Computer will not power on after Upgrade

[Cr0nJ0b]

I just went over this on Friday with a new Mobo in my son's system. I was convinced that there was a ghost in the machine. These things drive me crazy because I hate when electronics do not work in a predictable, consistent manner.

Here is what I would suggest.

(Ground yourself)
1) Take the mobo out of the system. I usually put in on the box or the foam pad that comes in the box. Don't use the plastic (metallic) bag.
2) Plug in, just the power lines (don't forget the 4 pin)
3) if your system (Mobo) has built-in graphics I would suggest leaving the graphics card out.
4) don't plug in the memory yet...
5) Plug in the power switch connector and the reset switch connector.
6) if you have a little piezo speaker to hook up to the speaker connector that would be helpful. I have a couple of them and they really help to give you feedback on boot.
7) Short the CMOS Clear pins -- Check the manual, but usually you can short the BIOS pins with no power in the system. I made this mistake and fried my BIOS. Some ask for power to be on when shorting, but most say to have the power disconnected completely.
8) plug in the monitor and power supply
9) turn on

At this point you should have nothing else hooked up to the system other than the power and monitor and switch connectors (and maybe speaker).

you should get several short beeps or LED flashes to indicate you don't have memory in the system. Fans should start on PSU.

Now add the memory (I usually do 1 stick on slot 0, but you can do 2, just make sure that that you follow the Mobo instructions to put them in the right slots.

Boot up again.

Now you should boot to BIOS. GO TO BIOS BOOT BELOW

If you don't boot to BIOS at this point you have something wrong with PSU, Mobo or Memory. Try different Memory placement and number of sticks to see if you can get a POST and BIOS screen. If you aren't getting anything from the PSU (no fan) then unplug it completely and test the PSU on its own (short the power-on lines) and see if you can get the fan running.

If the PSU runs and you've tried all of the memory slots and you still can't boot, then I would say it's the motherboard. Return it.

BIOS BOOT --

If you got here, then shutdown the system again and attach ONLY the keyboard and mouse.

Boot again.

You should be able to get in to the BIOS and see move around, see the health of the system etc. Check the heat just to make sure you seated the CPU properly. Make sure the date and time are correct. Take note of the BIOS version.

If you got this far, you should be safe to put the whole thing back into the case. Line up the pins, put all the stand-offs in and make sure it's pretty tight (not overly tight).

Plug in everything you had plugged in when you got to the last boot. So you should have memory, Power, PSU switches, Mouse, Keyboard.

Boot up again. You should get right back to the bios...if not, you either didn't plug things in the right places in the same way, or you have a shorting issue with the motherboard and case.

If you get it to boot, to bios, then turn it off and go take a break. Come back to it in 15 minutes.

Add in, just the graphics card and try to boot. If it doesn't boot, take it out and try to boot again without it. If you can't get it to boot with the graphics card in place, you probably have a compatibility issue with the Motherboard, and/or bios and the GPU. Update your bios and try again.

Once you have the GPU in place and booting to bios, I would add back everything else (checking by booting to bios along the way). In the end, you should have everything back together and working fine.

Set your boot drive in the bios and boot to OS.

Once you have booted to the OS try sleeping it, rebooting a few times, shutdown, startup...etc. Make sure it's stable in the boot process.

Pat yourself on your back and go have a beer. You deserve it.

 

[UsandThem]

I wonder how many of the DOA's are from the standoff issue I pictured above. This is the first full ATX board I have ever had that did not use 4 stand offs on the back (left) side. I wonder how many don't catch that? I've also seen many cheaper cases where the stand offs are not removable, but formed or pressed into the case.

You could very well be right on that. I personally do not like cases with fixed stand-offs 'bumps'. I know they are supposed to be compatible with ATX/MATX, but for someone who doesn't know better, they might not think twice about it.

I like looking at how many stand-offs the motherboard needs, and then placing them in the case manually.

 

[sze5003]

Here is an update. I took the board out of the case. Now my case has 9 stand offs. When I took out my Asrock board, I realized there were only 7 screws.

How come it was fine with the extra 2 stand offs in the case?

So I put the Asus board on cardboard. Hooked up just the power cords, 12v 8 pin and 24 pin cords. Hooked up CPU fan, 1 stick of ram.

Connected power led cables and power switch. Plugged in power supply. Turn on power supply and board has steady red light and breathing lights around it.

Press power on the case, nothing. Turned off power supply and tried using the reset switch, nothing same red lights on board. Took out CMOS battery and tried again, nothing.

I don't get how the stupid led lights come on but board seems dead?

Took out the CPU and inspected it. No bent pins on the back and while checking it I got some thermal paste on the underside because my fingers had some on there. Cleaned it up with some rubbing alcohol and a coffee filter.

No bent pins on mobo either. I am tired of trying lol. Think I'll just return everything tomorrow and try again later when I have more time. I'm afraid of going back and forth with all three components i bought if one of them doesnt work.

I'm about to hook stuff back up to my asrock board now.

 

[WilliamM2]

Here is an update. I took the board out of the case. Now my case has 9 stand offs. When I took out my Asrock board, I realized there were only 7 screws.

How come it was fine with the extra 2 stand offs in the case?

Because the Asrock board is narrower, and the stand offs weren't touching anything? Or just luck of placement.

Was there an extra standoff under the Asus board as I pictured above?

I don't get how the stupid led lights come on but board seems dead?

The short may have damaged something.

You didn't clean the 212 before installing in a new build? It's filthy.

 

[sze5003]

Because the Asrock board is narrower, and the stand offs weren't touching anything? Or just luck of placement.

Was there an extra standoff under the Asus board as I pictured above?



The short may have damaged something.

You didn't clean the 212 before installing in a new build? It's filthy.

I did clean the cooler the best I could. I broke one fan clip because they are so brittle. I have one left in case I break another.

All the stand offs were in the right place lined up with a hole. The Asus manual states you should use all 9 stand offs and I only had seven screws from the asrock.

Going to return the board tomorrow and see if I want to get another one. I may just return everything and plan a better upgrade in the upcoming weeks. Might want to get a modular psu too maybe a better case.

I don't even recall what I used to put the stand offs in maybe an Allen key? Can't remember if the case came with any tool for that.

I put the asrock board in and everything fired right up.

 

[WilliamM2]

All the stand offs were in the right place lined up with a hole. The Asus manual states you should use all 9 stand offs and I only had seven screws from the asrock.

I'm confused. The Asrock only has seven mounting holes, which you can see in the pic. If you were using all 7, and didn't remove any standoffs when swapping boards, then there WAS an extra stand off under the Asus board. Where I have the red arrow in the pic. Now that the Asock is back in, is there a screw there?

 

[sze5003]

I'm confused. The Asrock only has seven mounting holes, which you can see in the pic. If you were using all 7, and didn't remove any standoffs when swapping boards, then there WAS an extra stand off under the Asus board. Where I have the red arrow in the pic. Now that the Asock is back in, is there a screw there?

That pic where you circled it I checked and it was just a hole there. Looks like I'm missing a stand off. Asrock is back in and PC powers up fine.

I'm gonna pick up more stand offs tomorrow and probably new screws too. It's weird, I guess you don't need all seven? I've heard of people missing a screw before.

 

[WilliamM2]

A missing screw is not a big deal. Some PC manufacturers use plastic stand offs that snap through the wholes with no screw at all. The board is grounded in several places.

Although it is best to use as many as needed, to support the boards when you insert ram, power cords, cards, etc. That way the board doesn't flex as much.

Good luck.

 

[sze5003]

I hope micro center will let me return or exchange everything. I'm afraid something might have happened to the processor having it hooked up and taken out so many times while I was trying different things.

I should have loaded the board first outside the case like cronjob mentioned, with minimum needed parts and powered it up at least this way I would not have wasted 10hrs to figure out it's a dud.

 

[UsandThem]

I hope micro center will let me return or exchange everything. I'm afraid something might have happened to the processor having it hooked up and taken out so many times while I was trying different things.

I should have loaded the board first outside the case like cronjob mentioned, with minimum needed parts and powered it up at least this way I would not have wasted 10hrs to figure out it's a dud.

Hey, look at it this way: You learned for future builds to do it this way

As long as your CPU was inserted correctly before you latched it down, it will be fine. They are pretty tough little things.

 

[sze5003]

Hey, look at it this way: You learned for future builds to do it this way

As long as your CPU was inserted correctly before you latched it down, it will be fine. They are pretty tough little things.

Yup I agree. I also need some standoffs for my nzxt 410 and I'm not sure if microcenter will have ones that fit with the screws too. I want to replace my standoffs as they aren't very secure and I think one of them possibly may have a screw stuck in there.

While I was putting my old board back in I had to reinsert a few of the standoffs as they were coming out. Are they pretty much standard issue?

 

[UsandThem]

Yup I agree. I also need some standoffs for my nzxt 410 and I'm not sure if microcenter will have ones that fit with the screws too. I want to replace my standoffs as they aren't very secure and I think one of them possibly may have a screw stuck in there.

While I was putting my old board back in I had to reinsert a few of the standoffs as they were coming out. Are they pretty much standard issue?

Mostly. I have had a lot of cases over the years, and I keep all the extra stuff in a junk box in case I need it the future (stand-offs, cables, washers, etc) and I did notice when I built my son's computer (the one with an Asus board), some of the stand-offs I got from the box fit inside the Corsair just fine, but some of the screws were that went into them were slightly too small and wouldn't thread properly and just spin instead of stop. I dug in the box and found some more screws that fit perfectly into the stand-offs. That was the only issue I encountered.

So if they sell a some extra stand-offs, hopefully they come with the screws that fit them properly.

 

[sze5003]

They do have the same mobo in stock at microcenter. They don't have any of the gigabyte gaming 5 just the z170x UD5 for $189.

I might just try another asus gaming pro or go with the gigabyte. If they aren't there by the time I get there I'll just return all 3 items.

 

[UsandThem]

They do have the same mobo in stock at microcenter. They don't have any of the gigabyte gaming 5 just the z170x UD5 for $189.

I might just try another asus gaming pro or go with the gigabyte. If they aren't there by the time I get there I'll just return all 3 items.

That's what I'd do. The odds of getting two bad boards in a row is low.

Are you swapping the ram also for Corsair, or are you staying with the EVGA?

 

[sze5003]

That's what I'd do. The odds of getting two bad boards in a row is low.

Are you swapping the ram also for Corsair, or are you staying with the EVGA?

If they have another board I'd consider buying I'm going to swap the ram for corsair 16gb 3000mhz. It's $5 more than the evga for some reason but I checked both the gigabyte z170 ud5 and asus ram list and that one is on there.

Watch this time I get a working board and my CPU has an issue, I'll be pretty upset. I wonder if I can just ask them to replace the CPU as well but i doubt they would if I don't have a reason.

Board is a dud, the ram I can say I just want a different brand / speed but I know nothing about the processor yet.

Praying that they have compatible standoffs and screws too because I'm pretty sure when I go to take my asrock board out a second time one standoff will be coming out with the screw stuck in it. Wouldn't have expected them to be so worn.

 

[UsandThem]

You can separate the stuck screw/standoff with some needle nose pliers. I've had that happen a few times.

You can take all your stuff back and ask them about exchanging it all. I'm not sure what their policy is on CPUs or if they would want to test it or not. When you take it out, as long as the bottom isn't physically damaged, it should be fine though.

I know it can be frustrating and disappointing when things go wrong with a computer build. It will all come together at some point, and you will look back and realize it wasn't that bad. At least you get to deal with it locally and don't have to wait 5-10 days to send back a part and have an online vendor verify the RMA before they send out the replacement part.

I don't know if they price-match at all, but the UD5 is currently $159 on Newegg with a $10 MIR. Excellent board. Although I have also used Asus boards since 1998 as well, and they have been consistently good.

 

[UsandThem]

Also, Microcenter's online selection shows the GA-Z170x-UD3 for $139.

It got some bad reviews at Newegg when it was first released last fall concerning RAM issues because people were using ram not on the QVL list or recommended by the RAM manufacturer. However, after they released several new BIOS updates specifically fixing RAM and XMP compatibility, the reviews improved. It is also a board with a lot of features for the money.

And to think there are still some people who think all the different DDR4 memory out there is perfectly compatible with all boards. That's not even taking into account the XMP certification portion of it.

 

[sze5003]

Yea the UD 5 is $30 more on microcenter. I don't think they price match but I will ask. Was just reading reviews this morning on UD3 and most were pretty bad.

Also, doesn't seem like microcenter has any of this stuff wrapped like new. It's all just there in the boxes so you just hope it's new.

I may just get the same asus board again. If the second one is also bad well then I just have bad experiences, unless they want to price match it which I doubt.

If the i7 was $289 on newegg I would wait return everything and order it all on newegg but the last time it went down was last week to $315.

 

[WilliamM2]

Watch this time I get a working board and my CPU has an issue, I'll be pretty upset. I wonder if I can just ask them to replace the CPU as well but i doubt they would if I don't have a reason.

How do you know it's not the CPU now? Highly unlikely, but it does happen.

 

[sze5003]

How do you know it's not the CPU now? Highly unlikely, but it does happen.

That's the thing I don't know. But I do know the board should power on and spin fans even if the CPU is bad. It just wouldn't post if it was.

I want to exchange all three parts but I don't think they would let me. I'm going there at lunch today and seeing if they will match the price of the gigabyte ud5 board. If not I'll try and get them to also exchange the CPU and try another asus board with corsair ram.

 

[WilliamM2]

That's the thing I don't know. But I do know the board should power on and spin fans even if the CPU is bad. It just wouldn't post if it was.

I've only had one bad cpu years ago. The computer would not post, no fans, just a power led on the board.

Swap it all if they let you, last I knew they had a 15 day return policy on computer parts.

 

[sze5003]

I've only had one bad cpu years ago. The computer would not post, no fans, just a power led on the board.

Swap it all if they let you, last I knew they had a 15 day return policy on computer parts.

Returned the mobo and ram. I went with the gigabyte gaming 7 board and corsair 16gb ddr4 3000. About a $50 difference because they didn't have the ud5 for some reason. Also got a display port to dvi adapter and standoffs with screws. Mainly the ram was more expensive despite being a tad slower.

 

[UsandThem]

You won't see any difference between DDR4 3000 and 3200. According to most articles, the gain after 2666 is very minimal unless you are using integrated graphics.

At least the Corsair ram is a large brand, and probably does a lot more testing/certifications with the motherboard companies. Unsupported ram can cause issues, but who knows about the EVGA for sure.

Hopefully this time will go much smoother. But if for some reason it doesn't, this board will actually show you what the error code is.

 

[sze5003]

I was there for quite a bit and the person at the returns and exchange mentioned a few other people brought back the same mobo I returned. He was surprised because asus is usually pretty good.

They did recommend me the Asus z170 pro with the white shroud on it but it only had two USB ports. Online it showed they had the ud5 but when I went to the isle it wasn't there. This time I'm assembling everything outside the case first so I don't waste my time.

 

[legolas_tk]

I was there for quite a bit and the person at the returns and exchange mentioned a few other people brought back the same mobo I returned. He was surprised because asus is usually pretty good.

They did recommend me the Asus z170 pro with the white shroud on it but it only had two USB ports. Online it showed they had the ud5 but when I went to the isle it wasn't there. This time I'm assembling everything outside the case first so I don't waste my time.

I agree, asus is pretty good. Z170 Pro is great.