Dual Xeon Workstation won't power on

Flint67

New Member
About a week ago the workstation wouldn't go into bios but it had power. It would just keep restarting over and over again. I had a feeling it was the power supply so I changed it. Now there doesn't seem to be any power at all. I've reset the CMOS. I've removed all ram, HDD, and expansion cards and still nothing. I've done everything here http://www.computerforum.com/209946-tech-guide-diagnosing-pc-will-not-post-start.html.

Here's the specs:

Motherboard: SUPERMICRO X8DAL-i-O
CPU: 2x Xeon 5504
video: fx1800 Nvidia
Expansion: Wireless Internet card
HDD: 1 x solid state 128gb, 2 x 500gb baracuda, 1 x 2tb baracuda, all SATA
Ram: 24 gb, 6 x 4gb sticks of Gskill DR3 1600
PSU: 850W thermaltake brand new

Any thoughts? What else should I try?
 
I assume you have checked your new power supply in another system to make it sure it definitely is working OK?

Going by that you say you've done everything in my guide, I'm inclined to believe that the board could possibly be dying. Have you tried checking for shorts on it? Is it touching the case at all where it shouldn't be?

When you say it doesn't start, do you mean it will fire up, then die, or if fires up and beeps, or nothing happens at all when the power button is pressed?

Can this board POST with one CPU installed or do both need to be installed? It could be possible that maybe one of the CPU and/or sockets on the board is damaged. Just a possibility.
 
I mean it has no power, no lights, no fans, nothing. Yes PSU is confirmed to be good. I do get a faint clicking sound from the board, it sounds like a relay but that is the only sign of life. I pulled the board and looked for shorts but I cant see any issues. The case doesn't have any copper standoffs but the chassis has them built in for the ATX board. From what I can find it needs both cpu's to boot.
 
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OK have you tried removing the board and tried running it out of the case on a book or cardboard or something? Just plug it into the power supply out of the case and use a screwdriver to connect the two pins to get it to POST.
 
YOUR THE MAN!! Now what should I put under the board to keep it insulated? If I use standoffs then the plugs wont match up in the face.
 
What plugs don't match up? If you need a low profile mount you could get rubber spacers to keep the board from passing and electricity to the case.
 
The integrated plugs on the mother board like sound, usb, serial etc. I tried insulating under the board but that didn't fix it. So it has to be in the screws. Maybe some longer screws and rubber washers to go under the board?
 
You need some motherboard standoffs, unless it's one of those cases which doesn't need them. The board and I/O shield should still fit all OK when you have standoffs.

If not, it might be an idea to purchase a case to put it in. No need to spend a lot of money on the case, just get one which at least allows you to use the PC without the board shorting on the case. ;)
 
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