Dead cpu????

[j1b5c]

So I just got some Arctic Silver 5 to put on my Pentium 4 Prescott 3.4 ghz. My system was running HOT (idling at like 63 degrees C), so that's why I decided to get some. After I put the Artic Silver 5 on, I turned the computer on and I did not get any reponse from my monitor and heard no beep from my computer that would tell me it was starting up.

I then took out both of my pieces of RAM and turned on the computer. All the fans turned on and spun normally. I got no response from the video but the computer did beep like 4 times.

I'm fairly certain my video card is working well, I've never had any problems with it. My question is-is my cpu dead? Does having no RAM installed and the computer beeping signal that the motherboard still works?

I've googled around a little bit but haven't been able to get any responses.

Thanks.

 

[j1b5c]

Sorry for the double post, I also tried taking the cpu out and just booting with the video card in and nothing else and the system did not POST.

 

[montag451]

CPU must be in.
Try taking everything out except cpu/fan, psu, vga.
See what happens.
Add RAM one stick at a time if all is well.

 

[j1b5c]

Well, I used my laptop instead of my desktop for a couple months and finally decided to test out my desktop again. Bad RAM was the verdict. Thanks.