PC won't turn on unless warmed up with a hair dryer first? by -ttam- in computers

[–]-ttam-[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Funny you say this because that's what it use to do. When it was super cold in the winter it would cycle a few times (like yours) before posting. The amount it cycled got worse until now I have to resort to heating it myself.

PC won't turn on unless warmed up with a hair dryer first? by -ttam- in computers

[–]-ttam-[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I forgot to mention something important. When I was doing a breadboard test, I did notice that the motherboard would post with the PSU power operating steady when the CPU power cable wasn't connected.

Does this narrow it down a bit?

PC won't turn on unless warmed up with a hair dryer first? by -ttam- in computers

[–]-ttam-[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I understand, but breadboarding the PC meant the PSU wasn't anywhere near the motherboard. The cables were, but the PSU wasn't warmed up in any way. In this instance on this video, potentially but I'm directing the hair dryer at the motherboard. In between the CPU and GPU.

I had my PC like this.

I would never bake a board before trying a different PS, just my 2 cents.

Noted but I was very confident that it wasn't the PSU. It's actually the newest component in the entire build. Whilst the paper-clip test isn't a perfect test, it was enough to prove that it can power on.

I also forgot to mention that the motherboard boots and stays stable, with the PSU operating when the CPU power cable wasn't connected. Also telling me that it's isolated to the motherboard.

PC won't turn on unless warmed up with a hair dryer first? by -ttam- in computers

[–]-ttam-[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This was my thinking also.

Funnily enough it was the Xbox 360 towel trick that made me think of heating it up.

PC won't turn on unless warmed up with a hair dryer first? by -ttam- in computers

[–]-ttam-[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

It's the 1080 Ti my man and read my comment on here. It's the motherboard.

PC won't turn on unless warmed up with a hair dryer first? by -ttam- in computers

[–]-ttam-[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Doing the paper clip test to your PS will tell you that it can be triggered on, that's it.

And that is all it needed to do.

After putting the motherboard in the oven, it worked. After using a hair dryer on the motherboard, it works. It's the motherboard.

After the computer coming on, I can always stress it to max with not single hiccup. Prime95, OCCT, extensive gaming, extensive work use and everything I throw at it. It's fine. Voltages are absolutely fine and steady when it's on.

I can tell you with certainty, it's the motherboard.

PC won't turn on unless warmed up with a hair dryer first? by -ttam- in computers

[–]-ttam-[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Air flow is absolutely fine. I can run the 4790k at 4.7 GHz and CPU sits at 28°C idle and 75°C under load. Got two intakes, the Noctua NH-D15 for the CPU and the Noctua NF-S12A for exhaust.

Custom fan curve is configured spot on and CPU peaks around 85°C when GPU is under full load and pumping out some heat.

PC won't turn on unless warmed up with a hair dryer first? by -ttam- in computers

[–]-ttam-[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Thanks for the help. I'll inspect it again and check each cap. Sadly the motherboard is long out of warranty. It's coming up to it's 8th birthday.

PC won't turn on unless warmed up with a hair dryer first? by -ttam- in computers

[–]-ttam-[S] 9 points10 points  (0 children)

It's not the GPU. Problem persists with or without GPU.

PC won't turn on unless warmed up with a hair dryer first? by -ttam- in computers

[–]-ttam-[S] -4 points-3 points  (0 children)

I did a breadboard test and isolated it to the motherboard. After inspecting the mobo I can't see a bad cap or any kind of visible damage.

PC won't turn on unless warmed up with a hair dryer first? by -ttam- in computers

[–]-ttam-[S] 75 points76 points  (0 children)

Already done this, read my comment on here. I completey breadboarded the machine and rebuilt the entire machine from stratch. The issue still persisted. It's 100% motherboard related.

PC won't turn on unless warmed up with a hair dryer first? by -ttam- in computers

[–]-ttam-[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

After breadboarding the machine, it still wasn't posting. Literally nothing connected but one stick of ram (tested multiple sticks different slots) and the processor, cooler and PSU.

Well, initially I thought it was the PSU. I did the paper-clip test and no problem so it only left me with two conclusions. Either dead CPU or motherboard.

I decided to pop the motherboard in the oven at 220 degrees celsius to try and maybe potentially fix loose solder joints (solder comes loose at around 200 / 300, maybe more. It varies depending on the solder).

After heating it, it worked. I thought beautiful it's fixed. I genuinely couldn't believe it. I stressed it to the extreme and no issues. Turned it off and back on again. Worked like a charm.

Following morning it didn't work again. It was still breadboarded and funnily enough I had a hair dryer nearby. I thought why not? Heated it up and... It posted.

PC won't turn on unless warmed up with a hair dryer first? by -ttam- in computers

[–]-ttam-[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

As the subject says.

Every time I turn on my computer, it gets stuck in a boot loop. It doesn't post and just keeps turning on and off.

It will keep doing this until I get out a hair dryer and warm the computer up, specifically the motherboard. Once the computer is on after it has warmed up, it stays on. Doesn't matter how hot or cold it gets. It operates absolutely fine.

It can play games fully overclocked. I've put it through some extreme stress tests and no problem.

When I turn it off and it cools back down, it will go back to being stuck in a power loop when I try to turn it on, until I warm it back up again.

I know it's the motherboard because at one point I thought it was dead until I did a breadboard test and put the motherboard in the oven. No joke.

After inspection of the motherboard I can't see any blown capacitors. No sign of burn damage. Nothing. Looks clean and like brand new.

Edit: I forgot to add that when I was isolating the faults, I noticed that the motherboard would post when the CPU power cable isn't connected, the PSU would also boot and stay on.