PC No Longer Posts/Boots - Was fine till yesterday...!!!

[L3OUGH]

Hi all,

My PC all of a sudden out of no where no longer posts/boots Windows. 2 weeks ago I rebuilt my machine into a new case and also fitted a new PSU at the same time, seeing as I was stripping down I though it was a perfect opportunity. I rebuilt everything and the machine worked flawlessly for 2 weeks, then I powered it on yesterday after work, the PC powered on as normal BUT didn't post or load windows. All the fans came on, my GPU light came, CPU pump light came on, keyboard lights came on but no mouse lights and screens just showed no signal then went to sleep.

I rebooted, exactly the same thing. No splash screen or post boot beep etc. I'll list my specs below and then i'll explain what troubleshooting I've already done. Specs:

CPU: i5 4670k - no overclock
CPU Cooler: Corsair H100i GTX
Motherboard: ASUS Z97-k
RAM: Corsair Vengeance 16GB @ 1600MHz
GPU: MSI TwinFrozr GTX970
Storage: 1x Samsung 840 120GB SSD - OS Disk
1x Crucial MX300 750GB SSD - Storage
2x 1TB HDD - Storage
PSU: EVGA SuperNova G2 650W
Case: NZXT H440

What I've already tried:
Booting with no USB devices
Booting with no USB, GPU
Booting with no USB, GPU, 1x RAM Stick
Booting with no USB, GPU, 1x RAM, no SATA's connected to board
Booting with no RAM causes the board to beep and tell me about no RAM (good sign, I think)
Reseating GPU + RAM
Reset BIOS using jumper and battery out for 5/10 seconds.

Nothing changed after doing all of above. No matter what I did the PC behaved the same. Powers on, fans and lights come on but no POST beep, splash screen.

Only thing I'm yet to do that's simple is leave the CMOS battery out for a good 30mins before putting it back. If that then also fails, I'll take the backside off and make sure nothing like board stand offs have moved and are causing a short etc on the board.

If both of those also fail it will be time to take the PC to bits again 🙁

Anyone got any idea's before I maybe start taking all components out the case?

Any help, advice will be greatly received.

 

[BringerOfTea]

what is your motherboard, does it have any lights/led to indicate what is wrong?

 

[L3OUGH]

Apologies for missing the motherboard off the spec list, it's an ASUS Z97-k. I have amended the post.

To answer your question, it has a green light showing that there is power to the board. But other than that, no other lights.

 

[Grugbug]

I had an Asus board, same symptoms, turned out to be a bad mobo.

 

[L3OUGH]

Had this ASUS board a while now and it's been pretty good. Only thing I can think of trying is seeing if it behaves the same with the old PSU.

 

[The Paladin]

I would test the power supply, its simple and quick to do.
Shut down your computer. ...
Open your computer case. ...
Make a paper clip tester. (U Shape) ...
Find the 20/24 Pin connector that normally attaches to your computer's motherboard. ...
Find the green pin and a black pin (pins 15 & 16). ...
Insert the paperclip. ...
Check the fan.

if the fan runs, PSU is good, if not PSU dead change it

 

[L3OUGH]

I know the PSU isn't dead though as the PC comes on. The fans all spin, GPU comes on, CPU cooler AIO kicks in. The fans are all connected on a fan hub powered by the PSU.

 

[The Paladin]

okay I am going to ask a stupid question, your monitor does work ? have you tried to connect it a different way (HDMI instead of VGA for example)
I know I am fishing... I truly think your board is buzzed

 

[L3OUGH]

Yeah I run one monitor on HDMI and one on DVI, both work fine. I'm beginning to think it maybe the board. I hope not. That means I'll have to upgrade to skylake as you can't buy any half decent LGA 1150 boards new now!! Which will mean new board, CPU and RAM

But thinking aloud, if it was the board that's dead, surely there would be no lights either? As the little green light does light up showing it is getting power.

 

[The Paladin]

unless you get a used LGA 1150 like an asus z97

ebay shows it from newegg new old stock http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p2050601.m570.l2632.R2.TR11.TRC1.A0.H0.Xasus+z97.TRS0&_nkw=asus+z97&_sacat=175673

 

[L3OUGH]

I tend to steer clear of used stuff considering how much I've already spent, I maybe in the same situation with a used one 4 weeks down the line.

Still not convinced it's the board as it's receiving power.

 

[The Paladin]

if a board doesn't POST to Bios, usually you clear cmos and test again (which you did) beyond replacing the PSU to take that from the equation of the problem, things still point at either of them, without proving either is good, both could be bad, my bet is on the motherboard.

 

[BringerOfTea]

I tend to steer clear of used stuff considering how much I've already spent, I maybe in the same situation with a used one 4 weeks down the line.

Still not convinced it's the board as it's receiving power.

test with hte old psu yet?

 

[L3OUGH]

I've been called out on a job so had to hold the troubleshooting. Will get back to it later. Was just digging the old one out when I got the call! Will report back later after I've tested.

 

[L3OUGH]

Well, after getting home from work I have continued troubleshooting. The 'hard reset' holding power button down for 20 seconds trick didn't work, tried with original PSU and that made no difference. Still firing up with no beep and no display.

I then stripped the whole system down and remade it outside the case using a screwdriver to jump start it. Also made no difference. So now I have just reseated the CPU and will try booting it again after I've eaten but I'm not holding out for it.

So it appears I'm with either a fried board or CPU or maybe both. Which leaves me thinking, what caused it? If it was the PSU how can I test it/prove it caused it before I spend a small fortune buying new parts....?