775 system: Upgrade or total refit?

[blacktankofhopelessness]

Just an update: This is turning into a horror story.

I turned in my new rig for testing, and the shop confirmed that the mobo was dead - just as I had suspected - but that all other parts were ok.

So I got my dead mobo replaced and installed everything again. And here I am, with a computer that still won't post or convey any kind of info on the screen or through the PC speaker. The same problem still exists.

I don't know what to do or think. Was the repair shop erroneous in their conclusion? Have I managed to ruin two mobos through faulty installation? Bear in mind, the first P8P67 worked fine for about two weeks when all of a sudden the system just died.

This is what happens when I power on: The fans and all devices power on, except for the screen. I get no post error beeps neither the quick beep that usually indicates a good post. After about 10 seconds the system shuts down. After two more seconds the system powers on again and then nothing more happens. It's just frozen with fans spinning and everything. Nothing changes regardless of whether I start with just the CPU and memory installed or just the CPU and GPU installed. Same results regardless of configuration and connected peripherals.

What on earth do I do know? Can anyone maybe point me in the direction of a checklist or something that I could go through? Otherwise I'll turn in my rig at a different repair shop and hope for the best...

 

[aphelion02]

That sounds very much like it would be the PSU. Could you ask the shop to specifically test with a different PSU, and if that doesn't work, try the CPU and RAM. I am almost certain its a power issue though.

Edit: Also try placing the entire mobo on a non conductive surface like a cardboard box and test with the bare minimum components. This is to make sure its not a grounding issue like a loose standoff or something.

 

[blacktankofhopelessness]

That sounds very much like it would be the PSU. Could you ask the shop to specifically test with a different PSU, and if that doesn't work, try the CPU and RAM. I am almost certain its a power issue though.

Edit: Also try placing the entire mobo on a non conductive surface like a cardboard box and test with the bare minimum components. This is to make sure its not a grounding issue like a loose standoff or something.

Yup, just came back here from testing the bare minimum. Same results. On the mobo there is also a CPU LED that is a constant red for me whenever I switch the system on. Not a very good sign I take it...

Note: I took out the mobo and placed it on a piece of cardboard and tested it with just the CPU, RAM, GPU but still same result. I even powered on with just the CPU installed but yes, that CPU LED still came on and the CPU fan came on.

It seems a lot of people over at the ASUS forums are reporting this very same issue, even after three RMA's (!!!). That tells me there's somethin other than the mobo being bad.

Strange though that the guys at the shop said everything except the mobo was fine. I have no previous history with them though and don't know if they're any good...

So, take everything back to another shop and specifically ask them to test the PSU is what you'd recommend?

 

[mfenn]

Yes, have them plug in another PSU while you watch.

Another thing to check is to inspect the socket for bent pins. LGA sockets are very easily damaged if care isn't taken when installing or removing the CPU (especially removing).

 

[blacktankofhopelessness]

Yes, have them plug in another PSU while you watch.

Another thing to check is to inspect the socket for bent pins. LGA sockets are very easily damaged if care isn't taken when installing or removing the CPU (especially removing).

I did, there are no bent pins as far as I can tell, and nothing else looks off. Will take the thing into a different shop tomorrow.

 

[blacktankofhopelessness]

The rejoicing continues. I tested another brand new PSU and got the same result on a bare necessities start (mobo on cardboard box, cpu, ram, gpu and screen connected). I think that rules out the PSU as the root cause. CPU and mobo the only possible culprits as far as I can tell. Yes, the CPU LED still shines red.

Off to the shop tomorrow it is. I need to have this thing up and running before Skyrim comes out dammit!

Rejoice etc...

 

[mfenn]

The shop should have an LGA 1155 CPU laying around, get them to test with that. A dead CPU is uncommon, but it's not unheard of either. Same for the RAM, though RAM failures are more common.

 

[blacktankofhopelessness]

I'm worried that the mounting mechanism for the Scythe Ninja III might have damaged something. Although how could it do that on two mobos? I made double, triple sure to be careful and followed the instructions for mounting to the letter. But still, the back plate presses down quite hard on some very small components on the back of the CPU slot. It does so by design apparently since there is a soft base to the plate where it presses against these components.

Anyone with experience mounting this particular cooler who has noticed the same thing?

I'm taking the rig to the shop now specifically asking them to test the CPU and secondly the mobo and RAM.

 

[blacktankofhopelessness]

Quick update: I received the bad news from the shop. Both the CPU and mobo are dead. The mobo had one bent pin in the socket and the CPU is just completely dead.

I'm now highly suspicious towards the mounting mechanism of the Scythe Ninja III. The back plate presses down on some components at the back, and there is no alternative orientation of that particular plate. I also suspect I've screwed the cooler to tightly into the back plate, although I can't see how I could've screwed the cooler on less tightly since the whole thing weighs just over 1 000 g.

What the hell do I do? Do I try this again with a new mobo/CPU or do I go for a different cooler? Recommendations for an alternative quiet/efficient cooler would be really appreciated. Preferablu one with a simple mounting mechanism...

EDIT: The retailer won't let me change to another mobo than the ASUS P8P67 Pro by the way, so that's not a real option at this point.

 

[mfenn]

Well, the spec on the Intel socket is 70 psi (about 5 kg/cm^2), so you would have had to screw it down really hard to exceed the spec. If the CPU isn't seated perfectly, I can definitely see a bent pin being an issue though.

It could be that the Ninja is just plain incompatible with your mobo though. Unfortunately that's the sort of thing that cannot be validated completely because the number of combinations are just so great. Unfortunately, it is really hard to recommend a cooler that absolutely will not interfere with components on the back plate unless you get a cheap/light cooler that uses pushpins. Does your shop have a variety of coolers that you can check out?

 

[blacktankofhopelessness]

They do. I'll see what I can find. The guy at the repair shop said the bent pin was surely not caused by the cooler, but more likely that it was damaged to start with or when removing the plastic cover.

I was careful when seating the cpu so I have a hard time seeing how I could've damaged the socket then. But hell, I'm not sure about any of this anymore. I'll go ask at the shop for a recommended cooler and see if I can have a look at the mounting mechanism before deciding. Otherwise I guess it's a matter of doing it all for a third time - being extra, extra careful, and hope for the best.

 

[mfenn]

Good luck!

 

[blacktankofhopelessness]

New cooler from Noctua with a much better back plate and mounting mechanism, not quite as quiet as the ninja 3 though. At least now everything works.

Thanks for the encouragement mfenn. Hopefully this is all behind me now...

And Skyrim runs well maxed out!

 

[mfenn]

No prob, glad to hear that things are looking up. Did you get the U12P perchance?

 

[blacktankofhopelessness]

Actually, I got the NH-U9B. It was the only Noctua fan the store had in stock and I didn't have the time or the patience to travel across town to another, bigger store in the same chain that carries all of the others. It's a compact fan solution (92 mm) but still very quiet. Just not as quiet as the Scythe Ninja 3, but that thing was massive.