NF7-S2 Problem, or Power Supply

AMDCam

New Member
Hey, I have an NF7-S2 motherboard I just bought, and it won't turn on. I think my power supply isn't working but I accidentally reseated the ATX connector when it was plugged in to the wall and everything turned on for a second then turned off (but nothing turned on even before I did it to it, and nothing is turning on after I did it either). Most of you people are probably gonna tell me "you need a new mobo", but if anyone can actually think about what I said and come up with another reason nothing's running please tell me. I'm pretty sure it's the power supply, and I think it was just a small power surge in the mobo, so it shouldn't have fried anything. The power supply didn't turn on without anything in it, but the wierd thing is when I plug it into the supply from the wall when the switch is on, the lights dim, even though there's no power going through anything. Like if the lights dimmed when I turned on the computer maybe that makes sense, but when it's not turned on why is it happening. Thank you.
 
To check your Power Supply do the following. (you'll need a Volt Meter)

1. Unplug the Power Supply from everything except for 1 HDD or a Floppy(to create load).
2. Get a paper clip and bend it into a large "U" shape.
3. Insert one end of the paper clip into pin#8 (grey)(PWR-OK) & other end into pin#14 (green)(PS-ON) of the ATX Power Connector on the PS. This turns the PS on with out having it pluged into a MB. For a picture of the connector see this site.
4. Plug the PS into the wall and turn the switches on.
5. Check if the fan at back of PS is turning/on????
6. Use your Volt meter to check the output from each pin on the connectors against the values listed on the above mentioned picture.(refrenced to ground)

Let me know how you go.
 
Still not workin

Thanks a lot for that dude, that is a tactic I'm gonna use every time my power supply gets a problem. But the problem is, the power supply does work. It turned on and everything connected spinned up, except it was kind of surging.... I have no idea what that could mean. By surging I mean the LEDs (on the fans, it's a gaming case) were kind of flashing every second and you could hear the fans spin up and stop and spin up every second. Maybe that's what it's supposed to do with the paper clip method, or somehow it was being overloaded even with just those couple fans and a hard drive in there. So, could that mean my motherboard and everything connected is overloading the psu (the PSU is supposed to be 480watts, I bought it because it could handle so much)? Or maybe it's just the motherboard, but I feel so helpless when the only way to turn it on when it's plugged in is through that tiny 2-pin power switch. Well hopefully you guys can help me out, and thanks much for the help, scrat.
 
I think I got it figured out, the power supply is faulty. It's not keeping a constant flow of power, so I'm returning it for a new one. The only thing is, what do any of you guys think that surge meant when I accidentally plugged it in with the power connected? The whole everything powered up for a split second then died thing? I'm hoping it was just a random accident that happened to surge power through like it touched those plugs at the right time to make it think it needed to turn on, but then shut off because the motherboard didn't want it to turn on or the supply was just surging. If you don't know what I mean, then just tell me what you think the surge could have meant. I am really hoping I didn't short out the motherboard, because like I said in the original post, it never turned on before I accidentally did that either. Thanks
 
Sorry i didn't get back to you earlier mate.

Yup i'd say you've got a faulty PS. It sounds as if something in the AC-DC converter section isn't working properly and only producing a half cycle, due to the fact that its pulseing.

I'd say that all of your other hardware should still be ok... unless the power spiked when you plugged in the PS with power on. Maybe take it all to the shop so you can test it straight away with a new PS.
 
Alright thanks man, what kind of shop though? Like Best Buy or a smaller, local kind of place? One more thing, how do you mean test it straight away, you mean they'll test all the hardware in the store in front of me, or spend a couple days setting it up looking for a problem? Thanks again guys.
 
Ok.... let me get this straight, you have purchased all of your hardware recently and from the same shop, or is only the MB new?
 
I got everything at newegg.com, and EVERYTHING is new (I mean from the motherboard to the cooling fans), so that's why I was asking. But I forgot, I never told you guys I did it all online, the only thing I can do (up until next monday) is return anything I got for a new one, which is cool, but I'm hoping it's just the psu.
 
Ahh, ok i thought you'd bought from a local shop.

If when the power kept turning on/off while doing the paperclip thing, and only had the HDD connected to it and nothing else, then you could be 90% sure that it is only a faulty PS.
Do you have access to any other PS that you could test your MB with?

I'd sugest you send the PS back for warranty replacement while you still can.
 
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Actually yeah, and I was gonna do that today, but someone in my family told me I shouldn't do that because it "might not be able to handle what I need it to do", but it's just for testing. So should I use the old one? It's only 300w, but for testing I think it's good enough.
 
If its got all the same connectors as your new one, and you know it works then yes, try it.
Only plug the MB, HDD and Graphics card(if needed) into it... not the case. Then if it works also try the same config again but with your PS.
 
AMDCam said:
.....By surging I mean the LEDs (on the fans, it's a gaming case) were kind of flashing every second and you could hear the fans spin up and stop and spin up every second... ....or somehow it was being overloaded even with just those couple fans....

Dont connect the case fans & lights(the system status led are ok thou)
 
Thanks for all this help man, but one more thing. Is the ATX12 connector manditory? Because the power supply I want to use is a little older and doesn't have one. I'm pretty sure the main power unit fits though.
 
I know this thread's getting old, but just this last thing about the ATX12 connector. Do you have to plug it in? Thanks
 
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