[SOLVED] Computer won't power up, "flickers" then nothing. Power supply?

[SP33Demon]

Issue: When I turn on the computer, the LED lights on the mobo (brand new Gigabyte EP43-UD3L) will "flicker". I want to be sure it's the Power Supply but want to be positive before dishing out another $200. Can the power supply still be faulty even though it passes the paper clip test?

Background information: The power supply (PC Power&Cooling Silencer 750W) is only 5 months old. The computer had been working fine but then I moved. As far as I know, I didn't bang it into anything and personally carried it. Then I tried to turn it on 1.5 weeks later and nothing at all. I tried the paper clip test (green wire to ground) on the PS and the PS fan fired up so I figured it was ok. I was pretty sure it was the motherboard.

I bought the new Gigabyte mobo last night and installed everything today. When I press the power switch on my case, all I'm getting is the "flicker" of the LED lights on the mobo and the fans will slightly turn and then nothing. I unplugged everything (vid card, RAM, IDE drives) and still the same issue. On my UPS, the Watts would be 25W at idle and jump to 100+ for a split second when pressing the power switch. I also double checked to ensure the brass standoffs were correct on the mobo so it couldn't be a short with the case.

Specs:
OS: WinXP 32 bit
Mobo: Gigabyte EP43-UD3L (previous mobo: Gigabyte EP45T-UD3LR)
Video: EVGA 9800GT
Hard Drive: WD Caviar Black 1TB
RAM: Corsair Dominator 2X2GB DDR2 (had Mushkin 2X2GB sticks of DDR3 in the first mobo)
DVD/CD: Generic, 1 each on IDE channels
UPS: APC 865W

Any advice would be greatly appreciated! /beer

 

[FriedSushi87]

What I'd personally do is buy yourself a replacement Power supply. Something really cheap. $20-$30 special. If it works fine, then go ahead and buy a full replacement.

Having a cheapy $30 PSU around is helpful for just such occasions...or in case someone else needs a PSU or to test someone else's PC.

Might I also recommend getting a Voltmeter?

And yes, it's possible for a PSU to fail, and some components of the PSU still work. I had a PSU in which the fan would turn on, and sometimes boot up the system for 12 minutes and then randomly restart.

 

[jackschmittusa]

Should have bench tested the new mb before assembly.

Try disconnecting all of the drives, front usb, etc.. Is the cpu fan one of the ones that moves?

 

[SP33Demon]

jack, I actually didn't unhook the front usb ports on the mobo. After trying that, it fired up! The front USB ports on the case had been damaged before (dog whacked it with its tail) so that must have been what was causing the mobo to short.

Now I have to see if I can return the mobo, lol.

Fried and jack: Thanks a lot for your help! Fried, I may pick up an extra PS too. Thanks.