A8N-SLI Deluxe Failure

[pnyxxpress]

Well got my system up and running. The case came with a temperature sensor. When I was running loads I noticed the probe was getting even close to the temperature that the software was showing. So I decided to put the sensor on the bottom side of the heatsink as close to the cpu as possible. When I put the heatsink back on I turn on the system and now the system either won't post, hangs while it is posting, gives some random error. If I get through the post it normally hangs during boot. If I can manage to get it to boot. It seems to work without any problems. Is it posible that I cracked the board by snapping the heat sink back in place. I've since pulled the board and reseated everything, but it still not posting. I checked but I see no cracks. Anyone know of anything else that I could check?

Mike

 

[Insomniak]

No post at all? ANd you're sure your RAM is properly seated? Triple check that, and seat it again to be sure. Also, check to make sure no screws came loose in your case that are grounding your motherboard.

Also, when you took the HSF off the CPU, did you clean the HSF and the top of the chip and then use a fresh coat of thermal compound before mounting the heatsink/fan back on the CPU? I hope to God you did, for your sake...

 

[pnyxxpress]

Originally posted by: Insomniak
No post at all? ANd you're sure your RAM is properly seated? Triple check that, and seat it again to be sure. Also, check to make sure no screws came loose in your case that are grounding your motherboard.

Also, when you took the HSF off the CPU, did you clean the HSF and the top of the chip and then use a fresh coat of thermal compound before mounting the heatsink/fan back on the CPU? I hope to God you did, for your sake...

No I didn't use a fresh coat of thermal compound. Why would this matter? Even though the heat sink may touh the cpu there is no grounding to any other component or the board.

Thanks,
Mike

 

[Insomniak]

Originally posted by: pnyxxpress

Originally posted by: Insomniak
No post at all? ANd you're sure your RAM is properly seated? Triple check that, and seat it again to be sure. Also, check to make sure no screws came loose in your case that are grounding your motherboard.

Also, when you took the HSF off the CPU, did you clean the HSF and the top of the chip and then use a fresh coat of thermal compound before mounting the heatsink/fan back on the CPU? I hope to God you did, for your sake...

No I didn't use a fresh coat of thermal compound. Why would this matter? Even though the heat sink may touh the cpu there is no grounding to any other component or the board.

Thanks,
Mike

*winces*

Thermal compound has one specific purpose - to fill in the imperfections between a CPU's surface and the surface of the heatsink and allow heat to travel properly. If you don't use thermal compound, heat transfer from chip to Heatsink is GREATLY reduced.

In other words, your chip can get hot hot hot. I'm hoping your CPU hasn't fried. Granted, it's not as likely this is the case as something else is the problem, but I'm putting in on the "distinct possibility" list.

Check here to see why thermal compound is important:
http://compreviews.about.com/c...ing/a/aaTCompounds.htm

Aside from that, yes, this does sound more like motherboard damage. Did you ground yourself before dealing with the components? Did you unplug your system from the wall or turn off the PSUs power switch before making your adjustments? If not, there may be power damage to the motherboard.

Overall, these are things you can check, but I'm still not sure what the problem is. I can give suggestions, but that's about it.

 

[pnyxxpress]

I made sure I was grounded to the case. Power was diconnected and I waited for the light on the board go out so know all the power was drained. Will a board post without a cpu? Is this something I could try?

Thanks for your advice,
Mike

 

[GuitarDaddy]

Remove the temp probe and the HSF. Clean CPU and HSF with isopropyl alcohol, reapply thermal paste (one dot 3/4 the size of a BB in the center), reseat the HSF.

Plug some speakers into the green jack and boot up. Pray you don't hear "System failed CPU test"

I'm hoping that a lack of fresh thermal paste is preventing proper contact between CPU and HSF.
But I'm afraid you may have positioned the temp probe touching the CPU heat spreader. This "WILL" fry a CPU.

And to answer your question, No it will not post without a CPU it will give the post message listed above

 

[pnyxxpress]

Well, I think I got the problem resolved. It was too coincidental that the problem popped up right after I removed the heatsink. It looks like several people in the motherboard forum are having the same problem. The issue seems to be related to bios 1003.005. I upgraded to 1003.008. Now the computer boots normally. Whew..! thought I really screwed something up.

I'll definitely get a fresh coat of thermal compound. Could you recommend a good type of compound?

Thanks,
Mike

 

[Insomniak]

Arctic Silver 5 is widely considered to be the best thermal compound on the market. You can get a cc (Cubic Centimeter) syringe off newegg for around $12 shipped.