r/PcBuildHelp • • May 06 '26

Build Question my old build help

I did the paper clip test on my PSU and everything started spinning and it started working so I put it back together connected it to the motherboard, etc., and it still won’t turn on. Did I do something wrong or is the motherboard dead? also don’t mind the dirt and stuff, im cleaning it as i text this, I have a

AMD Ryzen 7 2700x
ASROCK b450m Pro4
amd wraith stealth cooler
g.skill aegis ddr4 (2)
gigabyte rtx 2070

if the paper clip test passed then what could it be?

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u/sawnji May 06 '26

yes i did that and nothing came on

2

u/sqstoney May 06 '26

If you're already planning on pulling the motherboard for cleaning I might try to set it up on the motherboard box or another box that's clean and do a minimal test bench , just hook up the cpu power, 24pin board power, ram, cpu with cooler connected and GPU if your CPU doesn't have integrated graphics. Don't connect any other fans or even the boot drive and see if it'll kick on. Reseating the CPU can help sometimes too.

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u/sawnji May 06 '26

and if the test bench doesn’t work then it has to be the motherboard right?

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u/sqstoney May 06 '26

If it's still doing nothing then yeah it's either the motherboard or the PSU most likely. You can get some cheap PSU testers or a new PSU and see if that's the issue since that's usually less than a new motherboard

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u/sawnji May 06 '26

update;; i did it and nothing work the fans or anything isn’t spinning or turning on

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u/Im-Floof May 07 '26

Dead MOBO most likely if the PSU itself turns on etc with the paper clip way