, but if my psu has been killing motherboards (IF it has, but all fingers point to that ...) i hope the cards havn't suffered any damage.

The psu was a brand new corsair rm1000, it has to be this right? Whats my next course of action here, if it is killing motherboards, how has this happened? i thought all this new high end tech had surge protection ...

Tips, advice and comments are all welcome here, this is really burning a hole in my pocket as well as killing my patience.

Mini-Hammer · 11 Jan 2015 at 09:52

I have the phantom 820 case, all 9 standoffs are in correct places for the motherboard, the screws all go in without a hitch, i check the space between motherboard and back plate, nothing it touching the motherboard except for the standoffs.

Mini-Hammer · 12 Jan 2015 at 18:41

Thanks for all the replies, really appreciate it, work hours are hectic here / timezone difference, so sorry for slow replies and lack of.

Nothing is bent or out of place, i've literally had it all under a magnifying glass.

i have supported ram, CORSAIR CMD16GX3M2A2400C10 (Ver4.21)(XMP) 16GB ( 2x 8GB ) DS - - 10-12-12-31

Chinas electrical grid is actually good (as well as running same currents and what not as england, i have a previous gaming machine i came accross the pond with which has been working for years), i run two other computers roughly same voltage consumption, ive had no issues for the few years ive been here.

i have a phanteks heatsink, socket 1155 is supported, and is fine for socket 1150, from what ive heard and know.

The next course of action i've taken is to order a super flower 1000w leadex, so once thats arrives i'll wire it all back up and give it another bash, the phantom 820 case seems to be a quality case, its grounded and the backplate to the heatsink isnt touching anything and the motherboard is only touching the 9 standoff points.

More likely than not, i'm going to have to take another trip into my local city and get a THIRD replacement motherboard which is pure insanity.

I will also have my corsair rm1000 shipped back to england and ask for a refund, i'm absolutley shocked if a brand new psu like this is killing my boards.

Mini-Hammer · 15 Jan 2015 at 08:23

Sorry for the huge images, but just to show the 9 stand offs, then screwed in and the back plate is clear.

So the second board is fried, i get no response when i plug in my new super flower 1000w, the ROG led panel on the motherboard pulsates now which is different from the last board.

It HAS to be the old PSU killing hardware ... right? All fingers point to that.

I don't see how it could be anything else ...

I'll go into the city asap and get a third replacment board, does anyone else here have the ROG hero 7 board running SLI?

Mini-Hammer · 18 Jan 2015 at 15:42

UPDATE:

So my third motherboard works ... want to know why? Because im using a different PSU, instead of the Corsair RM1000 of death. So even though i watched the Corsair PSU boot three other computers, as soon as it draws to much voltage it fries hardware ...

So bad news time, the two 970 gtx cards i've had a for a few months and never used are both fried and completly dead. So i'm hopefuly going to get the sent off and replaced some time this week ... just my friggin luck

Another thing i think my PSU killed are the pretty little LED light on my brand spanking new Phantom 820 case :<

But i can get this new motherboard to post fine now with the new super flower 1000w leadex, so i just gotta wait to use my beast machine a little while longer, i'm still curious what all my games are going to look like on my SLI / Swift monitor.