New build won't POST

[semperneoeon]

System Configuration:

CPU: Intel Core i5-6500 3.2GHz Quad-Core Processor
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler
Motherboard: Asus Z170-A ATX LGA1151 Motherboard
Memory: Kingston HyperX Fury Black 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR4-2133 Memory
Storage: Samsung 850 EVO-Series 500GB 2.5" Solid State Drive
Video Card: MSI Radeon R9 380 4GB Video Card 
Case: NZXT Source 210 Elite (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case  
Power Supply: EVGA SuperNOVA GS 650W 80+ Gold Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply  

 

Trouble Shooting Steps I Already Did:

1. Make sure your BIOS version is compatible with the CPU generation you're trying to run in your motherboard, you can consult the manual or the manufacturer's website about this. (I built this using PCPartpicker... so I'm pretty sure but not positive that means they are compatible. Is this true?)
2. Check if EVERY power cable is connected. Auxiliary power connectors included.
3. Make sure the cable coming from your monitor is attached securely to the graphics card. Also make sure it is securely attached to the monitor itself.
4. Make sure your PSU is powerful enough to power your complete system.
5. Make sure your monitor works by testing it on a different computer.
6. If you have both a dedicated GPU and an iGPU, try your monitor on both the outputs on the graphics cards as well as on the motherboard.
7. Make sure all connectors and cables are plugged in securely, reseat if necessary.
8. Make sure your RAM, CPU and GPU are plugged in securely, reseat if necessary.
9. If the motherboard you're using has debug LEDs, check the error code and consult the motherboard manual to see what it means.
10. If you have a debug speaker connected to the motherboard, note the beep sequence and consult the motherboard manual or this thread to see what it means.
11. Try clearing your CMOS. (Yes, did this for whole 10 secs)
12. Try booting your computer with only a motherboard, CPU and one stick of RAM attached (if you don't have an iGPU, plug in your GPU as well ).
13. Make sure your GPU works (if you have a dedicated one), try it in another computer.
14. Make sure your RAM works, try it another computer.
15. Make sure the RAM is compatible with your CPU and your motherboard.

 

Additional information that may be relevant

1. I exchanged the mother board for a new one.
2. I'm putting a pea sized amount of thermal paste on the cpu before installing the cooler.
3. Yes, I really did all 15 steps... multiple times.
4. Yes, I really am a noob, please help me before I have to resort to craigslist or something equally as scary/wasteful.

[HPWebcamAble]

What DOES happen when you hit the power button? Any lights on (on MOBO)? Fans?

(When you booted with just the CPU, RAM and MOBO)

[semperneoeon]

4 minutes ago, HPWebcamAble said:

What DOES happen when you hit the power button? Any lights on (on MOBO)? Fans?

(When you booted with just the CPU, RAM and MOBO)

I realize now that I should have been more specific. The BOOT_DEVICE LED turns on then stays a solid red after all the other led's cycle and turn off.

[HPWebcamAble]

3 minutes ago, semperneoeon said:

I realize now that I should have been more specific. The BOOT_DEVICE LED turns on then stays a solid red after all the other led's cycle and turn off.

And what does your MOBO manual say that means?

[semperneoeon]

4 minutes ago, HPWebcamAble said:

And what does your MOBO manual say that means?

It says, "If any error is found, the critical component's LED stays lit up until the problem is solved."

[HPWebcamAble]

43 minutes ago, semperneoeon said:

It says, "If any error is found, the critical component's LED stays lit up until the problem is solved."

What if you don't have any storage devices plugged in (SATA or otherwise)?

[semperneoeon]

5 minutes ago, HPWebcamAble said:

What if you don't have any storage devices plugged in (SATA or otherwise)?

Unplugged the SSD, BOOT_DEVICE LED persists.

Thanks for taking the time to troubleshoot, btw.

[HPWebcamAble]

4 minutes ago, semperneoeon said:

Unplugged the SSD, BOOT_DEVICE LED persists.

Thanks for taking the time to troubleshoot, btw.

Lets see if we can get this thing working

 

So you have NO STORAGE DEVICES, yet the boot_device LED is on? (This includes hard drives, solid state drives, dvd drives, or PCIe storage devices)

Ok... terrible mobo design but we'll deal with it. Could be a faulty board, but lets rule some other stuff out.

 

1) Remove the CMOS battery and unplug the PSU from the wall. Leave for 10 minutes. Replace CMOS battery, plug back in, try again.

2) Try with one stick of RAM only. Move that one stick to each RAM slot on your MOBO, trying to boot each time.

[semperneoeon]

 

23 minutes ago, HPWebcamAble said:

Lets see if we can get this thing working

 

So you have NO STORAGE DEVICES, yet the boot_device LED is on? (This includes hard drives, solid state drives, dvd drives, or PCIe storage devices)

Ok... terrible mobo design but we'll deal with it. Could be a faulty board, but lets rule some other stuff out.

 

1) Remove the CMOS battery and unplug the PSU from the wall. Leave for 10 minutes. Replace CMOS battery, plug back in, try again.

2) Try with one stick of RAM only. Move that one stick to each RAM slot on your MOBO, trying to boot each time.

I tried both steps one and two, problem still persists. Might I add this is my second mobo.

[HPWebcamAble]

1 hour ago, semperneoeon said:

I tried both steps one and two, problem still persists. Might I add this is my second mobo.

Neither of those work?

 

Next step is try a new MOBO. RMA it if you can.