Won't power up

plg123 · 12-25-2008, 10:20 AM

Nothing happens. No click or whir, no LEDs flash. Nothing.

I recently added a new video card. The theory I went on is that my 300W PSU was working fine, but the new card put it over the max and fried. Funny thing is, there was never any burnt smell or anything. Everything worked fine for a couple of days. Then yesterday morning, nothing.

I replaced the PSU. Still nothing. I've checked the soft power on switch, it's ok. I've even forced the PSU to power up by jumpering the PS_ON pin to a ground on the 24-pin ATX cable. That works. I see 12V, 5V, 3.3V as expected. (This works with both the old PSU and new PSU, BTW.)

I've disconnected all peripherals and left just the mobo and CPU power connectors plugged in. Still nothing.

Is my motherboard toasted? That and CPU are the only things I haven't eliminated. Can I try to power up without the CPU, or is that unwise?

**wrench97** · 12-25-2008, 12:59 PM

Without a CPU nothing is going to happen.
What are you working on Brands and Models? If not an OEM prebuilt motherboard,cpu,video card,psu?
If you remove the front panel connector and momentarily jump the power switch pins does anything happen

plg123 · 12-25-2008, 01:29 PM

Hey wrench, thanks for the response.

Good news! I'm back on the air.

I had tried pretty much everything, including jumping the power switch pins like you suggested. I was down to pulling out the motherboard and looking for shorts, etc. I pulled out what I had remaining, which included the RAM, cables to the disks, and the cables to the front USB connectors. Then I tried the power. It worked.

Turns out to be a bad USB connector on the front of the box. Damnedest thing. Would have never thought that. It had nothing to do with the new graphics card (NVIDIA GeForce 8500 GT, which I needed for my new 22" LCD display). I think it's just a coincidence it happened now.

So now, do I return the 500W $110 PSU to Best Buy and go back to my 300W PSU which seems to be ok? Damn I hate spending money I don't have to, but 300W is kind of borderline. And it's actually less than what's recommended here. I'm probably going to keep it.

**wrench97** · 12-25-2008, 02:10 PM

The 300w is too low for a PCIe video card, But I would return the BB unit if you can especially if it's a Rocketfish brand and pick one off Newegg, There are a couple of good deals on PC Power & cooling units right now or hit the link in my Signature for the complete list > http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817341011

plg123 · 12-25-2008, 02:23 PM

It's an Antec Earthworks 500 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817371007. Any opinions? I thought Antec was supposed to be pretty good.

I would have much preferred to buy it at Newegg, but that's the price you pay for instant gratification. I kinda needed it immediately, or at least I thought I did when I thought the PSU went out.

**wrench97** · 12-25-2008, 02:40 PM

Antec Neos and Trios used to be good but have suffered from a lot of quality issues over the last year after changing the supplier of the internals the Eartwatts units never were that great and rated at a low operating temp at which it will never run at unless you keep it in the fridge thus reducing the rated capacity to below the stated 500w:)

plg123 · 12-25-2008, 02:53 PM

I think I'll see if BB will take it back. Thanks a lot for the responses!

12-25-2008, 10:20 AM	#1 (permalink)
plg123 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 11 OS: Windows XP Pro	Won't power up Nothing happens. No click or whir, no LEDs flash. Nothing. I recently added a new video card. The theory I went on is that my 300W PSU was working fine, but the new card put it over the max and fried. Funny thing is, there was never any burnt smell or anything. Everything worked fine for a couple of days. Then yesterday morning, nothing. I replaced the PSU. Still nothing. I've checked the soft power on switch, it's ok. I've even forced the PSU to power up by jumpering the PS_ON pin to a ground on the 24-pin ATX cable. That works. I see 12V, 5V, 3.3V as expected. (This works with both the old PSU and new PSU, BTW.) I've disconnected all peripherals and left just the mobo and CPU power connectors plugged in. Still nothing. Is my motherboard toasted? That and CPU are the only things I haven't eliminated. Can I try to power up without the CPU, or is that unwise? Last edited by plg123; 12-25-2008 at 10:22 AM.

12-25-2008, 12:59 PM	#2 (permalink)
wrench97 Moderator, Hardware Team Join Date: May 2008 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania Posts: 18,597 OS: Win7	Re: Won't power up Without a CPU nothing is going to happen. What are you working on Brands and Models? If not an OEM prebuilt motherboard,cpu,video card,psu? If you remove the front panel connector and momentarily jump the power switch pins does anything happen __________________ Power Supply and Selection

12-25-2008, 01:29 PM	#3 (permalink)
plg123 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 11 OS: Windows XP Pro	Re: Won't power up Hey wrench, thanks for the response. Good news! I'm back on the air. I had tried pretty much everything, including jumping the power switch pins like you suggested. I was down to pulling out the motherboard and looking for shorts, etc. I pulled out what I had remaining, which included the RAM, cables to the disks, and the cables to the front USB connectors. Then I tried the power. It worked. Turns out to be a bad USB connector on the front of the box. Damnedest thing. Would have never thought that. It had nothing to do with the new graphics card (NVIDIA GeForce 8500 GT, which I needed for my new 22" LCD display). I think it's just a coincidence it happened now. So now, do I return the 500W $110 PSU to Best Buy and go back to my 300W PSU which seems to be ok? Damn I hate spending money I don't have to, but 300W is kind of borderline. And it's actually less than what's recommended here. I'm probably going to keep it.

12-25-2008, 02:10 PM	#4 (permalink)
wrench97 Moderator, Hardware Team Join Date: May 2008 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania Posts: 18,597 OS: Win7	Re: Won't power up The 300w is too low for a PCIe video card, But I would return the BB unit if you can especially if it's a Rocketfish brand and pick one off Newegg, There are a couple of good deals on PC Power & cooling units right now or hit the link in my Signature for the complete list > http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817341011 __________________ Power Supply and Selection

12-25-2008, 02:23 PM	#5 (permalink)
plg123 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 11 OS: Windows XP Pro	Re: Won't power up It's an Antec Earthworks 500 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817371007. Any opinions? I thought Antec was supposed to be pretty good. I would have much preferred to buy it at Newegg, but that's the price you pay for instant gratification. I kinda needed it immediately, or at least I thought I did when I thought the PSU went out.

12-25-2008, 02:40 PM	#6 (permalink)
wrench97 Moderator, Hardware Team Join Date: May 2008 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania Posts: 18,597 OS: Win7	Re: Won't power up Antec Neos and Trios used to be good but have suffered from a lot of quality issues over the last year after changing the supplier of the internals the Eartwatts units never were that great and rated at a low operating temp at which it will never run at unless you keep it in the fridge thus reducing the rated capacity to below the stated 500w:) __________________ Power Supply and Selection

12-25-2008, 02:53 PM	#7 (permalink)
plg123 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 11 OS: Windows XP Pro	Re: Won't power up I think I'll see if BB will take it back. Thanks a lot for the responses!