Power supply or motherboard or cpu dead? 1

[EvilCabal]

Hi,

my pc won't boot anymore and it really seems like a motherboard or cpu problem to me but someone told me it could be the psu. Here is what happenned:

Two days ago I shut down my PC and went to sleep.
The next day I come back from work, it starts (Fans are running and HD are spinning). But no POST, no beep, nothing.
I removed everything up to the processor fan which I even changed because the other one was old and it's very hot here so I thought it was overheating... Still nothing.
I removed the fan again and started the PC for a slight second without the cpu fan. Then I touched the CPU, it was quite hot, so it is doing something...
Also I tried booting without the cpu and still got nothing. Shouldn't I get a POST message or beep code with no cpu?

Could that be a PSU problem or is my motherboard dead? Anyway to test the cpu without another board?

Here are the relevent specs
Mobo: ASUS P5W DH Deluxe
Cpu: Intel pentium 4 3.2
PSU: Orion hec 550W.

Thanks a lot.

 

[kmcferrin]

If you don't have a CPU, then you won't get anything. POST is generated by the execution of BIOS code, but with no CPU there's no way to execute the code. So booting without a CPU installed won't tell you anything.

I had a similar issue with an old box I Was rebuilding a few weeks back. It turned out that the video card wasn't seated correctly. Double-check all of your connectors to make sure everything is seated and plugged in properly.

Try stripping the mainboard down to the bare minimum (CPU, memory, video card) and see what happens.

It sounds like the PSU is providing some power (fans and hard disks spin), but it's possible that it isn't providing power to the mainboard. Is the CPU fan powered by the mainboard? If so, does it spin up? I've noticed that fans powered directly by the PSU start up immediately at power on, but fans that plug into the mainboard (as most CPU fans do these days) usually wait a second or two before spinning up. That could be a clue. Also, does the PSU's internal fan spin?

The easiest way to test the PSU is to try the same components with a known good PSU. Unfortunately, if the PSU failed it's entirely possible that it caused damage to the mainboard or other components. Inspect the PSU connections looking for any burnt or discolored areas. Also sniff the back of the CPU to see if there is a burnt smell...that's a pretty big clue there.

It is exceptionally rare for a CPU to just totally fail for no reason at all. If you are overclocking the CPU or have inadequate cooling (dead fan, improperly attached heatsink, etc) then you can damage the CPU. It doesn't sound like that's the case here.

Then you're down to the mainboard. There are lots of ways they can fail. You might look over the mainboard and see if there are any bulging or leaking capacitors on it. This was a huge issue a couple of years ago, and every once in awhile you still find a system that is hit by it.

 

[EvilCabal]

Hi,

as I said I removed everything but the processor and still got nothing so it ain't a connection issue... Tu fan is spinning and the motherboard is powered (The led is on and the cpu fans is connected on the board). I had heat issues with this pc a while ago but it simply stalls, the processor stops before it burns... Also, last time I shut it down everything was fine, it stopped working the next time I booted up, it did not stall while I was using it.

On top of that, three of my friends at to return the same motherboard at least once because of problems... and my last ASUS board also broke for no reason after one year... ASUS ain't what it used to be it seems. I was just hoping it might not be the board but it certainly looks like it is.

Anybody had problem with Orion Hec PSU? This is my first experience.

 

[BadBigBen]

Hola, as mentioned... Try another PSU first, with the GFX card installed or try another one, if there is a speaker on the mobo then you will hear something, if you do not have a speaker on the mobo you will not hear a thing... clear CMOS, sometimes this will bring a board back, especially when components where exchanged...

generally it is not a good idea to power on a mobo without the HS on the CPU, damage is possible even when it is only powered on a sec or two...

other prob areas to check: IDE cable (unplug it at the MOBO), RAM (not inserted correctly or corrosion), also make sure that nothing is attached to the USB ports or NIC at this stage...

PS: my bet is on a failed PSU, seen this happen too often where one rail of power has just died, ie. the +5v rail, and the mobo LED did light, fans came on but no joy...



Ben

"If it works don't fix it! If it doesn't use a sledgehammer..."

 

[EvilCabal]

I hope so much that you are right about the PSU! I know removing the fan was a bad idea, I just wanted to know if it got hot... . About clearing the CMOS, I already tried, just forgot to mention it in the last post. And as I said the only thing plugged was the cpu and the power switch/pc speaker. Not a sound came...

Thanks, I should try tonight and give you some news. Do you think testing the PSU with a multimeter could reveal the problem?

 

[EvilCabal]

I looked up the atx power supply pin out and checked every pins on mine with a multimeter and they were all ok. Is that enough to say my PSU is good or could their be another type of problem (low current ??)

Thanks you.

 

[EvilCabal]

Another I wondered about is the ide led at the front of the computer, it is open all the time? Could that mean anything? To me it really looks like a dead motherboard... Is their any way to test the cpu without another socket 775 motherboard?

 

[BadBigBen]

I wondered about is the ide led at the front of the computer, it is open all the time?

Yes, it can mean that the drives attached, or the controller, and/or the cable are shot... if you have a buddy that would be willing to test the drives for you, have them do it, same goes with a PSU ask someone if they would allow you to use one of theirs...

CPU you will not be able to test, other than in another functioning board...

PS: the way you described that you tested the PSU, a question came up: did you also test the 12v 4-pin plug that attaches to the mainboard aswell, how about the peripherial power plugs?



Ben

"If it works don't fix it! If it doesn't use a sledgehammer..."

 

[EvilCabal]

I tested every single pin on the PSU. Also, later yesterday I managed to find another computer. It was socket 478 so I could not test the cpu and the motherboard but I tested everything else and everthing worked... So now I am down to the cpu and motherboard... I brought the cpu at my job technical service and asked them to test it. I would be surprised if it was broken though, I'm pretty sure it's the boar. Damn asus thoses days...

 

[BadBigBen]

Well, at least it is narrowed down to the board and cpu at this stage...

if the TechService at your job is good, then you will know it soon enough...

I've used Asus Boards privately and Job wise, where I work at we assemble WorkStations for Scientific Research (they are AMD and Tyan MB) and Regular PC's for Data Measuring (Data mining etc.) that do use ASUS boards, and sofar none have been RMA'd due to board failures (fingers crossed)...

but shooting down a board is pretty easily done, loose cables or ESD (Electro Static Discharge)... or the manufacturer has used bad parts, that may fail down the road...

how old is the mobo? still have warranty on it? if so, then try to get a return on it or exchanged...

Ben

"If it works don't fix it! If it doesn't use a sledgehammer..."

 

[EvilCabal]

Turns out the cpu is fine. The motherboard was ship to me by ASUS 4 months ago as a replacement for my other broken motherboard (older model they did not have anymore)! So I will ship it back for another replacement. BadBigBen, you must be lucky because as I said earlier all the poeple around are having trouble with ASUS product these times. Even the guy who tested my CPU told me I sees more dead ASUS board every day. Sucks...


PS. For those who might be tempted to blame my PSU as the motherboard killer I changed it when I got this board so it is quite unprobable

 

[Johnthephoneguy]

I've never had a problem with any Asus I have used. I have a P5B now for a while with no issues.

JohnThePhoneGuy

"If I can't fix it, it's not broke!

 

[BadBigBen]

Glad to hear that the CPU is fine... hope you get a board that will work...

good luck in the future...

Ben

"If it works don't fix it! If it doesn't use a sledgehammer..."