New built PC doesn't POST

Barron2110 · 1 Jan 2015 at 17:05

Hi guys,

Just finished building my new PC which arrived yesterday. Took my time with everything and made sure everything was connected. However I've just tried turning it on about 15minutes ago and the GFX card fans span, then stopped. Once I powered down the system they'd spin for a few seconds and stop with the system. I solved this by just having on 6pin PCI express connected to it (instead of the 2 6pins like I originally had connected). I thought that would solve the no signal message on the screen.

However it seems the system isn't actually posting as I thought it was. The GfX card is spinning, the water cooling system is on and working fine. However I can't see a light on the Mobo so I'm guessing for the system not to post. I must have a loose cable or possibly the RAM?

I've had a quick check over the cables and ram and gfx card. Everything seems to be connected securely. But I've came for a break and to have some tea and was hoping to return to it afterwards with some advice on the problem. I've read in the general tips trying clearing the cmos with the button on the back of the Mobo, but is that needed with it being a brand new build?

Also the keyboard and mouse plugged into the back of the system also do not power on. So must be something with the Mobo?
Specs are:
MSI Z97 mini ITX mobo
Intel i5 4690k 3.5Ghz
MSI Radeon R9 285 gaming edition
Cooler master Newton 240mm AIO
SuperFlower leader gold 650w fully modular PSU
Team group Vulcan 8gb 2400mhz
Sea gate 1tb HDD
Samsung evo 250gb SSD

Case is a Cosair 250D

Barron2110 · 1 Jan 2015 at 17:33

ED209 said:
as stulid said, check the 8 pin connecter and the 22 pin connecter going to the motherboard, does the motherboard have a on board gpu? could always try this as well

also try iwth maybe 1 stick of ram in or the bare essentials to get the system working and go from there

I've tried the one stick of ram in both dimms. With both sticks and nothing. The 8 pin (think it's blue on my PSU) is connected but I'll check connection again as they are tight.

I have the power led and other wires under the Mobo (which were secured so they didn't touch the Mobo) could that maybe cause it not to start if there's contact? Was done on a few 250d builds with it being tight for space, maybe mine is loose?

Barron2110 · 1 Jan 2015 at 17:42

Just tried the 8 pin connector. I have 2 which came with the super flower psu, one is a 4 + 4 labelled CPU 1. The other labelled CPU 2 is a block 8pin connector. I've tried both of these and still no post.

Barron2110 · 1 Jan 2015 at 17:52

stulid said:
if the power switch wire is not on it wouldnt power up at all I would have thought.

Is the coolers rpmm wire plugged into the cpu fan header?

Try pulling the battery out for a bit with the power off, then refitting.

The wire coming from the cool master air is connected to the CPU fan right by the CPU, the 2. Fans from the radiator are connected to the system fan port via a splitter (2 into 1, not sure the correct name). The radiator fans are spinning and the lights on the CPU block are all lit up. So I assume they are powering just fine.

Any idea where the battery is on this mobo? Would pressing the reset CMOS button on the I/o plate do the same thing?

Barron2110 · 1 Jan 2015 at 18:20

stulid said:
If there is a button then great, use that.

Should the pc be powered on when it's pressed or off? Might sound like a silly question lol

Barron2110 · 1 Jan 2015 at 18:31

stulid said:
Power off.

Done and held in for a few seconds still no post.

I'll try removing the gfx card.

Mobo seems really secure.

One thing I've noticed is a really tight fit between radiator and mobo, one screw is really really close, maybe even touching and causing it? I'll try a pic of it but not sure it will be any good from the iPad haha

Barron2110 · 1 Jan 2015 at 19:10

Removed the gfx card and still the system didn't post. Everything on, but no signs of any lights coming on, on the mobo or any beeping noise.

Barron2110 · 1 Jan 2015 at 20:17

stulid said:
Its possible to have over tightened the cooler to the board thus bending it.

Hmm ill give that a try, so loosen the AIO?

Ive just stripped it all back down removed the 3 bottom screws that were nearly touching the mobo incase they did make contact once everything was back in. I plugged everything back in. Also realised that the power led etc werent all wired in right way (+/-) so they are correct now. Connected up the gfx card with 2 x 6 pin connectors and plugged both of them in. System didnt POST and had the same issue with the gfx fans spinning, stopping and spinning again when powered down. (Thats with 2 different 6x pci plugs, with seperate modular cables, not one cable with pci/sli plugged in).

Also below is the best pictures i can get of it all assembled.

http://imgur.com/mQNWDn0
http://imgur.com/Hh1Y8ZK
http://imgur.com/H8ySZHY

Barron2110 · 2 Jan 2015 at 01:36

russell664 said:
Have you tried with one stick of RAM in the system? One stick, and test each one of the slots one at a time?

Have you made sure all of the power connectors are firmly seated?

Also, have you done a CMOS reset?

done all the above. Held the cmos reset switch on for about 5 seconds

Barron2110 · 2 Jan 2015 at 06:34

Just finished work, will have a tinker with it later after I've had some kip and get back to u

Barron2110 · 2 Jan 2015 at 11:28

I guys I'm awake (barely) after nightshift. And I've been going through the advice you have posted. And......the machine has posted and I'm in the BIOs settings. I have discnneced the power to the SSD/HDD. Removed the GFX card and one stick of ram.

The ram is running at 1333mhz in dimm 2 at the moment.

Now where is best to go from here? Should I try putting the ssd/HDD back to the PSU. Then attach the gfx and finally the ram to eliminate each one? Or should I just boot down, reset CMOS and try with everything in

Update:

The system will boot with HDD/HDD connected. Will boot with gfx card connected. But as soon as I put in the second stick of ram. The system will NOT post. Even after powering down the system and holding in the reset CMOS switch for 5 seconds or so.

Am I right in saying that I have 1 dead stick of ram? Or could it be another issue causing this?

Barron2110 · 2 Jan 2015 at 14:57

nutsnut said:
If not that, try loosening the CPU cooler.

If to tight it can cause issues with the Ram slots not being detected correctly.

Thanks. I've already spoken to OC and they are gunna RMA the ram for me, obviously if the problem occurs again I'll try the tightness of the screws to the cpu block.

Barron2110 · 2 Jan 2015 at 14:59

stulid said:
Its possible to have over tightened the cooler to the board thus bending it.

Big thanks for all your help the past week buddy, helping me nail down my final spec and help with the trouble shooting. Turns out its one stick is faulty so OC are gunna RMA it for me.

Barron2110 · 2 Jan 2015 at 16:05

Ok so little update since the system is up and running, well all isn't as well as it first seemed. Turns out my HDD isn't being picked up by windows, nor is my GFX card.

The gfx is set to Intel on board and no other device is shown.

And the HDD isn't shown on control panel either but it is shown in the BIOS menu and in HWMonitor program. However the GFX card isn't shown on either...

Argh, not a good day lol...

Barron2110 · 2 Jan 2015 at 16:50

stulid said:
The HDD if new just needs assigning in the disk management section of windows control panel.

Install the AMD catalyst driver for the GFX card.

You can disable the onboard GFX within the BIOS if you want but it makes little difference.

Honestly, don't know why that never popped into my head.

Never set up PC's while you have workmen in the house, mega distraction. Thanks i'll do that now.