I decided to clean out my CPU fan as it was clogged, when I assembled everything again it won’t turn on 🙁
It’s an old desktop PC. There are no lights glowing on the motherboard at all, though there is none specifically labelled “power”. Just CPU, RAM, BOOT. None of these light up, not even a flash when it starts.
I have reseated the RAM, CPU, power cables. Removed the GPU to check.
The cord leading in to the PSU works but I don’t have a way to test the PSU itself or the out cables, but I have reseated them at each end.
This PC was working fine before. But with no lights on the motherboard I suspect either the mobo or PSU?
Mobo is asrock x570 PSU is silverstone 650w strider gold S series
Any help appreciated!
Edit: I made a new post asking for hardware recommendations.
Edit 2: I managed to get a light on the motherboard, going to buy some more thermal paste and keep tinkering to see if I can get it started!
I don’t do upgrades very often either. Here’s my rough history:
I’m still using 5 today, so in 10-15 years, I had 3 GPUs (gave 2 to SO when I got 3), 3 CPUs, and 3 mobos, and I only upgraded the mobo in 5 because I wanted to reuse my 1700 in my NAS. My NAS currently has 2 & 4, and 1 & 3 is a hot spare if anything dies.
In that time, I’ve had 3 laptops:
1 & 2 are e-waste and cannot be reused.
If you don’t count my SO’s devices, I think I’ve spent about the same on laptops as desktops, and my laptops have been very budget devices (no dGPU), whereas my desktops have been pretty midrange and I’ve been able to play whatever I want.
I’m thinking of giving my kids a PC, and if I do, it’ll be my SO’s old PC. If I do, 3/4 of our PCs over the past 15 years will still be in use vs 1/4 of our laptops (SO had a laptop that died before I built the first). That’s a pretty good track record IMO.
I use a laptop most of the time because then I can sit in a recliner with my feet up. I spend the day at a desk I don’t much fancy doing the same in the evening.
I have a Framework laptop from the first ones they made, which are upgradeable and repairable. Unfortunately they don’t ship to NZ, I got mine by freight forwarding and also got parts a bit later the same way. But now they have cracked down hard on freight forwarding as I recently learned, so I can’t get any more upgrades until they start shipping here (no announced plans).
That sucks about freight forwarding.
I’m considering getting a Framework for my next laptop as well. But my current laptop works well enough, so I’m in no hurry. If they offered a Trackpoint option or at least put physical mouse buttons above the trackpad, I wouldn’t have any hesitation because I love that on my Thinkpad.
But honestly, I use my laptop a few times/year, other than my kids playing Minecraft on it (hence wanting to get them a computer of their own). Most of my gaming is on my Steam Deck or Switch, so I only really use the laptop when we travel or if we have guests over and I need to get something done when everyone is watching a movie or something, and a lot of the time I’ll use my work laptop instead since my kids often use both my desktop and laptop.
Yeah they only have the one trackpad option. I tend to use a mouse anyway.
Probably not much point in getting one if you’re going to build your kids a PC anyway.
By the way I managed to get a light on the motherboard, so it might not be dead after all. I’m planning to get some more thermal paste today and keep tinkering, I might save it yet.
Good luck!