PSU or RAM problem?

Hi,

I've been working 5 days and a total of over 20 hours at trying to get my new hardware to work.
I just can't get the new configuration to show anything on my monitor, it's completely blank. The monitor works as I have tested it on my laptop.
I've had the mobo and CPU over to the shop I got it from and they get it to show BIOS. Therefore I now know it's not the CPU or the MoBo.

I am wondering if my PSU (900W) could be the culprit. Can the PSU give power to the MoBo and all the MoBo self tests show everything as OK if the PSU is somehow damaged anyway?

My former computer kind of burnt up. Something around the CPU burnt up giving lots of smoke (no fire) but I can't see any damage on any components of the MoBo. I do see faint dark areas on the CPU though. Since the system is old I decided I'd rather upgrade the MoBo at the same time as the CPU, and that meant RAM too since my old system used DDR2.
So, this burning incident, can it have only partially damaged the PSU so that it still delivers enough power to power the MoBo, fans, power hungry GPU and lots of fans?


All the self tests where OK at every boot up until I cleared the CMOS and after that I get a Boot Device error, ie the LED for that error stays lit. Until today I have had the beep message of one short and one long (can't find any special meaning to that anywhere). Today after updating the BIOS (through BIOS Flashback) I now only receive the one short beep. I still have not seen anything show up on my monitor.


Another thought would be that the memory I got needs to be configured in BIOS to be able to work and that I can't get to BIOS if my RAM modules are not working correctly? shouldn't I be getting the correct beep errors in that case? Shouldn't the modules be adapting to specs that makes it work, like starting up in 1333Mhz instead of 1600Mhz?
I bought the Crucial Ballistix Tactical 2x8GB modules (8x8x8x24) 1.5V
I understand that these modules need to be configured to XMP mode in BIOS to it's full potential but shouldn't the work anyway albeit in less optimal state?

I of course test the system off from the chassi and without any periferals. I'm testing with only the built in graphics processor but have tried with my GFX 550 Ti too. Tested with only one RAM module and in all four slots though it should be placed in A2.


ASUS Sabertooth Z77
Crucial Ballistix Tactical 2x8GB modules (8x8x8x24)
EIZO FlexScan 24" monitor (DVI & VGA) (have tried DisplayPort to both of those)


I hope someone here sees the problem and can tell me what's wrong.

Thank you

My PSU = Antect 900W Gamers (http://www.antec.com/product.php?id=2588&fid=350)

No, it was water coming in through the top fan. Cat pull down a glas of water that shouldn't have been possible.

Still, should the PSU be able to deliver all the power to all the 6 fans, graphics card (needs two power connectors) and mobo and still be corrupt?

Thank you Brnjamin.

It turned out not to be the PSU. I bought two new PSU's, one onboxed which I could return without them noticing it being used and another exact copy of the one I already had in case it was the PSU. The onboxed had too little power (400W) to keep and use with all my stuff. But you are right that the 900W I have is overkill, WAY overkill actually. Thing is that it's gotten great reviews and it's cheaper than most others with less power so I thought "Why not".

The problem was not easy to get passed since I was quite sure my old dGPU was working but just in case it wasn't I always had my iGPU so I was always testing with both but none gave me a post on the monitor. Obviously I don't think it's a GPU problem then. Guess what, it WAS a GPU problem. I've spent a LOT of money on many parts to try and solve this crap. Took a week and around 35 hours work.