Fans Spin w/o 2x2, Nothing with 2x2

[mdonders]

Hello,

New post with an extremely strange problem here. So I built this PC around October of 2007 and it ran extremely well and very cool and I was very happy. Recently I came home and the PC wouldn't boot up. The processor fan and case fan spin when I have the 4-Pin 2x2 (12v) not plugged in, but when I plug it in and try to boot up it sounds like it gets a surge of power, but not enough to start up.

I tried every combination of things and eventually RMA'd the motherboard. I still had the same problem with the new motherboard so I bought a new one, RMA'd the processor and the PSU. I finally got all the components back to me today and still the same problem. So I have a new motherboard, new PSU and new processor and still have this same weird problem. Has anyone ever seen this before or know what would cause this? I tried booting up with just the processor fan header and the case fan and that is it. Nothing else is plugged in.

PC Components:
Intel Core 2 Duo E6550
Intel BOXDG33FBC LGA 775 Intel G33 ATX Motherboard
Stock Cooler
Antec Sonata II Case
Antec EarthWatts 500W PSU
(2x1GB) Crucial Ballistix PC2-6400 RAM

The only thing that concerns me is that when I use a Power Supply tester the -5V LED does not light up but the sticker on the side of the PSU doesn't specify that it is supposed to put out -5V.

Your help is greatly appreciated.

[shadowpr]

First thing to try is this: http://forum.pcmech.com/showthread.php?t=132409

See if you can get it to post that way. If not post back.

[mdonders]

Originally Posted by shadowpr First thing to try is this: http://forum.pcmech.com/showthread.php?t=132409 See if you can get it to post that way. If not post back.

So I tried to do it out of the box. All that is plugged in is the processor and the 24-pin and the 2x2 connector and I get the same result. Without the 2x2 connector the fan on the processor heatsink spins up, but then when i try to boot up with the 2x2 connector plugged in it sounds like gets a jolt of power, but nothing happens. The heatsink fan budges, but does not spin.

[shadowpr]

Since you already replaced the mother board, the power supply and the processor, have you tried just one stick of ram, and then tried just the other stick of ram. Not sure if that could be a problem that would cause this, but doesn't hurt to try.

[mdonders]

Originally Posted by shadowpr Since you already replaced the mother board, the power supply and the processor, have you tried just one stick of ram, and then tried just the other stick of ram. Not sure if that could be a problem that would cause this, but doesn't hurt to try.

Yup I have tried with one stick of RAM in all DIMMs and then the other stick in all DIMMs. When i test my power supply (which seems most logical) it is giving the correct voltages on the 24-pin and it is giving out 12V on the 2x2 connector. The easy way out is to part out the PC and buy a Mac, but its hard to part out when I don't know what works and what doesn't.

[flanzig1]

Are you using the original CPU heatsink/fan unit? If so, the fan itself could be the problem.

[mdonders]

I am using the original heatsink, but the new processor I ordered came with a new one so what are the chances something is wrong with both of them?

[mdonders]

Update: Tried a friends power supply that I took out of his working computer and still has the same problem.

[flanzig1]

Here's my take on the situation: The orginal problem probably was the PSU, when the new motherboard was installed the PSU took out the new mobo. And so on, a bad part damages a new part and the cycle continues.
If I read your first post correctly, you tried the replacement motherboards with the original PSU and then replaced the CPU and PSU.

[shadowpr]

Originally Posted by flanzig1 Here's my take on the situation: The orginal problem probably was the PSU, when the new motherboard was installed the PSU took out the new mobo. And so on, a bad part damages a new part and the cycle continues. If I read your first post correctly, you tried the replacement motherboards with the original PSU and then replaced the CPU and PSU.

That makes sense.

[mdonders]

So then I should RMA the motherboard and try it with the confirmed working power supply?

But why does the power supply tester confirm that my original power supply had good voltage on 24-pin and +12V?

[liambl]

Voltage really means squat in a situation like this. The power supply has to provide clean power with little ripple or residual AC from the rectifier. If ripple or AC gets into the DC lines it can cause all sorts of problems. Also it may not be providing sufficient current to start the PSU. Out of curiousity, what brand and model is the PSU you had?

[mdonders]

The original PSU was an Antec EarthWatts 500. The second one I tried is an Ultra XFinity 600W.

[shadowpr]

Ultra power supplies aren't known to be good.

[mdonders]

Originally Posted by shadowpr Ultra power supplies aren't known to be good.

I know that, but I only used it because it worked in my friends system and I wanted to confirm that I was using a working power supply to try and power my system and have it boot up. I would not use one in my box permanently.

[shadowpr]

Ah. Ok.

I still think Flanzig1 is on to something.

Try a new motherboard with a known working power supply. See what that does.

[mdonders]

That is where the issue lies. I am at school right now and I don't have any spare parts just laying around. I think I might RMA my current one and try with this definitely working power supply to rule other things out.

This is so fustrating.

[shadowpr]

Fustrating now that it doesn't work, but once you get it, you'll feel like you're on top of the world.