Motherboard not getting power?

[Arovise]

So, last night my computer blew up one of my surge protectors, and I can't figure out why. Now that it's happened, I can't turn on my pc at all. When I check the inside, there isn't any indication of anything on my motherboard that's burnt out, and I can't turn on the power at all even if I use the button on the motherboard. No fans, no lights, nothing. The motherboard power button blinks red on and off, but other than that I'm not sure if my motherboard is shot or if it's another component. I tested my PSU with a paperclip and it was working fine, too, so I don't think it's that. I reseated my RAM and my graphics card but it still didn't do the trick.

My motherboard is an ASUS Z87 pro with an i7 4770k CPU, powered by a 750w EVGA supernova PSU. Graphics card is a nvidia 670.

 

[price_th]

When you say you tested your PSU, you mean you put a meter on it and have both 5 and 12 v plus and minus? Surge protectors don't just blow up for no reason. Either you had a power surge or your PSU fried. Sadly it may very well cooked your MOBO too.

 

[Arovise]

When you say you tested your PSU, you mean you put a meter on it and have both 5 and 12 v plus and minus? Surge protectors don't just blow up for no reason. Either you had a power surge or your PSU fried. Sadly it may very well cooked your MOBO too.

I didn't test it to that extent. I stuck a paper clip into the power on pin and a ground pin on the motherboard cable, and when I turned it on the psu's fan turned started spinning and everything. I don't have a meter and I wouldn't know where to get one for a cheap price, so I'm not sure if despite it "working" it doesn't produce as much power as it did before. When I connect it to the motherboard however it doesn't turn on at all. As for the surge protector blowing up it might not have been the computer as I did have a lot of miscellaneous things around it that might have somehow shorted it out. My monitor took the brunt of the hit, seeing as how it was connected to the surge protector and my PSU was connected to a wall outlet, but the monitor is just fine.

 

[price_th]

PSU's will sometimes have a partial failure in that the 5 v that works with the power button may still be live but the 12 v portion may be dead. From what you describe, your PSU may be done. Just hope it's only the PSU because I've lost MOBO's at the same time the PSU goes. Case fans tend to be 12 v are you seeing any of those fans spin with you test?

 

[westom]

I stuck a paper clip into the power on pin and a ground pin on the motherboard cable, and when I turned it on the psu's fan turned started spinning and everything. I don't have a meter and I wouldn't know where to get one for a cheap price,

Home Depot. Maplin, Harbor Freight, Radio Shack, WalMart, hardware stores ... It may cost as little as $5 to $19. So ubiquitous that even auto mechanics have one.

Without numbers from a meter, then your best informed assistants will remain silent. Critical numbers must be obtained from six wires that connect the PSU to its motherboard and other power system components. Fans can spin. Lights glow. And still voltages may be completely defective. Only way a next post can provide an informed reply is to get that meter and to request instructions.

Why might damage exist? A surge too tiny to damage a computer can still damage protectors. Because protection inside a computer is superior to what an attached protector might do. However, an adjacent protector can sometimes compromise that superior protection. To say more means facts with numbers are necessary.

Your alternative is to just keep replacing good parts until something works. Obviously that meter is a cheaper, easy, and faster solution. And can say why damage exists so that future damage can be averted.