Computer will not power up

Greetings,

I have a Linux box that I use for MythTV. It has an Asus A8N-e motherboard, Athlon 64 processor (3200 I think), 1 GB of RAM in 2 512 MB sticks, 2 Hauppage tuner cards, a GeForce FX 5200 video card, and 4 250 GB SATA hard disks. The power supply is an Antec 450W. The machine has been on continuously for months. Last night I needed to restart it, and I powered it off to make sure that the TV cards would get a fresh firmware load on boot. The machine would not power back on.

I disconnected it from everything and blew out all the dust. When I plugged it back in (just to AC), it started to come up. I shut it off, and reconnected all the external connectors (just video, ethernet, and 2 coax connectors, I usually ssh or nx into the machine so it has no keyboard or mouse). It would not come back on.

I'm at a loss to explain why the machine has run fine all this time, but only now will not power on. And I especially don't understand why it will power on with nothing attached, but with just video, ethernet, and 2 coax (connected to an antenna, not to cable TV) it will not. Any suggestions? Thanks in advance.

I did search the forums and didn't find anything exactly like this, though most people who have similar problems have simply replaced the PSU. I'm willing to do that, but can't understand why just video/enet/coax will cause this to mess up.

 

If you have an extra PSU I would see if you can get it to post with only the memory, CPU, video and a single harddrive.
Are you getting any beeps or is it just completely dead? Any fans come on, etc?

 

If I connect ethernet, video, coax I get nothing. If I leave them disconnected, it will power up.

I will try another PSU. Anyone familiar with Fry's Electronics, can you recommend something on their shelves that would be good? I thought Antec made good PSUs, but if this PSU is dead, it will be my second Antec PSU failure in a year.

Thanks.

 

Antec is overrated. They're a mainstream brand that had good name placement, but their PSUs are average at best.

I believe Frys sells seasonic and OCZ. I'd check them out.

 

Thanks very much for responding. The problem indeed was a dead PSU, I replaced it with a 600W CoolerMaster and the box came right up.

 

Anytime my good sir.