Buy a new PSU or completely new System

[M05final]

So a couple of weeks ago my computer randomly shutted off and wouldn't turn back on. I did look inside to see if anything was hot or if my liquid cooling leaked but non of that happened. So I assumed either my PSU died or my motherboard did.

I asked the forum to see what they thought and it kinda came down too, looking like the PSU died.

(Forum about my computer randomly shutting off.) http://www.tomshardware.com/answers/id-3105266/computer-power-wont-boot.html)

So for the last week I was kinda looking at parts cause I was planning on building a new system since I've heard that if your PSU dies it has the potential to take everything down with it. But now knowing how long it might take for me to build another one and that I'm kinda going through some withdrawal here. I am now thinking of just buying another PSU and testing my luck.

But first I want to know if its worth buying another PSU. Cause what are the chances of it actually still working if I replace the PSU? When one does die is it really common for it to take down the system?

 

[Martell1977]

When you push the power button, you said the motherboard lights come on. Do the fans move at all when you do this?

My experience has been that when a PSU dies, it goes completely out. All or nothing. The fact that the motherboard lights come on means it is getting at least some power.

What, if anything, happens if you take out all the RAM and try to start it? Anything change if you take out the GPU and try with just the iGPU?

 

[Hellfire13]

wat u heard is not entirely correct...most of the times it does not take out all other hardwares...u shd certainly try another psu first, before thinking of building a new one...infact just take ur pc to a professional shop in ur vicinity and ask them to test it with another psu...they wont charge u unless u r buying it...which u ll have to eventually if the pc is still working...

 

[M05final]

When you push the power button, you said the motherboard lights come on. Do the fans move at all when you do this?

My experience has been that when a PSU dies, it goes completely out. All or nothing. The fact that the motherboard lights come on means it is getting at least some power.

What, if anything, happens if you take out all the RAM and try to start it? Anything change if you take out the GPU and try with just the iGPU?

When i try to turn on my computer. The first time I press the button I hear a bloop/click sound. Which I believe is the hardrive. but presides that no nothing spins.

I didn't take out the ram cause I read that even if the ram was broken the system should still turn on. And as for the GPU I assumed it was just like the ram. Thinking even if it didn't work this system would at least start.

 

[M05final]

wat u heard is not entirely correct...most of the times it does not take out all other hardwares...u shd certainly try another psu first, before thinking of building a new one...infact just take ur pc to a professional shop in ur vicinity and ask them to test it with another psu...they wont charge u unless u r buying it...which u ll have to eventually if the pc is still working...

That's actually good to hear that Im not entirely correct on that.

 

[Martell1977]

When you push the power button, you said the motherboard lights come on. Do the fans move at all when you do this?

My experience has been that when a PSU dies, it goes completely out. All or nothing. The fact that the motherboard lights come on means it is getting at least some power.

What, if anything, happens if you take out all the RAM and try to start it? Anything change if you take out the GPU and try with just the iGPU?

When i try to turn on my computer. The first time I press the button I hear a bloop/click sound. Which I believe is the hardrive. but presides that no nothing spins.

I didn't take out the ram cause I read that even if the ram was broken the system should still turn on. And as for the GPU I assumed it was just like the ram. Thinking even if it didn't work this system would at least start.

Thats not really how it works. If you take out the RAM, you should get some beeping, as the motherboard is telling you why it can't start.

If the PSU is weak, then taking out the GPU will lower the boot up power required and might get you somewhere. Also, if the GPU is bad, the system might power on, but no display to tell you it's running.

From your previous thread, it is implied that the PSU is weak, not dead. If that's true, you can test by removing all you can to get the load down and try to get a boot screen.

A bad PSU can kill the whole computer, but it is not common.

As suggested, you might be able to get a shop to test the system with a spare PSU, or you could try borrowing one from a friend or family member.

 

[M05final]

When you push the power button, you said the motherboard lights come on. Do the fans move at all when you do this?

My experience has been that when a PSU dies, it goes completely out. All or nothing. The fact that the motherboard lights come on means it is getting at least some power.

What, if anything, happens if you take out all the RAM and try to start it? Anything change if you take out the GPU and try with just the iGPU?

When i try to turn on my computer. The first time I press the button I hear a bloop/click sound. Which I believe is the hardrive. but presides that no nothing spins.

I didn't take out the ram cause I read that even if the ram was broken the system should still turn on. And as for the GPU I assumed it was just like the ram. Thinking even if it didn't work this system would at least start.

Thats not really how it works. If you take out the RAM, you should get some beeping, as the motherboard is telling you why it can't start.

If the PSU is weak, then taking out the GPU will lower the boot up power required and might get you somewhere. Also, if the GPU is bad, the system might power on, but no display to tell you it's running.

From your previous thread, it is implied that the PSU is weak, not dead. If that's true, you can test by removing all you can to get the load down and try to get a boot screen.

A bad PSU can kill the whole computer, but it is not common.

As suggested, you might be able to get a shop to test the system with a spare PSU, or you could try borrowing one from a friend or family member.

I kinda feel silly for not thinking of trying to lower the powerload. I also didn't install a speaker so I can't hear beeps sadly. But when I get home I'll try taking out my GPU and disconnecting a few of my harddrives. And hopefully i can get somewhere. And as for the ram you think I should take then out one by one if it still doesn't work after I lower the powerload?

 

[Hellfire13]

do the paperclip test...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ixcWCrYpw3Y

 

[M05final]

When you push the power button, you said the motherboard lights come on. Do the fans move at all when you do this?

My experience has been that when a PSU dies, it goes completely out. All or nothing. The fact that the motherboard lights come on means it is getting at least some power.

What, if anything, happens if you take out all the RAM and try to start it? Anything change if you take out the GPU and try with just the iGPU?

When i try to turn on my computer. The first time I press the button I hear a bloop/click sound. Which I believe is the hardrive. but presides that no nothing spins.

I didn't take out the ram cause I read that even if the ram was broken the system should still turn on. And as for the GPU I assumed it was just like the ram. Thinking even if it didn't work this system would at least start.

Thats not really how it works. If you take out the RAM, you should get some beeping, as the motherboard is telling you why it can't start.

If the PSU is weak, then taking out the GPU will lower the boot up power required and might get you somewhere. Also, if the GPU is bad, the system might power on, but no display to tell you it's running.

From your previous thread, it is implied that the PSU is weak, not dead. If that's true, you can test by removing all you can to get the load down and try to get a boot screen.

A bad PSU can kill the whole computer, but it is not common.

As suggested, you might be able to get a shop to test the system with a spare PSU, or you could try borrowing one from a friend or family member.

Alright so i actually got somewhere. i just got into my computer after 2 weeks. So all i did was take out my GPU and its booted up.

Now is that a for sure sign thats its my PSU

 

[Karadjgne]

No. The gpu is active from as soon as you push the button, its still the gpu that shows bios on the screen. Generally, when a rail fails, the whole psu is bunk, so with removal of the gpu, I suspect that that is the issue. Bad gpu. During post, power on self test, the gpu is freezing, which means post can't complete in any way, so no boot. There's minimal load during post and/or startup, its not till an app is run that most gpus broach @5%-10% usage.

If in doubt, borrow a gpu from anyone, doesn't matter how big, and try and boot.

 

[M05final]

No. The gpu is active from as soon as you push the button, its still the gpu that shows bios on the screen. Generally, when a rail fails, the whole psu is bunk, so with removal of the gpu, I suspect that that is the issue. Bad gpu. During post, power on self test, the gpu is freezing, which means post can't complete in any way, so no boot. There's minimal load during post and/or startup, its not till an app is run that most gpus broach @5%-10% usage.

If in doubt, borrow a gpu from anyone, doesn't matter how big, and try and boot.

Could that really be the case, cause the last time it was working i was playing a game and it seemed to be working pretty good no drops in frames or anything and then my computer just went completely dead almost has if someone unplugged it

 

[Karadjgne]

The only alternative I can think of is the motherboard itself is fried. Namely the pcie x16 slot causing a short, but chances of that are minimal. In that case, the pc would boot without a gpu but balk with one. Best bet is borrow a gpu from somewhere, can be any gpu you know works. If it boots, you have a bad gpu, if it doesn't, a bad mobo. I find it highly unlikely it's the psu unless you have an Uber cheap one with no basic circuitry protections. For a psu to get 'weak' the caps need to be so far deteriorated with age and usage that they are close to end of life anyways. If the 12v rail is bad/dead it'll trip one of the protections like overvolt or overcurrent or short circuit and refuse to turn on at all until hard reset. I'm betting on a gpu failure. Now whether that was caused by a crappy psu remains to be seen. Haven't seen any system specs yet.

 

[Hellfire13]

lets see if this helps...

> download display driver uninstaller from guru3d...run it and uninstall all current drivers...
> power off the system and reset the cmos battery...
> clean the card properly for dust accumulation...
> power on the system and update the bios to the latest one, but before that, keep a copy of the older bios, in case the new one doesnt work...(optional)
> now go to the nvidia/amd website and download the latest drivers for the card and install them...
> along with that u should update ur...vcredist, c++ redistributable, directx, and .net framework...

let us know wat happns...

 

[M05final]

The only alternative I can think of is the motherboard itself is fried. Namely the pcie x16 slot causing a short, but chances of that are minimal. In that case, the pc would boot without a gpu but balk with one. Best bet is borrow a gpu from somewhere, can be any gpu you know works. If it boots, you have a bad gpu, if it doesn't, a bad mobo. I find it highly unlikely it's the psu unless you have an Uber cheap one with no basic circuitry protections. For a psu to get 'weak' the caps need to be so far deteriorated with age and usage that they are close to end of life anyways. If the 12v rail is bad/dead it'll trip one of the protections like overvolt or overcurrent or short circuit and refuse to turn on at all until hard reset. I'm betting on a gpu failure. Now whether that was caused by a crappy psu remains to be seen. Haven't seen any system specs yet.

http://ca.pcpartpicker.com/list/ssLZK8

Forgot to place that in here sorry

 

[Hellfire13]

that is a pretty gud psu...but even gud psu can falter...

 

[M05final]

that is a pretty gud psu...but even gud psu can falter...

Yeah, Im hoping its the PSU since buying a GPU would kinda suck. SInce im waiting for the 1080TI and buying another GPU before that would pretty much be a waste of money

 

[Karadjgne]

Nice build. Now go smack a bud, and make him lend you a gpu. You will need a much better monitor than whats currently owned or even a 1080 is somewhat overkill, a 1080ti would be pointless unless you start thinking about 4k

 

[Hellfire13]

try another gpu and then try to resurrect urs with the above steps...

 

[M05final]

Nice build. Now go smack a bud, and make him lend you a gpu. You will need a much better monitor than whats currently owned or even a 1080 is somewhat overkill, a 1080ti would be pointless unless you start thinking about 4k

Yeah i plan on upgrading some stuff.

 

[M05final]

Nice build. Now go smack a bud, and make him lend you a gpu. You will need a much better monitor than whats currently owned or even a 1080 is somewhat overkill, a 1080ti would be pointless unless you start thinking about 4k

Not sure if this changes anything or not but if my GPU is plugged into the Motherboard but is Disconnected from the PSU its still boots its only when i plug in the PCI cords it doesnt boot

 

[Hellfire13]

are the fans spinning when not connected to psu???

 

[M05final]

are the fans spinning when not connected to psu???

When i boot up they spin once then stop then a few seconds later spin once then stop and repeat until i hit the windows log in screen. Then it doesn't move anymore

The GPU is connected to my motherboard but doesn't have any of PCI-E (6+2) cords attached to it

Apparently the fan doesn't turn on till its under a huge load. I cant really tell you how often they usually spin since i dont really look my GPU fans since a few times and today. But i can say it was working good for the last 2 years.

GPU: EVGA GeForce GTX 970 04G-P4-2978-KR 4GB FTW GAMING w/ACX 2.0, Silent Cooling Graphics Card

 

[Hellfire13]

so its working without the power connectors...ofcourse temp. controlled...somehow drawing power from the pcie...
so, either the 6+2 is broke or the psu is not generating enuf under +12v...
can u try the card on another pc???

 

[M05final]

so its working without the power connectors...ofcourse temp. controlled...somehow drawing power from the pcie...
so, either the 6+2 is broke or the psu is not generating enuf under +12v...
can u try the card on another pc???

So i just tried another PCIE cord. That didnt work. And no i dont have another PC that i can try it on.

 

[Hellfire13]

at this point...considering that testing options are limited at ur disposal...my suggestion wud be to visit a professional shop at ur vicinity and let them test with substitutes...they wont charge u much to locate the issue, rather they will charge u to fix the issue...but atleast u ll get an idea...