Build from used parts - can't figure whats wrong

[ebivan]

Hey Guys,

I bought a couple of used components to build a Router/Gateway/Firewall based on desktop hardware which should run OPNsense in the future.

I got:
ASRock H110M DVS for 25€
i5 6600 for 45€
Two sticks of 4GB DDR4 for 20€
Intel i350-T4 for 20€ (not included in the test setup)

When I power it on, the CPU and PSU fans start spinning normally but nothing else, no picture is coming from either VGA nor DVI. Only thing that works is the on off connector on the mainboard. The cooler on the chipset gets slightly warm after a couple of minutes, not hot, just warm so there is definitively something going on there.

The trouble is, I never had such a cheap mainboard, no POST code are displayed on the mainboard, there is not even a single LED on that cheap piece of hardware to give any information whats wrong with it.

I already tried both memory sticks alone so I guess there is no problem with the memory but either the CPU or mainboard must be faulty.

edit: resetting cmos didn't help

I also tried putting in an old GeForce 210 to check if its just the mainboards video output, but still nothing showing up on screen.

I dont have any other cpu or mainboard for that platform available so I cannot test those in a different environment.

You guys have any idea how to test mainboard and cpu further without just buying random new components?

 

[Hyderz]

reset the cmos.. take the battery out for a couple of minutes and then put it back on and see if you get a signal...

 

[ebivan]

reset the cmos.. take the battery out for a couple of minutes and then put it back on and see if you get a signal...

Forgot to mention, already did that. No Luck.

 

[Hyderz]

Forgot to mention, already did that. No Luck.

okay other free things to try is do a clean... blow the dust out of sockets, possibly cmos battery is dead... might need to replace...

 

[ebivan]

Nah, cleaned it all before putting it together.

I'll try a new cr2032 battery but I highly doubt that will help. In my experience booting even without a battery was never a problem for any mobo only bios settings are not saved and mobos reboot with default settings without a battery.

 

[joemama]

I don't think you can test further without other components

 

[Mussels]

slap it out on a test bench without the case and send pics, we might spot something

 

[ebivan]

Well, judging from my 25 years of experience with PC hardware, I have seen much more mobos dying than CPUs.
So I'll try buying another mobo first.

Damn I was so proud to have scored all components for little more than 100 bucks. Buying another mobo really ruins my budget.

Also it's not easy scoring that exact mainboard again, as its the only one of that generation that supposed to run coreboot.

slap it out on a test bench without the case and send pics, we might spot something

Never had it in a case its just sitting here on my desk completly naked

I have an appointment for my first Covid vaxination now, but will post pics later today...

 

[Mescalamba]

Most likely MOBO. Basic ones are crap no matter what manufacturer. Personally when buying second-hand MOBO I tend to go a bit up on price scale and pick some really good model. CPUs are usually cheap, as are old dimms. Also PSU is almost better to buy new. These can be seriously explosive.

 

[Japie073]

Maybe pins on the LGA socket is bent or the board is just dead. Had a z97 that wouldn't post that had few bent pins. Definitely check for bad pins and verify the ATX 12V connector is connected.

 

[ebivan]

Most likely MOBO. Basic ones are crap no matter what manufacturer. Personally when buying second-hand MOBO I tend to go a bit up on price scale and pick some really good model. CPUs are usually cheap, as are old dimms. Also PSU is almost better to buy new. These can be seriously explosive.

As I said, I never had this Kind of cheap crap. I bought the mainboard specifically because its one of the very few recent gen mainbords that are supported by coreboot.

 

[QuietBob]

Have you tried other RAM?

 

[Ruru]

Maybe pins on the LGA socket is bent or the board is just dead. Had a z97 that wouldn't post that had few bent pins. Definitely check for bad pins and verify the ATX 12V connector is connected.

I'd check this. I had a P67 board with bent/broken pins back in the day and I managed to fix it that at least it worked with singlechannel.

 

[Caring1]

What Ram did you buy?
It supports up to 2400MHz speed.

 

[Ruru]

What Ram did you buy?
It supports up to 2400MHz speed.

Doesn't faster RAM have many JEDEC profiles so those should still work on older boards?

 

[ebivan]

I got two 4GB sticks of Crucial Ballistics 2400 Cl16. Nothing exotic, this should boot in pretty much any DDR4 compatible system. I dont have other memory at hand right now (well only in systems I dont like to shut down right now) but I am really sure that its not a compatibility issue with this kind of low-end run of the mill RAM.
As I said, I already tried each of those two sticks alone in both slots but nothing.

I'll check the spring loaded pins in the socket later, when I'm back at home and post a pic of the pins and the setup in general.

 

[micropage7]

it looks between 2, the main board or the ram
if the board is ok even without ram it will display something when you turn it on
btw what psu that you use?

 

[ebivan]

PSU is a brand new 300W "bronze" one from BeQuiet (FSP)

 

[Ruru]

PSU is a brand new 300W "bronze" one from BeQuiet (FSP)

Should be fine with those parts.

 

[micropage7]

maybe you can re do it from scratch, i mean put everything off from the case, check the board, the pins, the processor itself, if everything looks ok then hook it to PSU then turn it on
if it's not you need to buy another board

 

[BaRRoS]

Dont know if anyone else mentioned it but, have you tried to connect a speaker to check the POST error beep codes?

 

[jaggerwild]

Did you try the most basic of all motherboard tricks, install a speaker for trouble codes?

 

[ebivan]

Did you try the most basic of all motherboard tricks, install a speaker for trouble codes?

Haha, not bad! Haven't really thought about that as all my boards within the last decade or so had POST Code Displays or at least LEDs to show that kind of information. I will try that! (if I can find a speaker)

 

[Bones]

I got two 4GB sticks of Crucial Ballistics 2400 Cl16. Nothing exotic, this should boot in pretty much any DDR4 compatible system. I dont have other memory at hand right now (well only in systems I dont like to shut down right now) but I am really sure that its not a compatibility issue with this kind of low-end run of the mill RAM.
As I said, I already tried each of those two sticks alone in both slots but nothing.

I'll check the spring loaded pins in the socket later, when I'm back at home and post a pic of the pins and the setup in general.

I can suggest to look for pins that's not damaged (Bent) but instead have been skewed to one side.
I've ran into this before, no pins bent yet it woudn't do anything and took me awhile to figure it out when I ran into this. The problem with that is for some reason the pin will be "Loose" in the socket letting it move around (Wiggle) and sometimes it's "Just Enough" to throw it off and behave just like a broken pin..... But when you check you'll find no bent or broken pins.

You'll have to check carefully for that (magnifying visor/glass really helps) and if you find one that's shifted over, just nudge it back into alignment - Problem solved.
Also remember which pin it is if you find one like that, I still have this happen on occasion with my Z77 OCF and when it does I know which pin it is since it's always the same one doing it, and in my case I just deal with it.

 

[ebivan]

Wow, I guess you guys were right! Or are these two meant to be bent backwards??