New build won't power up.

[rhinosneros]

I just assembled a new box ... but it fails to power up.
All components are new (mboard = AS Rock LGA1155 ATX 277 Extreme4).
Hardware details are available in my profile.

• All drives have securely attached SATA cables and power.
• CPU and case fans function
• Seagate 2TB hard drive doesn't power-up/spin
• I can't even eject the DVD-RW drive door.
• No screen display whatsoever.
• I get no error beeps from the motherboard.
  

How should I reasonably proceed with troubleshooting?

Thanks in advance for any quality input.

[profJim]

Re: New build won't power up.

The problem might be with your power supply, even if it is brand new.
Can you test with another psu?
Make sure that you have connected the power supply's 8-pin EPS12V connector to the motherboard.
Verify that that the 24-pin psu power cable is fully seated and that there are no loose wires.
You definitely have a power problem from your description.

Your 24-pin memory might be a problem, 240-pin memory is OK. ;)
Try booting with only one memory module installed.

I always build and test a new system with the motherboard outside of the computer case with the mobo on a cardboard box.
Disconnect all hardware that isn't necessary for booting into the bios including ssd, hard drives, optical drives, add-in cards, etc.

[rhinosneros]

Re: New build won't power up.

You referenced the "power supply's 8-pin EPS12V connector to the motherboard

• The power supply has an 8-pin cable (2x4) whose connector is labeled CPU.
• The Corsair website Tech Specs references the 8-pin connector as EPS. No CPU tag reference is made.
• There is no User Manual (PDF) for the TX850M power supply on the Corsair website (that I can find). There is one for the TX850 V2, however. That manual references an 8-pin cable+connector as EPS12V CPU Cable (8-pin).
• The ASRock motherboard has an 8-pin connector referenced in the user manual as ATX 12V Power Connector (ATX12V1).

The seemingly inconsistent labeling is confusing. Are these all varied tags all referencing the same connection that I must make to correct the nonfunctioning system? I certainly don't want to make a power assignment error here. Thanks for clarifying.

[rhinosneros]

Re: New build won't power up.

Your 24-pin memory might be a problem, 240-pin memory is OK. ;)

I can't seem to locate my hardware spec in my profile. If you can point me in the right direction, I'll be sure to fix the clear typo. Thanks.

[WilliamM2]

Re: New build won't power up.

The 8 pin (2x4) is the cable you need to plug into the motherboard. I haven't seen a power supply with any other 8 pin connector before. The connector is keyed, and won't fit if it's not the correct one.

[rhinosneros]

Re: New build won't power up.

Thanks for that feedback, William.

The 8-pin connector snapped in place like a glove. After 1) plugging the power cord into the TX850M power supply, 2) turning the psupply ON using its rocker switch, then 3) pressing the case power button ... nothing different happened (fans still run, but nothing else does). I double checked to make sure that the power switch was properly connected to the motherboard.

Hints?
Ideas?

[profJim]

Re: New build won't power up.

The 8-pin (2x4) power supply cable (labeled CPU) needs to be plugged in to the 2x4 motherboard connector that ASRock labels ATX 12V Power Connector (ATX12V1).
I won't confuse you with the fact that the power supply's 4-pin (2x2) ATX_12V cable could also plug in to the 8-pin ASRock labels ATX 12V Power Connector (ATX12V1), and the motherboard user manual should show you the only way that this 4-pin connector can be properly connected. Using the EPS12V 8-pin connector is always better. Never try to plug in the power supply's 8-pin pci-e cable into the motherboard EPS12V connector.
For more psu cable information, check out All about the various PC power supply cables and connectors.

With modern systems, your motherboard will not boot/post if you don't connect the EPS12V or ATX_12V power supply cable.

System Specs portion of your forum profile: http://forums.tweaktown.com/profile.php?do=editprofile at the bottom of the profile page.
Save changes when you're done editing.

[profJim]

Re: New build won't power up.

Get down to basics.
Go through the user manual, one step at a time and make sure that you haven't missed any steps.
If the dvd tray won't open and your hard drive still isn't spinning, there is still a power issue, possibly with your 24-pin psu main cable.

[rhinosneros]

Re: New build won't power up.

Thanks. I'll give the whole setup a thorough reevaluation.

[profJim]

Re: New build won't power up.

Oopsie....
Your hard drive and optical drive are both powered by your power supply, not your motherboard.
Your system should be able to boot into the bios with no drives connected.
Unless you find a step that you missed, you will need to borrow another power supply to test with.

[parsec]

Re: New build won't power up.

Your memory is not in the compatibility list, and that matters these days. You can't just put your favorite memory into these new boards, even if the memory manufacture states that they can be used with your platform, that is just a general statement. Is that two 8GB DIMMs, or 4 x 4GB? You could try one DIMM in slot B2 or A2 to at least get POST and into the BIOS.

BTW, EPS is the same as being labeled CPU, for that power cable.

[rhinosneros]

Re: New build won't power up.

Thanks for your input regarding memory [in]compatibility, parsec. I had 8GB modules in both A2 and B2. Could memory incompatibility possibly cause the drives to not function at all?

[rhinosneros]

Re: New build won't power up.

I pulled the new components from the Bitfenix Merc Case, then did some logical testing. In cases 1 and 3 drives were properly connected to the power supply. In all cases the motherboard was properly hooked-up to the 24 or 20-pin ATX psupply connector and the 8 or 4-pin CPU-pwr psupply connector.

Test 1
new: AS Rock mboard w/CPU and single 8GB memory module
new: Corsair TX850M power supply
new: Seagate 2TB hard disk drive
new: Samsung 22x SATA DVD-RW drive
used: LG E2350V display

• No POST
• HD doesn't spin
• Power supply fan doesn't spin
• No beeps (speaker plugged into motherboard)
• CPU fan functions
• No image on monitor

Test 2
used: NMB power supply from functioning Sony VAIO
new: AS Rock mboard w/CPU and single 8GB memory module
used: LG E2350V display

• No POST
• No beeps (speaker plugged into motherboard)
• CPU fan functions
• No image on monitor

I then reinstalled the NMB power supply back into the Sony VAIO ... and it booted up with no issues.

Test 3
used: functioning Gateway computer
new: Seagate 2TB hard disk drive
new: Samsung 22x SATA DVD-RW drive
used: LG E2350V display

• Boots without problem
• HD spins great
• DVD drive recognizes power and drawer ejects just fine

In view of the fact that I've never experienced a bad Intel CPU (in hundreds of new-builds), I suspect that both the motherboard AND the power supply are toast.

What do you think?

[Chozo4]

Re: New build won't power up.

If it's any consolation - I've had a power supply before that would work on one system and simply wouldn't provide any result on another other than fans spinning (no POST, etc). Comes out the supply was not only old-ish but suffering from buldging capactors. How old is the supply you pulled from the Viao?

[rhinosneros]

Re: New build won't power up.

The power supply from the older VAIO is probably 8 years old. But it WORKS! It's the new Corsair 850W power supply that does not.