EX58-UD3R won't start anymore

[genesys]

hello!

this is my configuration:
GA-EX58-UD3R
Core i7 920
Zotac Geforce 9800 GT

usually (at least in the beginning) when i would startup the computer, all the fans (case, graphicscard) would spin at maximum speed for a second or so, then the harddisks (or CD drive?) would make some "click" sound, the monitor would receive a signal, the fans would stop spinning so fast and the bootprocess would start.

lately, this first stage, where the fans are spinning at maximum speed became longer and longer. actually it was quite undeterministic. somtimes the pc would start after few seconds, sometimes it would take minutes to leave this stage. sometimes it would also spin the fans for quite some while, then shutoff completely and restart a second later.

now i installed a new PCI network card - and the computer didn't manage to go out of this first stage anymore. i removed it again - nothing. i removed the graphicscard (only other card in the computer) - still nothing. the fans are on high-speed, the monitor doesn't receive a signal, the leds on the board all glow. no beep, nothing.
anyone knows that problem and what i can do about it?
thanks!

[absic]

Hi there and welcome to the forum,

a questions questions for you:
What Rev No is your Mobo?
What BIOS Version are you running?
What is your PSU?

When faced with this kind of situation the first thing I would look at is the PSU. Is it working properly. I know you are getting fans spinning and other signs that would indicate that the PSU is OK but believe me, I have seen too many problems like this being caused by a dodgy Power Supply.

it might be a good idea to test your PSU just to make sure it is OK. If you're not sure how to go about it check out this video: http://www.corsair.com/cinema/movie.aspx?id=1358543 which shows you how to jump start the PSU (thanks to DM for the original link) Although this shows how to do this with a Corsair PSU the same principal applies to all other makes.

[Dark Mantis]

Yes I would agree with absic. After reading your post the first thing that springs to mind is that the power supply is giving up.

[genesys]

hey and thanks!

the powersupply is a Be Quiet! Straight Power BQT E6-550W 80plus and the computer was running with it now for one and a half years.
i will check the video now and report then

Bios version i don't know - i ordered the thing in february 2009 - i think i never did a bios upgrade since then
board revision is 1.0

[genesys]

the powersupply behaves as in the video
whatelse could i do to track down the problem?

[Dark Mantis]

If it is already 1.5 years or so old then it will have dropped in output by a considerable factor. This is the only problem with PSUs. The capacitors are the main culprit and suffer from droop which basically means that the output drops from the original wattage. It could well be that it is just struggling too much now. You haven't listed all your hardware but I suspect that it would total more than even 550W draw.

[genesys]

the most power surely is drawn by the geforce 9800 GT. if i disconnect it, i'm not sure whether the board boots up. the leds on the board keep glowing - i think if the bios would boot some of them should stop glowing (the case fans however do drop in speed after a second or so)

[Dark Mantis]

You are probably correct in your assumption that the GPU draws the most power. If you remove it from the board it should still try and POST. You will be able to tell by beeps emitted what is happening.

[genesys]

that's exactly what i did - but there are no beeps - and all of the leds on the board keep glowing

[Dark Mantis]

Do you have a buzzer installed correctly?

[genesys]

yes - i remember the motherboard was usually doing a single beep during startup.

i found an old 420W PSU. It however has only a 20PIN connector, not the 24pins of the be-quiet! psu. can I still use it to try whether the board will boot up with that one (without the geforce of course) or does the mainboard not work at all with a 20 min powersource?

[Dark Mantis]

No you will need a compatible PSU with the 24 pin and 4 or 8 pin connector for the CPU or it won't work.