How do I determine the exact point of failure?

[adam_0]

Hey everybody, first time poster here. I'm really frustrated with the performance of a computer I built and could use your help diagnosing what's wrong with it.

I built this computer on Black Friday:

http://pcpartpicker.com/user/adam_0/saved/2ZgI

At first it was very stable, but after about a month I started having strange crashes (power off and restart or BSOD), often while playing games (but not always. Once it crashed while loading apps on a fresh start). I ran stress tests on RAM, CPU, and GPU (I can't remember the program for the first two -- my expertise is in Unix, not Windows, but this is a gaming machine -- but I ran Unigine Heaven for the GPU). They all performed admirably in their tests.

Then the system crashed for good. Nothing would reboot it. If I toggled the power switch and then pressed the power button, some lights would come on and PSU and GPU fans would spin momentarily (maybe 1/5 of a second speeding up?) and then everything would stop.

I removed parts trying to debug the problem until it was just the CPU and the motherboard (I even pulled a power supply from another computer for testing). It still only spun up PSU fans briefly!

I came to the conclusion that the motherboard was the problem* and sent it for RMA. I got it back tonight and am getting the same issues. I'm at my wit's end trying to figure out what's wrong with this machine - what can I try? My other built computer has a different CPU socket size, so I can't swap out the CPU or motherboard.

* A NewEgg review indicated that somebody else had sudden failure similar to mine after 35 days -- which was the same time period for me. At the time, this convinced me that the motherboard was the problem.

I'll be calling ASUS tomorrow morning to see what they found out when looking at my motherboard -- did they send me a brand new motherboard? Did they return it as-is for some reason? Hopefully that can help shed some light on the subject.

Please help me diagnose this computer!

 

[knightdog56]

Does the computer case have a reset button that may have malfunctioned ? ( stuck in ) or a power on switch that may be sticking. Also check for proper voltage at wall outlet. Also check for a motherboard standoff in the wrong place.

 

[Adroid]

Its either the motherboard or the PSU. Sounds like its the motherboard since you tried another PSU.

No lights/fans = dead mobo or psu.

 

[adam_0]

Does the computer case have a reset button that may have malfunctioned ? ( stuck in ) or a power on switch that may be sticking. Also check for proper voltage at wall outlet. Also check for a motherboard standoff in the wrong place.

I don't believe that's the case, and besides the reset switch is not connected to the motherboard (when reassembling, I only connected the power switch and the speaker and the CPU fan).

 

[adam_0]

Its either the motherboard or the PSU. Sounds like its the motherboard since you tried another PSU.

No lights/fans = dead mobo or psu.

There's one light that's on constantly when the PSU is on - but there's no indication in the mobo guide or on printed on the mobo as to what it does. It's green and on the lower right.

I don't know if this is an indication that the CPU might be at fault, and not the motherboard. I'm asking a friend if he has a compatible CPU socket so that I can test the CPU alone.

 

[Adroid]

Its either the motherboard or the PSU. Sounds like its the motherboard since you tried another PSU.

No lights/fans = dead mobo or psu.

There's one light that's on constantly when the PSU is on - but there's no indication in the mobo guide or on printed on the mobo as to what it does. It's green and on the lower right.

I don't know if this is an indication that the CPU might be at fault, and not the motherboard. I'm asking a friend if he has a compatible CPU socket so that I can test the CPU alone.

Yea that green light probably means the motherboard is getting power, which means the PSU is sending power to it. Further pointing to a bad motherboard.

 

[adam_0]

Yea that green light probably means the motherboard is getting power, which means the PSU is sending power to it. Further pointing to a bad motherboard.

If anything this made me think the CPU is more likely to be at fault. Can you please explain why you think it is the motherboard?

 

[knightdog56]

You said that you have only one LED on when system is powered, which one is it EPU or TPU , check pages 1-27 and 1-28 in oweners manual for proper configuration.