Question New Computer Build - Not Working

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MaxArk

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Apr 6, 2012
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Happy New Year folks!

For Christmas, I bought myself a new system to put together.
  • ASUS Prime X670E-Pro WiFi motherboard
  • AMD Ryzen 9 79003D 12 Core 24 Thread CPU
  • ASUS TUF Gaming GeForce RTX4070Ti OC 12GB GDDR6x GPU
  • WD Black SN770 2TB PCIe Gen4 NVMe M.2 SSD
  • Corsair Vengence 64GB DDR5 5600MHz RAM
  • DeepCool LS720 High Performance 360mm CPU Liquid Cooler
  • Phanteks Eclipse G360 Air Mid Tower Case
  • ThermalTake Toughpower GF3 1000W 80+ Gold Full Modular ATX Power Supply

I have a few problems, some more serious than others.

  1. I am unable to power the computer on/off using the case switch. The only way I can turn it on is with the motherboard switch, and the only way to turn it off is to turn the power supply off. I am having a huge problem trying to figure out where the two pin power switch cable connects to the motherboard. The cable clearly reads Power SW, and one wire has a white strip on it. No other markings on the connector. I've tried all conceivable combinations, and none work. I'm not sure if the cable connects to two pins side by side on a horizontal plain, or two pins above/below each other on a vertical plain. The MB manual isn't very clear (to me anyway). I'll try to attach a picture. There is one combination that I don't think is possible as the board is missing a pin. Not sure if that is intentional or not. My first instict is the pins labelled PWRBTN# and GRD (the white striped wire). But no go on that. Unless I'm not using the right chassis buttons. There are two that I'm not familiar with. M with a circle around it, and the second is a thick circle broken up into segements.

  1. The front fans of the chassis aren't running. Is that intentional? Maybe they only come on when needed? There were three cables to connect. I connected them each to individual CHA FAN connectors (1, 2 and 4)
  2. And most importantly, I'm not getting any display to my monitor when I turn it on. Everything is getting power, it's lit up like a Christmas tree. The graphics card is lit up, and has a steady red light next to the power connector which I figure means it's getting power. I tried connecting through the onboard graphics port and still nothing. With the power off, I've tried reseating everything ... the SSD, the RAM and still no luck. I can't seem to dislodge the Graphics card, and I don't want to be too forcefull with it. Does it have a clip to release it like the RAM does? I just can get one end out.
I have a cabled USB mouse, but only a wireless keyboard. Do I need a wired keyboard?

Edit: Wasn't able to take a picture of the motherboard. Couldn't get close enough, so attached the manual image.
 
Start by just relaxing and only working when you are alert and not under pressure, you need to be able to think through each step with no rush. Check all your manuals for any things that you might be missing.

The GPU does have a clip that holds it to the board at the end inside the computer on the top end, push it to the side gently and slowly lift it out. I've got the same card and its big and heavy so take your time and insure it isn't hanging up in several spots.

I would do a desktop build -- in other words on my desktop on top of a large sheet of cardboard without the case for now. If the components all work then you may have a case short as assembled or the case front panel wiring may be damaged or shorted (usually from a bad wire in the front panel to the front panel connector in my experience). AIO coolers make the process a little more difficult (just keep the radiator above the CPU).

Don't add anything you don't need to start, like the GPU and a use a single stick of memory. And just a side question: what is your full memory model number?

The two pins labeled PWRSW, when shorted momentarily start your computer -- a continuous short of them will cause problems. ATX just requires a brief short to start up, unlike the old AT computers that switched on and off at the PSU.
 
Hi RealBeast.
I kind have made some progress with problem 1. There is a button on the front of the case (I thought it was just part of the design). I can turn it on but not off. Even if I hold the button down, it doesn't turn off.

Is this the memory model #? CMK64GX5M2B5600C40

Will start over tomorrow fresh, getting late now. I'll have to see if I can figure out how to remove the grpahics card.

One thing I will say, I was not impressed with the limited cable running between the MB and th epower supply. The power cable for the MB is a bit too short to run the only way to run it so things are really pulled tight. My only negative so far (and the fans not working - when you power the system up they get a boost of power and "jolt" themselves ... not spin though.)
 
Starting fresh this morning by removing all the components and reinstalling one by one.Using the motherboard graphics, what is the minimum I would need to install to get the computer to didplay and post? Should I see results with just one stick of RAM? Or will I also need the SSD?

Also, will I need a wired keyboard to start? Or will a wireless keyboard be recognized before an OS is installed?

Attached is an image showing where I connected the Power SW cable. The wire with the white line is connected to GND.



None of the front chassis fans are running yet. Perhaps not connected to the mobo correctly, assumed and CHA FAN connector would work. No manual with the case.

IO coolers make the process a little more difficult (just keep the radiator above the CPU).
Click to expand...
Yes, it took some clever maneuvering to get it in. The radiator is facing the outside of the cabinet at the top. Everything appaears good with it, lit up and fans running.
 
A bit distressed. I have removed all components, except the CPU and cooler. I replaced one memory module at a time in the MB manual's recommended port, and tested on each with no go. Removed the SSD. No go. All without the GPU installed.

Front fans no go, and power switch doesn't turn power off. I don't know what else to check, or how. Like trying to find a needle in a haystack so to speak.

I do have this unaccounted for connector. Not sure if it's important as I can't seem to find anywhere on the MB to connect it.

 
Unplug all the wires from the front panel on the board. Then using a screwdriver, touch the 2 pins labeled power switch in the manual with the end of the screwdriver. If all is well, it should start. Doing that basically bypasses the switch on the case.

If you still have no luck, pull the board and set it on top of the motherboard box and connect only cpu power, motherboard power, cooler and ram and try the screwdriver method.

If that works then you can add 1 part back at a time carefully even the gpu and verify all those parts are good.

If successful there, then double check where all your stand-offs are inside the case that you don’t accidentally have one in the wrong spot causing a short.

Personally for me, when you wire the case to the front panel you should notice on the connector there is usually a very small black arrow on the side with no writing. It is very tiny usually. I usually use that side as the + side.
 
MaxArk said:
I have removed all components, except the CPU and cooler. I replaced one memory module at a time in the MB manual's recommended port, and tested on each with no go. Removed the SSD. No go. All without the GPU installed.
Front fans no go, and power switch doesn't turn power off. I don't know what else to check, or how.
Click to expand...
Please show a photo of your system, to see, how you have connected everything.
MaxArk said:
I do have this unaccounted for connector. Not sure if it's important as I can't seem to find anywhere on the MB to connect it.

Click to expand...
Where does it come from?
 
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Hi Ohio_Buckeye. I appreciate your reply. To clarify, I can turn the computer on with the switch, just not off. Will your suggestion help diagnose the inability to turn off?

I'm most concerned with an inability to get a display to my monitor from the onboard graphics. My monitor doesn't have HDMI, it has digital video. So I have an adapter between it and the HDMI port. Could this be an issue?

I took some time and pulled the rat's nest of chassis cables that were packaged is a mess and sorted them out.
  • One cable was for the USB3.2Gen1 header Connected securely.
  • A second bundled cable, HD Audio, connected to the System Panel header. Connected securely.
  • A tiny Power SW cable connected as per the image in post #4.
  • Another cable connects to the SATA power connector.
  • Another small wire connects I believe attaches to the Addressable Gen 2 header. This I suspect allows the front fan colours to be changed with the press of the two unidentified (now identified) buttons mentioned in post 1. The buttons don't seem to do anything, the fan lights just keep up with the changes that the motherboard makes.
  • 3 individual wires with 4 pin female connectors, likely the three front fans that I have connected the individual fan headers.
  • This leaves the final mass of wires, daisy chained together, with two open ends. Of the two ends, one looks like another fan connector (it will be very difficult to find an open header that this mass can get to so it's not connected now.). The third connector is male, the one in post 5, I gather is to expand the pretty lighting should I choose to in the future. Not sure if I need to do anything with these.

I'm really hesitant to take everything all apart. With the cooler as difficult as it was to mount, I fear any unnecessary handling might get too rough. All 9 motherboard standoffs are accounted for and in the proper spots.

Skynet, this post may answer your question about the unknow connecter. Its' part of the daisy chained mess. I'll do my best to get a picture.
 
ohio_buckeye said:
Are you able to turn it off by holding the button? Another trick used to be wire the reset button to the power pins to make it the power button. Might be worth testing.
Click to expand...

No, holding the button doesn't appear to do anything. And I can't find a reset button to try that alternative.
Not sure what to do with this significant investment.

Could I take everything out of the case and try to see if it all works outside the case? Could the power switch affect the fact I'm not getting any display?
 
You're using some weird screws, to screw motherboard into case.
Those are not proper screws.

Did you use standoffs at all?

Your motherboard has 9 screw holes.
There need to be 9 standoffs installed in pc case - in corresponding places.

716Xj4KmmFL.jpg
 
I concur with the guy above those are strange screws holding your board in, almost like you are using stand-offs to hold the board in.

If that’s the case you may be causing a short. But if you read the posts above, you can pull stuff and put the motherboard on its box and add the psu, cpu and ram and use a screwdriver to touch the power switch pins. If it comes in then the hardware is likely fine. Then you want to add one component at a time. If all works great, if not you may need to rma something.
 
Thansk Skynet and Ohio_buckeye. I was pretty excited with your revelation. Standoffs? Could they be part of the case already as illustrated in the picture below? I looked through my bags of hardware and didn't find anything that looks like what is posted in post 12. What I have is a crapload of tiny black screws, 8 plastic bushings (possibly one went rogue), and 9 steel screws (that i had been using to mount the MB to the case incorrectly. The tiny black screws I feel aren't long enough to mount the board to the case.



Edit:
I have removed the motherboard from the chassis, but it on the anti-static bag and worked on it outside the case. I connected the power to the MB, and connected the pump and radiator fans of the cooling system. Turned it on (confirming that connecting the two pins of the PWRSW will turn the system on), and no display. I anticipated that.

Added a stick of RAM into DIMM_A2 as specified in the mobo manual for a single stick. Turned it on and no display. Powered off, and exchanged the RAM with the second stick and repeated. Still no display.

Does that mean that the memory and/or the motherboard are done?
 
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Post 12 explains what you need typically. If your case has raised spots inside it may have built in stand offs. Some cases do that as well.

But the fact there’s no post outside the case is what to focus on now. What happens if you try to boot with it plugged into the board and no ram or nvme installed? What you want is it to give an error code or start beeping at you.

You may see if your board has bios flashback and try to update to the latest bios if possible.

In a case like that though id suspect motherboard maybe. Where did you purchase from?
 
Hi Ohio_buckeye. Thank you everyone for your continued support. In addition to the frustration of this not working (I have made many PCs in the past), but it's quite a chore having to go into town and hope they have a replacement part, plus all the effort needed to return a computer part. I have never had to do that, so don't know whats involved with returning say a motherboard where there are so many parts to round up. I hope that won't be my next question.

Anyway. I get no post. No beeps. Just a lit up motherboard and cooler, GPU, and a black screen on my monitor. This is the case whether I use the GPU or the onboard graphics. Do I need a mouse/keyboard plugged in?
 
No MicroCenter.
At this point, would one be a point of trying to exchange the motherboard? Or assume both RAM segments are bad and just exhange the RAM? I suppose there is no way of narrowing down the problem?
 
I have CMK64GX5M2B5600C40, Corsair Vengeance DDR5 5600MHz (2x32GB)
I don't see it on the ASUS support page for this motherboard. The closest is:

CORSAIR CMK64GX5M2B5200C40 Ver 3.43.01 2x 32GB XMP 5200 5200 DS Spectek 40-40-40-77 1.25 1,2

Which is only 5200. Could this be the issue?
 
with your front panel connectors plugged in, the "power led",hdd led, and power switch should set so the words on the cables face down.. the reset switch should be facing up.. ( look at the wires if they have no writing look for a "triangle on the cable.... that goes to left pin (as on the pic from manual. the reset switch will be reverse.. then you will be able to power on and off.. ( if reset is wrong way around it will not switch off.. .. as for no display.. on onboard displays its probably coz bio setting isset for "PEG" (external graphics). you cold "clear cmos" and that should reset it. (or add graphics card enter bios and change it in settings
 
Thank you Steve B. This is all getting very unsatisfying lol. So, to be clear, mu power switch wire has writing on it. "Power SW". This should installed such that the words are facing "down" ... meaning facing the outside of the cabinet (the edge of the mother board) ? Or facing into the cabinet, (facing into the mother board). Luckily I don't have a reset or HDD light wire.

As far as the display, I was hoping I would be able to use the onboard display to help diagnose which component might be causing the problem ... one at a time. If I have to rely on the GPU, how do I know it's not causing the issue? If I plug the GPU in again when I get home, and it doesn't post up, tHen I'm back to post 1 with still no idea what's going on.

I have to head into town today, a two hour drive, not something I want to do everyday. Happy if anyone has any suggestions on whether I should try to exchange anything, and if so, where to start. Since my RAM wasn't on the vendor's list, I thought I'd start with a known compatible product.
 
You could start with the ram. I don’t know about am5, but it seemed like until am4 really matured there were memory issues.

If you still have the board outside the case you can test the power switch theory by using a flat blade screwdriver to touch the 2 power switch pins with the end of the screwdriver. That would give it a signal to turn on anyway.

Dumb question from my part but you plug in the cpu power at the top left side of the board?
 
Ohio_buckeye, yes, the screwdriver trick does work. It does turn it on as does the switch. However, the switch isn't turning it off. Who knows, maybe there's some odd undocumented way to turn it off.

I was in town and switched up my RAM with a set deemed compatible for that motherboard. We'll see. I had a chat with the tech there, stumped just as much as everyone else here. I'm not all that with the new lingo, but he was under the impression that depending on the CPU, the onboard GPU should accept signal and not have to rely on a GPU card. I don't get it, but whatever. They were very reluctant to think the motherboard at fault. I figure they don't want to deal with the return. They suggested bringing it into service to have a look at it.

Once I'm home, with the mobo out of the case still I'll reseat a module of RAM (just one to start), and the video card and hope I get some activity other than a glowing board. Has anyone heard of RAM having to "learn"?

Dumb question from my part but you plug in the cpu power at the top left side of the board?
Click to expand...
CPU power? Or motherboard power?

If looking down onto the top of the board, the motherboard power plugs in to the top right of the board, right of the DIMM slots, which are right of the CPU. This would be at the front of the chassis. On the opposite edge of the motherboard is the rear exterior panel. It's quite a distance from the top right to the bottom left where the PSU is, and no direct way to get there.
 
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