Fresh build, installed Windows 7 x64 then VGA driver, PC made clicking noise and died. No boot, help!

[GoGoKGo]

Fresh build, all brand new parts. I successfully booted into BIOS, then installed Win 7x64 and several drivers before the VGA driver but now I have no boot at all. I heard strange clicks a few seconds before it turned off. Mobo green light is on and the PSU makes a click the 1st time I hit power but then nothing after that.

I tried jumping the CMOS and nothing still. Currently battery is out and waiting to try again in the morning.

I have an i5-4590 and an Asus Sabertooth Mark 2. On Asus's website they say a BIOS update its required to use the 4th gen processors and I didn't update the BIOS before starting to install drivers... I don't know what version of BIOS came on the mobo but is there a chance updating a driver for the CPU as my VGA toasted the mobo? Asus doesn't say what happens if you don't update the BIOS and try to use a 4th gen CPU.

I just find this all so strange because everything booted up fine for 15 minutes before it all died. I want to try the USB BIOS flash but I don't have another computer. I really don't think my brand new PSU died after 24 min of use but maybe that's worth testing? Seems like either the PSU or mobo.

 

[Sanjay Srivastava]

hmm ...wierd
are you sure that nothing is obstructing your cpu fan
since i too have encountered the same problem and i had a wire blocking the cpu fan's motion

 

[GoGoKGo]

I'm sure, there's nothing blocking any of the fans. Why would that prevent it from posting at all?

Still the same symptoms after having the CMOS battery out for 4 hours. USB flashback didn't work but I probably don't have the file named correctly... I'll have to check at work.

 

[huntersw2]

Your pc specs. Would be helpful to some. That drop by and read your thread. But is it turning on and shutting off?

 

[GoGoKGo]

No, it is not turning on and off. When I had the PSU plugged in and I wiggled the Audio panel connector the CPU fan turned on for like 5 seconds then turned off again. Otherwise there is no sign of life from the PSU except the green light on the mobo. Front panel power & reset buttons have no response.

Specs (all brand new):

Asus Sabertooth Mark 2 mobo
Intel i5 4590 Haswell CPU
ThermalTake ToughPower TPD-0750M 750W PSU
Adata 2x4GB AX3U1600W4G9-DB RAM (on the mobo supported list)
SanDisk Extreme Pro 240GB SSD
No GPU
CoolerMaster N600 Case w/ 2x USB3.0, 2x USB2.0, Front panel audio and fan LED light

Ok so I suspect it's my PSU. I tried the jumper test on it with a fan plugged in to one of the big 4-pin molex connectors but the fan never comes on at all. When I flip the switch on the PSU it makes a distinct but soft click and nothing happens. I tried this with all other power cords unplugged and all modular cables removed so it was just the 24pin ATX cable (jumped 15-GND), 4+4 CPU cable (NOT plugged into the mobo) and a molex cable plugged into a fan. The fan is brand new and was working fine before the system shut down so I know it works. I can't see anywhere the PSU or mobo are shorted out. I can't try the PSU outside the case because I have the main power cables zip-tied to the case in like 10 places.....

Ok so right before the PC turned off, the Intel VGA driver was just finishing up installing (Windows was a breeze to install), and while I was waiting I plugged in 2 SATA cables (NOT the power cables) to the mobo but they weren't attached to anything on the other side. Is there a chance that doing this somehow shorted out my PSU? I really don't think so. It was about 30 seconds later (and soon after the driver finished installing) that the PSU made a few audible clicks, then made a few more and the whole system shut down.

I have a 1000W PSU at work that I'm going to test and borrow but I'm nervous to use it. Can a PSU pass a jump test and still be damaged/bad/dangerous to plug into your other components?

Do you think there is a chance that my brand new PSU could have died after 30 minutes of use? Could my PSU failing have damaged my CPU/SSD/RAM/mobo? I find this all crazy that everything worked perfectly for 30 minutes and THEN died.

 

[huntersw2]

All signs seem to point to the psu. Since the fan did not come on with the jump test. It is possible you had a bad roll of the dice. And had a faulty one shipped to you. Making it possible for it to have died so soon. Plugging the sata cord in. Not sure what would happen if you did that. While the computer was in use to be honest. I made sure everything was unplugged before. I attempted hooking/unhooking anything in my system. Now as for damaged parts. It is possible for a bad psu to take some parts down with it. But i doubt that is the case with yours. I would try hooking up a known good psu to your system and see if it turns on. If it does RMA the psu.

 

[GoGoKGo]

I'm gonna borrow a PSU from work but I'll need to jump test it before plugging it into my rig. In the meantime I filed an advanced RMA for my PSU where they charge me my original price, ship me a new one and then refund me when they get the old one.

It must be the PSU since it won't even turn a fan when jumped but I hope it's not something else undiagnosed. So far this build has been a nightmare just getting the parts... my first delivery with my PSU, CPU, mobo and fans disappeared before it reached me and I had to file a $500 missing shipment claim with Newegg. It went through but it cost me another 3 days of wait time. Now it's going to be another 2-3 business days before I can even wire it all up again. This PC was supposed to be built on Monday this week and it's taking over my entire life. I'm very frustrated.

But luckily Newegg has great customer service so there's that.