Computer turning on for a split second and then instantly back off ...

T

thebski

Limp Gawd
Joined
Mar 7, 2012
Messages
378
Hey guys,

I had 3-way 670 SLI on water but it was overkill so I sold one card. I put the air cooler back on it and tested it last night before I shipped it off this morning. I went to put my other two cards back in, filled the loop, leak tested, and now my computer won't start. Last night testing the card on air it was working perfectly. Now, it turns on for a split second long enough to light all the red lights up and get the fans spinning and then it shuts right down.

The PSU is obviously trying to protect itself like it's shorting out or something, but I have no clue where that could be.

Things I have done that have not fixed the problem:

- Took graphics cards back out and installed old GTX 570
- Removed CPU cooler and CPU, cleaned CPU thoroughly and reapplied paste, remounted CPU block
- Removed one set of memory and tried to boot with 8GB --- I tried this because I bumped my memory a couple times during the CPU installation, very minor of course but thought maybe I somehow broke a stick of memory but that's not the case
- Unplugged SSD and attempted boot

I'm pretty much at a loss for what to try next. I know someone is going to say try a different power supply, but not only do I not have another power supply laying around I have a lot of stuff to connect and that would really suck to switch out. Also, I have no idea how my power supply that is 6 months old could fail by switching graphics cards.

Any ideas guys? Thanks for the help in advance.
 
To me the most obvious, and first thing I would have changed, is the PSU. Pull out 2 of the GPU's and throw in an older PSU. Even if it's just a 20 pin main and 4 pin P4, it will still work to at least boot it. At work I've had numerous systems behave this way before, and it has always been the PSU.
 
Agreed, it's most likely the PSU. 2nd would be the MoBo.
 
Alright I went to my parents house and grabbed my moms computer that I built for her last year that has a Seasonic X-650 in it. I plugged my Mom's PSU into only the 24-pin and 8-pin and plugged my water pump in direct to the mobo. With only 3 things plugged in and a different PSU it was doing the exact same thing.

I know it is not the water pump because I plugged the pump into my Mom's PC to fill the loop so I know it runs on that exact Seasonic X-750.

Did my mobo take a crap on me, and what the heck could cause this just after a part change?

I really hope it is the mobo as I have a 3930K and Rampage IV Formula on the way anyways. I was already going to RMA the board for USB ports that really don't like to stay connected as soon as the R4F got here.

Any chance it could be the CPU? I don't know how that could be possible, but I could pull the 2500K out of my Mom's and try it in mine although that is a pretty big pain. I think there's less chance it's CPU than there was PSU and I'd have been shocked if it was my PSU.
 
The 2500K is LGA1155 and won't work in your LGA2011 board.
 
The board I'm working with right now is Maximus IV Extreme w/ 2600K. Rampage IV Formula won't be here until Monday and 3930K mid next week.
 
thebski said:
The board I'm working with right now is Maximus IV Extreme w/ 2600K. Rampage IV Formula won't be here until Monday and 3930K mid next week.
Click to expand...

Ah, ok. Sorry, I misunderstood...

I suppose that leaves 2 options, then. Borrow the 2500K, or just wait for your RIVF/3930K to arrive.

Since you've ruled out the PSU, I say just wait it out until your new goodies are delivered.
 
Will Asus accept that it's the motherboard, or will they force me to take the only other possible component (CPU) out of the equation for RMA?

I'm ok with waiting for the new stuff.
 
It's not a short between the motherboard and case? How does it run outside the case?

CPUs don't fail much unless zapped with static or installed wrong (pins bent).
 
Last edited:
OK ... just a little update ... after a ton of troubleshooting yesterday I think I finally decided I was tightening my CPU water block too tightly onto the CPU.

I sat the mobo on it's box with CPU installed and factory air cooler and 1 stick of memory. It started up just fine. Hooked up my water cooler and it would not start. At that point I thought it was the mounting bracket for the water cooler causing the problem or short or something. I took the mounting bracket off and just held the water block on the CPU with my hand and it started right up. I put the bracket back on but barely tightened it, and it worked. I tightened it down a bit more and it's working fine. It's probably half as tight as I had it before though. It appears to be working fine now.

Thanks to everyone for the help!

Turns out my motherboard is not bad, but Asus is still going to get it in for RMA because the USB ports refuse to stay connected!
 
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