Solve : PSU is good but computer is dead.?

1.	Solve : PSU is good but computer is dead.?
Answer» There is completely no response to pressing the power button. The 300W PSU is good because I tested it, and I replaced it with a 400W. That didn't make any difference. The machine is a Gateway DX4380G-UW08 running Win 8.1 x64. It came with 6GB of RAM but I expanded it to 16GB. Now I'm going to take out the new RAM and return it to 6GB. This computer is a little over a year old. I had to send it back to GATEWAY after the first few months because the HD would not boot. They ended up REPLACING the CPU, motherboard, and HD. Now it has died again. I am used to computers lasting several years without major problems. I bought this comp because I had faith in ACER but that has changed. I don't want it to be a money pit. Should I replace the motherboard, etc., or just buy a new one? Any help to get it running again would be much appreciated.Well some ways to diagnose stuff like this is to remove all but one RAM sticks and graphics cards (Only remove graphics card if your CPU has a built in one) and any other hardware that may be plugged into your PCI slots like network cards. I think this is a motherboard issue but we can't be 100% sure on that because it only takes 1 thing to break and it stops the system from turning on. to protect everything else. also if you have any other info about your PC it will help us diagnose your problem. PS: Check the warranty and see if you can just send it away again.What other information would you like? It is AMD Fusion A6-5400k 3.6 GHz Dual core with 1MB of cache. AMD A75 chipset. The graphics and network (ethernet) are integrated. The only card is a wireless network card and I removed it to test. I also disconnected all periphs and drives to test. Nothing working. I imagine I'll have to replace the MB first and see if that helps. If not, I'll have to replace the processor. Do you think it could be a faulty power switch? How can I test these elements without replacing them? How can I test the motherboard and CPU to make sure they are operational?If there is no response to the power button my first guess would be the power supply. I'd contact Gateway again since you've already had major issues with it.Have you moved this Unit recently ? ? Possible one of the front header wires is loose...The PSU is working. I tested the original 300 and the new 400 I just bought (using paper clip test) while not connected and their fans worked. I took the front panels off and inspected the connections and wires. They look okay.The paper clip test does not mean the PSU is working properly...swap another one in there and we'll go from there. Quote from: harrisol on September 18, 2014, 05:44:41 AM What other information would you like? It is AMD Fusion A6-5400k 3.6 GHz Dual core with 1MB of cache. AMD A75 chipset. The graphics and network (ethernet) are integrated. The only card is a wireless network card and I removed it to test. I also disconnected all periphs and drives to test. Nothing working. I imagine I'll have to replace the MB first and see if that helps. If not, I'll have to replace the processor. Do you think it could be a faulty power switch? How can I test these elements without replacing them? How can I test the motherboard and CPU to make sure they are operational? As you have disconnected two serparate power supplies and successfully powered them up, I would have to take a faulty power switch as a serious possibility. The other two possiblities are either: A ground fault - a live contact or conductor has come into contact with an earthed conductor (usually the case itself), PSU's often have safety precautions as not to power up under these conditions. Motherboard has serious damage, severing current pathways - Only applicable if you have thrown the mobo around the room or have TRIED standing on it. As bypassing the power switch takes all of 30 seconds I would definatly try it. To do so unplug the power switch from the motherboard front pannel connector and short the two pins labled PWR_SWT together. I have no idea what the power is across these pins so make sure that you are insulated from it. I.e. use a screw driver with insulated handle. If that still does not work I would try a bench test to reduce the possibility of earth faults. This morning I tried bypassing the power switch by shorting the two pins and nothing happened. At this point I'm probably going to buy a new motherboard. This would be the second MB to die in the first 16 months since I bought it. My main guess is that it might be overheating. It didn't come with an internal fan besides the CPU and PSU (which was weak). The original PSU was 300W and the original 6GB RAM was expanded to 16 GB. I just hope it is the MB. A few months after I bought it, it failed and I had to send it in to have the MB, CPU, and HD replaced. I haven't found too many options for purchasing the ACER AAHD3-VC motherboard. Can I use a different board? Would there be a manufacturer that made the exact same board? How can I find a board that will work?Look up the CPU if your re-using it...then search for supporting MBoards... There are plenty out there. You may wanna seriously consider a new build...if the CPU is 4 years or older.I bought it in April of 2014 so I'm not HAPPY. Does anyone have a SUGGESTION for a board that would work well with a the above specs and a 400W PSU? Quote from: harrisol on September 18, 2014, 06:59:46 PM I bought it in April of 2014 so I'm not happy. Does anyone have a suggestion for a board that would work well with a the above specs and a 400W PSU? Return for warranty repair at their expense. Many states have Lemon Laws, see if yours does.Sorry. I meant I bought it in April of 2013. I already sent it back on warranty once but it has since gone off warranty. Gateway's SUPPORT is not very helpful.

Answer»

There is completely no response to pressing the power button. The 300W PSU is good because I tested it, and I replaced it with a 400W. That didn't make any difference. The machine is a Gateway DX4380G-UW08 running Win 8.1 x64. It came with 6GB of RAM but I expanded it to 16GB. Now I'm going to take out the new RAM and return it to 6GB. This computer is a little over a year old. I had to send it back to GATEWAY after the first few months because the HD would not boot. They ended up REPLACING the CPU, motherboard, and HD. Now it has died again. I am used to computers lasting several years without major problems. I bought this comp because I had faith in ACER but that has changed. I don't want it to be a money pit. Should I replace the motherboard, etc., or just buy a new one?

Any help to get it running again would be much appreciated.Well some ways to diagnose stuff like this is to remove all but one RAM sticks and graphics cards (Only remove graphics card if your CPU has a built in one) and any other hardware that may be plugged into your PCI slots like network cards.

I think this is a motherboard issue but we can't be 100% sure on that because it only takes 1 thing to break and it stops the system from turning on. to protect everything else.

also if you have any other info about your PC it will help us diagnose your problem.

PS: Check the warranty and see if you can just send it away again.What other information would you like? It is AMD Fusion A6-5400k 3.6 GHz Dual core with 1MB of cache. AMD A75 chipset. The graphics and network (ethernet) are integrated. The only card is a wireless network card and I removed it to test. I also disconnected all periphs and drives to test. Nothing working. I imagine I'll have to replace the MB first and see if that helps. If not, I'll have to replace the processor. Do you think it could be a faulty power switch? How can I test these elements without replacing them? How can I test the motherboard and CPU to make sure they are operational?If there is no response to the power button my first guess would be the power supply. I'd contact Gateway again since you've already had major issues with it.Have you moved this Unit recently ? ?
Possible one of the front header wires is loose...The PSU is working. I tested the original 300 and the new 400 I just bought (using paper clip test) while not connected and their fans worked. I took the front panels off and inspected the connections and wires. They look okay.The paper clip test does not mean the PSU is working properly...swap another one in there and we'll go from there. Quote from: harrisol on September 18, 2014, 05:44:41 AM

What other information would you like? It is AMD Fusion A6-5400k 3.6 GHz Dual core with 1MB of cache. AMD A75 chipset. The graphics and network (ethernet) are integrated. The only card is a wireless network card and I removed it to test. I also disconnected all periphs and drives to test. Nothing working. I imagine I'll have to replace the MB first and see if that helps. If not, I'll have to replace the processor. Do you think it could be a faulty power switch? How can I test these elements without replacing them? How can I test the motherboard and CPU to make sure they are operational?

As you have disconnected two serparate power supplies and successfully powered them up, I would have to take a faulty power switch as a serious possibility. The other two possiblities are either:

A ground fault - a live contact or conductor has come into contact with an earthed conductor (usually the case itself), PSU's often have safety precautions as not to power up under these conditions.

Motherboard has serious damage, severing current pathways - Only applicable if you have thrown the mobo around the room or have TRIED standing on it.

As bypassing the power switch takes all of 30 seconds I would definatly try it. To do so unplug the power switch from the motherboard front pannel connector and short the two pins labled PWR_SWT together. I have no idea what the power is across these pins so make sure that you are insulated from it. I.e. use a screw driver with insulated handle.

If that still does not work I would try a bench test to reduce the possibility of earth faults.
This morning I tried bypassing the power switch by shorting the two pins and nothing happened. At this point I'm probably going to buy a new motherboard. This would be the second MB to die in the first 16 months since I bought it. My main guess is that it might be overheating. It didn't come with an internal fan besides the CPU and PSU (which was weak). The original PSU was 300W and the original 6GB RAM was expanded to 16 GB.

I just hope it is the MB. A few months after I bought it, it failed and I had to send it in to have the MB, CPU, and HD replaced.

I haven't found too many options for purchasing the ACER AAHD3-VC motherboard. Can I use a different board? Would there be a manufacturer that made the exact same board? How can I find a board that will work?Look up the CPU if your re-using it...then search for supporting MBoards...
There are plenty out there.
You may wanna seriously consider a new build...if the CPU is 4 years or older.I bought it in April of 2014 so I'm not HAPPY. Does anyone have a SUGGESTION for a board that would work well with a the above specs and a 400W PSU? Quote from: harrisol on September 18, 2014, 06:59:46 PM

I bought it in April of 2014 so I'm not happy. Does anyone have a suggestion for a board that would work well with a the above specs and a 400W PSU?

Return for warranty repair at their expense. Many states have Lemon Laws, see if yours does.Sorry. I meant I bought it in April of 2013. I already sent it back on warranty once but it has since gone off warranty. Gateway's SUPPORT is not very helpful.

Solve : PSU is good but computer is dead.?

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