Asus Z270E won't boot

[Lawnop]

I upgraded an old build with these new parts(https://pcpartpicker.com/list/8fQMNN) but am having some issues. I got the computer to POST and started upgrading drivers, but after it installed the drivers and I shut it off for the time being, I was unable to get it to power on at all. I plug it in, turn the PSU power switch on, and then the motherboard standby LED lights up orange and the rainbow light on the other side of the CPU lights up. I then press the power button on the front of the case and nothing happens. The lights glow without me pressing the power button, and not even the fans turn on. If I hook up a monitor to my graphics card, it recognizes that it is connected (A "Cable not connected" message appears when the monitor is disconnected) but if I plug in the mouse or keyboard to the rear USB neither seem to be receiving power. I've already tried to troubleshoot with this guide (http://www.tomshardware.com/faq/id-1893016/post-system-boot-video-output-troubleshooting-checklist.html) to no avail. Any help to solve this would be greatly appreciated.

PSU: https://pcpartpicker.com/product/MvJwrH/cooler-master-power-supply-rs500pcard3us
Graphics Card: https://pcpartpicker.com/product/bbPfrH/xfx-video-card-hd687azhfc

Here's a diagram of where everything currently is and the LEDs I mention http://imgur.com/a/YmKSc

UPDATE: It looks like the issue has to do with the CHA_FAN2 Header, the Chasis Fan itself, or something related to that area.

 

[mbilal2]

http://www.gamersnexus.net/guides/2011-jumping-a-motherboard-without-power-switch-button

Try this. Yes if your mobo doesn't detect a cpu fan it won't start up to prevent damage to your processor. So make sure the fan works on another computer and it fits into the headers just fine.

 

[Lawnop]

http://www.gamersnexus.net/guides/2011-jumping-a-motherboard-without-power-switch-button

Try this. Yes if your mobo doesn't detect a cpu fan it won't start up to prevent damage to your processor. So make sure the fan works on another computer and it fits into the headers just fine.

Yep, I touched the screwdriver to the pins just like that video and again nothing happened. No fans, the same two lights that stay on just from the PSU being switch on, and nothing else.

Problem is I can't put the fan in another computer to test it. The fan was working when it turned on during that brief period originally, but unless there is another way to test the fan similar to the screwdriver thing I won't be able to. I believe the fan is sitting nicely, but I'll double check it.

 

[Lawnop]

http://www.gamersnexus.net/guides/2011-jumping-a-motherboard-without-power-switch-button

Try this. Yes if your mobo doesn't detect a cpu fan it won't start up to prevent damage to your processor. So make sure the fan works on another computer and it fits into the headers just fine.

[strike]Also, I just noticed the CPU power plugs have two extra pins (I have two 4 pin connectors that go there). Should be there a vertical two pin space between the two 4 pin connectors where both my plugs go, or is there another order for them?[/strike] The motherboard instruction manual doesn't say anything about that aspect, just that I should push in the plugs firmly.

 

[mbilal2]

The plugs are designed to fit in just one way. You can't swap em around. Your processor should work with just 4 pins attached. The other 4 pins are used for overclocking. I believe the right 4 pins are the important ones. It's Mobo dependent but it looks like it. Try running with just 4 pins. See if you can swap em around.
It could also be that the power connecter to the CPU is defective. Is a replacement for the PSU available?
I saw another guy fix the exact same issue by replacing the RAMs.. There is so much that could be wrong here.

 

[Lawnop]

The plugs are designed to fit in just one way. You can't swap em around. Your processor should work with just 4 pins attached. The other 4 pins are used for overclocking. I believe the right 4 pins are the important ones. It's Mobo dependent but it looks like it. Try running with just 4 pins. See if you can swap em around.
It could also be that the power connecter to the CPU is defective. Is a replacement for the PSU available?
I saw another guy fix the exact same issue by replacing the RAMs.. There is so much that could be wrong here.

Nevermind my previous post about a vertical, two pin gap, I was seeing things. Here is where the issue might be, so let me take it one step at a time if you don't mind. So the two, 4 pin, PSU power plugs have two shapes on them: a "house" shape and a square. The left plug has all house shapes, while the right plug has two of each on a diagonal so no two of the same are touching. However, I can't seem to get them to fit in all the way in their respective holes; a light tug on the wire pulls them out of the hole and that doesn't happen with any other plug.

 

[mbilal2]

1 x Main connector (20+4Pin)
1 x 12V (4+4) Pin.

You're not mixing up the mobo 4+20 pin and CPU 4+4 pins are you...? I can't tell without actually seeing it..

Try red and blue headers here http://imgur.com/a/PevCH

I'll try my best to show the headers in about 30 mins. Getting off work. Your mobo WILL power up with just the 20 pin connecter. So try that...

 

[Lawnop]

1 x Main connector (20+4Pin)
1 x 12V (4+4) Pin.

You're not mixing up the mobo 4+20 pin and CPU 4+4 pins are you...? I can't tell without actually seeing it..

Try red and blue headers here http://imgur.com/a/PevCH

I'll try my best to show the headers in about 30 mins. Getting off work. Your mobo WILL power up with just the 20 pin connecter. So try that...

No, I'm not mixing those up because the 4+20 one is way to big and can't reach up there anyway. Here, in the top left http://imgur.com/a/YmKSc is where I'm plugging in the CPU power and [strike]I'm not able to push them in as tightly as the other ones.[/strike] I don't understand what you mean about the red and blue headers though, those don't look like they are for these 4+4 pin CPU power plug.

Update: I finally was able to push the CPU power plugs in all the way so they snapped, so that should no longer be an issue. However, that was my only lead as to what the problem still might be, and when trying to turn it on again nothing happens as usual so fixing the CPU power didn't seem to solve it.

 

[mbilal2]

1 x Main connector (20+4Pin)
1 x 12V (4+4) Pin.

You're not mixing up the mobo 4+20 pin and CPU 4+4 pins are you...? I can't tell without actually seeing it..

Try red and blue headers here http://imgur.com/a/PevCH

I'll try my best to show the headers in about 30 mins. Getting off work. Your mobo WILL power up with just the 20 pin connecter. So try that...

No, I'm not mixing those up because the 4+20 one is way to big and can't reach up there anyway. Here, in the top left http://imgur.com/a/YmKSc is where I'm plugging in the CPU power and I'm not able to push them in as tightly as the other ones. I don't understand what you mean about the red and blue headers though, those don't look like they are for these 4+4 pin CPU power plug.

No i meant plug the fan into the red and blue connectors.
http://www.playtool.com/pages/psuconnectors/connectors.html

You will see the 4+4 connectors in there. You described them right one with diagonal house shaped other with 4 house shaped. If they are not fitting in all the way, then that's the problem The CPU isn't being powered and hence nothing is working.

 

[mbilal2]

Man that sucks. Now try the cpu fan in all headers (if it fits) and see what happens.

 

[Lawnop]

Man that sucks. Now try the cpu fan in all headers (if it fits) and see what happens.

You have a lead!! I did what you said I tried the CPU fan into different headers, and the fans spin and I think the computer powers on when the CPU fan plug is in the bottom CHA_FAN2. It doesn't work when the CPU fan is anywhere else though, and obviously the CPU fan can't stay there because it's not on the CPU that way. But this must be the start of something, so can you think of what to do next?

 

[mbilal2]

This is the longest troubleshoot I have done lol and honestly I have no idea what's going on. Anyways did the processor heat up when you turned it on? Please tell me it did :*( I am literally gonna cry if you say it didn't

 

[Lawnop]

This is the longest troubleshoot I have done lol and honestly I have no idea what's going on. Anyways did the processor heat up when you turned it on? Please tell me it did :*( I am literally gonna cry if you say it didn't

Please read my post above yours, I think we are almost done here. If I plug the CPU Fan into the CHA_FAN2 on the bottom, it powers on and all the fans start spinning! However, when I put the real fan plug that is supposed to go in CHA_FAN2 and the CPU Fan plug back where it belongs at the top, it won't turn on at all. So maybe something is wrong with that other fan so it's not recognizing it when it's plugged into CHA_FAN2? It's something like that that is the issue, but I'm not sure how to fix it now.

 

[mbilal2]

Wait so it started and everything worked? And you got display tooo??!!! Don't run your computer for more than a minute! Turn it off immediately or within a minute or so once you check the display is working.

 

[Lawnop]

Wait so it started and everything worked? And you got display tooo??!!! Don't run your computer for more than a minute! Turn it off immediately or within a minute or two.

I didn't have the monitors plugged in nor a HDD but they should work. The problem currently is to figure out why I need something in the CHA_FAN2 slot (The bottom-most red icon in your image here http://imgur.com/a/PevCH) and why the fan plug that is supposed to go there isn't working. When I put the CPU Fan plug there and have the other plug that is supposed to go into the CHA_FAN2 slot disconnected, the fans spun and it started to boot up (only it couldn't because like I said I had no HDD in for troubleshooting purposes). So do you have any idea what to do about this CHA_FAN2 thing?

 

[mbilal2]

CHA_FAN2 stands for chasis fan.. You connect a fan to it that's on the case and it acts like an exhaust fan. It is not capable of keeping the CPU cool enough to work. It worked because it probably has a path from the PSU to the header directly (through mobo) and doesn't connect to the other headers/processor. Hook up your display and see if you get anything. You should still get bios and if you do, the processor works.

 

[Lawnop]

CHA_FAN2 stands for chasis fan.. You connect a fan to it that's on the case and it acts like an exhaust fan. It is not capable of keeping the CPU cool enough to work. It worked because it probably has a path from the PSU to the header directly (through mobo) and doesn't connect to the other headers/processor. Hook up your display and see if you get anything. You should still get bios and if you do, the processor works.

I hooked up the CPU Fan to the CHA_FAN2 and connected the monitor this time and got to bios, so the processor is fine like it should be. But I can't keep the CPU Fan not on the CPU, so how do I fix this issue? Is it a problem with that other plug?

 

[mbilal2]

Yeah defective header. Smh what a shame. Orrrrr you can hook up a water cooler to the header to there left. Those are for the radiator and it's fan. <<Watch the implied vulgar language please. Simply not necessary.>> this was hard to troubleshoot. Just return the bios. Can't do much about the CPU fan Header.

 

[Lawnop]

Yeah defective header. Smh what a shame. Orrrrr you can hook up a water cooler to the header to there left. Those are for the radiator and it's fan. this was hard to troubleshoot. Just return the bios. Can't do much about the CPU fan Header.

Wait wait wait, how are you sure that the CPU Fan header is what's faulty, and not the plug to the actual chasis fan that goes into CHA_FAN2? Whichever the case, please explain to me a little more clearly as to why you think there is nothing more I can do but to return the motherboard. I just want to be sure that I'm not missing something and returning the motherboard is truly my only option left because there really is a fault with it and not with the other fan for example.

You mention other options such as hooking up a water cooler (to the left of what though, which header do you mean?) and are there any other options like that to work around this? I might have an extra fan but I don't have the time to nor means to order a whole water cooling system, but if there is something else I can do please detail the steps or point me to something that can.

 

[mbilal2]

Well the chassis fan is interfering with the cpu fan.. It is causing some kind of shorting on the mobo. All you need to run your rig is the CPU fan and nothing else. But for some reason (which I assume is interference/voltage differences which shouldn't exist) your chassis fan is <<Watch the implied vulgar language please. Simply not necessary.>> up everything.

I don't think you can do this but plug the chassis fan into the cpu_fan header and the cpu fan into the chassis fan header. What do u get?

 

[Lawnop]

Well the chassis fan is interfering with the cpu fan.. It is causing some kind of shorting on the mobo. All you need to run your rig is the CPU fan and nothing else. But for some reason (which I assume is interference/voltage differences which shouldn't exist) your chassis fan if f*in up everything.

I don't think you can do this but plug the chassis fan into the cpu_fan header and the cpu fan into the chassis fan header. What do u get?

And how can you tell that it is shorting the motherboard and not that something is wrong with the other plug or something else? Is there anything else I can check again to make sure that isn't the cause for shortages or to verify that shortages are indeed the cause? I don't understand how it could work for a couple of hours while I updated drivers and then stop working if there is a short somewhere. Something is fishy unless I'm not understanding some aspect of what you're saying still.

The chasis fan plug can't reach that high up on the motherboard, and the only reason I can put the CPU fan plug into the CHA_FAN2 is because I took the fan part off the metal grill thing that sits on top of the CPU so I could plug it into the other headers to test.

 

[mbilal2]

The only way to be sure is if you plug in a different fan to the CPU fan header. I would get one anyway and use it once your build is complete. Or remove one of your Aux/Chasis fan and plug it in.

 

[Lawnop]

The only way to be sure is if you plug in a different fan to the CPU fan header. I would get one anyway and use it once your build is complete. Or remove one of your Aux/Chasis fan and plug it in.

I used the old fan from my previous CPU and put it in the CHA_FAN2 header and put the CPU Fan into the CPU Fan header. All the fans spun correctly, except the actual chasis fan since that was not plugged in due to the old CPU fan being in its spot. Does that mean my chasis fan has some kind of problem?

 

[mbilal2]

Put the old CPU fan in your CPU fan header and your new CPU fan into the chassis fan header. See what happens. If it works, it's your chassis fan.

 

[Aeacus]

Got a PM from OP to help out and now i'm here.

After reading the whole topic and seeing signs of life once you've relocated the sleeve bearing fan connector of your Hyper 212 EVO, it can be your CPU cooler fan that has stopped the boot up. It is possible that your stock CPU cooler fan is unable to respond to the MoBo's fan RPM control or it fails to report RPM back to the MoBo itself (aka defective fan).

To keep your CPU cooled, you don't have to use the stock fan on heatsink that came with Hyper 212 EVO. You can use any 120mm fan in it's place.

Here's what you can try: Plug any chassis fan into CPU_FAN header and look if your system POSTS. Another option would be trying to plug any fan into CPU_OPT header, located just below CPU_FAN header. More info in MoBo manual, page 16,
link: http://dlcdnet.asus.com/pub/ASUS/mb/LGA1151/STRIX_Z270E_GAMING/E12192_STRIX_Z270E_GAMING_UM_V2_WEB.pdf

 

[Lawnop]

Put the old CPU fan in your CPU fan header and your new CPU fan into the chassis fan header. See what happens. If it works, it's your chassis fan.

It worked the same as having them in the opposite headers and goes to bios. However, this time my chasis fan was spinning for some reason, so perhaps that plug is not actually for the chasis fan but for something else??