New build shut itself off, cannot turn back on

Camarilla · 21 Dec 2013 at 23:40

I just upgraded my PC earlier today, replacing the mobo, CPU, GPU and RAM. Initially it worked fine, I formatted the hard drive, installed Windows, then I left it alone for maybe 15 minutes while it updated graphics drivers, but when I checked on it it was off, and pressing the power button doesn't turn it back on. The motherboard's standby lighting glows like normal, but at best the fans try and spin for a split second then it all just stops, but usually pressing the power button does nothing.

Specs are:
ASUS Maximus VI Formula
i7 4770K (at stock with stock cooler)
MSI GTX 780 3072MB
16GB TeamGroup Vulcan RED (4x4GB)
Antec TruePower New Modular 750W PSU (3 and a bit years old, recycled from old build)
All inside a HAF X

After seeing LazyManc's thread where he seems to be having similar issues, I have tried the following:
Removing the GPU and trying to boot without it - Still doesn't turn on
Removing RAM and trying one stick at a time - Still no
Removing the 8pin mobo power cable and using the 4pin cable instead - Nope
Every single power connection has been checked, double checked and then checked again
I tried the paper clip test on my PSU, and the fan spun fine
I've also checked the stand-offs, there are 9 installed, all of which correspond to the screw holes for the mobo, so shouldn't be any shorts there

Basically, I'm out of ideas, shy of trying the PSU in a different PC and seeing if it powers that. Any help's greatly appreciated.

wazza300 · 21 Dec 2013 at 23:54

leave out the cmos/motherboard battery for 30 minutes,put back in and try

nutsnut · 22 Dec 2013 at 09:42

Reseat the CPU and cooler.

Camarilla · 22 Dec 2013 at 16:44

Thanks for the tips guys. I've just tried booting it back up after leaving the battery out for about 35 minutes, still no joy. I'm just about to go reseat the CPU and cooler, I'll report back once I know if that's worked or not.

Edit: Removed the CPU and cooler, cleaned them, new TIM, reseated them, still doesn't boot at all.

Right now my plan is to disconnect all the un-necessary parts again (the GPU, 3 of the RAM sticks, the case fans and all SATA devices bar the boot SSD) and try running it with the 530W PSU from this secondary PC. I've used a wattage calculator and it should be able to power the mobo and CPU, so if that works my PSU must have died on me.

Camarilla · 22 Dec 2013 at 20:19

So, I've also now tried a different PSU, and the system still doesn't boot. That means the only 2 things it could be are either the motherboard or the CPU as far as I can tell. Is there any way to test which of these is causing the problem?

mark2410 · 22 Dec 2013 at 21:20

do all the capacitors look good?

Camarilla · 22 Dec 2013 at 22:11

As far as I can tell, they look fine. One of them might have looked slightly taller than the others, but unfortunately it's located underneath the board's cooling block which I'm not really comfortable taking apart, so I can't get a close look at it.

Edit: To clarify, it didn't look really like it was bulging at all, it just looked a bit bigger from the side view I got of it

mark2410 · 22 Dec 2013 at 23:14

yeah i ithkn its not supposed to happen with solid caps but in the old days bulging caps were a sure indicator of the reason behind those sorts of problems.