CPU Fried?

[kenji4life]

I took in a friend's computer to fix, and it didn't post to bios. I tried switching ram around etc and it had no effect. Everything is 100% installed properly.

I ordered a new motherboard: Abit IP-95 and installed everything properly 100%.

The contents are:

Pentium 4 65nm (don't know speed)
1 stick 256mb ddr
1 stick 512mb ddr

On the new board I get the exact same result. I am lead to believe that the only conclusion is that the CPU is fried. Am I correct?

I would be 100% sure except that I usually only work with AMD cpu's (for nearly 2 decades) and I have never actually seen a CPU fried from normal use (not overclocked).

I knew P4's were hot but do you think it's fried? Please chime in so I can tell my friend he needs to order a new C2D e6300

Sidenote: What is the best processor up to c2d that will function properly with the DDR ram? I'm not familiar with the ram interface on Intel motherboards. I know the new motherboard I got him Abit IP-95 has 2 DDR slots and 2 DDR2 slots as well as support for C2d, but I'm sure he'd rather have his computer back as cheap as possible, so if he can USE the ram (even if it's a bottleneck) he probably will until he is ready to purchase ram?

I'm sure he'll be upset when I tell him the best thing to do at this point is to drop 250 bucks on a new cpu/ram.

 

[SickBeast]

He could just get a socket 939 A64 board and chip...probably for under $100.

It does sound like the chip is fried.

Did you smell burning?

Any visible marks on the core?

 

[Wik]

Have you tested it with known working memory? Tested with known working power supply? If you have access to more hardware, test everything, otherwise you are just guessing really.

 

[Zap]

Try outside the case with just CPU, HSF, PSU and a PC speaker attached. Any beeps? Have you tried a different PSU?

 

[myocardia]

It sounds to me as if it's the psu. Try it with only one stick of memory, and a known good psu, along with the new motherboard, since many times, a psu going bad will also damage the motherboard.

 

[kenji4life]

Okay, I'll clarify.. since my skills are not as well known as I thought.

I tried it with three different PSU's. 2 Sticks of known working Ram. Unmounted both motherboards/fresh installed.

All cables/connections are good. No shorts. No loose power/molex's (on any of the PSU's)

All variables were accounted for except for the CPU.

I pretty much already figured it out on my own. I just wasn't sure as my experience with Intel cpus/mobos is not as strong as AMD. That, and I've actually never seen a stock clocked CPU with proper cooling etc fried.

But there's always a first for everything.

Sorry I wasn't more clear with my testing procedures. I am fairly advanced in doing so.

-Kenji

 

[LouPoir]

Its hard to fry a P4 chip -

 

[jackrob]

how old is the chip?

 

[stevty2889]

Have you tried a known working CPU in either of the motherboards? As already mentioned, it's pretty difficult to fry a P4, with it's thermal protection it will shut itself down way before it will fry itself. One other slim possibility, did you use the same heatsink? There are quite a few motherboards that won't start if they don't detect the CPU fan.

 

[myocardia]

kenji4life, assuming either you or he didn't kill the cpu with ESD or excess voltage, you've got three choices as to what's wrong with that system, also assuming you truly know how to troubleshoot [removing every card except for video, unplugging everything (that includes hard drives, optical drives, floppy drives, etc)] except the motherboard, using only one stick of known good RAM at a time, etc.).

Those three choices are, in this order, psu (psu's can and do kill motherboards; the new one may already be dead), motherboard(s), video card. You should concentrate on those areas, before you start assuming that you know more about troubleshooting computers than we do. BTW, it isn't rare at all for a system not to post because of a modem, NIC, or sound card being bad, but still being attached to the motherboard. Besides, some of us may know more about computers than one might think, judging by some of our posts.