Discussion
I've just come back from a couple of days away to find my computer is totally dead. When I press the power switch it won't even power up, not even any fans or drives. There is an LED light on the motherboard which is working, so I know there is power getting there, and I have tried the psu on another computer, and that is working, so was thinking it may be the CPU or motherboard that has gone. Unfortunatly I haven't got spares of either of these to try, so any ideas as to what could cause this problem?
I am just off to Maplins to get a new on/off switch, in the vaugue hope it may be that, but I did try shorting across the on/off pins on the motherboard with no success.
The mb is an Asus AN8-SLI, with an Athlon 64(939), and the computer is on a surge protector as well.
Thanks for any help!
I am just off to Maplins to get a new on/off switch, in the vaugue hope it may be that, but I did try shorting across the on/off pins on the motherboard with no success.
The mb is an Asus AN8-SLI, with an Athlon 64(939), and the computer is on a surge protector as well.
Thanks for any help!
Adam,
Did you leave the machine on (i.e. it has cut-off while in operation) or was it off, and simply won't re-start?
FWIW, my Shuttle box went through a time when it wouldn't start up a while back - usually if you plugged it in, it wouldn't start for 10 minutes or so. Not sure if this is relevant or not.
Oli.
Did you leave the machine on (i.e. it has cut-off while in operation) or was it off, and simply won't re-start?
FWIW, my Shuttle box went through a time when it wouldn't start up a while back - usually if you plugged it in, it wouldn't start for 10 minutes or so. Not sure if this is relevant or not.
Oli.
.Adam. said:
Switch is okay, the graphics card is a Leadtek Winfast 6800Gt(PCI-e), and the PSU is an Antec Neo 480w. Does anyone know if you tried to power up a motherboard with no processor, would it actually power up the psu, and would you get the bios beeps?
It should beep.
I built a machine over the weekend for a friend, with an A8N32-SLI Deluxe, and a 6800XT, also with a 480w psu, ran for 4 hours and died, while I believe the motherboard to be dead (TBC), after reading on the net that these boards consume large quantities of current especially when under load and that a very high power PSU (550w+) is recommended.
Basically, I'm having the same problem with a machine I built over the weekend so I will let you know.
.Adam. said:
No, it was off, and just won't restart. I did turn it off at the wall socket before I went away, but I can't see how that would have killed it, unless it got a surge, but as I said, it is on a surge protector.
I had the same thing happen on my PC-turned off at the wall whilst on holiday, totally dead when I got back. Swapped the PSU for an old one I had and the PC fired up just fine. Swapped the original PSU back in, and the PC fired up just fine once more... Since then I've had the system turned off at the wall a few more times without any bother, so I haven't a clue what was going on this first time.
So try taking the PSU out of the system you used to test your suspect PSU, and see if your system will power-up from that. If it does, try putting your original PSU back in.
Hi Adam,
**Electricity problems in SW London**
I live in SW London and for the two weeks ago we had power problems.
Lights going out and the tv going into standby. Computer was affected once but restarted. Not sure where you live but ask your neighbours about any power supply problems in your area. At around midnight 2 weeks ago there were no lights on anywhere !
complete darkness.I was just about to grab my digital camera and snap a couple of shots when the power returned.
A friend of mine has a local computer store and after some lightning many months ago he had a surge of people purchasing modems and surge protectors !
** Selecting your power supply **
A lot of people think more wattage is better.
It is better to get a quality power supply which can supply high current loads.
Video cards /hard disks use alot of power.
Using a cheap £15 P.S.U. with a machine with onboard graphics may be fine,
but upgrade to a brand new high end video card and it could be new P.S.U time !
Expect to pay around £45 for something decent (and make sure the seller confirms it will work with your setup).
R
**Electricity problems in SW London**
I live in SW London and for the two weeks ago we had power problems.
Lights going out and the tv going into standby. Computer was affected once but restarted. Not sure where you live but ask your neighbours about any power supply problems in your area. At around midnight 2 weeks ago there were no lights on anywhere !
complete darkness.I was just about to grab my digital camera and snap a couple of shots when the power returned.
A friend of mine has a local computer store and after some lightning many months ago he had a surge of people purchasing modems and surge protectors !
** Selecting your power supply **
A lot of people think more wattage is better.
It is better to get a quality power supply which can supply high current loads.
Video cards /hard disks use alot of power.
Using a cheap £15 P.S.U. with a machine with onboard graphics may be fine,
but upgrade to a brand new high end video card and it could be new P.S.U time !
Expect to pay around £45 for something decent (and make sure the seller confirms it will work with your setup).
R
As already mentioned, pull everything out that isn't required. All you should need is :
- Mobo
- PSU
- CPU
- GFX (switch to on-board rather than expansion card if available)
- Single RAM stick
- Monitor
Fire it up and see if the BIOS POST screen appears. If it does, your Mobo's OK. If it doesn't it's prolly fooked given you said you tested the PSU on another machine.
If the machine's been there a while, unplug everything, take components outside and blow down with an airduster. You can use some contact cleaner to wipe down connectors as well - won't hurt.
- Mobo
- PSU
- CPU
- GFX (switch to on-board rather than expansion card if available)
- Single RAM stick
- Monitor
Fire it up and see if the BIOS POST screen appears. If it does, your Mobo's OK. If it doesn't it's prolly fooked given you said you tested the PSU on another machine.
If the machine's been there a while, unplug everything, take components outside and blow down with an airduster. You can use some contact cleaner to wipe down connectors as well - won't hurt.
Just tried the cheap PSU from my old machine(thanks Twister for the idea), and it powered up fine! However, my decent Antec one still won't power my big machine even though it powers my old machine, so I guess there must be something wrong with it. Maybe somethings blown so it isn't able to produce enough power to start the newer machine. At least it is the easiest thing to replace!
Thanks for all the help guys.
Thanks for all the help guys.
.Adam. said:
Just tried the cheap PSU from my old machine(thanks Twister for the idea), and it powered up fine! However, my decent Antec one still won't power my big machine even though it powers my old machine, so I guess there must be something wrong with it. Maybe somethings blown so it isn't able to produce enough power to start the newer machine. At least it is the easiest thing to replace!
Thanks for all the help guys.
It needs a higher power PSU, found it was the same problem with mine.
.Adam. said:
It's been running fine for the past 14 months, and I purposely brought a good one to be sure the power quoted was actually the power supplied. I'm hoping it will be replaced under warrenty, so fingers crossed that wasn't the problem!
The Irony is, the psu supplied was rated for 480w, took the 400w out of my old machine, starts fine!
Putting a 650w in to be on the safe side and allow upgrades without major work.
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