• Welcome to TechPowerUp Forums, Guest! Please check out our forum guidelines for info related to our community.

PC refuses to turn on

Joined
Oct 2, 2004
Messages
13,791 (1.94/day)
Ok, wtf is it again...

Came to my PC today and it was turned off. Which is odd since I have it on 24/7. I try to turn it on, nothing. Unplug, plug back, turn on and it clicks, fans spin for a second and instantly turns off.

Cleared CMOS, nothing.

I've unplugged both EATX 8 and 4 pin connectors and PC turns on and all works, system fires up, fans are spinning but mobo doesn't do anything since it doesn't have power. As soon as I plug in 4 or 8 pin EATX plugs, all I get is a click in PSU and instantly turns off.

So, PSU apparently works, what could this mean? Dead CPU or dead mobo? Or something else entirely?

Gonna try TUF diagnostics with my phone now...

TUF Detective goes to "CPU Initial" and stays there the moment PSU clicks.
 
Last edited:

qubit

Overclocked quantum bit
Joined
Dec 6, 2007
Messages
17,866 (3.00/day)
Location
Quantum Well UK
System Name Quantumville™
Processor Intel Core i7-2700K @ 4GHz
Motherboard Asus P8Z68-V PRO/GEN3
Cooling Noctua NH-D14
Memory 16GB (2 x 8GB Corsair Vengeance Black DDR3 PC3-12800 C9 1600MHz)
Video Card(s) MSI RTX 2080 SUPER Gaming X Trio
Storage Samsung 850 Pro 256GB | WD Black 4TB | WD Blue 6TB
Display(s) ASUS ROG Strix XG27UQR (4K, 144Hz, G-SYNC compatible) | Asus MG28UQ (4K, 60Hz, FreeSync compatible)
Case Cooler Master HAF 922
Audio Device(s) Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Fatal1ty PCIe
Power Supply Corsair AX1600i
Mouse Microsoft Intellimouse Pro - Black Shadow
Keyboard Yes
Software Windows 10 Pro 64-bit
Bad PSU or short circuit in mobo. Try operating the mobo out of the case in case it's shorting to it.
 
Joined
Oct 2, 2004
Messages
13,791 (1.94/day)
PSU is top of the line and like 1 year old. Seems to work fine until I plug in EATX 8pin. Then it just clicks and OFF.
 
Joined
Oct 17, 2012
Messages
9,781 (2.35/day)
Location
Massachusetts
System Name Americas cure is the death of Social Justice & Political Correctness
Processor i7-11700K
Motherboard Asrock Z590 Extreme wifi 6E
Cooling Noctua NH-U12A
Memory 32GB Corsair RGB fancy boi 5000
Video Card(s) RTX 3090 Reference
Storage Samsung 970 Evo 1Tb + Samsung 970 Evo 500Gb
Display(s) Dell - 27" LED QHD G-SYNC x2
Case Fractal Design Meshify-C
Audio Device(s) on board
Power Supply Seasonic Focus+ Gold 1000 Watt
Mouse Logitech G502 spectrum
Keyboard AZIO MGK-1 RGB (Kaith Blue)
Software Win 10 Professional 64 bit
Benchmark Scores the MLGeesiest
i had a psu i was donated, that would seem to power on (fans spin up, quiet psu sounds) but if any components were attached to it, Dogshit sandwich! it would just turn off with a click. iirc it was a coolermaster, or thermaltake, but sounds eerily similar. this was a decent PSU too iirc. just sounded familiar to what happened to me.
 

qubit

Overclocked quantum bit
Joined
Dec 6, 2007
Messages
17,866 (3.00/day)
Location
Quantum Well UK
System Name Quantumville™
Processor Intel Core i7-2700K @ 4GHz
Motherboard Asus P8Z68-V PRO/GEN3
Cooling Noctua NH-D14
Memory 16GB (2 x 8GB Corsair Vengeance Black DDR3 PC3-12800 C9 1600MHz)
Video Card(s) MSI RTX 2080 SUPER Gaming X Trio
Storage Samsung 850 Pro 256GB | WD Black 4TB | WD Blue 6TB
Display(s) ASUS ROG Strix XG27UQR (4K, 144Hz, G-SYNC compatible) | Asus MG28UQ (4K, 60Hz, FreeSync compatible)
Case Cooler Master HAF 922
Audio Device(s) Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Fatal1ty PCIe
Power Supply Corsair AX1600i
Mouse Microsoft Intellimouse Pro - Black Shadow
Keyboard Yes
Software Windows 10 Pro 64-bit
PSU is top of the line and like 1 year old. Seems to work fine until I plug in EATX 8pin. Then it just clicks and OFF.
It could still be faulty, even if it seems unlikely.

joboyd's dodgshit sandwhich is a good example.
 
Joined
Dec 10, 2015
Messages
545 (0.18/day)
Location
Here
System Name Skypas
Processor Intel Core i7-6700
Motherboard Asus H170 Pro Gaming
Cooling Cooler Master Hyper 212X Turbo
Memory Corsair Vengeance LPX 16GB
Video Card(s) MSI GTX 1060 Gaming X 6GB
Storage Corsair Neutron GTX 120GB + WD Blue 1TB
Display(s) LG 22EA63V
Case Corsair Carbide 400Q
Power Supply Seasonic SS-460FL2 w/ Deepcool XFan 120
Mouse Logitech B100
Keyboard Corsair Vengeance K70
Software Windows 10 Pro (to be replaced by 2025)
I have similiar case a few years ago but with low end PSU (Silverstone Strider Essential 500W), try the PSU on another PC to make sure
Maybe you are not sexy enough ?
I lol'ed
 
Joined
Oct 2, 2004
Messages
13,791 (1.94/day)
How can I verify it without buying new new PSU? Don't want to spend tons of money on new PSU just to figure out mobo died or something...

Don't have any other PC to test PSU on...
 
Joined
Oct 17, 2012
Messages
9,781 (2.35/day)
Location
Massachusetts
System Name Americas cure is the death of Social Justice & Political Correctness
Processor i7-11700K
Motherboard Asrock Z590 Extreme wifi 6E
Cooling Noctua NH-U12A
Memory 32GB Corsair RGB fancy boi 5000
Video Card(s) RTX 3090 Reference
Storage Samsung 970 Evo 1Tb + Samsung 970 Evo 500Gb
Display(s) Dell - 27" LED QHD G-SYNC x2
Case Fractal Design Meshify-C
Audio Device(s) on board
Power Supply Seasonic Focus+ Gold 1000 Watt
Mouse Logitech G502 spectrum
Keyboard AZIO MGK-1 RGB (Kaith Blue)
Software Win 10 Professional 64 bit
Benchmark Scores the MLGeesiest
How can I verify it without buying new new PSU? Don't want to spend tons of money on new PSU just to figure out mobo died or something...

Don't have any other PC to test PSU on...

no way to acquire a used working PSU for some diagnoses? its the only way i figured mine out , without pulling my hair out. might be time to get a 2nd one. sorry to say :(

i feel for You, trust me. I went through this on F@Cking Christmas eve. while putting the PC together for MY nephew. @ that point I could have punched a baby I was SO pissed off :):banghead:
 
Joined
Oct 17, 2012
Messages
9,781 (2.35/day)
Location
Massachusetts
System Name Americas cure is the death of Social Justice & Political Correctness
Processor i7-11700K
Motherboard Asrock Z590 Extreme wifi 6E
Cooling Noctua NH-U12A
Memory 32GB Corsair RGB fancy boi 5000
Video Card(s) RTX 3090 Reference
Storage Samsung 970 Evo 1Tb + Samsung 970 Evo 500Gb
Display(s) Dell - 27" LED QHD G-SYNC x2
Case Fractal Design Meshify-C
Audio Device(s) on board
Power Supply Seasonic Focus+ Gold 1000 Watt
Mouse Logitech G502 spectrum
Keyboard AZIO MGK-1 RGB (Kaith Blue)
Software Win 10 Professional 64 bit
Benchmark Scores the MLGeesiest
I guess I'll just buy some cheap ass PSU just so I see if it boots up.

If you can ,get a halfway decent one. That way you have it for other tasks and also as a replacement if needed for a temporary period. You'll be thankful You have it.(aside from the $ spent ofc). You could buy a good one as a intended replacement, then if it turns out to NOT be the PSU, put it back in the box, and return it, you have up to 2 weeks with certain retailers.
 
Last edited:
Joined
Jan 5, 2006
Messages
17,640 (2.65/day)
System Name AlderLake / Laptop
Processor Intel i7 12700K P-Cores @ 5Ghz / Intel i3 7100U
Motherboard Gigabyte Z690 Aorus Master / HP 83A3 (U3E1)
Cooling Noctua NH-U12A 2 fans + Thermal Grizzly Kryonaut Extreme + 5 case fans / Fan
Memory 32GB DDR5 Corsair Dominator Platinum RGB 6000MHz CL36 / 8GB DDR4 HyperX CL13
Video Card(s) MSI RTX 2070 Super Gaming X Trio / Intel HD620
Storage Samsung 980 Pro 1TB + 970 Evo 500GB + 850 Pro 512GB + 860 Evo 1TB x2 / Samsung 256GB M.2 SSD
Display(s) 23.8" Dell S2417DG 165Hz G-Sync 1440p / 14" 1080p IPS Glossy
Case Be quiet! Silent Base 600 - Window / HP Pavilion
Audio Device(s) Panasonic SA-PMX94 / Realtek onboard + B&O speaker system / Harman Kardon Go + Play / Logitech G533
Power Supply Seasonic Focus Plus Gold 750W / Powerbrick
Mouse Logitech MX Anywhere 2 Laser wireless / Logitech M330 wireless
Keyboard RAPOO E9270P Black 5GHz wireless / HP backlit
Software Windows 11 / Windows 10
Benchmark Scores Cinebench R23 (Single Core) 1936 @ stock Cinebench R23 (Multi Core) 23006 @ stock
you have up to 2 weeks with certain retailers.

We have that here as well in my country by law but it might not work that way in other countries...
 

CAPSLOCKSTUCK

Spaced Out Lunar Tick
Joined
Feb 26, 2013
Messages
8,578 (2.12/day)
Location
llaregguB...WALES
System Name Party On
Processor Xeon w 3520
Motherboard DFI Lanparty
Cooling Big tower thing
Memory 6 gb Ballistix Tracer
Video Card(s) HD 7970
Case a plank of wood
Audio Device(s) seperate amp and 6 big speakers
Power Supply Corsair
Mouse cheap
Keyboard under going restoration
£ 5.00 ish........MOBO tester



£10.00 PSU tester

 
Joined
Oct 17, 2012
Messages
9,781 (2.35/day)
Location
Massachusetts
System Name Americas cure is the death of Social Justice & Political Correctness
Processor i7-11700K
Motherboard Asrock Z590 Extreme wifi 6E
Cooling Noctua NH-U12A
Memory 32GB Corsair RGB fancy boi 5000
Video Card(s) RTX 3090 Reference
Storage Samsung 970 Evo 1Tb + Samsung 970 Evo 500Gb
Display(s) Dell - 27" LED QHD G-SYNC x2
Case Fractal Design Meshify-C
Audio Device(s) on board
Power Supply Seasonic Focus+ Gold 1000 Watt
Mouse Logitech G502 spectrum
Keyboard AZIO MGK-1 RGB (Kaith Blue)
Software Win 10 Professional 64 bit
Benchmark Scores the MLGeesiest
£ 5.00 ish........MOBO tester



£10.00 PSU tester


Most modern motherboards have a built-in Dr. debug anyway ,which is (Unless im mistaken) basically the same thing, the psu tester might help though, & mobo's dont come with them ;)
 

qubit

Overclocked quantum bit
Joined
Dec 6, 2007
Messages
17,866 (3.00/day)
Location
Quantum Well UK
System Name Quantumville™
Processor Intel Core i7-2700K @ 4GHz
Motherboard Asus P8Z68-V PRO/GEN3
Cooling Noctua NH-D14
Memory 16GB (2 x 8GB Corsair Vengeance Black DDR3 PC3-12800 C9 1600MHz)
Video Card(s) MSI RTX 2080 SUPER Gaming X Trio
Storage Samsung 850 Pro 256GB | WD Black 4TB | WD Blue 6TB
Display(s) ASUS ROG Strix XG27UQR (4K, 144Hz, G-SYNC compatible) | Asus MG28UQ (4K, 60Hz, FreeSync compatible)
Case Cooler Master HAF 922
Audio Device(s) Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Fatal1ty PCIe
Power Supply Corsair AX1600i
Mouse Microsoft Intellimouse Pro - Black Shadow
Keyboard Yes
Software Windows 10 Pro 64-bit
Oh for fucks sake. Just plugged in brand new PSU, 850W Arkangel. Guess what. SAME THING! WTF
Sounds like your mobo is the problem then.
 
Joined
Jan 5, 2006
Messages
17,640 (2.65/day)
System Name AlderLake / Laptop
Processor Intel i7 12700K P-Cores @ 5Ghz / Intel i3 7100U
Motherboard Gigabyte Z690 Aorus Master / HP 83A3 (U3E1)
Cooling Noctua NH-U12A 2 fans + Thermal Grizzly Kryonaut Extreme + 5 case fans / Fan
Memory 32GB DDR5 Corsair Dominator Platinum RGB 6000MHz CL36 / 8GB DDR4 HyperX CL13
Video Card(s) MSI RTX 2070 Super Gaming X Trio / Intel HD620
Storage Samsung 980 Pro 1TB + 970 Evo 500GB + 850 Pro 512GB + 860 Evo 1TB x2 / Samsung 256GB M.2 SSD
Display(s) 23.8" Dell S2417DG 165Hz G-Sync 1440p / 14" 1080p IPS Glossy
Case Be quiet! Silent Base 600 - Window / HP Pavilion
Audio Device(s) Panasonic SA-PMX94 / Realtek onboard + B&O speaker system / Harman Kardon Go + Play / Logitech G533
Power Supply Seasonic Focus Plus Gold 750W / Powerbrick
Mouse Logitech MX Anywhere 2 Laser wireless / Logitech M330 wireless
Keyboard RAPOO E9270P Black 5GHz wireless / HP backlit
Software Windows 11 / Windows 10
Benchmark Scores Cinebench R23 (Single Core) 1936 @ stock Cinebench R23 (Multi Core) 23006 @ stock
Gonna be costly....Knowing you prefer top-of-the-line computer hardware...
 

FreedomEclipse

~Technological Technocrat~
Joined
Apr 20, 2007
Messages
23,267 (3.77/day)
Location
London,UK
System Name Codename: Icarus Mk.VI
Processor Intel 8600k@Stock -- pending tuning
Motherboard Asus ROG Strixx Z370-F
Cooling CPU: BeQuiet! Dark Rock Pro 4 {1xCorsair ML120 Pro|5xML140 Pro}
Memory 32GB XPG Gammix D10 {2x16GB}
Video Card(s) ASUS Dual Radeon™ RX 6700 XT OC Edition
Storage Samsung 970 Evo 512GB SSD (Boot)|WD SN770 (Gaming)|2x 3TB Toshiba DT01ACA300|2x 2TB Crucial BX500
Display(s) LG GP850-B
Case Corsair 760T (White)
Audio Device(s) Yamaha RX-V573|Speakers: JBL Control One|Auna 300-CN|Wharfedale Diamond SW150
Power Supply Corsair AX760
Mouse Logitech G900
Keyboard Duckyshine Dead LED(s) III
Software Windows 10 Pro
Benchmark Scores (ノಠ益ಠ)ノ彡┻━┻
Take erryting™ out of the PC case and do a 'dry run' It could be an issue that the motherboard has somehow become earthed with the case and wont start. This problem used to happen a LOT LOT more 10-15years back but once every so often it happens with more modern boards
 
Joined
Jan 5, 2006
Messages
17,640 (2.65/day)
System Name AlderLake / Laptop
Processor Intel i7 12700K P-Cores @ 5Ghz / Intel i3 7100U
Motherboard Gigabyte Z690 Aorus Master / HP 83A3 (U3E1)
Cooling Noctua NH-U12A 2 fans + Thermal Grizzly Kryonaut Extreme + 5 case fans / Fan
Memory 32GB DDR5 Corsair Dominator Platinum RGB 6000MHz CL36 / 8GB DDR4 HyperX CL13
Video Card(s) MSI RTX 2070 Super Gaming X Trio / Intel HD620
Storage Samsung 980 Pro 1TB + 970 Evo 500GB + 850 Pro 512GB + 860 Evo 1TB x2 / Samsung 256GB M.2 SSD
Display(s) 23.8" Dell S2417DG 165Hz G-Sync 1440p / 14" 1080p IPS Glossy
Case Be quiet! Silent Base 600 - Window / HP Pavilion
Audio Device(s) Panasonic SA-PMX94 / Realtek onboard + B&O speaker system / Harman Kardon Go + Play / Logitech G533
Power Supply Seasonic Focus Plus Gold 750W / Powerbrick
Mouse Logitech MX Anywhere 2 Laser wireless / Logitech M330 wireless
Keyboard RAPOO E9270P Black 5GHz wireless / HP backlit
Software Windows 11 / Windows 10
Benchmark Scores Cinebench R23 (Single Core) 1936 @ stock Cinebench R23 (Multi Core) 23006 @ stock
Awesome. Bought Sabertooth so it won't crap out. It craps out the first out of all mobos I ever had...

You still got warranty on that mobo I think?
 
Joined
Jun 29, 2009
Messages
1,871 (0.35/day)
Location
Heart of Eutopia!
System Name ibuytheusedstuff
Processor 5960x
Motherboard x99 sabertooth
Cooling old socket775 cooler
Memory 32 Viper
Video Card(s) 1080ti on morpheus 1
Storage raptors+ssd
Display(s) acer 120hz
Case open bench
Audio Device(s) onb
Power Supply antec 1200 moar power
Mouse mx 518
Keyboard roccat arvo
little late but for testing your power supply.
you should have 1x 8-Pin EPS12V and 1x 4/8-Pin ATX12V that comes from different rails so ya should be able to test one by one.
and a click in power supply directs me to a saftey feature activating.

i really hope its not your sabertooth.
 
Joined
Oct 30, 2008
Messages
1,901 (0.34/day)
Processor 5930K
Motherboard MSI X99 SLI
Cooling WATER
Memory 16GB DDR4 2132
Video Card(s) EVGAY 2070 SUPER
Storage SEVERAL SSD"S
Display(s) Catleap/Yamakasi 2560X1440
Case D Frame MINI drilled out
Audio Device(s) onboard
Power Supply Corsair TX750
Mouse DEATH ADDER
Keyboard Razer Black Widow Tournament
Software W10HB
Benchmark Scores PhIlLyChEeSeStEaK
Ok, wtf is it again...

Came to my PC today and it was turned off. Which is odd since I have it on 24/7. I try to turn it on, nothing. Unplug, plug back, turn on and it clicks, fans spin for a second and instantly turns off.

Cleared CMOS, nothing.

I've unplugged both EATX 8 and 4 pin connectors and PC turns on and all works, system fires up, fans are spinning but mobo doesn't do anything since it doesn't have power. As soon as I plug in 4 or 8 pin EATX plugs, all I get is a click in PSU and instantly turns off.

So, PSU apparently works, what could this mean? Dead CPU or dead mobo? Or something else entirely?

Gonna try TUF diagnostics with my phone now...

TUF Detective goes to "CPU Initial" and stays there the moment PSU clicks.

Dead motherboard, were you over clocking try a blind flash? Dont you have dual bios have you tired switching or the TUFF doesn't? 5 year warranty? You can find tutorials on "blind flashback ASUS"
 
Joined
Oct 2, 2004
Messages
13,791 (1.94/day)
I can't since the system doesn't even start. I've tried BIOS Flashback without 8pin EATX, but it just does nothing at all. I want too be sure I won't be sending a good component for RMA, but if PSU isn't and I've tried it running without ANYTHING in it and it just always does the same as soon as 8pin EATX is plugged in.
 
Joined
Oct 2, 2004
Messages
13,791 (1.94/day)
Also, when it shuts off, I can't just retry. I have to take all the power from it so LEDs go off and then I can try again. Using reset button or holding power does nothing.

If I have it running with just 24pin without 8pin, it'll run, the moment I plug in also 8pin, it shuts off.
 
Top