PSU Failure? Plz help!

smerk

smerk

New Member
Hey there, i built this computer about 2 and a half months ago (specs are below) and im using the Corsair VX 550w. I asked on here and someone suggested it as a suitable PSU for my specs.

Now just this afternoon when i came home from school (i have not had ANY problems previously, shut it down normally last night) when i press the power button, it powers up for about 3 seconds (the fans start etc) but then it just cuts out and turns off (the motherboard light always stays on). I havent changed anything in the pc for a while, and i havent moved it in a while either so this is puzzling to me. The only thing i can think of is that the PSU gave out. Do you guys have any ideas as to what the problem may be?

Thanks for any help,
Smerk
 
Sounds more like the board quit on you there. The green led being on shows that there is adequate power to run the system coming from a working supply. You can try a different supply but the board is the thing to look at. That's the typical problem described by many that end up replacing a bad board.
 
I see, is there any way that i can find out for sure if it is the motherboard, short of trying a different one (as i dont have any others i can try)?

EDIT: I cannot find any warranty information in my Mobo box, does this necessarily mean that it did not come with any? If not that is extremely dissapointing since it lasted less than 3 months.
 
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I had one that only lasted 3 days. On the 4th day all it did was see a flash of the hard drive led light, fan spun a little, and then immediately shutoff. That was well within the amount of time to send it back to the vendor for an exchange.

Unfortunately for you too much time has already passed by and your option would be to send it in directly to the manufacturer with a photo copy of the sales receipt showing when it was bought. That would be under manufacturer's warranty there.
 
PC eye said:
Sounds more like the board quit on you there. The green led being on shows that there is adequate power to run the system coming from a working supply. You can try a different supply but the board is the thing to look at. That's the typical problem described by many that end up replacing a bad board.
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pc_eye i have to COMPLEATLY disagree with you, my friend had the exact same problem, light stayed lit but would power for 3 sec only and turn off.

some things just to rule everything, try to do a cmos reset. the best way is to remove the power and take the silver button battery out for 1 min and try it again, if not i would say psu is bad.
 
Really? I agree with PC_eye. The PSU is still giving out power (hence the LED being on). If the PSU was dead, then it shouldn't be giving out any power.

EDIT: If you can work out if it's the motherboard, I got this from the ASUS website:

All ASUS motherboard purchased after November 1st, 1999 will carry 3 year limited warranty services. ASUS product warranty is based on the serial number printed.
Note: Warranty void for user removing serial number sticker on the motherboard .

So I guess you would just need proof of purchase then.

EDIT AGAIN: Oh, and one other thing, try moving the RAM. Take the DIMMS out and put in one and see if it will boot. I once had a computer that just wouldn't start, it wouldn't even beep at me. Eventually I tried changing the slots the RAM was in and it worked.
 
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All that the LED indicates is that the motherboard is receiving a tiny amount of power from the +5VSB rail. It's not uncommon for a PSU to be faulty and yet still able to provide that small amount of power through the +5VSB rail.

There are a lot of causes for this problem, but the PSU is a likely one. Do you have another one you can test?
 
On the few occasions when I've run into a bad supply like the cheapies they toss in along with cases you generally won't see anything when the supply quits. As far as the green led I never go by that anyways.

If you see more then about 2-3seconds that generally points to weak or bad cap in a supply being drawn down by the post tests. When seeing an instant shutoff a bad cap on the board is the usual suspect. A dead battery on the board won't see much either.
 
PC eye said:
The green led being on shows that there is adequate power to run the system coming from a working supply.
Click to expand...

PC eye said:
On the few occasions when I've run into a bad supply like the cheapies they toss in along with cases you generally won't see anything when the supply quits. (As far as the green led I never go by that anyways).
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PCeye are you arguing with yourself, make up your mind. First off you say with without a doubt if the Motherboard LCD is on, the P/S has adequate power and tellng him to send the board back without even telling him to test anything. Then turn right around and say you never go by the LCD anyways. Its stuff like this that make you completely uncredible. Post No 7 in the correct responce.
 
StrangleHold said:
PCeye are you arguing with yourself, make up your mind. First off you say with without a doubt if the Motherboard LCD is on, the P/S has adequate power and tellng him to send the board back without even telling him to test anything. Then turn right around and say you never go by the LCD anyways. Its stuff like this that make you completely uncredible. Post No 7 in the correct responce.
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Motherboard LCD? I suppose but that's a new one! On a good number of boards there is also a red "led" seen that will light up when the power is inadequate to run the system. That's what they are supposed to be there for while I never go strictly by "idiot lights" and why I suggested trying out another supply before ruling that out. But again you only read what you want to not all of what is actually posted like what is in post #2! :rolleyes:
 
PC eye said:
while I never go strictly by "idiot lights" and why I suggested trying out another supply before ruling that out. But again you only read what you want to not all of what is actually posted like what is in post #2! :rolleyes:
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I only read what I want (HUM) lets see here!
PC eye said:
((That was well within the amount of time to send it back to the vendor for an exchange.

Unfortunately for you too much time has already passed by and your option would be to send it in directly to the manufacturer with a photo copy of the sales receipt showing when it was bought. That would be under manufacturer's warranty there.))
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PC eye said:
((Sounds more like the board quit on you there)). ((The green led being on shows that there is adequate power to run the system coming from a working supply)). You can try a different supply but the board is the thing to look at. ((That's the typical problem described by many that end up replacing a bad board)).
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As always you miss the one that counts! That would be the first reply on this thread! :rolleyes:

PC eye said:
Sounds more like the board quit on you there. The green led being on shows that there is adequate power to run the system coming from a working supply. You can try a different supply but the board is the thing to look at. That's the typical problem described by many that end up replacing a bad board.
Click to expand...


If you bothered to pay attention and read for a change you already have seen: "You can try a different supply....etc." was suggested a means of ruling that out. ddaaaa..... :rolleyes:
 
You beat all, you more or less try to talk the guy into sending his board back, yes you said check his P/S but in the same sentence you said, but the board is the thing to look at and end up replacing the board. You say the board is bad because the light is on and then go and say you never pay any attention to the LCD (idiot light) as you call it, but then thats the reason you said the board was bad. You say I didnt pay attention, thats the problem I do and other people need to and not be mislead by nonsence you say then try to backtalk you way out of it by claiming people dont pay attention. Think this has come up with you before telling people to buy things-sends things back even before you know what the problem is. The best thing to do is not pay attention to you and trouble shoot the problem alot farther before they start sending parts back!
 
I see, well i found out before i read these posts my board does indeed have a 3 year warranty so that should be fine, however if the problem is actually the PSU the only spare one that i have to test is a fairly old one i think its about 300-400W (would this be suitable just to test with?). When i get home in a few hours i will fiddle with the memory, reset the CMOS and check back on here to see if testing that PSU will work or not, thanks alot for your help guys!
 
smerk said:
the PSU the only spare one that i have to test is a fairly old one i think its about 300-400W (would this be suitable just to test with?).
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Provided it has the appropriate connectors (particularly a 4 pin CPU connector) and is in working condition it should be OK just for testing. You needn't plug all your drives, etc... in either, just see if it POSTS at all with that PSU.
 
I tried taking all my RAM out and replacing it etc etc, didnt work, then i tried resetting the CMOS and that didnt work either. The thing doesnt even post if i have no graphics card, memory or HDD plugged in.

Unfortunately on the PSU i was going to test the main plug, the one thats long and has the most pins i think its (24 pin or something?) is smaller than the one on my motherboard (by about 4 pins). It did have a square connector that had 4 pins however (the CPU connector?).

So im guessing that my only option now would be to take it to a computer shop and see if they can find the problem. Im not very experienced with building computers and im not comfortable doing anything drastic without knowing the problem for sure.
 
smerk said:
Unfortunately on the PSU i was going to test the main plug, the one thats long and has the most pins i think its (24 pin or something?) is smaller than the one on my motherboard (by about 4 pins). It did have a square connector that had 4 pins however (the CPU connector?).
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You can plug the 20 pin connector on the PSU into the 24 pin connector on the motherboard. It isn't ideal, but should work for testing, and won't damage anything.

Bringing the PC to a computer store would of course be another option.
 
Ok, i tried the other PSU (turns out it was actually 250w) and the same thing occurs, powers on for aprrox 2-3 seconds then powers down. Does this mean that it is definitely the motherboard that is the problem? And if so how do i go about getting it replaced? I have proof of purchase and a 3 yr warranty :) . Thank you very much ceewi1 you have been a big help!
 
Is it giving you any kind of beep tone at all, or if it gave you the 1 beep from a cold start is it still doing it now? If you do end up sending it back just give Asus a call, get a RMA number, package it up with a copy of the proof of purchase and the RMA number and mail it to them. Just Click on the Australia link on the left.
http://support.asus.com/contact/contact.aspx?SLanguage=en-us
 
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