No post help

[Arge]

Hi guys,

So I have just finished accumulating all the bits I need to make a htpc for the living room. Got them all second hand as needed it to be as cheap as possible really.

Base spec is as follows;
- msi h81i itx motherboard
- intel g3258 anniversary edition
- 8gb corsair vengance 1600 ram
- corsair sf450 psu
- corsair force 3 ssd

Anyway have come to put it all together and I can't get it to boot/post

I have it set up out of the case on the mb box just for testing so don't think anything is shorting.

Have taken it back to just psu, cpu/mb and ram but still no post.

What happens is when you press the power button (bridge the power button pins) the psu relay clicks, the psu and cpu fans spin for about a second then the psu clicks again and it turns off.

I have tested the psu with the paper clip test and it powers two 140mm fans from the molex so appears to be ok. I think the motherboard is 'telling' it to switch back off?

One thing I have thought of is cpu compatibility, the h81i does support the g3258 cpu but only in a later bios I think. Would an early bios that doesn't support the g3258 cause the fault I am having? Anyone experienced what symptoms you get if a cpu isn't supported?

Please help!

Thanks
Arge

 

[RJC]

That could be the case, you would need to check with CPU from launch.

Not sure if you have tried a CMOS reset or checked the ram in both slots as some boards are fussy which ram slot to use.

 

[Danny75]

Another vote for CMOS Reset (all methods available one by one - button, pin shorting, battery removal - download the manual and check).

Inspect the CPU carefully for any hint of dirt/paste on the gold contacts, especially the edges. Blow some air at the CPU socket while you're at it to get rid of any dust. And check for bent pins in socket.

After that, can't think of much else to do really, other than try another CPU in the board (and update BIOS), or the CPU in a different board.

 

[Arge]

Thanks for the response RJC

I have tried all the different ram combos and also with no ram to see if it stayed powered up at least for longer than a second even if it wouldn't post like that but it still cuts off after approximately a second.

Next is to borrow some other ram from a friend to try.

I was also thinking of finding a super cheap haswell Celeron or pentium that would have been supported from the first bios to see if that stops the psu cutting out and enables post but it's extra time and money I didn't really want to have to spend.

Any one have one knocking about I could purchase??

Also would a bios update really fix the issue I'm having?

I would expect a no post with a non supported cpu of the right family but cutting the psu off after a second like there's a short, would it do that?

Thanks

 

[Arge]

Thanks danny75

I think I tried a bios reset, took out the battery for a minute and there's a jumper on this board too which I bridged with a screw driver as there isn't an actual jumper on it. Think that would have worked?

Any other ways to ensure bios is fully reset?

Thanks

 

[Danny75]

and there's a jumper on this board too which I bridged with a screw driver as there isn't an actual jumper on it. Think that would have worked?

Yes. It should have. Even though the manual doesn't say to do this, count to ten seconds roughly while you're pressing the jumper pins with the screwdriver.

Sometimes they have a clear CMOS button on the board, or back of the board (I/O) too. But battery and/or jumper tend to be even more thorough.

Do check the CPU as well, one time I only caught sight of a speck of dirt/paste on the third inspection, and I was already telling the owner of the computer he may need some new parts lol. Just one tiny contact that isn't clean can cause it.

 

[Arge]

Will have the cpu back out tonight and check pins and cleanliness etc.
It's difficult as all parts are second hand so could be anything that's no good I suppose.

Any other suggestions from anyone so I have a few things to try tonight?

If not I'll start a search for a super cheap used celeron or something to try.

Thanks