Computer shut down suddenly and not starting up

[MrKarma4ya]

I was using my computer playing Team Fortress 2 when suddenly my computer shut down without any messages just like that. I checked the power cords, stabilizer, multi-plugs, wall socket everything but my computer just wouldn't turn on. Every other electronics work fine, monitors, speakers, etc.

I googled around a bit and almost all answers were 'Probably a PSU problem.' So i switched the PSU with another computer but it seemed it wasn't PSU that was damaged. My computer still didn't turn on with the other PSU and the other computer worked fine with my PSU. I also swapped RAM among the computers, but it didn't work.

So, I want to ask what the problem could be? When i press the power switch or restart switch in my computer, nothing happens at all. The fans don't rotate for a single second.

Could it be motherboard problem? Power switch? Graphic card? Anything else?

The only computer shop around my area is well known for swapping computer parts for slightest of problems, so i don't trust leaving my computer to them, unless i definitely have to.

Since my computer wont start up, i cant see the full specs but here's what i know

RAM- 2GB DDR3
CPU- Intel Core 2 Duo
GPU- Nvidia 210 1 GB
BOARD-MSI

 

[A5TR4L]

Sounds like a dead board to me. Could you list your specs so we can try narrow down the issue. Thanks.

 

[MrKarma4ya]

Sounds like a dead board to me. Could you list your specs so we can try narrow down the issue. Thanks.

Ok i added them in my original post. If it's a dead board, can it be fixed or should it be replaced?

 

[A5TR4L]

Well ok so a few things first, does your mobo have an LED that illuminates when the psu is switched on? Not your computer but the psu....this usually indicates whether power is getting to the mobo. If that doesn't even illuminate when you flick the switch to on on the psu it's most definitely a bad board (of course as you have tested the psu working) if the LED does get power but the pc won't power on, this could be bad buttons on the tower, also. Check that the Tower panel( all the buttons for on reset hdd light etc) have the power connector connected, they can sometimes become unugged and buttons dead. Also if you suspect bad tower buttons try a different tower, plug the power connector from your psu into the tower button panel from the other tower and move the mobo connectors ( power sw, reset sw hdd led etc) into your mobo and test if that powers up. Key here is mobo led, if it don't even come on when flicking psu switch def a dead board. Can it be fixed? Look at the back of the mobo, can you see a bad/dry solder joint? If so this could be your issue and can be fixed. If all seems well it's most likely a fault internally on the pcb and mobo will need replacing. Also if
You have a multimeter you can check the continuity between the power sw pins, to see if the circuit is ok. Set the multimeter to comtinuity setting (usually around the 6-7 o'clock position on the dial, icon looks like a small speaker symbol). Touch the 2 probes of the meter together and you should hear a beep, this means your on the right setting. Remove the power sw terminal from the mobo and with the probed touch both pins, one probe on one, the other on the other.....if it beeps then it's ok, just means that circuit is fine but doesn't mean the mobo is ok. If no beep the circuit is damaged hence why you can't power it on. Let us know how you get on.

 

[MrKarma4ya]

Well ok so a few things first, does your mobo have an LED that illuminates when the psu is switched on? Not your computer but the psu....this usually indicates whether power is getting to the mobo. If that doesn't even illuminate when you flick the switch to on on the psu it's most definitely a bad board (of course as you have tested the psu working) if the LED does get power but the pc won't power on, this could be bad buttons on the tower, also. Check that the Tower panel( all the buttons for on reset hdd light etc) have the power connector connected, they can sometimes become unugged and buttons dead. Also if you suspect bad tower buttons try a different tower, plug the power connector from your psu into the tower button panel from the other tower and move the mobo connectors ( power sw, reset sw hdd led etc) into your mobo and test if that powers up. Key here is mobo led, if it don't even come on when flicking psu switch def a dead board. Can it be fixed? Look at the back of the mobo, can you see a bad/dry solder joint? If so this could be your issue and can be fixed. If all seems well it's most likely a fault internally on the pcb and mobo will need replacing. Also if
You have a multimeter you can check the continuity between the power sw pins, to see if the circuit is ok. Set the multimeter to comtinuity setting (usually around the 6-7 o'clock position on the dial, icon looks like a small speaker symbol). Touch the 2 probes of the meter together and you should hear a beep, this means your on the right setting. Remove the power sw terminal from the mobo and with the probed touch both pins, one probe on one, the other on the other.....if it beeps then it's ok, just means that circuit is fine but doesn't mean the mobo is ok. If no beep the circuit is damaged hence why you can't power it on. Let us know how you get on.

Thanks for the reply. There are no led's in my motherboard. Also, i cannot test it using the multimeter because i don't have one and i don't know how to use one (i don't even know what it looks like).
It seems to be the faulty motherboard to me, since my computer shut down when it was still on. If it was problem with tower buttons, it wouldn't have turned on in the first place, right? I checked and all the buttons are plugged in into the motherboard.

If it can't be fixed, i will have to buy a new one. But there are so many in the market, i am confused. It costs from as low as Npr.4000(esonic) to Npr.10000(Asus) and some are even more. Can you give me some insights as to which one to buy? Do motherboard have specifications to be taken into consideration while buying? Are the cheap brands really bad? Mine is MSI, and i often read MSI is pretty bad.

 

[A5TR4L]

Motherboards range from basic to advanced and the usual difference is of course which chipsets it drives, ram supported and what connectors it has. To be honest the more expensive motherboards are usually feature rich and worth the money if you use them. If you just enjoy gaming and don't really overclock or mess around with bios settings there's no need for a top end motherboard as its a waste of money since your paying for those features that you will never use, gigabyte make some great motherboards and im also a fan of the asus rog boards and sabertooth boards. Just pick a board that supports all that you need and if there are features you want, pick a board that has those. But no need to buy the most expensive board out there. But have a look at those options. There are some nice boards for not a lot of money by gigabyte and asus that are more than adequate for solely gaming. The most important thing to check is that it's compatible with your cpu and cpu speed and that it is compatible with your memory frequency and size.

 

[MrKarma4ya]

Motherboards range from basic to advanced and the usual difference is of course which chipsets it drives, ram supported and what connectors it has. To be honest the more expensive motherboards are usually feature rich and worth the money if you use them. If you just enjoy gaming and don't really overclock or mess around with bios settings there's no need for a top end motherboard as its a waste of money since your paying for those features that you will never use, gigabyte make some great motherboards and im also a fan of the asus rog boards and sabertooth boards. Just pick a board that supports all that you need and if there are features you want, pick a board that has those. But no need to buy the most expensive board out there. But have a look at those options. There are some nice boards for not a lot of money by gigabyte and asus that are more than adequate for solely gaming. The most important thing to check is that it's compatible with your cpu and cpu speed and that it is compatible with your memory frequency and size.

Thanks a lot! I will make sure to get a good one.