troubleshooting power supply problem

[PhilipMarlowe]

I'm in the middle of a new build and think the peripheral power connectors on my power supply may be bad. I'm working with an Asus P8Z68 Pro and a Seasonic x-650. I've connected the motherboard to the power supply and can see that power runs to it fine, but I can't get power to anything else. The X-650 is modular, and I've tried different cables going through different peripheral ports on the PS. I've tried this with the optical drive, the stock fans that came with my case, as well as a fan controller/fan system.

Any ideas?

[jdeb]

do you have the CPU power connector in place?

if you have a multi meter, you can check the voltages at the connectors.

I would be surprised that you have a bad seasonic but stranger things have happened.

[PhilipMarlowe]

I don't have a multi meter. I'm pretty sure the connectors are firmly in place. I've tried with two different peripheral cables and on each of the modular peripheral ports on the power supply.

On a separate issue, I just installed the memory and cpu (along with cpu cooler), and also plugged in the monitor into the hdmi of the mobo (the Asus Z68 has integrated graphics). This should be enough to go to post, even without anything else plugged in, right? I know there's power going to the mobo because the light goes on and the cpu fan plugged directly into the motherboard starts spinning, but I don't get anything on the display.

Now I worry that I have two separate problems - a bad power supply and at least one other bad part :-(

[David M]

You really need to borrow or buy a digital multimeter to confirm this. Even a cheap one from Radio Shack will work.

[jdeb]

Originally Posted by PhilipMarlowe I don't have a multi meter. I'm pretty sure the connectors are firmly in place. I've tried with two different peripheral cables and on each of the modular peripheral ports on the power supply. On a separate issue, I just installed the memory and cpu (along with cpu cooler), and also plugged in the monitor into the hdmi of the mobo (the Asus Z68 has integrated graphics). This should be enough to go to post, even without anything else plugged in, right? I know there's power going to the mobo because the light goes on and the cpu fan plugged directly into the motherboard starts spinning, but I don't get anything on the display. Now I worry that I have two separate problems - a bad power supply and at least one other bad part :-(

list your system specs please.

motherboard,
ram
video card (if applicable)
hard rive

[PhilipMarlowe]

Thanks for the replies guys. Here are my specs:

MOBO: Asus P8Z68 Pro
CPU: i5-2500k
CPU Cooler: Gelid Tranquillo
Case: Antec P183
PS: Seasonic X-650
HD1: Crucial C300 SSD
HD2: WD Caviar Green 2TB
Graphics: integrated for now

As far as the PS is concerned, I'm completely stumped.

As far as my second issue, I'm wondering if the motherboard is not set by default to output to its hdmi port? That might explain why I'm not getting anything on screen? Not sure what else it could be.

[David M]

If your hard drives are spinning up and your CPU fan is working then at least the rails that power those devices are working. Having a cheap multimeter is pretty basic to someone who builds their own computer.

[jdeb]

you did not list your memory

what kind of display connection are you using?

[PhilipMarlowe]

memory: Patriot Gamer 2 Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600

display connection: hdmi cable

My hard drive isn't powering up, as far as I can tell. It's an SSD though. I guess I should try it with the Caviar instead because I would be able to hear it working.

I did two DIY builds before in '05 and '08 and didn't need a multimeter for them, but guess I was just lucky. I figured this one would go as smoothly :-(

[PhilipMarlowe]

So I tried my Caviar drive and it spun up on two different rails. I'm beginning to think I may not have a PS problem...

Still stumped about the display problem though. I dug up a DVI cable and it gave me no better result than the HDMI cable. Also, my motherboard is not making any sounds. A red bulb lights up, but no beeps at all. Aargh!

[jdeb]

Originally Posted by PhilipMarlowe So I tried my Caviar drive and it spun up on two different rails. I'm beginning to think I may not have a PS problem... Still stumped about the display problem though. I dug up a DVI cable and it gave me no better result than the HDMI cable. Also, my motherboard is not making any sounds. A red bulb lights up, but no beeps at all. Aargh!

Just because you heard it spin up means little, you didn't hear the ssd because it has no moving parts. If everything is hooked up correctly and you suspect a bad power supply, you need to either swap it out for a known good one or get a multi meter and check to rule it out. Multi meters are cheaper than power supplies or see if you can borrow one from someone.

Reseat memory and retry. If no go try one stick at a time.

[edfair]

You may want to double check the power block. Everything is tight the first couple of times and you really have to use pressure to seat it. At least the power led indicates that the standby power is good.

Some motherboards are shipped with the battery disconnected and the system refuses to power up until you have battery. This would be the clear memory jumper, near the battery.

[PhilipMarlowe]

I will take another crack at it tomorrow, and will make sure to check the power block and battery. Reseating both memory sticks might be tricky - one of them is partially covered by the giant Trnquillo heatsink.

[SARGE]

Originally Posted by David M Having a cheap multimeter is pretty basic to someone who builds their own computer.

Not if the person has never used one. I never used a meter on mine until trying to check volts across the fan connectors, then almost smoked my mobo. I've used every kind of meter there is 40 years with telco. Building a PC doesn't require knowledge of a meter. Comes in handy though, but still gotta know what you're doing with it.

[PhilipMarlowe]

System up and running. I'm not even going to say the dumb thing that was causing the problems. Suffice it to say all the parts are working fine. Slightly embarrassed but happy the computer works! Thanks for the replies and helping me along.

[jdeb]

Originally Posted by PhilipMarlowe System up and running. I'm not even going to say the dumb thing that was causing the problems. Suffice it to say all the parts are working fine. Slightly embarrassed but happy the computer works! Thanks for the replies and helping me along.

Come on, we all admit are dumb moves. We are like family on here

[David M]

Originally Posted by SARGE Not if the person has never used one. I never used a meter on mine until trying to check volts across the fan connectors, then almost smoked my mobo. I've used every kind of meter there is 40 years with telco. Building a PC doesn't require knowledge of a meter. Comes in handy though, but still gotta know what you're doing with it.

I agree to some extent. If you never have a problem which never requires an accurate reading then you don't need one. But of course, it does occasionally require that you need a multimeter to troubleshoot a problem. I could not do my job without a multimeter. It occasionally requires that I troubleshoot electrical problems on a boat

[SARGE]

Yeah, but how many people you know walking around even know what a volt/ohmeter is, or how to use it to test continuity on a simple piece of wire to see if it's open (that's the easy part to teach), much less switch it to ac/dc and actually take a reading? We all can do it. Great and necessary tool for a PC, auto, and the house though.

[PhilipMarlowe]

Originally Posted by jdeb Come on, we all admit are dumb moves. We are like family on here

CPU power cable not fully plugged in. Simple as that. Could have sworn I double checked it too.

Glad I didn't run out and buy a multimeter though!

[jdeb]

Originally Posted by PhilipMarlowe CPU power cable not fully plugged in. Simple as that. Could have sworn I double checked it too. Glad I didn't run out and buy a multimeter though!

It happens

I can not imagine going through life without a multimeter bought mine at a garage sale for a $1.00. It is a Micronta 22-185A

[SARGE]

I've used Radio Shack, still do. I prefer the needle versus digital - I like to see it move. Have cooked a few thru the years though, using wrong setting. Last was when car battery on charger and I wanted to see what it was putting out. I never did find out, but got a new meter.

[edfair]

Was worth having an analog in the toolbox today, shooting a start problem on a van in a parking lot.
Young girl asked for help jumping off. Mother and grandmother didn't speak english. Evidently they have been jumping it for a while, battery clamps were pretty mangled. Trouble really was the wire clamp first connection off the battery. Had the socket and drive with me that it took.
Evidently they called 911. Cops showed up about the time I was digging the sockets out.