PSU or Motherboard faulty?

kinger8938 · 12 Jul 2022 at 07:18

At work yesterday, the pc I use in the workshop (my old personal one) just didn't turn on all of a sudden. Literally nothing.

Tried a different plug socket, tried the cable from the monitor but nothing (monitor powers on with the same cable etc)

Opened it up and reseated all the connections to the mobo, tried all I can think of.

Does this sound like the PSU is done? Hope so, over the motherboard?

Thanks all

Minibiker · 12 Jul 2022 at 07:20

Does sound like it could be the PSU if your getting no power at all... I'm guessing you don't have a spare to try?

kinger8938 · 12 Jul 2022 at 07:50

Minibiker said:
Does sound like it could be the PSU if your getting no power at all... I'm guessing you don't have a spare to try?

I don't I'm afraid. There's a Corsair one on prime day for like £20 so we are going to just grab that and hope that's all it is

mickyflinn · 12 Jul 2022 at 08:05

kinger8938 said:
I don't I'm afraid. There's a Corsair one on prime day for like £20 so we are going to just grab that and hope that's all it is

You could try the paper clip test on the psu.

kinger8938 · 12 Jul 2022 at 08:24

mickyflinn said:
You could try the paper clip test on the psu.

That's interesting! Thanks may give that a go in a bit

kinger8938 · 12 Jul 2022 at 08:35

mickyflinn said:
You could try the paper clip test on the psu.

Darn I did this and yeah the power supply fan comes on so this means the motherboard is shot?

Anything else I can try to help rectify this or is it just a case that it's done for?

Thanks!

Matt

Minibiker · 12 Jul 2022 at 09:12

One stick of RAM at a time, switch out one with the other then try again.

do test with minimal components install

EsaT · 12 Jul 2022 at 20:27

Could be PSU, could be mobo/BIOS battery, could be something else.

PSU's capacitors failing would more likely show up as increasing cold boot problem over time.
Though of course PSU can suffer also sudden death.

"BIOS" battery is known for being able to suddenly stop PC from booting besides other wacky symptoms.
And at least changing it would be cheap attempt.

kinger8938 · 20 Jul 2022 at 14:56

Hey all sorry for the delay

Got round to trying the above suggestions.

The paperclip pay thing worked to get the PSU fan spinning so I guess that proves that is fine.

However once plugged in to the motherboard, it doesn't come on at all.

I've disconnected all components etc and still nothing, replaced the battery etc

So I'm pretty sure it has to be the board? It's aging now tbh but has to be it surely?

BUDFORCE · 20 Jul 2022 at 15:25

You trying to power it via a power switch on your case?

If so, have you tried powering it up using whatever it is on the motherboard, just in case its a faulty power switch, it is a moving part after all.

Otherwise no obvious signs on the motherboard of damage, bulging capacitors anywhere?

VortexA1 · 20 Jul 2022 at 15:52

Yes use a screwdriver to bridge the pins on the motherboard power on header to rule out a faulty case power switch. Unplug everything. Except memory and cpu including io headers and see if you get life. Try single memory in every slot. Alternate the memory . Psu might start up wth pin test but might still be bad I reckon...you can get psu testers under £15 which check voltages.