PC suddenly won't power on

[Ransome]

My gaming rig:
Windows 10 Pro 64bit
CPU: Intel Core i5-3570K
GPU: Asus 1080 Ti Strix OC Edition
MOBO: Asus Sabertooth Z77
RAM: 16 GB of G.Skill Ripjaw-X DDR3 1600Mhz (XMP profile)
SSD: 256GB Crucial M4
HD: Western Digital Black 2TB
CPU Cooler: Noctua NH-D14
Case: Corsair CC600T Graphite White Special Edition
PSU: Corsair 850AX Gold
Monitor: Asus ROG SWIFT PG278Q 1440p 144 MHz + Nvidia G-Sync
TV: Samsung KS8500 65" 4K TV
AV-Receiver: Onkyo TX-NR-656 AV-Receiver


My PC suddenly won't power on.
I managed to get it to power on twice by doing a JUMPER CLEAR RTC RAM but after shutting it down it won't power down. The second time I got it to run and work for a long time, put it to sleep - and then when trying to wake it up - nothing happened and suddenly after a moment - the PC shut itself down. Without ever waking up.

I tried to reset bios settings. I tried doing the Jumper CLEAR RTC 3-4 times. It worked twice but inconsistently and now the issue is back.
I can't reach the battery to try and replace it - because of the DAMN Sabertooth "Thermal Armor" blocking the path to the battery... without taking the whole thing apart (the entire system piece by piece). Unless I will cut 2 cuts on the thermal armor to remove the plating covering the battery.
Not sure it's worth it.

I also tried to short circuit the power pins instead of the power button - didn't help. So it's not the power button's issue.
Yesterday the PC ran 100% and was super smooth and hitch free for hours. The PC is in great order and quite strong and fast and never made an issue before. This is all very sudden and unexplainable.

Please help.
What should I do?

 

[DRagor]

Forget the battery - the issues you get are not caused by failing battery. Most likely cause is PSU failing down.

 

[Ransome]

Forget the battery - the issues you get are not caused by failing battery. Most likely cause is PSU failing down.

I really hope not.
Why are you sure its not a battery?
What do you suggest doing?
I should note everything else powers on and there are the 2 white led lights on the GPU and the green light on the MOBO - so seemingly the MOBO and parts getting power.

If you suggest buying a new full modular PSU - what model do you recommend ?

I rather try to fix this if possible.

 

[DRagor]

You could boot the machine just fine even with battery completely drained (tested), I think even without battery at all (though I didn't try that, but I know others did). So there's no reason to suspect battery.
Best thing you can do is to borrow a PSU for a test. If you could boot without problems every time, it would be clear sign that your PSU is guilty.
Btw, those Corsair AX have very long warranty, so probably your unit may still be under warranty. Make sure to check that out.

 

[Ransome]

You could boot the machine just fine even with battery completely drained (tested), I think even without battery at all (though I didn't try that, but I know others did). So there's no reason to suspect battery.
Best thing you can do is to borrow a PSU for a test. If you could boot without problems every time, it would be clear sign that your PSU is guilty.
Btw, those Corsair AX have very long warranty, so probably your unit may still be under warranty. Make sure to check that out.

Thank you DRagor.
1. What about the motherboard - could it be the motherboard?

2. If I'll need to buy a new full modular PSU - what do you recommend getting?
What model? I can buy from Amazon.
(something as strong or stronger and at least the same quality level).

3. Any other ideas or suggestions? People?

[EDIT: By the way - turns out I do have warranty left until - 2019. However the seller I bought it from is a piece of trash. And warranty only "works" through them. Meaning I need to hand it over to some shady shop branch, they need to "check it decide if there's an issue" - trying their best to make sure I won't get good service and won't get my warranty fulfilled - and then send it to another shady crooks' central lab- where they will again waste my time and try their best NOT to provide me with any help what-so-ever and not provide replacement.
Problem is, unlike other sellers - I can't just ship it to the direct "official" importer/supplier of Corsair in Israel. Unfortunately back then I had little to no choice than to buy from the worst provider possible, getting parts and getting decent prices back then was a huge real problem- it still is over here for a lot of PC hardware, but to a lesser extent].

 

[DRagor]

1. What about the motherboard - could it be the motherboard?

Yes, it could also be a motherboard issue. This is less likely but possible.

2. If I'll need to buy a new full modular PSU - what do you recommend getting?
What model? I can buy from Amazon.
(something as strong or stronger and at least the same quality level).

At that quality range, there are not too many choices. Aside from what you already have, I would suggest those: https://pcpartpicker.com/products/compare/zhgPxr,vR648d,NGCrxr/

[EDIT: By the way - turns out I do have warranty left until - 2019. However the seller I bought it from is a piece of trash. And warranty only "works" through them.

That really hurts. But should worst thing happen, it still would be good idea to send PSU for repairs when/if you buy new unit, that way you can have a working spare unit when it gets back, which comes handy in situations like this.

 

[Ransome]

1. What about the motherboard - could it be the motherboard?

Yes, it could also be a motherboard issue. This is less likely but possible.

2. If I'll need to buy a new full modular PSU - what do you recommend getting?
What model? I can buy from Amazon.
(something as strong or stronger and at least the same quality level).

At that quality range, there are not too many choices. Aside from what you already have, I would suggest those: https://pcpartpicker.com/products/compare/zhgPxr,vR648d,NGCrxr/

[EDIT: By the way - turns out I do have warranty left until - 2019. However the seller I bought it from is a piece of trash. And warranty only "works" through them.

That really hurts. But should worst thing happen, it still would be good idea to send PSU for repairs when/if you buy new unit, that way you can have a working spare unit when it gets back, which comes handy in situations like this.

Thanks for the list. You mean the quality range is high right?

Thank you. I'm going to try handing the Power Supplier only ( just the brick- without cables) over to the store tomorrow and ask to fulfill my 7 year warranty - hopefully a replacement with a model of the same quality range/same series- but up to date.
That's where I will push for!
I really hope this situation is solvable relatively painlessly. But I know I am in for a lot of headaches. Already a nightmare...
I think between that and the motherboard - which is a Z77 model supporting only Ivy Bridge 3*** CPUs and DDR3 RAM - I prefer having the PSU as the main problem. Because it is far more simple to remedy.
Both are quite devastating for me though, and a huge pain. The PC was running perfectly fine and in high end performance - to just randomly cease to work and even power on (reliably) all of the sudden.
The PC was maintained with extreme care and affection. Keeping it in a super neat, clean and tip top condition. I recently 'finished' upgrading it by adding another 1TB Samsung SSD and beyond that I decided to worry less about it and just enjoy good gaming. But alas....

I feel like aside from the battery removal/replacement and then CLEAR - I tried everything I can think of. I just don't want to remove the Thermal armor of I can help it. And like you said it sounds unnecessary.

Wonder if there's anything else I am missing.

 

[Ransome]

Updating: Seems the PSU was indeed at fault. Sent the PSU for warranty replacement -and the lab indicated that the PSU is defective.
Big thanks for DRagor - for letting me know about the possible warranty (7 year warranty of which I used up close to 5.5 years) and of course the pointing out the issue.
I am currently negotiating with the store to get the best possible replacement model.
I will update again after I receive and successfully install the new Power Supplier - if the issue was resolved.
Hopefully no other component has issues from this case.

 

[Ransome]

It was indeed the PSU.
Replaced my PSU through warranty with a new RM850i.
Installed it a few hours ago. Powered on.
The machine's alive again!!
Problem solved!
Thank you.

 

[DRagor]

Great! Another saved PC. Have fun!

 

[Ransome]

Great! Another saved PC. Have fun!

Appreciate it friend!
By the way- I actually ended up haggling and getting a store refund for over 92% of this PSU actual price- then bought the PSU as a new deal with that money + minor extra (instead of getting a replacement with the old warranty). Now I have the new device with a new 7 year warranty!
Indeed a relieving save! 😗