PSU Not Working with Motherboard: Troubleshoot Guide

Imagine you’re watching your favorite series and all of a sudden monitor shuts down. Pretty frustrating, right?

But why did it happen in the first place? Well, a very possible reason is PSU isn’t working with the motherboard.

You might be wondering, why is my PSU Not Working With Motherboard?

PSUs that are usually not compatible with the motherboard often don’t function properly. Loose connection between the PSU and motherboard can be yet another reason for it. You can do a paper clip test to find out your PSU’s ability to supply power.

While the little snippet is great to understand what’s going on, it’s not enough to fix the issue. Don’t worry, we’ve prepared a detailed piece here to help you through.

So, continue reading to know more. 

Finding Out the Culprit

There are always some reasons that can give rise to technical issues. Whether its a non-functioning fan hub, or PSU, you have to identify the problem first.

In most cases, it’s the PSU that turns out to be the source of the problem. But at times, it can be the motherboard. A PSU not compatible with the motherboard will face trouble functioning properly. 

And to help you solve the issues, we got just the right solution for you! Let’s start by diagnosing the problem first.

Possible Problems and Solutions

If a PSU doesn’t work with the motherboard, it’s either one of them that has a defect. We’ve to find out which one causes the problem in the first place. Is it the motherboard or PSU itself?

Let’s begin the diagnosis!

Problem 1: Motherboard Issues

CPU pins are connected to the motherboard. These pins are the sources through which power runs to the motherboard. Any issue with the pins can cause a problem with the connection between PSU and the motherboard. Be sure, the pins are plugged well.

Source: howtogeek.com

See, motherboards could have dozens of problems. Certainly, you can’t fix major issues at home. But you can solve some minor issues by yourself. For that, you need some DIY solutions.

That’s why we’ve sorted out 4 effective solutions to motherboard issues.

Solution

A faulty motherboard will struggle to take power from the PSU. This will eventually leave you with a dead PC. It can also be the reason why your brand new PSU is failing to turn on.

In this case, you can’t do much with PSU. You’ve to work with the motherboard and get it back to health.

To do so, go through all the 4 solutions:

• Motherboards may have different RAM slots. Your job is to find out the problematic RAM slot.

To do so, remove all the slots except one. Try to reboot afterward to see if this technique works. If you got no luck, repeat the same process with other slots as well.   

Along with the RAM, take out the video card. But keep the power off while doing all these.

If your RAM is all good then it could be the CPU.

• CPU fans are connected to the power supply unit directly. So, you need to check on the connection.

If the connection is loose, tighten the plug. You’ll be needing a thermal paste to plug CPU fan into motherboard.

Cooler Master cooler fans are widely renowned as the best cooler fan for CPUs. You can try it out for optimum cooling for your PC.

Inside the motherboard, you’ll see either a 3 or 4-pin header. Don’t get worried, just plug in to match the shroud clip. If you want to go into detail, you’ll need a manual.

Still not working despite installing the fans properly? Then, it might be the 24-pin that is at fault.

• Connecting the motherboard to power supply is easy. But what really matters is whether or not you got it right.

As you’ve learned already, there are three major power connectors. The large one is the 24-pin power connector. You’ve to check if it’s connected without any gaps. Any gap between the plastic of the connector and port will stop receiving power.

You’ll have to give enough force to plug and unplug this connector since it’s rigid.

If the 24-pin looks good, move forward to check the POWER SW plugs.

Source: pcworld.idg.com.au

• On most motherboards, you’ll find the power button cable plugged into a set of pins. It’s a small plastic connector with POWER SW written on it. Once you find those plugs, check if it’s loose or dangling. 

The power button cable connects to pin 3 and 4 along the top row. The button switches can be plugged in either direction.

Tech personnel finds this plugging unplugging fascinating. Even if you’re not one, don’t lose hope. We’re directing you to the easiest route.

• The next bug can be found on the Cmos battery. Its location varies based on your motherboard. But it’s most likely to be located near the GPU slot or PCIE slot.

It looks like a small coin or button. You just need to press the retaining clip to remove it. 

A faulty CMOS battery can be the cause your motherboard isn’t getting power from PSU. To ensure the bug you need to remove the battery to restart the computer. 

If the situation remains the same, it’s not the CMOS battery.

So far we’ve covered all the possible solutions. Now you know how to repair a motherboard with no power.

If there’s any problem with your motherboard, the information above should cover everything you need. But if it’s not, then it’s your PSU that is causing the trouble.

Problem 2: PSU

Finally, we can talk a bit about PC power supply problems and solutions. As we’ve discussed before, it’s important to get a compatible PSU. But why? 

Can a PSU break motherboard?

Yes, it can. Having incompatibility issues with the motherboard is one thing. But using a blown-up PSU with your motherboard carries a high risk of damaging the motherboard. In order to measure its power supply to the motherboard, do a paper clip test. 

This test is one of the most common tests for PSU. However, it’s better to buy a compatible one rather than follow the test. 

For example, if you have an Asus Prime B450M-A motherboard, you should have a PSU that can supply at least 450w. You can pair your motherboard up with Asus TUF 450w PSU. They will both be compatible and will perform extremely well together.

Solution: Paper Clip Test On PSU

The name suggests what you need for this test. You need to tear up the plastic on the end of your paper clip. It’s to expose the metal. But before that unplug the power supply from the motherboard.

But, if you face issues regarding static discharge, you require an anti-static wrist band. It’ll make sure you won’t cause any harm to yourself.

After unplugging the power supply, take the 24-pin power connector. Now connect one end of the paper clip to the pin. The pin must be the one with a green wire. The other end to any of the pins is connected to a black wire.

Source: techjunkie.com

It’s so important to ensure that you’re using the best 24-pins out there for a secure connection. Most of the issues that surface around PSU are due to having a loose 24-pin connector, or one that isn’t functional. That’s why you need the best of the best.

To help you pick the right 24-pin connector for your PSU, we’re here to help. We recommend these 3 solid 24-pin cables that you can find on amazon. Their staggering popularity and overall positive reviews speak volumes. Here, have a look:

These 24-pin cables all come with extension cable, giving you more breathing space. With them, you get to have a durable and secure option for your PC’s power supply. Try them out!

And, that’s it. Once you reconnect the power supply you’ll see the fan spinning. This indicates the PSU is in good health. 

So, have you understood why your PSU not working? Now, you can easily fix the problem.

FAQs

What Are Some Common Power Supply Problems and Solutions?

Some common power supply problems could range from hardware problems to switching problems. In order to solve it, first identify the actual problem. If it’s a switching problem then there is no need to open up the panels. The best thing is if you have a warranty. This will save your time and labor.

What Are Some Common Motherboard Problems?

Some common motherboard problems are frequent crashes, insufficient power supply, frozen screen, and running slowly. Your PC can abruptly shut down due to issues with motherboards. Since all the major components are attached to the motherboard, it’s common to create such issues for the computer. 

Why Am I Not Getting Power to the Motherboard?

You might not be getting power to the motherboard due to having a loosely connected power cord. Besides, Your PSU may have some serious internal issues that can be identified by a paper clip test. If it’s not a PSU, it could be the motherboard’s internal malfunction.

Final Words

Hopefully all your doubts regarding PSU not working with motherboard are cleared by now. 

All the solutions mentioned are easy to follow. You don’t really need to be a tech-savvy person to follow them. But take your precautions. Make sure the power button is off during the operation.

Stay tuned for more tech solutions. Till next time!