System post issues - need some advice. Dead or damaged?

[stormy]

Hi,

I am having a serious nightmare with my PC at the moment. First here is the Spec.

Antec P180 Case
Asus P5K Deluxe/WIFI-AP
Intel E6600 Core 2 Duo (no overclocking)
2Gb Crucial Ballistix PC8500+ Ram
HIS Radeon X1900XT 512Mb PCI-e
Corsair HX520W Power Supply
WD 500Gb SE16 SATA II
WD 320GB SE16 SATA II
Soundblaster Audigy 2ZS PCI

I recently swapped the PSU out from an old Enermax one to the new PSU and noticed when I first tried to power on the system the new PSU the system would not post, it would just sit there with all the fans spinning. No graphics output, no keyboard lights just a lot of noise from the fans.

I took out the SB card and GFX card, re-started and the system seemed to actualy boot into windows fine (which I didnt realise it would without GFX). I could tell it had booted with the pro-longed HD access, so I waited for the system to boot, then pressed the power button and the PC shut down fine. So put the cards back in a voila everything was working again, happy bunny.

So 2 weeks later, I have got a Accelero S1 cooler for the X1900XT because of a rattling fan there. I took the switching off, unplugged etc and took the card out took the HS/FAN off only to realise the ram/vrm coolers where torx bits which I had none, so I put it all back together (and would call my mate to borrow his later) and switched back on and I have the original spinning fans, mobo has power and nothing syndrome again! What I have noticed is the CPU fan will actually start off at warp speed but gradually slow down (I dont think it can be using Asus Quiet Fan because thats normally a very sharp change is speed, where this is gradually and also I dont think its
even loading the bios).

I have tried numerous combinations of cards in/out and reset the CMOS countless times now (battery out, Clear RTC jumper in).

Nothing helps, looks like its dead but still living kinda. What is odd is if I take everything off the board including the memory I get the BEEP error code associated with no memory detected. If I put them back in, I get the same as before, no error code BEEPs but the fans just spin up, HDs spin up etc etc but nothing.

I also tested my old PSU and got the same result.

Dead mobo? Dead GFX? Dead CPU?

As a first test I have given the GFX card to a friend to test today, I have no easy access to another card to test. If the GFX card works then does it sound like a problem with one of the slots of my mobo or something else? I can live shelling out some cash to change the mobo and/or processor but I don't want to spend cash needlessly if there is something I can do to recover the situation.

Edit: My mate just called me at work, graphics card is working fine.

Any advice is greatfully receieved.

Cheers,

Mike

[d3fiant]

I would try taking everything out of the case and try the system on a table or something similar to ensure nothing is causing an intermitten short or similar. Of course take all precautions to prevent any static issues etc but that method is normaly good at eliminating possible fitting issues in the case, then u can concentrate on testing components with more ease

[stormy]

Thanks for the reply, I thought about that but its ni-on impossible because I need to have the system power button connectors in and the lead is short and would only reach inside the case. I could use my other PSU and build it on my desk but I would not be able to power it up.

I suppose I could rest the mobo out of the case on cardboard so not to short on the case. If not I am going to give the mobo, CPU and memory to my mate to check as he is not working this week.

[Lee H]

Once you've tried the test out the case and you've still got issues, I would recommend trying some other memory to see if this boots. If it does, then you might need to increase the voltage to get the other memory working.

[stormy]

Thanks again for input, Its a bit of chicken and egg that though because if I cant get into the BIOS, I cant do anything with the RAM settings. Also the RAM has been fine before the new PSU, and fine with the new PSU until last night.

I wish I knew *exactly* what the problem was when I first put the new PSU in, because its the exact same behaviour, all I did was take out the Soundcard and Graphics card, re-seated and all was fine. Now doing that doesnt help.

I will try other memory if I can though, or get my mate to try his ram in it before I throw it all in the bin!

[d3fiant]

Shame u dont leave near me, id say pop round as I have a very similar system. As for the power button, when u take the components out of the case u can turn it on by shortin the two pins that the power button cable plugs onto, I use a screwdriver, just touch the two pins briefly, on it comes Obviouslt care needs to be taken

[Steve B]

did you connect up all the power connectors to the motherboard, so the graphics card would run?

[stormy]

d3fiant, do I need to keep it shorted or just touch it briefly?

Steve, all the power connectors were on and will be on when I test again tonight, the Radeon will actually work with 2D without its PCIe 6pin connector on, it gives a warning message. When I first installed it I forgot to put that on.

I will try the benchtop test tonight and might even use a different PSU as a test.

Cheers,

Mike

[d3fiant]

just a touch, the power switch does the same, doesnt maintain the completed circuit otherwise it will just power cycle over and over, its normaly very easy to identify the correct pins, if u need any help later just post here, I should be around most of tonight as Im workin on a m8s PC

[eUphoria]

Hmmm, doesnt sound a million miles away from the sort of problem i've been getting lately:

http://forums.hexus.net/showthread.php?t=115540

try leaving the pc in its 'dead but not dead' state for a few mins then press the reset switch and see what happens. My money is on the PSU being faulty in my rig so im going to try and swap it for another and see if it'll boot

[Pob255]

[qutoe]So 2 weeks later, I have got a Accelero S1 cooler for the X1900XT because of a rattling fan there. I took the switching off, unplugged etc and took the card out took the HS/FAN off only to realise the ram/vrm coolers where torx bits which I had none, so I put it all back together (and would call my mate to borrow his later) and switched back on and I have the original spinning fans, mobo has power and nothing syndrome again![/quote] That bit leads me to think it could be your graphics card, have you got a differnt one you could put in instead?

[stormy]

The GFX card has tested fine in another machine, I have tried 2 PSUs both with same results.

So its either mobo, ram or CPU now. I have tried the out of case test, same result so all the bits are at my mates now so he can swap the bits out with his and issolate which is the cause.

Thanks for the help.

Mike

[stormy]

Hmm ram, cpu and gfx have all tested fine.. My mate has yet to try my board, but if it works now I am stumped.

Surely a) the new PSU would not be faulty after 3 weeks and b) my old PSU which has been going for years, suddenly has failed too!?

Odd.

Mike

[stormy]

Motherboard is confirmed faulty by Novatech, they wanted to leave me without a mobo for upto 28 days while they send it back to Asus but have agreed to swap the board with another and ship it back to me, and then I assume ship my board back to Asus.

The problem is, how will I get the new serial number? AFAIK Asus boards only have the serial printed on the box but because I am getting my old box (and contents) back but with a new board I wont have any way to know what the new mobo serial is.

Any ideas?

Cheers.

Mike

[peterb]

There must be a way of IDing the board (idf the serial no isn't on a label on the mobo - its been a while since I looked at my Asus boards!)

I think it is in the HDI area of the bios, which you can acess using the Asus tools. Otherwise ask Novatech (who must have the original box - or maybe when it is returned you will get it in the proper box anyway)

[stormy]

I have no idea! Some guys on the Asus forums say it should be printed on a sticker somewhere on the board (the location seems to be floating), and that its not accesable in the bios screen. I will have to have a close look before I install the board.

Cheers,

Mike