Computer wont power up :(

C

corup7ion

Weaksauce
Joined
Apr 21, 2006
Messages
121
This is totally random.. My computer was running fine before last night. I turned it off just like any other day, and today it wont power up at all.

The little yellow light on the motherboard is on, and when I plug my keyboard into the computer, it glows. (its a glowing keyboard). I do not know why, but when I press the power button, simply nothing happens. I've tried different plugging it in at different places, but nothing happens. There is no sign of the computer even trying to start up.

Worste case, my power supply went totally dead. But if this was the case, would it still make my motherboard light turn on? and power my keyboard LEDs?

My second guess is that the actual Power button isnt working. There is a power button on the motherboard, but it has never worked.. I replugged in the power switch wire, and its in the right spot.. Just dont know why its not powering up. What do you guys think>?

Just for some info, I am running windows vista, and have 4 gigs of ram, a 750 gig HD, an AMD 6000+, and a NVIDIA 8800 GTS, 640mb. The PSU is a 550w. The brand is NZXT.
 
break it all down.. then put it back together and try using just the mobo,cpu,video with nothing else and move up if it works.. it will narrow what your limit is..
 
Try a different power cable and different mains socket.

Test the PSU can power up by connecting green to black on the main motherboard connector.
If it doesnt power on, you need a new one.
 
Main sockets? Explain?

And could you explain a little more in detail how to check my psu?

EDIT: changed the power cord, unplugged everything and only plugged in 24 prong ad 8 prongs, still wont power up at all

Since no fans even SPIN, I think im going to come to the conclusion that its a dead power supply?

It just puzzles me since it stull gives power to the motherboard for LEDs, mouse and keyboard LEDs aswell..
 
You can "jump" your PSU by disconnecting the 24 pin cable from your mobo, and use a paper clip to ground the green wire to any black wire... all that will tell is rather it's "starting" so to speak. It sounds to me like you have a dead rail in your PSU... it's still putting some power out, but not enough. As mentioned above, pull everything out of your case, put your mobo on a piece of cardboard and start with your cpu/hsf, one stick of ram (it won't post without it), your video card and keyboard, mouse and monitor, and see if it will post.... if it does, add one component at a time until you find the culprit.... but if it won't post in a bare bones config... it very well may be your PSU...
 
digital_exhaust said:
You can "jump" your PSU by disconnecting the 24 pin cable from your mobo, and use a paper clip the green wire to any black wire... all that will tell is rather it's "starting" so to speak. It sounds to me like you have a dead rail in your PSU... it's still putting some power out, but not enough. As mentioned above, pull everything out of your case, put your mobo on a piece of cardboard and start with your cpu/hsf, one stick of ram (it won't post without it), your video card and keyboard, mouse and monitor, and see if it will post.... if it does, add one component at a time until you find the culprit.... but if it won't post in a bare bones config... it very well may be your PSU...
Click to expand...

what he is saying is this:

take off the pwr switch connector that goes to the mobo.

take a screwdriver,knife,paperclip or anything and touch both the pins this will jump it off.

if nothing happens then its your psu.
 
dK`_unlimited said:
what he is saying is this:

take off the pwr switch connector that goes to the mobo.

take a screwdriver,knife,paperclip or anything and touch both the pins this will jump it off.

if nothing happens then its your psu.
Click to expand...

Well, no... that's not at all what I was saying;)

While what you have described does a very good job of testing the power button on the case, I was explaining how to jump a psu without having it connected to a motherboard... the green wire in the 24 pin connector has to be grounded in order for a PSU to power up.. simply plugging it into the wall and flipping the switch will not power up a PSU that is not connected to a mobo. And, as I said, all that will do is tell you rather it will power up or not.... it really is no indication that the PSU is working correctly or not... I really think the OP has a dead rail.. that would explain why the power light on the board is lighting up and he's getting power to his keyboard etc.......

I noticed I accidentally omitted a few words in my previous post, perhaps making it a bit confusing... I fixed that...
 
digital_exhaust said:
Well, no... that's not at all what I was saying;)

While what you have described does a very good job of testing the power button on the case, I was explaining how to jump a psu without having it connected to a motherboard... the green wire in the 24 pin connector has to be grounded in order for a PSU to power up.. simply plugging it into the wall and flipping the switch will not power up a PSU that is not connected to a mobo. And, as I said, all that will do is tell you rather it will power up or not.... it really is no indication that the PSU is working correctly or not... I really think the OP has a dead rail.. that would explain why the power light on the board is lighting up and he's getting power to his keyboard etc.......

I noticed I accidentally omitted a few words in my previous post, perhaps making it a bit confusing... I fixed that...
Click to expand...

ah ok yea i see what your saying now. i got kinda of thrown off track there lol
 
So if it is a dead power rail, my PSU must be replaced, correct?

So what I should do to test it, is take it out entirely, plug it into the wall, set it on cardboard, and touch a paperclip to the 24 connector?
 
corup7ion said:
So if it is a dead power rail, my PSU must be replaced, correct?

So what I should do to test it, is take it out entirely, plug it into the wall, set it on cardboard, and touch a paperclip to the 24 connector?
Click to expand...

yes touch the green and any black wire on the 20/24 pin
 
corup7ion said:
So if it is a dead power rail, my PSU must be replaced, correct?
Click to expand...

Yes.

As far as testing it is concerned, you can buy a PSU tester, they're cheap, and you should be able to pick one up at Fry's or Microcenter, maybe CompUSA.... or you can use a multi-meter after jumping the psu as I outlined above... Look up the specs and see if it's putting the correct amount of power out or not....But in all honesty, and no offense intended here at all... but you are clearly having a hard time understanding the advice given here... (there is no need to put your PSU on cardboard for testing.. that needs to be done with a motherboard when it's powered on outside of a case) so I really think the best thing to do is either buy a PSU tester, or perhaps find a local computer shop and have them test your PSU for you...
 
Ten bucks and you have a tool that will likely be useful in the future, and you will know that your PSU is dead before you rma it....and honestly, I would really consider going with a different PSU.. maybe take a look at Corsair, PC Power & Cooling.... just my opinion....
 
I see. The only thing is, If I RMA the same brand, its free, and saves me 80-100$. Do you think i have to go above 550w with my rig?
 
yes you need a better psu.

look for something at or above 600watt and a good brand.. like corsair,antec,hiper,tt etc..
 
Remember that wattage doesn't mean as much these days. What matters most is where those watts are being delivered. For current rigs, it's all about how much amps are on the +12V rail since most PC parts draw their power from there. You determine the amperage on the +12V rails by first finding out what's the total combined wattage set aside for the +12V rails alone.

So for example, the NZXT 550W PSU has 420W on the +12V rail. Divide that total wattage for the +12V by 12 and you get how much amps the PSU has on the +12V rail. In this case, 420W divided by 12 is 35A. So the NZXT 550W PSU has 35A on the +12V Rail. Which is enough for your system.

However 35A for 550W PSU is not really all that good. The Corsair 550VX 550W PSU has 41A on the +12V rail and the Corsair 520HX 520W PSU has 40A on the +12V Rail. And frankly I concur with digital_exhaust on getting a better QUALITY PSU, not a higher wattage PSU. Though try out the RMA and you get a spare PSU for testing.
 
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