New build, won't power on

[throwing_cp]

Hi there, I'm a first timer so I'm a little nervous. Put everything together plugged it into the wall and hit the power button. The power LED flashed once and that was all. No fans, nothing else. Could anyone help me troubleshoot this?

Specs:

COOLER MASTER RC-690-KKN1-GP Black SECC/ ABS ATX Mid Tower Computer Case
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6811119137

GIGABYTE GA-EP35-DS3L LGA 775 Intel P35 ATX Intel Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6813128337

Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 Wolfdale 3.0GHz 6MB L2 Cache LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Processor
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6819115037

PC Power & Cooling S75QB 750W ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply 100 - 240 V UL, ULC, CE, CB, RoHS
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6817703009

ASUS EAH3850/G/HTDI/512M Radeon HD 3850 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6814121219

mushkin 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6820146692

Seagate Barracuda 7200.11 ST3500320AS 500GB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6822148288

XIGMATEK HDT-S1283 120mm Rifle CPU Cooler
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6835233003

2x Scythe S-FLEX SFF21F 120mm Case Fan
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6835185006

ARCTIC COOLING MX-2 Thermal Compound
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6835186020

 

[shadowduck]

Improperly installed motherboard
Improperly installed PSU connectors (4/8 pin AUX connector is not plugged inth motherboard)
RAM Issues- wrong voltage or wrong slots
Improperly installed CPU heatsink

More serious:
Bad PSU
Bad Motherboard

 

[throwing_cp]

No offense, but that's rather vague. I was hoping someone could point me to a troubleshooting flow chart or had some ideas about what might be wrong.

 

[shadowduck]

If you installed the motherboard and accidentally installed an extra standoff under the board, it can short the board won't and it will do exactly what you described.

If you forget to plug in the AUX connector on the motherboard in addition to the 24-pin connector it won't boot.

If the voltage of the RAM is wrong in the BIOS- it might not boot. One stick usually works enough for you to get into BIOS and change it.

The heatsink pushpins not be installed properly (locked) and cause heat issues which will also cause what you describe.

There is not really a "troubleshooting flow chart." What I gave you are ideas about what might be wrong.

 

[throwing_cp]

Thanks, I'll go yank the MB and see if I've got any standoffs under it. Be back soon.

 

[throwing_cp]

No extra standoffs or anything that would short it (from what I can see)

AUX (CPU?) connector (4pin) was connected.

Tried 1 stick, same result.

Flipped the MB over and checked the pushpins. They look right.

Still lost

 

[smalltime0]

Sounds like you didn't plug in the CPU fan...
Usually if the AUX isn't plugged in the mobo will boot up, then fail the POST. The fans should at least start without the AUX for a second.

 

[shadowduck]

Try a different PSU, if you can try a different video card.

Yes, the AUX is labeled CPU connector on some motherboards.

 

[throwing_cp]

I checked the CPU fan and it's plugged in, but no action.

I tried the video card in my wife's computer and it works fine.

The only other PSU I have is a 300 watt that won't fit this MB.

Any suggestions on what I should do next?

 

[shadowduck]

Take it to a computer store and have them test it with one of their bench PSUs and see if it boots.

That is about all you can do right now.

Try resetting the CMOS for the hell of it.

 

[cds333]

I just got the new GA-EP35-DS3L the other day. The first power up was fine, but after that- most of the time: nothing, sometimes: a "blurp", and occasionally: it starts up. Once it finally starts up it works great.

I'm wondering if this is a common issue with the new "E" line of GB MBs.

All I can say is keep switching the PSU switch (if you have one), and hitting the power button. That's what gets mine to start up (although mine did start fine initially). The reviews on newegg didn't say anything about this, but the "E" model is new (a replacement for the older GA-P35-XXX models)

As far as tips to fix it - sorry I am in the same boat as you

Good Luck

 

[throwing_cp]

Quick update: Took my wife's old ram and threw it in there... FIRED UP!

Actually, literally fired up. For some reason, the floppy drive started smoking and did some damage to that power cable line. Yanked the power immediately unplugged it and started up again without any problems. CPU temp looks good so I must have done it right.

Now I'm just working on getting my memory to work and then it's operating system install time.

 

[smalltime0]

Throwing memory is not a good idea. jk

Do you actually use the floppy drive for anything? i.e. are you still in the land of floppy disks or the ultra sheek age of USB?

BTW your links don't work..

The mushkin RAM seems to have a lot of problems. I remember in the comment section on the 2x2GB pack there were several complaints, but newegg took them back AFAIK.

 

[throwing_cp]

No, I don't use the floppy drive for anything. Well, I've got some very early computer porn on a floppy disk that I kept around for nostalgia, but it's no grand loss.

Sorry bout the links, I took them from an older post.

I'll let ya know if I can get the memory working or not though.