New build does not POST

[KarlMonster]

First off, I'm not new to this. But I may have gone insane trying to sort this out.

The build. All parts recently on sale during the holidays.
Corsair SPEC-03 case
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811139039
(doesn't quite have the room for my radiator, but I adapted)
Corsair HX850 PSU
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139011
Corsair H105 liquid cooler
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835181060
MSI R9 270X Gaming 2G
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127761
Intel i5-4690K 'Devils Canyon'
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819117372
ASUS Z97-E motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813132287
Crucial Ballistix Tactical RAM 2x(2X8Gb)
(all sources say this RAM is compatible; PC3 12800)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820148657

I put this all together. Flip the switch on the PSU; a small green LED on the MB comes on. Push the case's power button, and the fans spin for less than a second and then stop. Nothing. No video output. I don't have a system speaker for this build, so I borrowed the one from my main system. The speaker didn't even beep.

I *did* try 'breadboarding' the system, with the same results. I just concluded that I needed an actual PC case power switch, rather than clumsily shorting the power switch jumpers. Then I personally tested the PSU by jumpering... eh, I forget now, but I'm not going to look it up ... anyway, I did get all the right voltages at the motherboard end - though I forget if I tested the CPU plug.

I just now tried starting it while rotating each of the single sticks of RAM in slot A1. Same result every time. A little spin then nothing. I took all the Crucial sticks and put them in this machine. Its an ASUS Rampage Extreme (no II, III, or IV). This system didn't seem to care for them (RAM requires a lower voltage now), BUT the Rampage motherboard powered up and spun fans the whole time while flashing a yellow LED at me. So this RAM test was inconclusive, and still doesn't tell me why the Z97-E doesn't power up. I dug up some old reliable Patriot DDR3 1600 (only 2Gb each), but that also resulted in the same feeble spin.

So I'm at a loss here. The only thing that I can think of - can it be that the board is not satisfied that the H108 is the equivalent of a CPU fan? All my tests were with the radiator pump on the CPU. And nope. Plugged in the stock HSF and got the same short spin, just with one extra fan.

Also I did do an inspection of CPU and MB for 'bent pins' but saw nothing out of place.

I would suspect that a short in the board is forcing the PSU to shut down (I had a HDD do that once) but that is not the case, since that tiny green LED on the board stays on.

So, I'm about ready to declare this a dead board and send it back. Any suggestions?

 

[JakeThaSnake007]

you have the CPU seated properly? or is your board shorting out to the case in any way?

 

[JakeThaSnake007]

http://www.digitaltrends.com/computing/five-reasons-why-your-new-motherboard-doesnt-work-how-to-fix-them/

 

[KarlMonster]

This is actually the second Z97-E board. I RMA'd the first one, because it did the exact same thing. now I'm perplexed. While I can give examples of multiple brand new items being dead right out of the box, two motherboards in a row makes me think the problem is on my end.

The Corsair box comes with standoffs already in the right spots for an ATX board. Also some convenient loops for routing cables. And I was fairly careful about placing the MB. And the MB tray has a convenient cutaway under the CPU, so I can eyeball a good part of the board without taking it apart.

And when I 'bread-boarded' the first MB, it wasn't bolted to anything at all. But still did the brief spin.
I'll do an inspection for bits trapped under the board, anyway. And maybe I'll poke around my spare parts for some plastic standoffs. The Corsair ones are metal.

I could also swap out the Corsair HX 850 for the Antec 850 that's powering the Rampage, but I'm reluctant to do that much work when I already tested the Corsair PSU.

Oh, and when I 'bread-boarded' it I used the onboard video output. So its not the MSI video card, either. Which is a damn shame, because I really want to see if that works.

By the way, thanks for your suggestions. I really am frustrated enough to overlook simple things.

 

[JakeThaSnake007]

try a CMOS reset don't know if it will work but worth a shot.

 

[JakeThaSnake007]

try reseating the CPU too. make sure the CPU socket looks like it should as well. look for bent pins. I know the lga1150 socket looks wild and that would be hard to find. But make sure you have the cpu lined up properly. there are two tiny cut outs on the CPU that should line up with two notches on the CPU socket.

 

[KarlMonster]

Geek Squad wasn't capable of testing the CPU, but suggested that the board should POST something, even if the CPU is dead. I seem to recall having that happen once during my own tinkering.

They suggested the power supply may be dead. But it was good when I tested it?
Wow. I don't get any voltage out of it now. I'll have them test it properly tomorrow.
This time tomorrow, I'll likely be RMA-ing the PSU. And updating this thread.

Signed up for Newegg premier just now.
The Iron Egg guarantees are nice, but the return shipping is killing me.
I paid $55 shipping to return a case that cost $55.
Yeah, for that much money, I'm not even sure why I bothered to send it back.