[heartgrave]

My nephew's computer...

 

He left it on, went to work, and the computer went to sleep. To wake it back up, he hit the power button, and nothing happened. He flipped the switch on the back, on and off and hit the button again and nothing happened. He went and bought a brand new power supply. Connected it, and nothing happened again. We found out the case wire directly behind the power button became detached. We used another case and the system worked great with no issues of any kind for many hours. He came home from work today and now the computer won't turn on with the old and new PSU. some fans start, the keyboard lights up and then everything shuts off again. We unplugged everything and back in again, checked all connections inside and out, made sure the power switch cables and all the others were plugged into the JFP headers correctly, checked the CMOS battery, RAM sticks (never removed when moving from 1 case to the other.) No beeps of any kind.

 

Would this be a motherboard issue or something else? Would clearing the CMOS settings/BIOS settings/NVRAM help?

 

Motherboard is a MSI Z87-G45

 

EDIT: Windows 10 Home

 

EDIT: We took the CMOS battery out for 2 minutes and put it back in, nothing.

Edited by heartgrave, 23 March 2018 - 05:57 PM.

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 RAM sticks (never removed when moving from 1 case to the other.) No beeps of any kind.

 

 

Checked the MB specs and there is no onboard BIOs error speaker fitted as standard so unless one was retro fitted you will not get any error beeps.

 

Would start by doing a barebones set up outside of the case;

 

Remove the MB and do a barebones set-up on a piece of cardboard (make sure it is larger than the MB) only connect the PSU, the GFX card, screen, 1 stick of RAM and the keyboard.

 

IF your MB doesn`t have a power  test switch you will then need to short out the 2 power on pins on the MB header to get the PSU to activate, you can use a small flat bladed screwdriver or a paper clip bent into a U shape, this is perfectly safe if you do not touch anything else, the idea is to see if we can get a BIOS screen if you do you can then add one component at a time until you find the problem component, you must power down and remove the power cord from the wall before adding another component, second suggestion try a known working PSU, it is not unknown for new components to be bad, third suggestion try and loan an ordinary PCI graphics card (not pci-e) again to try and get a BIOS screen. 

 

We could also do with knowing what processor is being used, if there is an add on video card being used the brand and model name or number and the same for the previous and the replacement PSUs.

[phillpower2]

 RAM sticks (never removed when moving from 1 case to the other.) No beeps of any kind.

 

 

Checked the MB specs and there is no onboard BIOs error speaker fitted as standard so unless one was retro fitted you will not get any error beeps.

 

Would start by doing a barebones set up outside of the case;

 

Remove the MB and do a barebones set-up on a piece of cardboard (make sure it is larger than the MB) only connect the PSU, the GFX card, screen, 1 stick of RAM and the keyboard.

 

IF your MB doesn`t have a power  test switch you will then need to short out the 2 power on pins on the MB header to get the PSU to activate, you can use a small flat bladed screwdriver or a paper clip bent into a U shape, this is perfectly safe if you do not touch anything else, the idea is to see if we can get a BIOS screen if you do you can then add one component at a time until you find the problem component, you must power down and remove the power cord from the wall before adding another component, second suggestion try a known working PSU, it is not unknown for new components to be bad, third suggestion try and loan an ordinary PCI graphics card (not pci-e) again to try and get a BIOS screen. 

 

We could also do with knowing what processor is being used, if there is an add on video card being used the brand and model name or number and the same for the previous and the replacement PSUs.

[heartgrave]

OK did the above. The motherboard "audio boost" light comes on, the CPU fan comes on, graphics card lights come on. They all stay on. No picture on screen. Graphics card fans don't start. I got 1 ram stick in dimm 2 as the motherboard has it labeled "first."

Graphics card: MSI R9 380 Gaming 4G.
CPU: Intel core I5 4670k.
Old psu: corsair TX650
New psu: Thermaltake Smart 650(used in barebones setup)
New new psu: corsair cx750 (not opened yet was gifted by an online gaming buddy and arrived today as a surprise)
RAM: G.Skill Sniper series 8GBSR times 4...PC3 1700 4Gx2 so I am thinking each 2 is 8GB


EDIT: I tried the Hdmi cable into the motherboard also, no picture.

EDIT 2: When I turn on the PSU everything turns on without me having to short it out. I don't have another graphics card to use. I did try another PCI-E slot though and same thing.

EDIT 3: I used my old motherboard and cpu... the one you had me get so many years ago... Asrock Z77 extreme 4-m and IT WORKED! I don't know the CPU. I got a BIOS screen. I now have everything plugged back into the motherboard, ram and hard drive included and it's on the windows 10 sign in screen as I type this.

EDIT 4: Would this be a CPU or motherboard issue?

 

EDIT 5: If it is the motherboard possibly, can you please recommend a gaming one with LGA1150 socket? The ones I find seem to be for servers or mining. Budget $200-$250, if needed.

Edited by heartgrave, 24 March 2018 - 11:01 PM.

[phillpower2]

EDIT: I tried the Hdmi cable into the motherboard also, no picture.

 

 

This question may be irrelevant due to the info in your edit 2 but did you remove the add on video card from the MB when you tried the onboard video port.

 

EDIT 2: When I turn on the PSU everything turns on without me having to short it out

 

 

A common cause of this behaviour is a short circuit and when it happens when the MB is outside of the case three things are possible, a short in the board itself, an incorrectly inserted CPU **, RAM stick or GPU and too much thermal compound being used which can get into the CPU socket etc.

 

** A single bent CPU/socket pin can short out the MB.

 

A replacement board as you will already be aware will work out expensive, would suggest that before going down that route you remove the CPU and closely inspect it using a magnifying glass, do the same with the CPU socket and the soldered circuit on the MB, check for any traces of thermal compound on the CPU and in the socket and after returning the CPU to the socket when first powering up the MB do so without anything else connected to it, no RAM or GPU in the slots etc, this to see if the PSU and CPU cooling fan activate without you shorting out the two pins on the MB first.

[heartgrave]

Sorry, but I put my old motherboard, the one mentioned above into his system and my old CPU that IDK what is. He has everything back at his house except the msi z87-g45 and the i5-4670k CPU.

[phillpower2]

Nothing you can do troubleshooting wise without at least a PSU, a stick of compatible RAM, a screen + the MB and CPU I`m afraid.

[heartgrave]

Can I be safe to assume that the CPU is fine in terms of damage since its never been taken out and worked fine for 3 years?

EDIT: the thermal paste that was there came stock from Intel.

Edited by heartgrave, 25 March 2018 - 02:00 PM.

[phillpower2]

Unfortunately nothing can be safely assumed but fwiw MB failure is more common than CPU failure and the fact that the CPU has worked without issue for three years and has not been removed makes it less likely to be bad, this not 100% certain though and you could do with knowing if the PSU and CPU fan still start up when there is no RAM or GPU in the board.

[heartgrave]

Unfortunately nothing can be safely assumed but fwiw MB failure is more common than CPU failure and the fact that the CPU has worked without issue for three years and has not been removed makes it less likely to be bad, this not 100% certain though and you could do with knowing if the PSU and CPU fan still start up when there is no RAM or GPU in the board.

I have extra ram and graphics card laying around I can use and will reply when I am able to do this. Psu will be the issue to get

[phillpower2]

No problem and no rush on our behalf, a known good PSU is what we need atm so we will need to wait until you have one to hand.

[phillpower2]

Any news for us heartgrave!

[heartgrave]

Sorry about the delay but I finally got access to a psu. I did as mentioned above, only connected the CPU fan and the psu fan. Nothing else connected. CPU fan and psu fans both start right up. There was no shorting out required.

Edit: I plugged everything in and all the lights and fans came on also.
The CPU pins on the mother board looked fine. The CPU itself looks like it might have something on it and took a q tip and alcohol to clean it. I blew on the CPU socket to get rid of any dust.

Edit 2: I tried all 3 pcie slots for the gpu, all lights and fans come on. I removed the gpu, plugged the Hdmi directly to board, no lights, no fans, nothing. I removed the Hdmi from the board, all lights and fans turn on. I plug the Hdmi into the board while powered on, everything stays on, no picture on TV. I turned off the psu and back on with Hdmi still in board, nothing lights up or turns on.

Edit 3: "Everything plugged in" means both ram and the gpu.

Edited by heartgrave, 19 May 2018 - 07:41 PM.

[phillpower2]

Thorough troubleshooting that more or less confirms that the MB is bad I`m afraid.

 

Have you checked the board for any bulging or leaking caps, some info on what to look out for here

 

 plugged the Hdmi directly to board, no lights, no fans, nothing.

 

 

 

You may have found the component that is shorting out the board.

 

I plug the Hdmi into the board while powered on, 

 

 

Keep in mind that you should not normally do this as doing so can cause a system short, one of the jobs of the MBs I/O plate is to insulate the MB and as small as it may seem you do not want any size voltage being connected or disconnected from a computer unless the devices are designed to do so, a hot swappable external USB hard drive being one such example.

[heartgrave]

Thank you yet again!

Any suggestions on a good gaming motherboard with LGA 1150 socket? Budget $200 or less.

[phillpower2]

Before making any purchase I would suggest you see if you can get the CPU checked by a local tech or tech store, a MB shoring out can also take other components with it.

 

If the CPU checks out as being good and you go for a new MB, I would suggest getting one for as little financial outlay as possible, dated technology like 4th gen CPUs and MBs can be costly while they have no upgrade path.

 

You are welcome btw