Hey everyone, it's good to be back =)
Haven't been here in a few months, and a lot has changed.

Ok down to the problem I have.
I am currently living in on campus apartment housing and don't have access to other equipment which I can use to test my rig.

For the past few years up to about 2 days ago, my desktop computer has been working fine (specs listed in signature but here goes anyways)

P4 2.66 Ghz Northwood 533Mhz FSB
Asus P4S800 D-X Motherboard
Antec P160 Case
Antec NeoPower 480W PSU
1 GB DDR 400 Ram ( 2 x 512MB Corsair XMS 3200 C2PT)
256 MB PNY 6800GT (AGP)
Audigy 2 Platinum Soundcard
16x DVD Rom
NEC 3550A DVD-RW
Maxtor 200GB IDE
WD 120GB IDE

I will be moving apartments on campus and had the lovely idea of hooking up my computer to the TV to watch movies and play games on a larger screen. Thus I shut down the computer and unplug everything from the back. About 2 days later (after my roommates move out) I move the computer to the living room, plug everything in, and I get nothing.
Moved the computer back to my room to see if it was the wall outlet...nothing.
On the motherboard, there is a light to indicate that the mobo is receiving power. That is turned on.

So at the moment, I'm for a loss. I just disassembled my computer and put it all back together and it still doesn't turn on. Everything is seated properly.

Any ideas fellow pcapexers? Any help is appreciated.

Quote: Originally Posted by Bane On the motherboard, there is a light to indicate that the mobo is receiving power. That is turned on. So at the moment, I'm for a loss. I just disassembled my computer and put it all back together and it still doesn't turn on. Everything is seated properly. Any ideas fellow pcapexers? Any help is appreciated.

Two questions:
1. Are you getting any beeps from the system, and if so, how many, and what kind? (IE, two long, one short, etc).
2. Light is on for the mobo -- you're getting power. When you hit the power switch for your computer, *exactly* what happens? Does the PSU fan spin up? Do any system fans spin up?


Initial thought: it's your PSU. Four years is a good long time for an Antec to last. Your mobo should give you some sort of warning beeps to let you know that there is a problem. Lacking those beeps, either the PSU has failed (but not died, thus the light on your mobo) or your mobo itself gave up the ghost.

-godling

Yes the mobo is getting power.
When I hit the power button, absolutely nothing happens. No fans start up, no beeps or anything.
For the mobo headers, the power switch is firmly connected.


The PSU is about 4 years old yes, but there have been no signals that it had been dying.
The motherboard is less than a year old. I upgraded it last year to get Dual Channel capabilities as well as to just get away from a SOYO mobo.

Quote: Originally Posted by Bane Yes the mobo is getting power.

How do you know? I mean, sure if the light goes on that indicates that there is power going to the mobo, but it does not indicate (necessarily) that there is *adequate* power.

Thing is, if you're not getting any fans spinning up anywhere, then you've got a power problem. Either the PSU isn't firing up properly, or the mobo is dead. If the PSU fan isn't spinning up, there's a clue. If the PSU fan is spinning up, then it's more likely the mobo.[/quote]

-godling

The PSU fan doesn't spin up =/
It's just really wierd that one day it works and the next day it doesn't.
I know my computer isn't that great, but what do you suggest for a new PSU?

i think the same as godling must be your PSU

I'm gonna 3rd the PSU failure , the only other thing it might be is a dead board. Did you switch off the PSU before plugging it in ?

I have seen boards short out because the PSU was "on" when the power cord was plugged in.

Any 450 to 500 watt PSU from a good quality manufacturer sure do fine.

Hiper, Antec, Corsair, Seasonic, Thermaltake, Ultra etc etc just shop around and find the best price on a quality psu

Well I already have the modular cables sleeved....
Should I get another Antec Neopower?

Well it looks like most come with cables already sleeved.
I do want to build a new rig in the future, but don't have the funds at the moment. (pharmacy school is 45K a year). Should I get a good PSU now and be future proof, or should I get one to support the system I have now? I don't see a feasible system upgrade for 3 yrs.

I was looking at this
Newegg.com - Antec NeoPower 550 550W ATX12V Power Supply 100 - 240 V UL, CUL, TUV, CE, FCC, CCC, CB, C-tick - Power Supplies

Or this one:
Newegg.com - Antec NeoPower 650 Blue 650W ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply 100 - 240 V UL, CUL, CE, CB, FCC Class B, TUV, CCC, C-tick - Power Supplies

If you dont plan on an upgrade for 3years , then future proffing is really worth it. In three years technology may change so much to make your choice obsolete.

Newegg.com - HIPER HPU-4M580-PS (EU) 580W ATX12V Power Supply 100 - 120V/ 195 - 240V CB, CE, FCC, TUV, cUL - Power Supplies

Newegg.com - Rosewill RP550-2 ATX12V v2.01 550W Power Supply 115/230 V CSA,UL,TUV, FCC - Power Supplies

Newegg.com - COOLER MASTER eXtreme Power RP-550-PCAR 550W ATX from factor 12V V2.01 Power Supply 110-115V/ 220-230V Nemko, TUV, cUL, CE, BSM, FCC, CCC - Power Supplies

Newegg.com - OCZ StealthXStream OCZ600SXS 600W ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply 100 - 240 V CB, CE, CSA, UL, FCC - Power Supplies

Switch the Power switch and the Reset switch on the mobo-header, just to role out a bad switch, and try to start it with Reset switch... It's worth a shot...

Quote: Originally Posted by BeetleMan Switch the Power switch and the Reset switch on the mobo-header, just to role out a bad switch, and try to start it with Reset switch... It's worth a shot...

Outstanding idea!!!!!!! never even crossed my mind

So I switched the power and reset switches on the mobo headers
Nothing =(
Looking into that new PSU now. Thanks everyone.

Ok, so my budget is around 100 dollars. How does this PSU stack up?

Newegg.com - PC Power & Cooling S610EPS 610W Continuous @ 40°C EPS12V Power Supply 100 - 240 V UL, cUL, CE, CB, TUV - Power Supplies

It's on sale right now with an additional 20 dollar MIR
Would it be worth it to get over it's little brother the 500W?

cant go wrong with a PC&P unit

That's an excellant Power Supply. But I'm still wondering why your old one died. When you moved I'm assuming you had it set on it's side. If you had a loose screw or anything metal that might of rolled around you could just have something shorting the mobo. You might want to loosen all the screws holding the mobo to the tray and see if anything slides out from under it.

The computer stopped working before I moved over to the new building.
I completely disassembled and put it back together with no luck =/

Oh, and another question
My mobo has a 20pin connector. Should I just use my current 24-20 pin adapter for this new PSU?

Quote: Originally Posted by Bane The computer stopped working before I moved over to the new building. I completely disassembled and put it back together with no luck =/ Oh, and another question My mobo has a 20pin connector. Should I just use my current 24-20 pin adapter for this new PSU?

Hang onto it ... the new PCP&C 610 you've got there should have it's own adapter, but I think they're all industry standardized, so your old one should work if there isn't one with the new unit. But if the new unit has one, use the new one -- no telling what *might* have happened even to the old adapter.

-godling

Well, unfortunately there was no adapter in the box
Just out of curiosity, since there is only 1 80mm fan in the back, can I install the PSU upsidedown with no problem? The only other opening is on the front of the unit.

Hallelujah it's alive!!!!!
Thanks everyone for helping me diagnose the problem.
The question is still up about having the PSU upside down. I don't think it'll be a problem though.

Quote: Originally Posted by Bane The question is still up about having the PSU upside down. I don't think it'll be a problem though.

If the PSU screw holes match the case's screw holes, then it's right-side up, even if you think it's upside down. To be honest, I'm not sure there *is* an upside or downside of the PSU if it only has an exhaust fan out the back.

-godling