Bad PSU right out of the box?

[hawkeye91]

Hello all --

Just started putting together my first build. Got everything in the case and all seemed to be going well. Tried to power up and nothing. Well almost nothing. The green light on the mobo came on and that's it. No fans, no display, nothing else.

Followed HAL9000's thread on problems -- pulled everything out of the case, minimal setup and still nothing.

Then it occurred to me that the fan in the PSU wasn't running. Correct me if I'm wrong, but it should run all the time, right?

I started thinking the PSU might be bad so I disconnected everything from it and plugged just the PSU in -- still no fan. Tried a different cord -- still no fan.

Would you all agree that I should RMA the PSU or could I be missing something?

Thanks!

hawkeye

Oh...the PSU is a new Fortron Source FSP600-80GLC ATX12V/ EPS12V 600W recommended by folks here and well-reviewed at newegg too.

[chuck4456]

I would remove it all and perform the out of case test. Always perform this test BEFORE installing components. Be sure that you stand offs are configured correctly in your case. No extras You should have excactly the same amount of stand offs as holes in the motherboard. Be sure that the motherboard is flush with the stand offs and secore. Be sure that the screws are tight-but don't wwwwrench'em down. Just tight.

[hawkeye91]

I did remove it all (see original post). Everything is out of the case and the only things on the mobo now are those things listed in HAL9000's post.

It's a little late to do the test first. Intel's instructions specifically state to install the CPU fan with the mobo mounted in the case so I felt it was best to go with their directive.

Everything else was exactly as you described -- standoffs only matched up to the holes in the mobo, mobo secure, screws not overtightened.

I've also tested the PSU by itself (see original post) and the fan in the PSU has not spun yet.

Should I infer from your post that you don't think it's the PSU? If not, given my other descriptions, what do you suspect?

[Panama Red]

Recheck all your connections from the psu to the mobo and make sure they are fully inserted. Double check the cpu fan connector and make sure it is connected to the "cpu fan" header. Sounds like you may have it connected to an incorrect fan connector on the mobo.

[hawkeye91]

I've tried disconnecting and reconnecting the PSU connections to the mobo three times, each time making sure they are secure. The power supply to the video card is secure. The video card is seated correctly as is the single stick of RAM. There is one 4-pin CPU Fan header on the mobo and the CPU fan is attached to it. The CPU fan is secure on the mobo. The mobo is out of the case and there is nothing else attached to it.

Am I correct or incorrect in assuming that the fan in the PSU itself should be running all the time? I'm pretty certain the fan in my other computer's PSU runs all the time. If the answer is yes it should run all the time, then I would think that it's a bad PSU.

Thoughts?

[Panama Red]

The fan inside the psu will only run when there is a demand based on internal heat - thermostatically controlled on the new ones.

[chuck4456]

Do you have access to another PSU?

[hawkeye91]

Hmmm...I was sort of afraid you would say that Panama. Let me ask this then. If I plug one of the chasis fans into the PSU and flip the switch on the PSU, shouldn't the chasis fan run? Those fans don't have any temperature input, right? Seems to me it's either on or off and that's it?

Chuck -- I do not have easy access to another PSU at the moment. My only option there would be to tear apart my only other desktop which is working perfectly at the moment. Not sure if I want to risk that or not but I may not have a choice.

I don't suppose there's any other way to know for sure whether it's a PSU or mobo issue is there?

Maybe I should backup 1/2 step. What exactly should I be looking for here? I expected to see the CPU fan spin, the video card fan spin and something (not sure what) show up on the monitor. I just tried the whole process again. The only signs of life are the green light on the mobo and a very small chirp (definitely not the kind of beep I would expect)...nothing else

Thanks guys!

[hawkeye91]

Oh boy do I feel stupid. The mobo (sorry...haven't identified it yet...ASUS P5W DH Deluxe) has two power connectors -- one 24-pin EATXPWR and one 4-pin ATX12v. The largest plug from the PSU has only 20 pins!!! For some silly reason I thought that's just how it was. I mean this is a new Fortron PSU, it's supposed to be great, etc. I just FIGURED that's the way it's supposed to be. So I need to go find a 24-pin PSU. I hope newegg will forgive my stupidity and RMA this one in exchange for a 24-pin! LOL

Any recommendations on a PSU that will work with my ASUS mobo?

Oops...should've editted the post above...sorry.

[glc]

Now that is strange - the specs say it has a 20+4 but the pictures only show a 20 without the extra 4 on a clipon.

This should be fine:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817104018

Look at the pics - see the clipon?

[hawkeye91]

Hmmm....now you've got me thinking. My PSU has exactly that and if I put the two together, if fits nicely in the 24 pin connector on the mobo. But what about the CPU power? Well there is an 8-pin CPU supply from the PSU, 1/2 of which fits nicely into the 12v connector. Does this sound right? I tried to power up with that and the video card fan spun for about 1 second and then quit. I was heading to the store to get a new PSU but maybe that's not the problem after all?

[glc]

There should be yet another 4 pin connector for the CPU. The 8 pin is an EPS connector for server boards. Try this:

http://forum.pcmech.com/showthread.php?t=132409

[hawkeye91]

I've already done everything in HAL9000's post that you reference. Everything is out of the case, etc.

Ok so I need a new PSU. I'll give that a shot and let you know how it works out. Thanks for the help!


UPDATE:

Found a decent deal on the Antec True Power Trio TP3-650 ATX12V 650W at a local store. I remembered that Antec is on the short list of good PSUs here and the reviews at newegg were good too so I grabbed it. Just plugged it in and whaddya know -- it works!

Chalk that up to a newbie learning experience!

I'm off to finish the build, hopefully without further issues. Thanks again for your input everyone.