I hope it is not CPU that is dead...

[Astralv]

Hey there
I have Intel 4770K processor, Asus Z87-Pro motherboard, Asus AMD R9 270X GPU, 2X 4 GB memory- 2014 build, no issues.

The computer would not POST. It was working this morning and turned off by pressing power button, and it never came back on. When powering on, fans running and Motherboard leds are blinking red. According to the manual, the Led will light up and stay on until the problem is fixed. I have DRAM led blinking, CPU LED blinking and VGA LED blinking red. I checked the codes (numbers on small display on the motherboard). It gives many numbers but all of them just initiation of different tasks, no actual error codes. Just the red leds blinking. The fans on graphic card start and stop.

I have tried to take one memory out, both memory out and replacing it with working memory from another computer. With single old 4 Gb memory it goes in to restart loop. When using 4 Gb or 8 Gb of tested working Corsair memory, it again goes in to restart loop. It starts testing, CPU red light goes on and off, Memory led goes red on and off, CPU red again- Memory red again, then shuts down and self restarts. Leds take turn to become red for a second- CPU, then memory, then CPU, then memory, then restart.

I did take the GPU out to make everything simple, so now I do not have a red Led light at VGA led.

I hope that it is not a CPU dead, as I paid $349 for that CPU. And I really need my computer right now. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

 

[Astralv]

Front panel connectors and switches are quite straight forward, not much can go wrong. However a leakage to ground or a short is a possibility.

So all the power switch does is actually short pin 16 to a ground. To test it you simply need a continuity tester. (all simple multimeters have one, it has a diode symbol with a noise symbol.) It will beep when there is a low resistance path. The reading in Ohms should be nearly zero, if it is not, then something is wrong.

Not going to be much other advice I can give on that. Might be a grounding problem in the case, though not sure how that would have happened.

I used a screw driver to short pins on the motherboard to start the system and it did start, so it is down to case wiring. Not sure how to test the case for continuity- the case gets its power from the motherboard, appears that it has to be connected to test it? My case is Ultra and the company disappeared from the face of the earth. Must of went out of business. So I dont know where to check for warranty. Will be shopping for a new case, I guess...

 

[Eximo]

The entire chassis should be a ground plane. Only reasonable test is to see if there is any voltage leaking to ground through the chassis, but that would involve rebuilding in that case.

Not a terrible idea, though. I have been surprised many times how often a simple re-build will fix strange computer issues.

 

[Astralv]

The entire chassis should be a ground plane. Only reasonable test is to see if there is any voltage leaking to ground through the chassis, but that would involve rebuilding in that case.

Not a terrible idea, though. I have been surprised many times how often a simple re-build will fix strange computer issues.

You mean, rebuilding in the new case? I dont want to take chances with this case, especially if it has some leacking voltage- my child uses it and likes to put his legs on it. My other build also has issue with the power button- I may be replacing that one as well...