Computer comes on and goes off

[Getback]

Was building a computer for my daughter but it will not stay on. Fans come on for a brief second and then the computer shuts down. I've checked the connections several times. I even changed power supplies from one comp that I know works. Still no go.

Also I am running 1 stick of ddr3 and it's in the closest slot to the CPU.


Any suggestions?

[gyrene81]

won't even do a post?

pop that memory stick out and see what happens when you power it up, should get some post memory error beeps.

could also be your power supply, you did test it on another system before you connected it to the new mobo right?

[MrRiplEy[H]]

Was building a computer for my daughter but it will not stay on. Fans come on for a brief second and then the computer shuts down. I've checked the connections several times. I even changed power supplies from one comp that I know works. Still no go.

Also I am running 1 stick of ddr3 and it's in the closest slot to the CPU.


Any suggestions?

Remove all peripherals, including USB devices. Remove all components, including CPU. Replace only CPU, RAM (try another slot) and display card unless your mobo has integrated display. Then try again.

[guncrasher]

mobo is shorting out in the back? did you put the "raiser" or whatever you call them that hold the mobo away from the back of the computer?  were they all grounded?  are they in the right holes?  do you have both power cables in correctly?  try all 4 memory slots with only 1 stick.  also one of my old mobo's would not boot with only 1 stick.  I always had to have 2.

semp

[Skuzzy]

I had a brand new motherboard do this to me, just recently.  The mobo was DOA.  First time for me.  Not bad, considering the hundreds of computers I have built.

[cattb]

Might also check your wires from the front panel and switch, doubt this is the problem though. I did have a problem with 1 computer once that had some wire chafing or insulation came off the wire from sharp metal on the case.

Try what Ripley says and try jsut the MOBO and CPU and take each step at a time. Also what guncrasher said about tthe shorting.If MOBO and CPU only and still turning off I think I would refer to Skuzzy's comment.

[gyrene81]

getback, what cpu and memory did you buy? i ask because i was doing more technical research on the amd cpu i bought and the memory i was looking at buying...an obscure notation that only comes up when you do an cpu competitive comparison on amd's website, which i never did.

X2 - Support for unregistered DIMMs up to PC2-8500 (DDR2-1066MHz) -AND- PC3-8500 (DDR3-1066MHz)

which means if you bought a dual core amd and 1333MHz memory that may be the cause of your problem 

i got lucky and found a sale on the ddr3 1066 memory at directron, ocz gold series 2gb stick for $5.99 + shipping...
http://www.directron.com/ocz3g1066lv2g.html

price was right so i bought 4 sticks of it.

[Getback]

getback, what cpu and memory did you buy? i ask because i was doing more technical research on the amd cpu i bought and the memory i was looking at buying...an obscure notation that only comes up when you do an cpu competitive comparison on amd's website, which i never did.
  which means if you bought a dual core amd and 1333MHz memory that may be the cause of your problem 

i got lucky and found a sale on the ddr3 1066 memory at directron, ocz gold series 2gb stick for $5.99 + shipping...
http://www.directron.com/ocz3g1066lv2g.html

price was right so i bought 4 sticks of it.

So, you are saying that if I used a 1333MHZ stick I should have bought two?

[Getback]

Hey folks thanks for the input! It's RMA. Newegg let me send it back totally free!

[MaSonZ]

Hey folks thanks for the input! It's RMA. Newegg let me send it back totally free!

once you know, you newegg.

[oboe]

This same thing happens to me - my build constantly cycles between attempting a power up, just like the OP the computer resets after the fans come on briefly.

I figure its power supply rated, as when I power off the power supply with its on switch for a 15-20 secs, then turn it back on, the computer acan boot just fine.

I have a 700W CoolerMaster PS.

[cattb]

getback, what gyrene is saying is, the memory controller in the AMD CPU has limittations on certain CPUS.

In other words a Athlon CPU may not be able to run 1600 ddr3 memory, but will run  1066 ddr3 .This is juat a example as I have not looked at the newer AMD CPUS nor have I looked at the AMD websight in quite some time. The Phenoms will run faster RAM then the Athlons.

I don't have time at the moment to  post  a link , but go to the AMD websight ( as suggested)and look at the specs on the CPUs and you will understand.

It is very important you have the correct RAM for the motherboard and CPU.

If I have something wrong please correct.

[Drano]

Getback by any chance is your mobo one of the new Asus Z68s? What you're describing sounds familiar. I just put one together with one and it has features that will do this at bootup as the mobo tests memory and cpu clock combinations. Sometimes mine would do the start/stop thing two or three times before it would finally boot. Nothing wrong with it--it does that by design. I'm not sure but I think some of the P67s do that too. It would have to do with the TPU and EPU features or any of the automatic overclock software that comes with the board.

But I got tired of it doing that and set my own clocks manually and now it just starts up normally. I just set the TPU and EPU switches to "off" and did my own thing.




<edit> Oops! My bad if it just shuts off and stays off. Yeah that's bad.

[gyrene81]

So, you are saying that if I used a 1333MHZ stick I should have bought two?

actually no, according to the little blurb on amd's website it seems the dual core cpus will only handle memory as fast as 1066mhz, even if the mobo will handle faster.

i just happened to find a sale on ocz gold series 2gb 1066mhz ddr3 memory at directron.com today and bought 4 sticks at $5.99 each +shipping.

i'm cheap and it's faster than what i'm running in my intel core duo right now.

[Getback]

actually no, according to the little blurb on amd's website it seems the dual core cpus will only handle memory as fast as 1066mhz, even if the mobo will handle faster.

i just happened to find a sale on ocz gold series 2gb 1066mhz ddr3 memory at directron.com today and bought 4 sticks at $5.99 each +shipping.

i'm cheap and it's faster than what i'm running in my intel core duo right now.

So if AMD can only handle 1066 I can't use 1333 or it won't post?

Gyrene, did you receive the memory and did it work?