PC no longer turns on

[kcporsche959]

For the past few months, my pc has had intermittent problems powering on. I generally just turned the PSU on/off and it would fix itself. However today it has stopped turning on and won't turn on again. I know that the motherboard is getting power because a green light turns on when I turn the PSU on. I also know that the problem is not due to the case's switch because I used a screwdriver to short the two prongs used for turning on the motherboard and it does not start. Any advice as to how to troubleshoot/fix this? Thanks.

 

[Athadeus]

If you aren't even getting the fans to spin, then it is almost definitely that the PS is shot. Please add relevant information like:
Custom built or which company built it
Better description of the intermittent power on problems
PSU brand (really only relevant for customs)
MB brand (also really only relevant for customs)
Whether you have a system speaker connected (probably wouldn't get post beeps if the fans don't come on)
If you can borrow a spare PSU from someone (you would have tried switching it first if you already had one right?)
If you've had electrical storms recently, or if the house wiring isn't grounded

 

[kcporsche959]

I built the system myself, its a collection of parts from last summer and around 4-5 years ago. Generally speaking, the power problems would only arise when I didn't use the computer for a long time. I wouldn't use the computer for 2-3 months at a time because I go away to college and I leave the desktop at home, and when I would return the PC would generally not turn on immediately. Instead I would have to unplug/replug in the power cord to the PSU a couple of times to get the machine to run. But other than that, it has been running relatively consistently.

Power Supply: Antec Neopower 480w
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-924-_-Product

Motherboard: Asus P5Q Pro

I currently do not have the speakers connected as I unplugged everything but the power cord because I was checking inside the case, but it doesn't even POST so it's irrelevant. And I don't have any extra PSU's I could borrow around, so I'd either have to go buy a Voltmeter or a New PSU.

Are you confident that this problem is due to an old/faulty PSU rather than a motherboard issue?

 

[mpilchfamily]

Unplug the 24 pin connector from the motherboard. Then take a metal paper clip and insert it into the pins with the green and one of the black wires. This should power on the PSU without the motherboard. If it powers on then the problem is likely your motherboard. If it doesn't then you have a bad PSU.

 

[mav451]

Go ahead with the paperclip test first (as mpilchfamily suggested). Those Antecs were always a bit flakey (that and the NeoHE's that followed) so I would bet it's just the PSU dying...you don't say anything about overclocking so I really doubt it's your mobo.

*Generally speaking, the power problems would only arise when I didn't use the computer for a long time.

This actually sounds EXACTLY like what I experienced with my Antec NeoHE before it died (cold boot, or when power has been off/pulled).

 

[kcporsche959]

It doesn't turn on . So I need a new power supply. What would you recommend? And I do have my CPU overclocked, but its only a 10% overclock so nothing on my motherboard should be fried.

 

[mpilchfamily]

Anything from Corsair is a good bet.