[HELP] Need help identifying hardware issues

[Devilsire]

Hello guys,

Recently CPU facing sudden shutdown issues... until today, finally unable to bootup / post screen at all.

I've narrowing down to PSU (Andyson F500M), MB (Biostar A880G), or processor (Athlon 445x3)... these are what i've done

- unplugged all devices, leaving just PSU + MB + Processor/fan
- upon trying to power up, nothing happens except noticing the PSU fan moving slightly (~1cm) & stopped. Processor fan remained stationery.
- tried checking casing's power switch by using reset button as power switch instead, same result as above.
- tried using other power sockets
- removed processor/fan & tried powering up, nothing happen as well (in this situation, is the PSU fan supposed to be spinning normally at least?)
- reset CMOS battery, same result
- no spare PSU/MB/Processor for further tests

hardwares still under warranty but under different distros... so any help in identifying which is the causing issue will help greatly

 

[poor_poor]

Hello guys,

Recently CPU facing sudden shutdown issues... until today, finally unable to bootup / post screen at all.

I've narrowing down to PSU (Andyson F500M), MB (Biostar A880G), or processor (Athlon 445x3)... these are what i've done

- unplugged all devices, leaving just PSU + MB + Processor/fan
- upon trying to power up, nothing happens except noticing the PSU fan moving slightly (~1cm) & stopped. Processor fan remained stationery.
- tried checking casing's power switch by using reset button as power switch instead, same result as above.
- tried using other power sockets
- removed processor/fan & tried powering up, nothing happen as well (in this situation, is the PSU fan supposed to be spinning normally at least?)
- reset CMOS battery, same result
- no spare PSU/MB/Processor for further tests

hardwares still under warranty but under different distros... so any help in identifying which is the causing issue will help greatly

If you remove CPU/Ram and power up and PSU fan do not move a single inch -

PSU or
I/O Controller or
CPU VRM or
Clock gen is
faulty.

 

[Devilsire]

If you remove CPU/Ram and power up and PSU fan do not move a single inch -

PSU or
I/O Controller or
CPU VRM or
Clock gen is
faulty.

thks bro for info.

So am i right to say with just PSU & Mobo connected (without CPU/Ram), PSU fan should at least be powered up & moving?

And CPU VRM / Clock gen are part of Mobo right? any other ways to narrow down between PSU or Mobo?

 

[poor_poor]

So am i right to say with just PSU & Mobo connected (without CPU/Ram), PSU fan should at least be powered up & moving?

- PSU will move and stop for 1 -2 sec

And CPU VRM / Clock gen are part of Mobo right? any other ways to narrow down between PSU or Mobo?

- Yes CPU VRM/ Clock gen is part of mama board component.

Yes there is a way use another PSU or use testpen to touch I/O controller to force power On, for Clock gen and VRM you need multi-meter to test

i go sleep later come back to you, if you have other question..

 

[Override2Zion]

...upon trying to power up, nothing happens except noticing the PSU fan moving slightly (~1cm) & stopped. Processor fan remained stationery....

Have you tried removing the MB and PSU out of the casing entirely and try turning the system on? Might also be something shorting out the power supply. All modern PSUs are equipped with short circuit protection, when low load resistance is detected, the PSU cuts the supply to prevent damage. Were you able to replicate the same "fan moving slightly (~1cm) & stopped" symptom repeatedly without powering off the mains and waiting? If you can't, the PSU could be in protection mode.

 

[commach]

If you remove CPU/Ram and power up and PSU fan do not move a single inch -

PSU or
I/O Controller or
CPU VRM or
Clock gen is
faulty.

thks bro for info.

So am i right to say with just PSU & Mobo connected (without CPU/Ram), PSU fan should at least be powered up & moving?

And CPU VRM / Clock gen are part of Mobo right? any other ways to narrow down between PSU or Mobo?

The motherboard will not be able to power up without the processor. Don't waste time testing without the processor in the socket.

Steps of troubleshooting:

1) Jump start the PSU to determine the status, google/youtube for jump start PSU .

2) If PSU able to power up, reconnect the 24 pins ATX connector to the motherboard and power up the motherboard without the graphic card and ram module. Clean the gold contact on the graphic card and ram modules using a eraser before installing them back to the system for further test as below:

3) Observe the error beep (if any) if the motherboard able to power up.
3a) If beeps, motherboard likely (further test required to determine the health status) to be working.
3b) If no beep, likely PSU (bloated capacitors is the prime suspect) or motherboard failed.

4) If 3a is true, install the graphic card only, power up the system then observe the error beep (for missing ram module)
4a) If 3b is true, borrow a known working PSU to further test the system.

5) If 4 is true, install one ram module at a time (if more than 1) to test the system.

 

[Devilsire]

cool! learn something new on how to jump start psu.

Psu able to powerup with jump start alone. When tried with mobo + processor + casing power switch + beep speaker (all connected & laid outside casing) same thing where the psu fan move a cm and stopped without anything else happening, no beep etc.

so its kinda halted at 2) where mobo/cpu are not able to powerup..

 

[foo9883]

I would suggest testing the PSU using the "paperclip" method first

 

[Kiwi8]

cool! learn something new on how to jump start psu.

Psu able to powerup with jump start alone. When tried with mobo + processor + casing power switch + beep speaker (all connected & laid outside casing) same thing where the psu fan move a cm and stopped without anything else happening, no beep etc.

so its kinda halted at 2) where mobo/cpu are not able to powerup..

Somehow I think the one that's highly likely to have a problem is the mobo.

 

[Devilsire]

Somehow I think the one that's highly likely to have a problem is the mobo.

yup i suspected so too. just went down kaira & convergent for diagnose/rma. the technician was the testing the mobo infront of me.. upon trying to powerup, it went "Boom" and confirmed kaput haha. some sparks near the i/o, luckily not when i was troubleshooting at hme.

at the same time went down to convergent to test psu as well since nearby.. some weird sound, offered me 1to1 exchange.

great services by both kaira & convergent