When your computer is unable to boot or shows intermittent instability, it’s best to run a benchtest.
In order to troubleshoot (or pinpoint) the instability of computer, the user must start with the bare essentials.
The bare essentials required to start a computer are:
- Keyboard
- Mouse
- Monitor
- Graphics Card (or Integrated Graphics if your motherboard supports it)
- Power Supply
- Memory
- Processor/Heatsink
This process is best done without a case, to ensure that you aren’t encountering grounding and/or shorting issues.
Place the motherboard on a surface that does not conduct electricity.
Often, the easiest solution is to use the box that the motherboard comes in.
The box generally provides dimensions similar to the dimensions of the motherboard.
Align the processor to the motherboard’s socket and install it with respect to the orientation of the socket.
Depending on your setup, apply thermal grease (or if you’re using the stock cooler you can ignore this part).
With an aftermarket cooler, use a thermal paste such as Arctic Silver 5.
After you have applied the thermal grease to the processor, install the heatsink and plug in the heatsink’s fan into the motherboard’s cpu fan header.
Many motherboards will not start or operate properly unless you have done this step.
Install a stick of memory in your motherboard. Consult your manual to determine which slot is best for single stick operation.
Plug in the Power Supply’s main connector and 4 (or 8 pin) secondary connector for higher end motherboards and processors.
In order to ensure that the connector has correctly installed, it will making a clicking noise.
Install your video card and if necessary, the video’s pci-e power connector.
The powerconnector is often only on higher end graphics cards.
Connect your keyboard and mouse to the motherboard and connect a VGA or DVI connector to your video card and ensure the monitor is powered on.
Connect the Power Supply’s plug to a wall socket and switch the power supply to on.
A light should power on, on your motherboard.
At this point, you can either turn on your computer by shorting the two pins for power on (by finding the jumpers in the manual) or by connecting the wires from your case.
Another inexpensive solution for bench testing is purchasing an item such as this: http://www.logicsupply.com/products/powerswitch
Power on your system and you should receive a POST screen.
If this is not the case, power off the system and inspect your bench and ensure everything is securely fastened.
After you ensure that everything is properly secured, and the computer still does not POST, consider this checklist.
- Does your video card turn on (do the fans spin)?
- Does your monitor show any activity when you turn on your system?
- Does your motherboard show any lights when the PSU is connected?
- Does your CPU Fan spin?
- Have you tried a different stick of ram?
If your system proceeds to boot at this point, progressively add different components and identify what component is not allowing your computer to start.
After you have confirmed all of your components are working properly, install the system in the case and confirm that the case itself is not causing the issue.