Is the MB no longer active?
Is the MB no longer active?
ASUS M2N32-SLI DELUXE with Earthwatts EA-380 PSU
3 HDDs, 1 Optical Drive, Soundblaster Live
Unknown PCI video support including VGA, HDMI, and DVI outputs.
After several months of inactivity, the machine failed to start. The front panel power button was unresponsive (sometimes stuck), leading me to suspect a power button or power supply issue. My goal was to run it one final time to recover any important files and remove personal data from the HDD without needing additional tools.
I removed the power button plug and used a screwdriver to connect the PWR_SWITCH pins on the motherboard. Nothing happened. Then I detached the 24-pin power connector from the motherboard and connected a "paper clip" jumper between pins 15 and 16. The PSU fan activated, though very quietly.
I disconnected all power supplies from the four drives but kept the two expansion cards connected. Using a multimeter, I tested the voltage at each DC terminal on the 24-pin plug—every reading was within acceptable range. Finally, I checked the 4-pin 12V connector and confirmed it delivered exactly 12V.
At this stage, I believe the power button or PSU were not the causes. However, I’m not an expert, so I’m unsure if I missed something or if this motherboard is beyond repair.
Thanks,
Wolf
Happy New Year!
ASUS M2N32-SLI DELUXE
First, this motherboard lacks an integrated GPU chip—how do you get display output without a dedicated GPU?
Unknown PCI Video support with VGA, HDMI, and DVI outputs.
It might help to share some photos of the GPU if you can’t identify it from the stickers or labels. You could post them on Imgur or similar sites and send the link for review.
Earthwatts EA-380 PSU
The PSU appears to be around 14 years old according to my calculations.
I removed the 24-pin connector from the motherboard and connected a paper clip between pins 15 and 16. The PSU fan started working (it was very quiet).
The paper clip method isn’t reliable—it doesn’t accurately show the PSU’s full output capacity. You should also try applying a load, such as connecting a dead HDD or running a fan, to test its performance.
It would be useful to check the motherboard for any damaged capacitors.
Moved this discussion from the Motherboards section to the Systems section.
I brought the machine to my workshop for compressed air cleaning and a quick inspection. Right now, there’s nothing connected—no monitor or keyboard attached. There isn’t a "GPU"; it’s an ATI Radion Video card installed in the main PCIEX 16 slot.
HD4670 1G DDR3 PCI-E HDMI/DVI/VGA
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PN 288-DE101-440BD SKU# 11138-37
It seems irrelevant since the device isn’t responding. The machine doesn’t display any life signs, so it’s unlikely to be booting up at all. I’d appreciate hearing if any error sounds.
Not a solid conclusion. I didn’t assemble it and got it second-hand quite some time ago. A failed test indicated the power supply still has some capacity, though it probably won’t start the fans for long.
I performed this right after cleaning it. No major issues were noticed with the caps, connections, or CPU heat sink... etc.
Someone else suggested the issue could be as simple as a dead CR2032 battery. This is the only Asus system I’ve worked with; on other boards, losing the BIOS settings usually means wiping them out after replacing the battery. Is it the same here?
Also, I didn’t realize the MB has an "SB_PWR Led" that flashes green about twice a second when the PSU is powered on. The manual only mentions it being ON or OFF. I found other Asus MB articles online describing different blink rates, but none match this behavior.
Because nothing urgent was happening, I removed one of the HDDs and the graphics card, which gave me the chance to swap out the CR2032 battery. It didn’t change anything. The old battery measured 2.92V, while the new one was 3.3V.
After swapping it, I again attempted to short the Power Switch jumper pins on the Front Panel pin-out... but nothing worked.
During this process, I realized there’s no connection to the four pins for the "chassis mounted warning speaker." This cheap case didn’t even have a speaker. It seems the person who made it was clearly inexperienced—probably just a beginner who never actually installed anything in such a case! I’ve already stopped using harsh language and am focusing on the simplest troubleshooting steps.
Anyway, I also took some low-quality photos of the situation.
I went through "one last gasp" yesterday after I called ASUS Support (5x), which I wouldn't suggest to anyone. Even though I never studied Chinese as a second language, the kind lady did repeat things often enough so I think I grasped the main points she was trying to convey.