New build won't POST

alex24

alex24

alex24

Soldato
Joined
1 Jan 2008
Posts
11,485
I don't often make these threads, but before I spend all of my evening troubleshooting I want to ask if I've missed anything obvious!

Put together this system today:

Intel Pentium D 915 (on stock cooler - was a **** to get on)
Gigabyte GA-G41M-ES2L rev 1.1 (brand new from OcUK)
2x1GB Corsair Value PC2-5300
Corsair CX 400W (brand new from OcUK)
Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 320GB
Sony DVD-RW
Akasa Zen

Problem:

Machine powers up, but no display, no BIOS beep (speaker is plugged in) and no signs of any activity!

When I say powers up, I mean the HDD and optical drive come on, case fan (plugged into mobo) and CPU fan all come on etc. Just nothing else happens.

What I've tried:

Verify no extra stand-offs installed - all present and correct.
Re-seat RAM and try alternate sticks in different slots - no change
Unplug everything but PSU, RAM and essential connectors - no change
Remove BIOS battery, short connection and use clear CMOS jumper - no change
Verify both ATX power connectors installed properly - both appear fine, no change


What I suspect:

Incompatible RAM. I have no other DDR2 to test it with, bums.
DOA motherboard . Getting power, but no signs of life.
Incompatible/faulty CPU. Listed as compatible on the GB website, cannot verify which BIOS installed, but appears supported from release. CPU tested working yesterday, so very unlikely.
Poorly seated stock cooler. It was difficult to get on, but it seems attached properly now at least. May try to reseat it.


Do you think I've missed anything obvious? Anything else to add? I'd appreciate any help, I wanted this finished today!

TIA
 
Just checked the Gigabyte web site, like you mentioned it is supported.

Can you try an external gpu?
 
Just trying to fish one out, only got AGP here....

Hang on, got a 5770 on my desk, don't want to kill it, worth a go?

OK I've also found a 4350, I think I'll risk that one instead!
 
Try it, It may be looking at a faulty motherboard.

Shame you don't have another cpu test :(
 
I've got another 775 CPU I can test with, but I'm very sure that the Pentium D is OK. A bit miffed I've got no other DDR2, must've sold it all!

Thanks for the GPU suggestion, I'm going to try that now.
 
Just really to double check with a different cpu.
Least you can rule the possibility of incompatibility.

Good Luck :)
 
OK.

Tried a dedicated GFX, same problem.

Re-seated the cooler, same problem.

I found some DDR2 (wahey!) but same problem (boo).

I can try the CPU as a last resort, but it looks like it's RMA time already. Only got the board today :-(
 
alexhull24 said:
Machine powers up, but no display, no BIOS beep (speaker is plugged in) and no signs of any activity!

When I say powers up, I mean the HDD and optical drive come on, case fan (plugged into mobo) and CPU fan all come on etc. Just nothing else happens.
Click to expand...

I had exactly the same issue with my sister's machine yesterday, and it turned out the PSU had gone dodgy. I've no idea why but it powered the fans and the hard drives but the machine wouldn't boot unless I swapped the PSU out.

It would be a bit odd for a Corsair to be DOA but it might be worth a try.
 
Indeed. After waxing lyrical about how good the Corsair looked earlier this week, in a twist of irony, my generic test unit sitting in my room may save the day. I'll give it a go.
 
gazzamcg said:
I'm going for a faulty bios chip.
Click to expand...

I'm afraid you're wrong.

I've found the problem.

It was the power supply. My cheap Trust 500W supply boots it fine. I initially thought perhaps one of the ATX 4-pin connectors on the CX 400W was the incorrect one for my system (the 8-pin splits into two), but Corsair say that either should be fine. Turned out neither worked, so it's definitely a PSU issue. I'm going to try the Corsair on another machine and see if it's the same, if so, it's RMA time, but not for what I expected! I think OcUK should be ok to take it back, I've only had it a couple of days, and I'll be damned if I'm paying to send it back to the Netherlands, not even out of some strange World Cup derived sympathy.
 
alexhull24 said:
I'm afraid you're wrong.

I've found the problem.

It was the power supply. My cheap Trust 500W supply boots it fine. I initially thought perhaps one of the ATX 4-pin connectors on the CX 400W was the incorrect one for my system (the 8-pin splits into two), but Corsair say that either should be fine. Turned out neither worked, so it's definitely a PSU issue. I'm going to try the Corsair on another machine and see if it's the same, if so, it's RMA time, but not for what I expected! I think OcUK should be ok to take it back, I've only had it a couple of days, and I'll be damned if I'm paying to send it back to the Netherlands, not even out of some strange World Cup derived sympathy.
Click to expand...


Darn.

No prize tonight then.

Aye, you certainly don't want to be paying £30-40 to rma it to the Dutchland.
 
Thats a surprise :( Stick a note in the customer section if it does not work in a spare machine.
 
Tried the other machine, plugged both the ATX connectors in (24 pin and 12V 4 pin) and it started to boot, but no display and the CPU fan wasn't turning, so had to turn it off in case it got too hot and caused damage.

It was the last component I'd expect too. I hope I'm not missing something simple, because I don't fancy sending it back to OcUK and them saying it's OK (and charging for the privilege), but I've tried two different machines now, and another works, I can't see how else to test it without a proper PSU tester. It's not like the PSU wasn't powering up, it all looked normal, but there must be something wrong with one of the ATX connectors (or the power it's giving). I might pop into work and ask to borrow a PSU tester just to make sure.
 
Thats bad luck really, tho i had a DOA TX750W last year. It had a duff +5v rail. OcUK were great with it tho and swapped it out no problem at all.
 
I wouldn't mind so much, but this is the third corsair unit I've had fail on me. I've defended them as they're still quality units, but how many more times can I ignore the failures? I guess I'm more disappointed than anything else, I've been very unlucky. Let's call it karma.
 
alexhull24 said:
I wouldn't mind so much, but this is the third corsair unit I've had fail on me. I've defended them as they're still quality units, but how many more times can I ignore the failures? I guess I'm more disappointed than anything else, I've been very unlucky. Let's call it karma.
Click to expand...

I dislike all the hype surround corsair psu's.
There are better out there for the money.
Not saying they aren't good, but they are over priced and hype inflated IMO.

I've built hundreds of pc's with cheap psu's, not one has failed yet.
I've heard more about corsair psu's failing and the repeated proverb about buying cheap psu's than I have heard about cheap ones failing.
 
On the other hand, working in IT repair I've written off hundreds of cheap PSUs and even machines because they took the board with it. One PSU was DOA, it was a low end Corsair, I'm prepared to forgive them for that, as it didn't go bang and was well behaved (it's basically a rebranded Seasonic unit). The other two Corsair failures I had are where it pops when voltage is applied (it goes pop, audibly, but not bang!), but there's no apparent damage and they continue to function normally. This was a design issue with some of the early HX620 units and they've been replaced no fuss, plus, no damage to my components, not even any downtime. Just niggles, and when you're powering a decent machine, it has to be good. OcUK sells decent machines. Most posters here have a more powerful than average machine.

The PCs you built, what PSUs and what specs? I'd be willing to bet they're average cheapo brand PSUs that aren't stretched because they're just office machines. That's fine for some, but here on OcUK I'll happily tell people they need something better, from experience.

Which PSUs do you recommend that are better for the money?
 
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