PSU or gpu maybe dead

[ChrisP Kreame]

woowowowo oh wow. For about a week now ive been without a computer. So here is the story. I received a new stick of ram. I had bought a 8gn corsair vengence. I installed it into my computer and when I went to power it up nothing turned out except for the computer. The led's on my keyboard and mouse didn't light up and my monitor wouldnt turn on. I then made a forum and learned that the ram i had bought was 1600mhz when my mobo only supported up to 1333mhz. Well this was okay so I changed it out with my old ram. Same thing happened when I put the old ram back in. Monitor off and everything. I made another forum and didn't get anywhere. I would go back to that forum but I have stumbled across some new information. I was troubleshooting problems today and I had only my computer and monitor. My computer would turn on then I would plug in my monitor (which goes into the GPU and while the computer was powered) and the computer would immediately turn off. Well this was strange. I tried to turn my computer back on by pressing the power button and it would't. Only when I unplugged the computer from the wall and put it back in would it power back up. THEN after that the computer was turned on and monitor still plugged in, when I unplugged the monitor the computer shut off. I tried doing the same thing with my mouse (which plugs into the back of my motherboard) and the computer stayed on. Is this a sign that my gpu is dead? Also the gpu fans seem to struggle. The fans will twitch every few seconds or so but they wont power all the way on. I really hope it isnt my gpu though 🙁 expensive piece 🙁

 

[10tacle]

Was your computer running fine prior to making that hardware change? If so, it's likely a memory compatibility issue.

 

[ChrisP Kreame]

Was your computer running fine prior to making that hardware change? If so, it's likely a memory compatibility issue.

No my computer was running completley fine. I've had it for about 3 years and not a single thing has ever been wrong with it. Only when I changed the ram did I have the issue. And what do you mean by memory issue?

 

[10tacle]

Only when I changed the ram did I have the issue. And what do you mean by memory issue?

Meaning your memory may not be compatible and throwing errors. Is the memory you purchased listed on your motherboard's QVL (qualified vendor's list)? Also, did you buy a kit of two sticks or individual sticks? Even memory of the exact same model may not work if purchased separately and not in kit form.

FYI the memory speed isn't an issue. Your memory will only run as fast as the motherboard memory controller allows. So if you have 1600MHz memory it would run at 1333MHz if that's as fast a memory as your motherboard does.

 

[ChrisP Kreame]

Only when I changed the ram did I have the issue. And what do you mean by memory issue?

Meaning your memory may not be compatible and throwing errors. Is the memory you purchased listed on your motherboard's QVL (qualified vendor's list)? Also, did you buy a kit of two sticks or individual sticks? Even memory of the exact same model may not work if purchased separately and not in kit form.

FYI the memory speed isn't an issue. Your memory will only run as fast as the motherboard memory controller allows. So if you have 1600MHz memory it would run at 1333MHz if that's as fast a memory as your motherboard does.

yeah the ram was not on the memory qvl list for my motherboard and I ordered one that was. but when I put the old ram back in it still didnt work

 

[ChrisP Kreame]

update: Whenever I push down on the graphics card even slightly the computer will shut off

 

[10tacle]

yeah the ram was not on the memory qvl list for my motherboard and I ordered one that was. but when I put the old ram back in it still didnt work

Hmmm. The plot thickens. Was the memory you swapped and installed of the same voltage as your original? I can't imagine that nuking the motherboard's memory controller, but it wouldn't be unheard of. Regarding the PSU, what make and model? Normally I would say you can download and install HWiNFO64 and run it in the background while gaming to check voltage spikes, but apparently that's not an option for you.

 

[10tacle]

update: Whenever I push down on the graphics card even slightly the computer will shut off

Do you have a second PCI slot to put the GPU in?

 

[ChrisP Kreame]

No i only have one slot of my gpu unfortanutley and also the voltage of my old ram is 1333mhz and the voltage of the new was 1600mhz. I dont think the mobo is dead though because the fans that are plugged into the mobo turn on just fine, these are the fan for the proccesor and 2 of my case fans. Also this is my crappy power supply https://www.amazon.com/Logisys-24-Pin-Switching-Supply-PS550A-BK/dp/B008MUDH28/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1501453446&sr=8-1&keywords=logisys+550w+power+supply

 

[10tacle]

Oh wow. I think we may have found the culprit:

Tier Five
Avoid IMMEDIATELY. These units are highly unsafe to use. No such protections added, very thin gauge wiring used, false advertising and too much to list. Reference to a higher tiered unit for a better, money saving and a much safer unit. For your safety's sake, please don't order or pick one up for use in your system. These units are a potential fire hazard and could even kill you, let alone your system.


A-TOP technology
Apevia
Apex (SUPERCASE/ALLIED)
Artic / Ace (They're the same company)
Aspire (Turbocase)
ATADC
ATRIX
Broadway Com Corp
CIT
Coolmax
Deer
Diablotek
Dynapower
Dynex
Eagletech
Enlight
Evo labs
EZ-cool
Foxconn
G7
HEC / Compucase Orion
HEDY (should be WAAAYYY lower down than these units. They're that bad)
iBall
iStar computer co.
Jeantec
JPac
Just PC
Linkworld electronics
Logisys computer
Macron
MSi (just stick to their GPUs and motherboards)
NMEDIAPC
Norwood Micro/ CompUSA
Okia
Powercool
Powmax
Pulsepower
Q-tec
Rocketfish
SFC
Sharkoon
Shuttle
Skyhawk
Startech
Storm
Sumvision
Tesla
Ultra

http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/id-2547993/psu-tier-list.html

Never go cheap on a PSU. It's the heartbeat of the CPU.

 

[ChrisP Kreame]

Oh wow. I think we may have found the culprit:

Tier Five
Avoid IMMEDIATELY. These units are highly unsafe to use. No such protections added, very thin gauge wiring used, false advertising and too much to list. Reference to a higher tiered unit for a better, money saving and a much safer unit. For your safety's sake, please don't order or pick one up for use in your system. These units are a potential fire hazard and could even kill you, let alone your system.


A-TOP technology
Apevia
Apex (SUPERCASE/ALLIED)
Artic / Ace (They're the same company)
Aspire (Turbocase)
ATADC
ATRIX
Broadway Com Corp
CIT
Coolmax
Deer
Diablotek
Dynapower
Dynex
Eagletech
Enlight
Evo labs
EZ-cool
Foxconn
G7
HEC / Compucase Orion
HEDY (should be WAAAYYY lower down than these units. They're that bad)
iBall
iStar computer co.
Jeantec
JPac
Just PC
Linkworld electronics
Logisys computer
Macron
MSi (just stick to their GPUs and motherboards)
NMEDIAPC
Norwood Micro/ CompUSA
Okia
Powercool
Powmax
Pulsepower
Q-tec
Rocketfish
SFC
Sharkoon
Shuttle
Skyhawk
Startech
Storm
Sumvision
Tesla
Ultra

http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/id-2547993/psu-tier-list.html

Never go cheap on a PSU. It's the heartbeat of the CPU.

It's not very hard to believe because it is such a cheap psu but can you tell me why you think that this could be it? I'm willing to buy a new one but just wanna know why you think this.

 

[ChrisP Kreame]

update: I can now plug in my monitor without it turning it off? Still the monitor turns on for a moment then goes into power save mode. The mouse still does not turn on either. Monitor plugs into gpu and mouse plugs into motherboard

 

[10tacle]

It's not very hard to believe because it is such a cheap psu but can you tell me why you think that this could be it? I'm willing to buy a new one but just wanna know why you think this.

Honestly these things are impossible to 100% diagnose remotely. But in my experience, making hardware changes is capable of doing anything. I would look at your PSU and motherboard as the primary suspects in that order.

 

[10tacle]

update: I can now plug in my monitor without it turning it off? Still the monitor turns on for a moment then goes into power save mode. The mouse still does not turn on either. Monitor plugs into gpu and mouse plugs into motherboard

Take the GPU out and use just the onboard graphics and see if that works. If so, then it's definitely either a motherboard issue (PCIe slot) or PSU failure. I don't think you would have gotten static discharge shorting something out when swapping memory because that's so rare these days, but it's not impossible.

 

[ChrisP Kreame]

update: I can now plug in my monitor without it turning it off? Still the monitor turns on for a moment then goes into power save mode. The mouse still does not turn on either. Monitor plugs into gpu and mouse plugs into motherboard

Take the GPU out and use just the onboard graphics and see if that works. If so, then it's definitely either a motherboard issue (PCIe slot) or PSU failure. I don't think you would have gotten static discharge shorting something out when swapping memory because that's so rare these days, but it's not impossible.

yeah i took out the graphics card and the same issue persisted. mouse nor the keyboard would turn on. Is there anyway to test if its the motherboard or psu?

 

[10tacle]

yeah i took out the graphics card and the same issue persisted. mouse nor the keyboard would turn on. Is there anyway to test if its the motherboard or psu?

For the motherboard, not really except swapping it out. For the PSU, you need a PSU tester like this if you can't get your PC to run under load and monitor voltage variations under HWiNFO64.

 

[ChrisP Kreame]

yeah i took out the graphics card and the same issue persisted. mouse nor the keyboard would turn on. Is there anyway to test if its the motherboard or psu?

For the motherboard, not really except swapping it out. For the PSU, you need a PSU tester like this if you can't get your PC to run under load and monitor voltage variations under HWiNFO64.

could it even be the psu even if my fans are running perfectly fine. they have blue leds and they are just fine.

 

[ChrisP Kreame]

update: i measured the power and their is none coming from the psu to the graphics card.

 

[10tacle]

update: i measured the power and their is none coming from the psu to the graphics card.

You mean as in the GPU fans are not spinning up? If that is the case, don't use that PSU anymore and buy a better quality replacement. See that link I sent on tiers. Highly recommended to buy no less than a Tier 2 but if on a tight budget, go with Tier 3 and no less.

 

[ChrisP Kreame]

update: i measured the power and their is none coming from the psu to the graphics card.

You mean as in the GPU fans are not spinning up? If that is the case, don't use that PSU anymore and buy a better quality replacement. See that link I sent on tiers. Highly recommended to buy no less than a Tier 2 but if on a tight budget, go with Tier 3 and no less.

yeah the fans are not spinning and im sure if i measured more of the psu I would find their are dead. I'm more than likely going to go for a corsair. I've heard good things.

 

[ChrisP Kreame]

Yep it was the power supply all along. I measured the voltage from the main power harness and learned that only the standby voltage was coming through, which powers the fans. None of the others were working. Explains why my usb ports weren't working as well. Well iv'e learned my lesson never cheap out on a power supply.

 

[10tacle]

I learned the real hard way during my second build about 20 years ago and it destroyed most of my components. All for about $40 savings out of pocket. Never again!