Computer turns on for half a second, then immediately turns off

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Moxio

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Hey guys. I just spent the better part of two weeks getting the parts to build a new computer. I buy them, they get here, I assemble it... and it doesn't work. FML.

Basically, I have the motherboard installed (on the screw mounts, yes), the RAM in, CPU+sink is installed, the mobo is attached to the power supply, the fans are attached, and the front switches are (I hope in the right spots) attached. I have no HD attached, no GPU attached, no DVDROM attached, but I don't think it'd make a difference.

Anyways, I turn on the PSU, and the fans start going (case and CPU) and I see a couple of very fast lights flash on the mobo, and within a second (probably less)... everything stops. I can't even turn the power on again for like 15 seconds after.

I've asked a lot of people and still am completely baffled as to what to try next. I've disconnected all the wires from the mobo and tried it again to the same thing.

Any help would be really nice. Thank you.
 
I'm a little confused here.

[quote name='Moxio']no GPU attached[/quote]
Why? I'm guessing you didn't get a mobo with onboard video, so how were you expecting to even see the POST if it happened to make it?


[quote name='Moxio']I've disconnected all the wires from the mobo and tried it again to the same thing.[/quote]
How were you planning on powering the mobo with all the wires disconnected? Not to mention the CPU fan.

I'm hoping this is a misunderstanding/hastily made post.

If you're going to have another try at this tonight, I would hook up your video card at the least (in addition to the cpu+ram), plug in a monitor, and see if anything comes up or if you're lucky, the thing will POST.
 
Yeah, sorry, hasty post.

What I meant was I disconnected all the wires to the mobo and reconnected them to make sure. I don't think this thing has enough time to POST, considering it's on and off within a second.
 
Did you try the video card in there yet? I don't know why it'd be, but maybe your mobo just detects that theres no gpu present and says fuck it.

Either way, if that doesn't work, hopefully you have another computer around that you can test the parts out with.
 
Okay I tested the PSU on another computer and it works fine there, so I think the PSU is okay. I'm going to apply some thermal paste to the CPU/sink again and see if that gets me anywhere.
 
what type of motherboard is it? and have you checked your mobo's website forums to see if alot of people with the same model mobo have had issues same as you?

from what it sounds like it might be a dead mobo out-of-the box OR your motherboard doesnt support the cpu that you threw in there OR....

There could be multiple issues with why it wont boot correctly, just post what you have for parts.
 
Does it make any sounds? Any short or long beeps? I've had that happen before, but i can't remember what it ended up being. I'd go ahead and install the video card though.

Could you post the parts you bought, just to get an idea of the features.

And you already did as i was typing that...:lol:
 
RAM's in tight, I've tried two different video cards. Doesn't make a difference, I don't think, same thing happens. :(

--

Jake: the computer isn't on long enough to make any sounds. Assuming I have all the case pins in the right place (power, reset, hdd, speaker, etc), of course. The computer is on and off within a second, so fast there's no time for any sounds. I just see a couple lights from the mobo flash (red and green I think, right next to each other), the fans from the case and CPU sink whirl, and then everything stops immediately.


I'm starting to think this mobo is bad. Right now I suspect it's either the mobo or the CPU. I know mobos arrive DOA commonly, but do CPUs?
 
Well from what you posted everything looks compatible right out the box...

Oh and nice choice on the CPU, ive been running mine @3.4 Ghz on air for like 6 months.:D

Back to the point, the mobo looks like it got rave reviews with little to no RMA issues but you never know.

*Try running one stick of memory instead of both to see if it will post if you haven't already.
 
Tried that, in all the different slots. No luck.

There actually seem to be quite a few reviews of this mobo arriving DOA. Does it sound like the mobo is bad to you guys? Most of the guys on NewEgg who DOAd did so after getting BSODS and stuff, but I can't even get this thing running in the first place.

Would any photos help? I could take a picture of what's plugged in where.
 
I've had this happen before when my CPU cooler wasn't attached firmly. Did you check that?

Your MB might also be grounding somewhere in the case. You can always take it out, put it on a piece of wood, and fire it up that way to check.
 
It might be a problem with the RAM, I had similar problems when I build my computer for the first time.

Check that the RAM is firmly seated in the right slots. Check your mobo manual to see which slots to put them in (you'd think that they were supposed to be next to each other, but on my mobo you have to put them across from each other if you only have two sticks)
 
Well, last step I would do before I would send it back to NewEgg is look at the motherboads manual and make sure ALL JUMPERS are there and in the right places.
 
It does sound like it could be grounding, try doing what CK said if you can. A friend of mine just had a MOBO that was DOA, hope yours isnt. Takes a while for the RMA process.
 
The only pins I'm not entirely sure are in the right place are the case pins from the front panel that control power, reset, hdd led, etc. I don't know if that would affect the mobo not working, but I'm unsure because there's slots for + and - and the pins dont indicate which of the two pins is which. Otherwise, I think I have the case fans pins in right, cpu cooling fan is in right, I'm just using a PCI video card for now. I'll try booting this thing with the mobo out of the case then.
 
Yes, cases are notorious for not marking what is + and -. You could try switching the power around and/or the reset to see if that makes a difference.
 
You really don't need any of those connectors (the hdd light, reset switch, power on switch, etc) even connected to diagnose this. The act of pressing the power button on your case can be replicated by taking a flat head screwdriver and touching the two leads (the +/-) for pwr on. This will complete the circuit and fire up the CPU.

Having any of those front case connections hooked up incorrectly isn't going to cause your computer to not come on either.
 
[quote name='mtxbass1']You really don't need any of those connectors (the hdd light, reset switch, power on switch, etc) even connected to diagnose this. The act of pressing the power button on your case can be replicated by taking a flat head screwdriver and touching the two leads (the +/-) for pwr on. This will complete the circuit and fire up the CPU.

Having any of those front case connections hooked up incorrectly isn't going to cause your computer to not come on either.[/QUOTE]

Just a thought sorry :roll:
 
Tried the motherboard out on some hard cardboard, same deal. CPU fan starts spinning for a sec, I see a couple lights on the mobo turn on, and then immediately everything stops before a sound is made.

I'm out of ideas on what to try next.
 
[quote name='XxSmityxX']Just a thought sorry :roll:[/QUOTE]
I'm not really sure why you're quoting me there. I'm providing general information here.

Is a PC speaker connected? If it is, you'll likely get a number of beeps. Those beeps determine error messages.

I really have a hard time believing this board is dead in all honesty. I've seen this happen so many times before. Like I said, for me, my Heatsink/fan wasn't seated properly, but it could be grounding, memory, incompatible video card, or a few other things.
 
[quote name='mtxbass1']Is a PC speaker connected? If it is, you'll likely get a number of beeps. Those beeps determine error messages.[/QUOTE]

Most motherboads have an internal speaker on the board that it used for that and from what the OP is describing it doesnt even sound like it can get to that point.
 
[quote name='XxSmityxX']Most motherboads have an internal speaker on the board that it used for that and from what the OP is describing it doesnt even sound like it can get to that point.[/QUOTE]

"Most" don't. The one the OP bought does not have any internal speaker on the board. It has leads for a chassis speaker. If that is not hooked up, you aren't going to hear any beeps.

OP, if you're sure that the CPU/mem are seated firmly, and that there are no grounding issues, then the only other thing I can recommend is to completely reset the CMOS of the board and fire it up again. You can do this by shorting the jumper CLEAR_CMOS near the front chassis connectors. (read page 32 in the manual for more info)
 
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::High Five:: I also recently built, well tried to built a rig based around a Gigabyte board. This post probably won't be any help. But I three different rams, in different slots, different video cards, tested the PSU, reset the jumpers and still nothing. Even when I contacted them they weren't too helpful.

My friend also built a computer around a Gigabyte board and he had some troubles also, though it's working now. Good luck and hope you figure it out.
 
[quote name='mtxbass1']"Most" don't. The one the OP bought does not have any internal speaker on the board. It has leads for a chassis speaker. If that is not hooked up, you aren't going to hear any beeps.

OP, if you're sure that the CPU/mem are seated firmly, and that there are no grounding issues, then the only other thing I can recommend is to completely reset the CMOS of the board and fire it up again. You can do this by shorting the jumper CLEAR_CMOS near the front chassis connectors. (read page 32 in the manual for more info)[/QUOTE]

Get your head out of the manual and suggesting "word for word" what the manual does.

Fix his problem computer GURU!
 
[quote name='XxSmityxX']Get your head out of the manual and suggesting "word for word" what the manual does.

Fix his problem computer GURU![/QUOTE]

:roll:

What exactly have YOU contributed to this thread except "send the board back to newegg?"
 
[quote name='mtxbass1']:roll:

What exactly have YOU contributed to this thread except "send the board back to newegg?"[/QUOTE]

If you take time to look back in the thead instead of "trying" to correct my statments im sure you will see. ;)

But back on topic this very well seems like its a dead MB and apperently the OP has tried everything we have suggested and it still wont post?

Hence send it back to newegg!
 
Took the CMOS out to reset it, same problem. Put in some speakers, but yeah this thing doesn't even get the chance to beep before it turns off. Damn, I'm so baffled about this. Thanks for the suggestions though, guys. It means a lot.
 
[quote name='XxSmityxX']If you take time to look back in the thead instead of "trying" to correct my statments im sure you will see. ;)

But back on topic this very well seems like its a dead MB and apperently the OP has tried everything we have suggested and it still wont post?

Hence send it back to newegg![/QUOTE]

You started it buddy. You felt the need to quote my post first, acting like I'm the one telling you that you're an idiot when in fact, I'm providing information and advice on what the OP can do to diagnose this problem.

"apperently" you have nothing to contribute to this thread except "board is dead, send it back" when in fact, there are many things that could have been done before he goes that far.

Moxio, I have this EXACT same board, ironically, per your recommendation earlier last week, and I have no issues with it.

Also, post/read here. http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/showthread.php?p=3711713
 
[quote name='mtxbass1']I'm not really sure why you're quoting me there. I'm providing general information here.
[/QUOTE]

So apparently YOU did know why i quoted you. And im pretty sure your motivation was to disect my post.

But thats cool, I'm tired of fighting with bold face liars. :cool:

*Good luck with the board OP
 
For what it's worth, I had a similar issue with my Laptop recently. The laptop would power on for 2 seconds or so then make a sound as it turned off quickly. The issue was the motherboard. Got it replaced and haven't had it happen again, though it does freeze randomly and quite often now.
 
The bitchslap war won't help him, so...yeah.

You say you took out the CMOS jumper, but did you reconnect it in the "clear CMOS" position? That's what actually clears it.
 
wow I had the EXACT same problem happened to me a few months ago. The system would power up, then shut down before hitting POST. Checked everything, blew out the dust, etc... Pulled out one ram stick, one br/hd burner and volla problem fixed. Forgot about it for a few months, then put the stick and burner back now everything is still good!
 
[quote name='XxSmityxX']So apparently YOU did know why i quoted you. And im pretty sure your motivation was to disect my post.

But thats cool, I'm tired of fighting with bold face liars. :cool:

*Good luck with the board OP[/QUOTE]

If I wanted to disect your post, I would have quoted it. For your information, I was informing Moxio that you don't even need to have any of those connected to power on the PC.

Do you have anything else to contribute to this thread, or are you going to continue to talk out of your ass?
 
I'm unsure if the RAM or Mobo is at fault, so I guess I'll RMA both then. From what I've gathered from other forums, people there are baffled. :lol:
 
I doubt it is the ram if it just turns off so quickly. Perhaps you could test it out in another computer. My guess is what you have pretty much concluded and that is the mobo is bad and needs replaced.
 
The problem with people posting "test it out on another computer" is that most people these days have ONLY 1 COMPUTER. Very seldom does someone allow you to stick in a suspected damaged part into their computer for testing. If you are upgrading from an older machine, chances are the parts will not work with the older system. If my video card wonks out..guess what? I am SOL because my older system MB was one of the last boards before PCI-E came out.

So unless you have some really good/trusting computer buddies all on the same hardware level, it's gonna be really hard to test it out and I doubt you want to pay Geeksquad or any other place 100 bucks to tell you that you have a dead stick. :(
 
[quote name='ITDEFX']The problem with people posting "test it out on another computer" is that most people these days have ONLY 1 COMPUTER. Very seldom does someone allow you to stick in a suspected damaged part into their computer for testing. If you are upgrading from an older machine, chances are the parts will not work with the older system. If my video card wonks out..guess what? I am SOL because my older system MB was one of the last boards before PCI-E came out.

So unless you have some really good/trusting computer buddies all on the same hardware level, it's gonna be really hard to test it out and I doubt you want to pay Geeksquad or any other place 100 bucks to tell you that you have a dead stick. :([/QUOTE]
On the contrary, I think that people who say to test out the parts on another computer have at least one more computer of their own they could test the parts on, and because of this the suggestion becomes natural, as in their minds, that is what they would do themselves.

My household may be somewhat of an exception, but we have at least 5 fairly up to date computers in my house at any given time, usually more, as well as many older generation computers. So the opportunity to test parts old and new on my own machines is something that I assume other people have without even thinking about it.
 
It's probably something wrong with the motherboard or the RAM.

Since it'd be a long shot for both sticks to be bad, I'd start by unplugging everything except one stick of RAM and the processor--no hard drive, no CD, no floppy, just chips. If that doesn't work, replace the stick of RAM with the other one.

If the motherboard still refuses to power up fully in that config, change the port the CPU fan is plugged into on the motherboard, or better yet, use a converter (pretty cheap) to plug it into the floppy or hard disk power connector coming out of the power supply.

I say this because I've had a couple motherboards and video cards with bad temperature protection circuits, that read fan speeds or chip temp incorrectly. They do what you're describing... fire up for a second, then shut down, because they think there's a high-temperature risk to the CPU. They usually beep NO error code when this happens. CMOS clear also does nothing in this case.

Beyond that, yeah, I'd RMA the motherboard. Complete CPU failure is hardly a possibility. I've had partial CPU failure, but never a complete one that stopped a mobo from starting.
 
Yeah, schwartzvald, I ended up trying all of those suggestions to no avail. I ended up RMA'ing the motherboard. I hope the new one is better. :pray:
 
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