computer does not power on

[holymongol]

I was fitting a system with these components:

Gigabyte GA-EP45-UD3R
Intel Core 2 Duo E8400
8800GT
2x2GB OCZ Reaper @ 1066mhz
550W VX Corsair

Unfortunately the system would not turn on at all. I have tried fitting only the graphics card, processor, power supply, and memory. Which does not work. I have tested the power supply and that does seem to be working. I thought the motherboard was faulty so I got an RMA. It appears it is not faulty.

So the question is, what else could be causing this problem?

 

[TechnicalFreak]

Check that all connections to do with "power" are connected. I.e. to power up the mobo. Also check that the small connectors for "RESET", "HDD" , "POWER" etc. are connected correctly.

 

[holymongol]

thanks for quick reply,

there are two pins for power sw, one side is +ve and the other is -ve, does it matter which way i fit these into the motherboard?

 

[techjunkie]

I dont think the power switch polarity matters.
Is there an LED or something similar on your motherboard ? If there is, does it light up ?

 

[Fleck]

Of course the power switch has to be plugged in the right way. If you didn't already try plugging in the power switch the other way that's just knuckle-headed. Not to say all systems are bugged by it, but some I've ran across were and I wouldn't doubt if modern systems specifically stated +/- for the power pins that they'd be picky about it.

Now if everything is plugged in right (power switch to power pins, PSU to mobo, PSU does work and mobo isn't fried) it should at the very least show signs of life, a busted CPU or RAM should not keep your board from powering on, maybe from POST but not power.

 

[holymongol]

There are 5 LED lights on the motherboard (GA-EP45-UD3) which are placed in a column - I'm not really sure what these are for, but there was no sign of life from these lights while powering up the computer.

As for the pins, I have tried both positions with no success, the power LED does not come on, the CPU fan (Xigmatek HDT-1283) and case fans do not spin, nothing happens.

But I do know the power supply (550W VX Corsair) works as I am currently using it with an older system build together with the new case (CM-690) that I bought with it.

 

[holymongol]

bump

 

[Fleck]

Since you're not gettin anyone else to step in to help on this one, I'm gonna give the only advice I possibly could as system builder for 14 years. This is the weirdest thing ever. Go somewhere local and get a motherboard that you can afford, I mean my system board cost $50, so give it a go. Plug that new board into all that same stuff and see if it works. If not, then I dunno, coz like I said bad RAM/CPU should at least make your board power up, the only issue here can be the PSU or the mobo itself. Maybe you need to call the RMA department and chew them a new one.

 

[Wozzer]

check that the small connectors connected correctly.

 

[Fleck]

OOH, also, another one that just popped into my head. I heard a story from a guy who went through hell trying to figure out why his brand new expensive setup wouldn't do anything. He found out that the power button on the case was faulty/loose and wouldn't make a connection so it was like he wasn't even trying to turn it on at all. If you're using a new and untested case, give that a go.

 

[Clivuss]

Could you have accidentally left the CLR_CMOS jumper covered? (or are the pins bent and touching) - This would cause the same symptom. Something else you could check is all the PSU Power and small case connections - to ensure that the connecting pins have not slipped back inside their sheaths, so they're not actually making contact with the mobo. The other thing I've seen that can cause this is when the case connections (Hdd/Reset/Power/MSG LED) are incorrectly seated on the wrong terminals. Good luck.

 

[BarbaricSoul]

Is there anywhere on the motherboard that might be touching the case and grounding out the motherboard?

 

[troyrae360]

Could you have accidentally left the CLR_CMOS jumper covered? (or are the pins bent and touching) - This would cause the same symptom. Something else you could check is all the PSU Power and small case connections - to ensure that the connecting pins have not slipped back inside their sheaths, so they're not actually making contact with the mobo. The other thing I've seen that can cause this is when the case connections (Hdd/Reset/Power/MSG LED) are incorrectly seated on the wrong terminals. Good luck.

Yea, read the manual that come with the mobo, make sure Hdd/Reset/Power/MSG LED are all pluged in propley.

also check without GFX card in, see if the fans are spinning up or is the whole thing compleatley dead, no fans no nuthing? dose the fan on your PSU spin up?

 

[Clivuss]

You said you had tested the PSU - Did you actually swap it out and try it on another system or use spare PSU on your GA-EP45-UD3R? If not, do that (It doesn't have to be a Gucci one - just any compatible PSU - so that you can test the Mobo's actually receiving and distributing the power. Could be that the PSU's maybe Lancing-Bagnalled.

 

[TechnicalFreak]

Something that I forgot to ask, a friend of mine had a similar problem. He just forgot to put the CPU's fan connector in. It had this "failsafe" would not power on if not connected...
On your system that connector is located just above the memory banks, correct?

And is also the 2x4 12V connector properly connected?