Computer Short-Circuiting

Akraix

Honorable
Nov 16, 2012
5
0
10,510
Hey there everyone, I'm having a bit of an issue with my computer.


If this is the wrong section please let me know :p

The specs are

newpcspecs.png


Only the motherboard was changed to ASUS SABERTOOTH Z77 LGA 1155 Intel Z77 about 4 months ago, as well as adding a second 560 ti. I built this rig roughly 6 months ago and have had no problems.

I recently got my old gaming PC back from a friend I lent it to, and I wanted to remove one of the SLI'd 560's so I could put it inside the older rig.

When I took out the second video card, and tried to power up the new rig, it seemed like a dead computer. There was no response what so ever. After letting it sit for about 5 minutes I tried powering up again and it did; however only for a split second.

I did a bit of googling and the main thing coming up is that the PC is stopping itself from short-circuiting. There's a handful of "tricks" to get the PC working again however none seem to be working for me.

Any tips? One friend of mine said the PSU might have gone bad, but I don't understand how pulling out the video card would cause that.
 

Akraix

Honorable
Nov 16, 2012
5
0
10,510

I'm going to try that a bit later tonight.

If it IS bad PSU I do have an old 750w that should power my PC until I can afford a new 1000w, just really hoping it won't come to that since I spent a lot of money on the current PSU.
 

ram1009

Distinguished
Many PSUs have self resetting circuit breakers. Your symptoms fit that scenario. It is conceivable that removing the GPU damaged the PCI connector causing a short between two or more of the contacts, or maybe some piece of stray metal found its way where it doesn't belong. How about the screw that held the GPU in place?
 

Akraix

Honorable
Nov 16, 2012
5
0
10,510


The screw that held the GPU went straight from the case into my hand, it was no where near the PCI connectors. Is there a way to test if in fact it is the connector?



Nope, it was definitely off. I don't even open my case panel when the PC is powered on.
 

Akraix

Honorable
Nov 16, 2012
5
0
10,510
So I disconnected everything from the PSU and removed a decent amount of the hardware. I did the paperclip test on the PSU and it turned on fine and stayed on the entire duration I had the paper clip in. Does this mean the Issue isn't a busted PSU and instead a short somewhere a long the cable path?


EDIT: So I connected it to the mobo and it did the split second shuton/off thing again. Does that mean the motherboard itself is fried? I still have the CPU and RAM attached, could the short be in one of those two possibly?

EDIT EDIT: So now with just the motherboard connected (didn't connect the CPU power cable) It's going through a power cycle. It turns on for about 3 seconds, off for about 3 seconds, On for about 3 seconds, and so on.

EDIT EDIT EDIT: Okay so now it's running fine with just one specific 560 installed. I only have power running to the CPU, Mobo, and one 560. It's turning on and running fine. The first 560ti I connected also had the PC turning on fine, but the GPU fan was going nuts so I turned it off. I took out that 560 and put the other one in and it worked perfect.

I'm not sure what would cause the GPU fan on that specific 560 to wind up so fast, but at this point I'm going to start installing everything back in one item at a time, trying the power with each hardware.

EDIT EDIT EDIT EDIT: So everything is connected and it's doing the shut off/shut down thing, but if I hold down the power button the PC appears to work fine. However when I have a monitor connected to the video card there's no display whatsoever.

What's going on lol.