BLACK SCREEN OF DEATH - Problem with relatively new build.

[bobbyZ34]

I just finished my first build about 6 weeks ago.

AMD Athlon 64 3200+ Skt 939
Asus AV8-Deluxe VIA K8T800Pro
Geil Ultra (2x512mb) DDR-PD3200 400MHz
OCZ Modstream 450w modular PS
Windows XP Pro SP2

Performed Prime95 for around 20 hours with no problems.

Well in the last month it's locked up 4 times or so. By locking up I mean you can be doing nothing just reading some text and then the screen goes BLACK. No noises, no flashes, system keeps running, all lights and fans are on with absolutely no response. Every time I just had to hit the RESET button and it would come back just fine. The last time, last night, it did the same thing but the reset button wouldn't work. I had to power off. When I tried to power back on, NOTHING. Hit the switch on the back of the PS and then power and still nothing. Unplugged it, waited for a few minutes and then tried it and it finally worked.

Something has to be wrong. Can anyone give me some direction as to how to best proceed or troubleshoot?

If I had to guess my money is on the motherboard.

Any info would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks, Rob

 

[Fern]

Can anyone give me some direction as to how to best proceed or troubleshoot?

Looks to me like you'll have to swap parts to narrow it down to the (presumably) failed component.

First, I'd unhook all drives and any add-in PCI cards (sound etc) you may have. Try to boot

Another quicky try w/b to clear the CMOS

Prolly the easiest/fastest swap is to try another PSU.

If that doesn't work, I'd take the mobo outta the case (see if it'll boot then, just on the off-chance it was shorting to the case somehow).

You could then test your components (cpu, ram, vid card) in another mobo. If they all work elsewhere, it could point to the mobo.

Or get other components to test in your mobo.

Good Luck with it.

Fern

 

[Blain]

Contact the pro-Asus fans, they may have some insight for you.