Hardware Problem (computer won't turn on)

[MaN.on.FiRe]

So I got a new computer case and transferred everything over to the new case. I go to turn on the computer and it won't power on. The power light will come on for about 1 second then turns off. I unplug the power to the PCI-E card and the computer starts up but there is a very loud continuous beeping sound.

I have a Gigabyte GA-M57SLI-S4 motherboard. Can anyone tell me what the problem is? My computer was working fine until I tried to transfer everything over to the new computer case. I have a Rosewill power supply that is about 2-3 years old. I was thinking that it may be a bad power supply (hopefully) and not anything else. Help would be appreciated.

[kdawgmaster]

make sure the power button connector from the case to the mobo is on and facing the right way.

[MaN.on.FiRe]

I double checked and it is in correctly.

[kdawgmaster]

do u have all the cords that come from the case connected to the mobo? im thinking that the pin on the mobo might be bent or it could be like u said somthing wrong with the PSU.

If i were to do anything i would take it all apart and reconnect it slowly just to make sure everything is going in the right spot. what im also thinking is that sense it sounds like this never happened untill u got this case try the old one to make sure its not the components like ur PSU. i know this may sound like alot of work but it will help to know if its a part problem or a case problem.

[rotNdude]

It seems to me that your power supply is going into overcurrent when you have the video card plugged in. Did you put the standoffs into the case or make sure the standoffs are in the right positions? Post the make and model of the case you purchased and the rest of your specs.

[MaN.on.FiRe]

Here is the case I purchsed: NZXT M59 - 001BK Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case.

Here are the rest of my specs: AMD Athlon 64 X2 4800+ Brisbane 2.5GHz Socket AM2 65W Dual-Core Processor Model ADO4800DDBOX, Crucial Ballistix 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model BL2KIT12864AA804, PNY 8800GT 512MB

All from Newegg of course.

[lhwj]

I would try a basic POST test.

Remove the motherboard from your case and place it on an insulated material. A thick medium sized book is an ideal choice. It's best if you do this on a tabletop.

Now connect ONLY the following:

1. Processor in socket, heatsink fastened securely, with fan plugged into the CPU_FAN header.

2. One stick of RAM, securely inserted in the slot closest to the processor socket.

3. 4 pin power connector on the motherboard

4. 24 pin power connector on the motherboard

5. 8800GT in PCIe slot, with PCIe 6 pin power connected, monitor connected

6. Keyboard connected.

Check that your power supply is switched on, both on itself and at the socket. Now take a screwdriver and find the front panel header; locate the power switch connectors and short the connectors. Your PC should turn on.

If not, try resetting the BIOS; remove the CMOS battery and short the terminals for a few seconds, alternatively short the reset CMOS jumpers for a few seconds.

[_Bubs_]

It seems to me that your power supply is going into overcurrent when you have the video card plugged in. Did you put the standoffs into the case or make sure the standoffs are in the right positions? Post the make and model of the case you purchased and the rest of your specs.

I agree, a lot of times this occurs when your power supply is having issues powering it. Is it the same PSU as u had before and what psu is it?

[MaN.on.FiRe]

Same power supply. It's a Rosewill RP600V2-S-SL

What exactly are the "right" positions for the standoffs? I filled in all of them and there are 6 screws holding the motherboard down. Some standoffs do not line up with the holes in the motherboard.

[MaN.on.FiRe]

I would try a basic POST test.

Remove the motherboard from your case and place it on an insulated material. A thick medium sized book is an ideal choice. It's best if you do this on a tabletop.

Now connect ONLY the following:

1. Processor in socket, heatsink fastened securely, with fan plugged into the CPU_FAN header.

2. One stick of RAM, securely inserted in the slot closest to the processor socket.

3. 4 pin power connector on the motherboard

4. 24 pin power connector on the motherboard

5. 8800GT in PCIe slot, with PCIe 6 pin power connected, monitor connected

6. Keyboard connected.

Check that your power supply is switched on, both on itself and at the socket. Now take a screwdriver and find the front panel header; locate the power switch connectors and short the connectors. Your PC should turn on.

If not, try resetting the BIOS; remove the CMOS battery and short the terminals for a few seconds, alternatively short the reset CMOS jumpers for a few seconds.

I tried resetting the bios and that did not work. That post test is kind of intimidating.

[lhwj]

Intimidating? It's actually less work than assembling the motherboard in your new case :p. You don't have to bother about the hard disks, USB and sound headers, etc. If it's short circuiting the power switch that scares you, then hook up only the power switch from the case and leave all the other connectors alone.

Heck, that's how I'm currently running my PC (http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2529/4081980462_a72637e6f9_b.jpg) (temporarily).

[MaN.on.FiRe]

Ok, so the post test was not that bad. Computer did not turn on. Same as before. It starts for 1 second then dies.

[lhwj]

Now remove the 8800GT and repeat the test. You're not going to get any display on your monitor, of course but does the system stay on? (processor heatsink fan keeps spinning) I realise you've done something similar earlier;

I unplug the power to the PCI-E card and the computer starts up but there is a very loud continuous beeping sound.

and this might point us to the power supply not giving adequate power; otherwise either a connection is loose somewhere, or you accidentally damaged something while transferring your components.

make sure the power button connector from the case to the mobo is on and facing the right way.

A simple switch like the power button should have no polarity; just like a light bulb it will work regardless of how it is wired up. LEDs though need to be connected according to the polarity though.

[MaN.on.FiRe]

Ok, so I removed the PCI-E card and it powers on. It's running right now.

[lhwj]

Can you get hold of another PCIe graphics card to test? Even better, another power supply?

It sounds like either the card is defective, or your power supply has deteriorated to the point where it is unable to power up the system with a significant load.

[_Bubs_]

Can you get hold of another PCIe graphics card to test? Even better, another power supply?

It sounds like either the card is defective, or your power supply has deteriorated to the point where it is unable to power up the system with a significant load.

Also try to just slide it back in, sometime things need to be re-inserted.

[MaN.on.FiRe]

I just so happened to buy a new power supply today just in case. It's sitting in my computer right now and.....still won't power on. It's an Antec
Earthwatts 650. Does the same thing. I push the power button and the fans start up for 1 second or less then it dies. Man, I should have left well enough alone. This is terrible! I've spent quite a few hours trying to figure this out. Any more ideas?

[lhwj]

If removing the card causes the system to run continuously there's a good chance that the 8800GT is causing the problem. Try and test the card in another system; or borrow another card from a friend.

[MaN.on.FiRe]

So it looks like its my video card that is causing the problem? I really don't know anyone that has a computer with a PCI-Express card or a computer with a PCI-Express slot. All of my friends and relatives play console games. Any other options?

[Data_Angel_One]

Unfortunately, it looks like you'll just have to get another graphics card. I know it sucks, been down that road before. You should just pickup a cheap PCI-X graphics card from Newegg to see if that truly is the problem. I suggest a cheap one because you never know what it was that killed your 8800GT.

[MaN.on.FiRe]

For future reference, in case it's my card, which card would be the better buy?

BFG NVIDIA GeForce 260 GTX OC MAXCORE 55 896MB GDDR3 PCI Express at $139.99 or BFG NVIDIA GeForce GTS 250 OC 1GB GDDR3 PCI Express at $129.99?

[Data_Angel_One]

I would spring for the one with more dedicated graphics memory, but that's just me. Since they're both GDDR3, that is what I would recommend. You should be able to get a lot of millage out of either card though.

[cmay119]

Same power supply. It's a Rosewill RP600V2-S-SL

What exactly are the "right" positions for the standoffs? I filled in all of them and there are 6 screws holding the motherboard down. Some standoffs do not line up with the holes in the motherboard.

Are you saying that the motherboard is just sitting on some of the standoffs that aren't lined up with the holes?

If so, you're problem isn't the video card (hopefully), it's the motherboard. You've probably fried it. The motherboard shorts to the case and that's all she wrote.

[MaN.on.FiRe]

So now my motherboard may be fried? How do I determine that? The computer seems to work without the video card in place.

[YahooElite]

Come on stop putting bad ideas in his head people.

The problem appears to be the video card in general, not the PSU or the MB. everything powers on when the GPU is Not installed, but doesnt when it is installed, even with a new power supply. that would suggest that the graphics card is the problem.

and the 250 and 260 are both great cards, the 260 is a lil stronger then the 250 but not too much. i have a 9800GTX+ which is now the 250 and it runs perfectly and very low temps, especially compared to an 8800 i would imagine

[MaN.on.FiRe]

So I bought a new cheap video card and installed it in my computer. Computer starts up but I get a "no input" message on my monitor. Is it possible that my PCI-E Slot is fried? Can I try it on the second PCI-E slot, the one that is for SLI?

OK, so I tried it on the second PCI-Express slot and now I get to the desktop. Any ideas as to how I ruined the other slot?

[lhwj]

Go ahead. Try it on the other PCIe slot. Also check that your monitor is working.

[MaN.on.FiRe]

It's up and running on the second slot. I tried my 8800gt last night on the second slot and it would still not work. So my other PCI-E slot is bad as is my video card. Does that sound about right?

[lhwj]

It's up and running on the second slot.

So your computer turns on but monitor still has no signal?

[MaN.on.FiRe]

It's up and running with video. I have it on CS: Source.

[lhwj]

Sounds like a bad card to me :o But why won't your 8800GT work, I don't know :(

[MaN.on.FiRe]

One more thing, the card I bought as a temporary replacement does not have a power source. If I buy a more expensive card that requires an external power source, is it possible that it might not work?

[cmay119]

So now my motherboard may be fried? How do I determine that? The computer seems to work without the video card in place.

No, I apologize. The way you worded it sounded like you just had the motherboard resting on the standoffs that weren't lining up with the holes. If that were the case, than yes, your motherboard would probably be toast.

[YahooElite]

higher end cards require a PCI-E 6pin or 8pin connector to power the cards. 9800 and up cards require one 6pin at the least.

sounds to me like your other PCI-E shorted out and possibly fried your 8800 in 1 way or another.. good thing you had a SLI Motherboard

Btw, what was the card that you got as the replacement??

[MaN.on.FiRe]

It's an 8400gs from bestbuy. I wanted something cheap while I determine what card is best as a replacement. I actually put the card back into the other PCI-E Slot and it works now! Been running like that all day.

By the way, a thank you to everyone who helped me out. I really appreciate it.

[Data_Angel_One]

I'm glad that you got your rig working again. Glad to be of service. :)

[YahooElite]

yeah the 8400 should suffice until you find something better. glad the video card appears to be the only thing that needed to be replaced.

[TangleFoot]

What exactly are the "right" positions for the standoffs?The standoffs (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Standoff_(separator)) occupy the spaces directly beneath the holes in the motherboard; if you put them anywhere else you risk creating a short circuit (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Short_circuit).

[MaN.on.FiRe]

Never mind. Will start new thread.

[MaN.on.FiRe]

Not trying to rehash an old thread but I have replaced my motherboard and all is well. I had replaced my 8800gt with a Radeon thinking that my video card was wrong but it was the motherboard all along. So now I get to return the Radeon and save some money. Thanks for everyone for all their help on this problem.

[YahooElite]

glad everything is okie dokie now then.