Computer just turned off won't turn on. How do I determine if it's the motherboard?

[Barls]

So I was playing CSGO and my PC just shut off and wouldn't turn back on again. Thought it was the PSU so I opened it up and did the paper clip test and PSU is fine. So does this mean it is the motherboard or is there some other problem that can cause this?

Edit forgot specs:
ASROCK H97 Anniversary Edition
i3 4150
G. Skill 8 GB RAM
GIGABYTE R9 270x
OCZ 550w

 

[clutchc]

Be sure you know the PSU is good! Just because the fan starts when you jumper the grn and blk wire doesn't mean it is putting out the correct voltage. You need either a voltmeter or a PSU tester to know if the PSU is working.

Once you know the PSU is OK, I would bread-board the system outside the case. Set the motherboard on an insulated surface with just CPU/cooler, 1 stick of RAM (in appropriate slot), monitor connected to iGPU (remove gfx card), and PSU power connected. Don't have anything else connected on or to the board. Momentarily short the 2 pins that the case's power button would go to and see if the board starts and you get to BIOS. If not, I would have to assume the board is dead.

 

[Barls]

Be sure you know the PSU is good! Just because the fan starts when you jumper the grn and blk wire doesn't mean it is putting out the correct voltage. You need either a voltmeter or a PSU tester to know if the PSU is working.

Once you know the PSU is OK, I would bread-board the system outside the case. Set the motherboard on an insulated surface with just CPU/cooler, 1 stick of RAM (in appropriate slot), monitor connected to iGPU (remove gfx card), and PSU power connected. Don't have anything else connected on or to the board. Momentarily short the 2 pins that the case's power button would go to and see if the board starts and you get to BIOS. If not, I would have to assume the board is dead.

Hi, so first time this happened it just turned on again after a few hours. Worked fine for a little more than a week and thought nothing of it.

Now it's happened again and after a day still won't turn back on. I tried to short the PSU and the fans won't even turn on. So does that mean it's 100% the PSU? Are there any other tests I need to run before I purchase a new PSU?

 

[clutchc]

If the paper clip test (done correctly) doesn't turn on the PSU's fan(s), be sure the fans aren't on a temp sensor that only allows them to run when the PSU gets warm. The only way to know for sure if the PSU is the culprit would be to use a voltmeter and jumper, or to get a PSU tester.
But if your PSU does not use a temp sensor to activate the fans, then yes, it would seem the PSU is dead.

 

[Barls]

If the paper clip test (done correctly) doesn't turn on the PSU's fan(s), be sure the fans aren't on a temp sensor that only allows them to run when the PSU gets warm. The only way to know for sure if the PSU is the culprit would be to use a voltmeter and jumper, or to get a PSU tester.
But if your PSU does not use a temp sensor to activate the fans, then yes, it would seem the PSU is dead.

Is there a way to find out if it has a temp sensor without getting a PSU tester? I don't have enough to buy one AND a new PSU. Also CA is in a heat wave and I can't recall about the last time it died, but this time when it died it was abnormally hot. Could that be the reason and do I need to add morefans or something?

 

[clutchc]

Let me know the exact model of the OCZ 550W PSU you have. Unless it is a very high end model, it probably does NOT have a fan sensor/controller that will turn off the fan until needed. Like most PSUs then, it would run all the time.

If the ambient temp of the room the PC is in is above 80F, yes... that could shorten the life of almost any heat producing electrical device.

 

[capt_taco]

When a computer turns off and then won't turn back on for a while, that's usually a dead giveaway for overheating. It would be unusual for a non-overclocking dual-core CPU, but it could happen, especially if there are air circulation issues, excessive dust buildup, fan problems, etc. First thing I would do is check your temps with a free program like CoreTemp or Speedfan and see if it turns up anything alarming when put under load.

 

[Barls]

Let me know the exact model of the OCZ 550W PSU you have. Unless it is a very high end model, it probably does NOT have a fan sensor/controller that will turn off the fan until needed. Like most PSUs then, it would run all the time.

If the ambient temp of the room the PC is in is above 80F, yes... that could shorten the life of almost any heat producing electrical device.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817341050
exact one i bought.

 

[Barls]

When a computer turns off and then won't turn back on for a while, that's usually a dead giveaway for overheating. It would be unusual for a non-overclocking dual-core CPU, but it could happen, especially if there are air circulation issues, excessive dust buildup, fan problems, etc. First thing I would do is check your temps with a free program like CoreTemp or Speedfan and see if it turns up anything alarming when put under load.

I used to check my temps all the time and they were always fine. Haven't checked em during this heatwave though.. don't know how I'm gonna check now that it won't turn on anymore.

 

[capt_taco]

Oh. If it won't turn on at all, that's something different. Overheating usually means it turns off, won't turn back on for 5-10 minutes until enough heat dissipates, and then works until it overheats again. I was under the impression that was the kind of problem you were having, not that it would fail to power up even after being off for a long time.