Can a computer turn on with out a CPU Heatsink and a Hardrive?

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stevty2889

Diamond Member
Dec 13, 2003
7,036
8
81
Your CPU is most likely fine, since pentium 4's will shut down if overheating, but it doesn't always happen quick enough so they can still fry, NEVER try and start up the computer without a heatsink on the CPU. As for not starting up at all, it's quite possible that the motherboard will not allow the computer to turn on if it doesn't see a CPU fan, it's a form of protection to prevent what you tried to do, but not all motherboards do this, so no gurantee.
 

mechBgon

Super Moderator<br>Elite Member
Oct 31, 1999
30,699
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Pentium 4 3 ghz 512k L2 and a Intel 865GRH
Ok, 512k L2 means Northwood, so that's good from both a performance standpoint and a compatiblity standpoint. The next-most-likely newbie oversights would be

1) you forgot to hook up the almighty ATX12V cable that powers the CPU

2) you did not put the motherboard on standoffs, or it's being shorted out in some other way

3) your PSU is of poor quality, or not powerful enough, or both


If you want more ideas, post complete specs of what exactly your hardware consists of there. Is it used stuff or something?
 

Fresh Daemon

Senior member
Mar 16, 2005
493
0
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really, a few minutes ago i turned it on for like a second. I didn't smell anything hopefully nothing has happened.

Why did you do that? You were told not to! There hasn't been a CPU that can run without a heatsink/fan since 486 days. That's over ten years ago now. The CPU won't look scorched, but inside, those delicate circuit traces will be bent, fused, melted and broken. It's not pinin', it's passed on. This CPU is no more. It has ceased to be! It's expired and gone to meet its maker! THIS IS A LATE CPU. It's a stiff. Bereft of life, it rests in peace, if you hadn't stuck it in the socket it would be pushing up the daisies! It's rung down the curtain and joined the choir invisible! THIS IS AN EX-CPU!
 

mechBgon

Super Moderator<br>Elite Member
Oct 31, 1999
30,699
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Originally posted by: Fresh Daemon
really, a few minutes ago i turned it on for like a second. I didn't smell anything hopefully nothing has happened.

Why did you do that? You were told not to! There hasn't been a CPU that can run without a heatsink/fan since 486 days. That's over ten years ago now. The CPU won't look scorched, but inside, those delicate circuit traces will be bent, fused, melted and broken. It's not pinin', it's passed on. This CPU is no more. It has ceased to be! It's expired and gone to meet its maker! THIS IS A LATE CPU. It's a stiff. Bereft of life, it rests in peace, if you hadn't stuck it in the socket it would be pushing up the daisies! It's rung down the curtain and joined the choir invisible! THIS IS AN EX-CPU!
My usual term for it is "pins-up" :D

 

Skyhanger

Senior member
Jul 16, 2005
341
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If it still works, then you are damn lucky

I give you a 70% that the CPU is dead, or you've damaged the mobo
 

Gl4di4tor

Senior member
Jun 8, 2001
808
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Are there are physical signs that i can look for to see if the cpu is fried or not? Becasue i just took it out to look for any damage and it appears the same as it did originally.
-BTW: what kinda Heatsink should i get?
 

Skyhanger

Senior member
Jul 16, 2005
341
0
0
Originally posted by: ShadowBlade
I ran a PII for several hours with no HS, just an old 80mm fan blowing on it

That's a P2, many old CPUs come w/ passive heatsinks stock.

Modern CPUs have higher power consumption and thus generate insane amounts of heat.
A good modern chip can get fried in milliseconds these days.

There's no way to visually inspect for OC damge, unless it acually physically blows up. Just like in industry, theres no way to check how well you soldered a PCB circuit until you run the thing.

Set it up normally (PSU, mobo, ram, GPU, and HSF) and try booting it. If it doesn't boot, then it's dead.
 

sandorski

No Lifer
Oct 10, 1999
70,697
6,257
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I'm calling shens on the whole thread. No one is this stupid, especially afte everyone says No then does it anyway.

If it's authentic, I hope the frickin thing is toast and the Seller refuses to replace it! :| Might Learn you something.
 

Hrdriv2

Junior Member
Aug 24, 2000
23
0
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Actually there are times when you can see when a chip has fried (have seen a few go), just look for a burn mark on or under the chip.
 

bob4432

Lifer
Sep 6, 2003
11,726
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Originally posted by: sandorski
I'm calling shens on the whole thread. No one is this stupid, especially afte everyone says No then does it anyway.

If it's authentic, I hope the frickin thing is toast and the Seller refuses to replace it! :| Might Learn you something.

maybe the op is just that dumb:confused:
 

ElTorrente

Banned
Aug 16, 2005
483
0
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This thread is pretty silly.

He is asking if he can turn it on without a heatsink, because he needs to know if it works so that he WILL go buy a heatsink. Everyone is telling him don't do it, because even if it did work, it won't for long, and thus will eliminate a need for ever having a heatsink.

Just buy the cheapest heatsink you can find that's made for your processer and you'll be fine. That's much cheaper than buying a new processer.
 

Gl4di4tor

Senior member
Jun 8, 2001
808
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Originally posted by: bob4432
Originally posted by: sandorski
I'm calling shens on the whole thread. No one is this stupid, especially afte everyone says No then does it anyway.

If it's authentic, I hope the frickin thing is toast and the Seller refuses to replace it! :| Might Learn you something.

maybe the op is just that dumb:confused:

Maybe your just an ass.
 

bob4432

Lifer
Sep 6, 2003
11,726
45
91
Originally posted by: Gl4di4tor
Originally posted by: bob4432
Originally posted by: sandorski
I'm calling shens on the whole thread. No one is this stupid, especially afte everyone says No then does it anyway.

If it's authentic, I hope the frickin thing is toast and the Seller refuses to replace it! :| Might Learn you something.

maybe the op is just that dumb:confused:

Maybe your just an ass.

yeah maybe, but i am not the one trying to run a cpu without a hsf and wonder if it will work. you have definately proven to all of us that you are that dumb.

and it would be you're, not your :D
 

Skyhanger

Senior member
Jul 16, 2005
341
0
0
I just sitting around waiting to see if the chip will run... this will be a real nice show.

I'm gonna start taking bets ppl :)
 

Crescent13

Diamond Member
Jan 12, 2005
4,793
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Originally posted by: mOeeOm
Originally posted by: Gl4di4tor
Originally posted by: Crescent13
Originally posted by: Gl4di4tor
Originally posted by: twitchee2
no on the hsf you will burn up the cpu the hdd is not being plugged in

what if i just turn it on for a few seconds, that shouldn't fry the cpu that quickly, right? What about the hdd do i have to have that pluged in as well.


LOL!! The CPU will fry in about (calculating).... 0.5 seconds. You can start a computer without a hard drive, of course it won't do much without an OS :p

How can i know if it fried or not? I just took out the cpu (pentium 4) and there were no burn marks. please help, panicing!!!!!!!!!!


Well you will know when you when put on a HSF and a HD, try to use your comp and it won't even boot.


yeah, that's what I was going to say.

EDIT: and P4's DO NOT turn themselfs off automatically. It will be useless to put a heatsink on a fried CPU. It's sorta like saying "I just totaled my car, so I think I'll put some insurance on it now".
 

YOyoYOhowsDAjello

Moderator<br>A/V & Home Theater<br>Elite member
Aug 6, 2001
31,204
45
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Originally posted by: Gl4di4tor
All i have to say is read my thread carefully, you gullible betches.

What are we supposed to be reading carefully?

So we're "gullible betches" now?
 

AmberClad

Diamond Member
Jul 23, 2005
4,914
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Originally posted by: Gl4di4tor
All i have to say is read my thread carefully, you gullible betches.

LOL, I'm pretty sure I didn't see the part about rubbing the industrial-grade magnet around on the Raptor the first time I read through this. When did you add that?

BTW, I got really suspicious when someone else posted a similar thread about trying to run it without a HS.
 

YOyoYOhowsDAjello

Moderator<br>A/V & Home Theater<br>Elite member
Aug 6, 2001
31,204
45
91
Oh, he edited it.

Thanks for wasting our time.

There are people that actually do stuff like this, Gl4di4tor. I come here trying to help people pick things out and solve problems on a daily basis and I know for a fact that some people would not know better. I take threads like this seriously because I don't want to blow it off and have someone acutally damage their own stuff.