Clicking noise, can't get to POST

[davocrocko]

Hey there!

I've spent the past eleven hours trying to get my first custom build to boot but I'm a little stuck here...

When I press the power button, I'll get the CPU light come on for a second, then switch off for about 4-5 seconds and repeat. I can hear a fan start up on the first click and then stop on the second. Also, every time the light goes on and off, I can hear a clicking sound in time with the light, from what I believe to be the PSU. I get nothing on my display and don't get any beeps from the speaker.

I've read previous threads that suggested its the HDD but I can distinctly hear the sound coming from the side of the PC that the PSU is on. Other threads have suggested the mobo's at fault or that there are risers missing from the chassis but the risers are all preinstalled and I'd really like to be 100% sure what's wrong before I start sending the mobo anywhere. Also I read that it might be a faulty PSU, however I chose Corsair because theyre known to be quite reliable. Then again, I'd be pretty surprised if they never made a faulty item ever...

Things that you might want to know...
- The RAM and Blu-Ray drive have come from another custom build which wasn't functioning properly at the time of removal. A lot of BSODs that seemed to relate to a range of different driver errors ('WDP Violation', 'IRQL Value not less or equal' and loads more I can't remember)
- I could also pull the PSU from that computer to see if it makes any difference but I've spent far too long building and troubleshooting and its safe to say I'm pretty tired now and have work in 6 hours so it'll have to wait until after that.

That's all I can think to say about the situation really. Just a heads up, I may take a while with replies until I'm back from work.

Thank you for your help in advance!


Spec
Intel i7 4770
Stock CPU Cooler (that'll be changed come next payday)
Asus Z87 Pro
Corsair RM550
Crucial 2x4GB
Thermaltake S31
Samsung 830 SSD 128 GB
WD 1TB Green
Seagate 500GB
No Graphics Card

 

[alexoiu]

Hi, Try testing the board out of the case (put it on its cardbox), both 24 and 8 pin power cables connected. See if still the same.

 

[davocrocko]

Right, so the motherboard is out of the case, sitting on the cardboard box it came in. I can see its the CPU fan is the one that comes on in between the two clicks. Still no luck with it booting up though. I've also noticed that the 24-pin connector takes a lot of force for it to be seated as well as the other power cables and I don't quite think I've managed to get it to fit the whole way in yet.

I'm also going to try the other PSU now to see if I get any different results. I'll update once its done

 

[alexoiu]

OK.

 

[davocrocko]

So with the other PSU, I get no clicking sound but it still doesn't stay on for longer than a couple of seconds.

Any clues?

EDIT: I was checking out the Corsair Support site and found a page on Corsair PSU compatibility with Haswell processors. My model isn't on their list and the second PSU I tried is listed as "likely compatible." I'm not sure if the page will link properly as I had to sign in to their support service to find the page.
https://corsair.secure.force.com/kA1400000008UsfCAE

 

[alexoiu]

Is there a backplate installed for the CPU fan? It looks like a short. Or a power supply issue.

 

[davocrocko]

No, I don't have a backplate installed. I've used everything that came stock with all the components I've bought and haven't seen a backplate anywhere.

Yeah, you're probably right about the motherboard. Is there any way to test it specifically for shorting?

 

[alexoiu]

No, but try testing the power supply firstly. Remove the 8 pin power cable from the motherboard, connect a case fan to it (board) and start the motherboard. See if the fan is spinning.

 

[davocrocko]

When its set up like that the case fan spins consistently. So its the motherboard causing the problem?

EDIT: Apologies, I followed Corsair's method for testing the PSU which involves shorting two of the pins in the 24-pin connector and hooking up one of the fans directly to the PSU.

Trying it again the way you suggested with the motherboard and a fan connected to the PSU, I get both fans coming on and going off at the same time, along with the clicks. That said, both those results make it seem even more likely that the motherboard is faulty.

 

[alexoiu]

Yes, it looks like a board issue. Try RMA-ing it.