Blinking red light on Gigabyte motherboard

I just powered on my new Customac Pro built with all the recommended components. i7 3770k, GA-z77x-up5 th, 32Gig, 240 SSD and GTi 650 TI video (not yet installed). I powered on for the first time and nothing happens except for a blinking red light on the motherboard called PW_SW. I can't find anything in the Gigabyte user's manual on whether this light means over voltage, under voltage or reverse voltage.

I don't hear anything, no sparks, no pops, no fans no power leds, no smoke. The blinking red light is there even if I don't pust the chassis power on button. Any advice appreciated.

David

Sounds like you're referring to the on-board power-switch. If so, it should be obvious because it has the universal power symbol on it. It's just simply an extra power-on switch for the motherboard.

Make sure the power cables from PSU to motherboard are securely connected. Check that the main power connector has all 24 pins connected (sometimes 4 will be a separate piece and it can become disconnected. Make sure you plugged in the 4 or 8 pin CPU power.

Double-check that your case power switch is connected in the right spot on the motherboard's front panel connectors. (Ditto reset switch).

If all else fails, try another PSU.

Thank you Zaptoons

I checked everything you suggested and didn't find anything. Then I borrowed a voltmeter, disconnected the power cables from the Motherboard and measured. There is no 12 v power on the 8 pin CPU power plug. I also plugged the 110AC into another computer to verify that the AC power input is hot and I also measured a battery with the voltmeter to verify that the voltmeter is alive.

I also tried both positions of the power switch, not being sure which was the "on" position

Nothing is output from the power supply. Does it have a fuse or circuit breaker somewhere?

David

Ghee_Whiz said:

Thank you Zaptoons

I checked everything you suggested and didn't find anything. Then I borrowed a voltmeter, disconnected the power cables from the Motherboard and measured. There is no 12 v power on the 8 pin CPU power plug. I also plugged the 110AC into another computer to verify that the AC power input is hot and I also measured a battery with the voltmeter to verify that the voltmeter is alive.

I also tried both positions of the power switch, not being sure which was the "on" position

Nothing is output from the power supply. Does it have a fuse or circuit breaker somewhere?

David

Click to expand...

Ghee_Whiz

IF you have one of the old power plugs for the CD rom - use the Volt Meter to check the yellow and red cable pins using the black as ground and see if you have 5 volts and 12 volts at these points - if so then the PSU is working (for the most part)

Big Problem as these items are made in a country that has no QA (Quality Control) I have seen situations where the interconnection of the power pins for the DC cable where it attaches to the motherboard get pushed out of the plastic socket when its inserted into the motherboard socket - suggest that you look at the DC plugs to make sure that some of these pins are not pushed out. Use a flashilght

You also could have a situation whereas the wires from the cases power switch are not working or no continuity. If the Motherboard has a onboard Power button ( small square one ) on the Motherboard try to push that to see if it boots up. The Power botton is a momentary connection so the VOM may not sense it when you check the Case switch.

Thanks for the help. Also thanks to Amazon.com who sent me a replacement power supply by next day air (no charge to me for the air shipment) so that the replacement would come today and its installed and working!!! I was able to install Mtn Lion and then installed my graphics card. Then rebooted and ran Multi beast and now it won't boot any more. If I can't fix it I will post details of my problem in the Install part of this forum.

Again thanks to those that helped me here.

David

Your graphic card requires GraphicsEnabler=no or else it will only boot to a grey screen. (Same with all 6xx cards to my knowledge)

Did you check that setting in Multibeast, or edit the boot.plist manually?

Also, why install without the card installed? There's really no reason for that unless you have some specific issue with it.