Power Issues with Custom-Built PC
Hey,
Recently bought all new parts needed for building my own PC. When I got to the step to boot for the first time, nothing happens when I try to power up the machine.
The only thing that I notice is the LEDs on the two LAN ports light up for a second. This occurs when I switch the power supply from off to on, and not when I actually turn on the computer. When I attempt to turn on the computer, absolutely nothing happens. No LEDs, no fans, no nothin'.
Through much troubleshooting, I am down to the "bare bones". I am using:
Motherboard: MSI K9N SLI Platinum
CPU: AMD Athlon 64 (had pre-applied thermal compound)
Case: Diablo X-Man Silver ATX Mid-Tower (later removed motherboard from case)
Power Supply Unit (came with the case): ATX 480W, set at 115V (for my location)
I took the motherboard out of the case, and placed elsewhere to rule out shorting issues with the case or the mounting equipment. Through the process of elimination, the only components I have left that are still attached to the motherboard are the CPU w/heat sink & fan, and the power supply. No memory or gfx card. I recently removed these two items, since I am having trouble even getting the thing to turn on.
The fan power connectors on the motherboard are CPUFAN1, SYSFAN1, and NBFAN1. I have tried the fan that is connected to the CPU in both CPUFAN1, and SYSFAN1, but to no avail.
For JFP1 and JFP2, I have connected is the POWER SW, and the RESET SW. Tried using the power sw both ways (it has one white, and one green cable, and it's not clear which one is ground); still nothing happened. This motherboard has no jumper cables. Instead, it only has a Clear CMOS button, marked SW2. I removed removed the battery, left it out for about 10 minutes, reinserted it, and tried the SW2 button; still nothing. I removed the power sw cable, and tried to short the power switch with a screwdriver, and that did not work. (Actually, even with the motherboard outside the case, it is still close enough for the POWER SW to reach it, so I tried the switch, and I tried shorting it.)
This motherboard has three power connectors, PWR1, PWR2, and PWR3.
The power suply has an ATX 20-pin connector. However, it has a separate 4-pin connector that slides next to the 20-pin, to fit on the 24-pin connector for the PWR1 slot on the motherboard. I tried connecting it to the motherboard as a 20-pin, and as a 24-pin, and by using the POWER SW, and then shorting it, and still the same result.
The power supply has another 4-pin connector for the 12V power connector, which is connected to PWR3. I believe PWR2 is used for other things like the video card, so I am currently not using it, although I have tried it during troubleshooting.
Unfortunately, I have no other computer to test to see if the motherboard, CPU, or power supply is the culprit. (This computer that I am typing this post from is not compatible, because I took it apart and looked inside, and its power supply is not nearly enough for this CPU.)
Again, at least those two LAN ports light up, when I turn on the power supply itself, so at least something is working. Personally, I think it's the motherboard, but it could be anything. I've been in, out, around, and through the manuals, and the Net. The only thing that I have not tried, is to reseat the CPU, but I can't do that now, because I don't have any new thermal compound to apply.
I will most likely result in taking these three components back to where I bought it from, and see if the techs there can provide some additional assistance.
I have tried all that I can possibly think of, so if anyone has something else for me to try (other than reseating the CPU), please let me know.
Thanks.
Recently bought all new parts needed for building my own PC. When I got to the step to boot for the first time, nothing happens when I try to power up the machine.
The only thing that I notice is the LEDs on the two LAN ports light up for a second. This occurs when I switch the power supply from off to on, and not when I actually turn on the computer. When I attempt to turn on the computer, absolutely nothing happens. No LEDs, no fans, no nothin'.
Through much troubleshooting, I am down to the "bare bones". I am using:
Motherboard: MSI K9N SLI Platinum
CPU: AMD Athlon 64 (had pre-applied thermal compound)
Case: Diablo X-Man Silver ATX Mid-Tower (later removed motherboard from case)
Power Supply Unit (came with the case): ATX 480W, set at 115V (for my location)
I took the motherboard out of the case, and placed elsewhere to rule out shorting issues with the case or the mounting equipment. Through the process of elimination, the only components I have left that are still attached to the motherboard are the CPU w/heat sink & fan, and the power supply. No memory or gfx card. I recently removed these two items, since I am having trouble even getting the thing to turn on.
The fan power connectors on the motherboard are CPUFAN1, SYSFAN1, and NBFAN1. I have tried the fan that is connected to the CPU in both CPUFAN1, and SYSFAN1, but to no avail.
For JFP1 and JFP2, I have connected is the POWER SW, and the RESET SW. Tried using the power sw both ways (it has one white, and one green cable, and it's not clear which one is ground); still nothing happened. This motherboard has no jumper cables. Instead, it only has a Clear CMOS button, marked SW2. I removed removed the battery, left it out for about 10 minutes, reinserted it, and tried the SW2 button; still nothing. I removed the power sw cable, and tried to short the power switch with a screwdriver, and that did not work. (Actually, even with the motherboard outside the case, it is still close enough for the POWER SW to reach it, so I tried the switch, and I tried shorting it.)
This motherboard has three power connectors, PWR1, PWR2, and PWR3.
The power suply has an ATX 20-pin connector. However, it has a separate 4-pin connector that slides next to the 20-pin, to fit on the 24-pin connector for the PWR1 slot on the motherboard. I tried connecting it to the motherboard as a 20-pin, and as a 24-pin, and by using the POWER SW, and then shorting it, and still the same result.
The power supply has another 4-pin connector for the 12V power connector, which is connected to PWR3. I believe PWR2 is used for other things like the video card, so I am currently not using it, although I have tried it during troubleshooting.
Unfortunately, I have no other computer to test to see if the motherboard, CPU, or power supply is the culprit. (This computer that I am typing this post from is not compatible, because I took it apart and looked inside, and its power supply is not nearly enough for this CPU.)
Again, at least those two LAN ports light up, when I turn on the power supply itself, so at least something is working. Personally, I think it's the motherboard, but it could be anything. I've been in, out, around, and through the manuals, and the Net. The only thing that I have not tried, is to reseat the CPU, but I can't do that now, because I don't have any new thermal compound to apply.
I will most likely result in taking these three components back to where I bought it from, and see if the techs there can provide some additional assistance.
I have tried all that I can possibly think of, so if anyone has something else for me to try (other than reseating the CPU), please let me know.
Thanks.
Last Comment
See the sample picture in the link, 12V ATX power is where 4 pins power is.
http://images.search.yahoo.com/search/images/view?back=http%3A%2F%2Fsearch.yahoo.com%2Fsearch%3Fp%3Dmotherboard%26toggle%3D1%26cop%3Dmss%26ei%3DUTF-8&h=320&w=344&imgcurl=www.computer-hardware-guide.net%2Fimage-files%2Fgigabyte-motherboard-pic1.jpg&imgurl=www.computer-hardware-guide.net%2Fimage-files%2Fgigabyte-motherboard-pic1.jpg&size=37.4kB&name=gigabyte-motherboard-pic1.jpg&rcurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.computer-hardware-guide.net%2Fgigabyte-motherboard.html&rurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.computer-hardware-guide.net%2Fgigabyte-motherboard.html&p=motherboard&type=jpeg&no=2&tt=461%2C442&fr=yfp-t-453
http://images.search.yahoo.com/search/images/view?back=http%3A%2F%2Fsearch.yahoo.com%2Fsearch%3Fp%3Dmotherboard%26toggle%3D1%26cop%3Dmss%26ei%3DUTF-8&h=320&w=344&imgcurl=www.computer-hardware-guide.net%2Fimage-files%2Fgigabyte-motherboard-pic1.jpg&imgurl=www.computer-hardware-guide.net%2Fimage-files%2Fgigabyte-motherboard-pic1.jpg&size=37.4kB&name=gigabyte-motherboard-pic1.jpg&rcurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.computer-hardware-guide.net%2Fgigabyte-motherboard.html&rurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.computer-hardware-guide.net%2Fgigabyte-motherboard.html&p=motherboard&type=jpeg&no=2&tt=461%2C442&fr=yfp-t-453
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ASKER
Hey.
PUNKY - Thanks for the ocmments.
"...
The power supply has an ATX 20-pin connector. However, it has a separate 4-pin connector that slides next to the 20-pin, to fit on the 24-pin connector for the PWR1 slot on the motherboard. I tried connecting it to the motherboard as a 20-pin, and as a 24-pin,
..."
Actually, the 20-pin power connector can become a 24-pin. They are just separate cords, one with 20-pins, and one with 4-pins, and they slide together to make a 24-pin conn. I probably should have said it that way,
"...
The power supply has another 4-pin connector for the 12V power connector
..."
This is a second 4-pin connector coming from the power supply, and it is connected to a slot labeled PWR1, which is right nect to the CPU.
Thanks for the picture, however, through my scouring the 'Net, and in the big poster of the board that came with it, I've seen many of them.
This picture shows the 12V power connector, just to the right center:
http://www.viperlair.com/images/reviews/cpu_mobo/msi/amd/am2/k9np/power.jpg
Here is the 24-pin power connector:
http://www.viperlair.com/images/reviews/cpu_mobo/msi/amd/am2/k9np/memory.jpg
So, I've seen many diagrams and angles, and there are only so many connections you can try. Either it will work, or it won't. I was (still am) just hoping that I had missed something. I'll most likely end up taking everything back, because I seriously think it is faulty hardware (PSU or motherboard), or this required some totally undocumented configuration, although unlikely.
PUNKY - Thanks for the ocmments.
"...
The power supply has an ATX 20-pin connector. However, it has a separate 4-pin connector that slides next to the 20-pin, to fit on the 24-pin connector for the PWR1 slot on the motherboard. I tried connecting it to the motherboard as a 20-pin, and as a 24-pin,
..."
Actually, the 20-pin power connector can become a 24-pin. They are just separate cords, one with 20-pins, and one with 4-pins, and they slide together to make a 24-pin conn. I probably should have said it that way,
"...
The power supply has another 4-pin connector for the 12V power connector
..."
This is a second 4-pin connector coming from the power supply, and it is connected to a slot labeled PWR1, which is right nect to the CPU.
Thanks for the picture, however, through my scouring the 'Net, and in the big poster of the board that came with it, I've seen many of them.
This picture shows the 12V power connector, just to the right center:
http://www.viperlair.com/images/reviews/cpu_mobo/msi/amd/am2/k9np/power.jpg
Here is the 24-pin power connector:
http://www.viperlair.com/images/reviews/cpu_mobo/msi/amd/am2/k9np/memory.jpg
So, I've seen many diagrams and angles, and there are only so many connections you can try. Either it will work, or it won't. I was (still am) just hoping that I had missed something. I'll most likely end up taking everything back, because I seriously think it is faulty hardware (PSU or motherboard), or this required some totally undocumented configuration, although unlikely.
ASKER
Hey.
willcomp - Thanks a lot.
"...
Unfortunately, I have no other computer to test to see if the motherboard, CPU, or power supply is the culprit. (This computer that I am typing this post from is not compatible, because I took it apart and looked inside, and its power supply is not nearly enough for this CPU.)
..."
This computer that I am on now is the only other computer I have access to, and it's power supply is only 100W. I also tried this new power supply for use with the current board (this computer), but it doesn't have any compatible connectors.
No LED's seem to be on the board. Other than the two LAN LEDs, nothing lights up.
After a while, I stopped trying the reset switch, and have been using the power switch exclusively. Even shorting the power pins with a screwdriver did not work.
willcomp - Thanks a lot.
"...
Unfortunately, I have no other computer to test to see if the motherboard, CPU, or power supply is the culprit. (This computer that I am typing this post from is not compatible, because I took it apart and looked inside, and its power supply is not nearly enough for this CPU.)
..."
This computer that I am on now is the only other computer I have access to, and it's power supply is only 100W. I also tried this new power supply for use with the current board (this computer), but it doesn't have any compatible connectors.
No LED's seem to be on the board. Other than the two LAN LEDs, nothing lights up.
After a while, I stopped trying the reset switch, and have been using the power switch exclusively. Even shorting the power pins with a screwdriver did not work.
Before try other PSU, you could try minimal hardware add to motherboard see if there is any signal that proves motherboard is functioning (not a DOA unit).
Remember that a quality power supply is essential for stability. Since you have an SLI motherboard, anything less than a good quality 500 watt power supply is inadequate. If you plan to run SLI, go ahead and get at least a 650 watt power supply.
A good quality 500 watt power supply will run $90 or more. I'm not familar with your case and therefore suapect it came with an inferior, poor quality power supply
A good quality 500 watt power supply will run $90 or more. I'm not familar with your case and therefore suapect it came with an inferior, poor quality power supply
ASKER
Hey.
PUNKY - The only other available part I tried is a D-Bracke 2. However, the LEDs never lit up at all.
willcomp - Could be faulty power supply, since it has no lable on it stating the brand or anything like that. Just has voltage and power info on it. DIfficult to troubleshoot. Also, I do not plan on going SLI, but still, that was a good look.
I have access to a multimeter. Perhaps I could use that to test out components? But, I don't even know how to use one! lol
'Preciate the ideas.
Most likely, I'll end up taking the CPU, board, and PSU in, since they are brand new, and are under warranty.
PUNKY - The only other available part I tried is a D-Bracke 2. However, the LEDs never lit up at all.
willcomp - Could be faulty power supply, since it has no lable on it stating the brand or anything like that. Just has voltage and power info on it. DIfficult to troubleshoot. Also, I do not plan on going SLI, but still, that was a good look.
I have access to a multimeter. Perhaps I could use that to test out components? But, I don't even know how to use one! lol
'Preciate the ideas.
Most likely, I'll end up taking the CPU, board, and PSU in, since they are brand new, and are under warranty.
ASKER
Hey.
Took it back ot the tech, and it was the power supply.
The 480W power supply I received was at fault. So, the tech replaced it with a new one (also 480W), we put the bare bones together right in the shop, shorted the power switch, and it worked.
So, I took it home, and built the whole system.
...and I stayed up till 4AM last Friday night trying to figure out whwt was wrong - tied everything I could think of! Of course nothing I tried would have mattered, since there was inadequate power in the first place.
It was good exercise, though.
Thanks, everyone for your input. :-)
Took it back ot the tech, and it was the power supply.
The 480W power supply I received was at fault. So, the tech replaced it with a new one (also 480W), we put the bare bones together right in the shop, shorted the power switch, and it worked.
So, I took it home, and built the whole system.
...and I stayed up till 4AM last Friday night trying to figure out whwt was wrong - tied everything I could think of! Of course nothing I tried would have mattered, since there was inadequate power in the first place.
It was good exercise, though.
Thanks, everyone for your input. :-)
You're welcome.
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..."The power suply has an ATX 20-pin connector. However, it has a separate 4-pin connector that slides next to the 20-pin, to fit on the 24-pin connector for the PWR1 slot on the motherboard. I tried connecting it to the motherboard as a 20-pin, and as a 24-pin, and by using the POWER SW, and then shorting it, and still the same result."
4 pins power connector is used to be power source for CPU, you should see 4 ports connector around cpu area.
PSU has 20 pins connector that you plug in 24 pins power connector on motherboard, that should be OK. Even though, you should have PSU that provided 24 power pins.
Also, check CPU and heatsink for thermal paste applied between.