did my motherboard die? Please help

[ddarko]

ok I have had an asus maximus formula x38 since jan. It's been pretty flawless. Tonight, I swapped out an 8800gt for an ati 4870. Psu is a corsair hx620, which is certified by ati for a single 4870. After installing the new card, I turned on mut computer and the fans and video card start then suddenly stop. Never even starts to post. After a few secs, the computer reboots.. Stops again. Endless loop.

I thought it was the new card so I put back the 8800gt. Same problem.

Swapped out the PSU for a silverstone 600w psu. Same problem.

Removed motherboard, reset the CPU, reinstalled everything. Same problem.

At this point, I'm at wit's end. Is there anyone who can diagnose what's going on? The LCD diagnostic gadget reads "CPU init" and the comp never posts far enough to change. Evsn the hard drives don't havs time to spin up bsfore the computer reboots. I also noticed the cpu led lights on the motherboard never lights up bsfore rsbooting. Msybe i somehow killed my cpu? Any ideas?

 

[Mr Fox]

Originally posted by: ddarko
ok I have had an asus maximus formula x38 since jan. It's been pretty flawless. Tonight, I swapped out an 8800gt for an ati 4870. Psu is a corsair hx620, which is certified by ati for a single 4870. After installing the new card, I turned on mut computer and the fans and video card start then suddenly stop. Never even starts to post. After a few secs, the computer reboots.. Stops again. Endless loop.

I thought it was the new card so I put back the 8800gt. Same problem.

Swapped out the PSU for a silverstone 600w psu. Same problem.

Removed motherboard, reset the CPU, reinstalled everything. Same problem.

At this point, I'm at wit's end. Is there anyone who can diagnose what's going on? The LCD diagnostic gadget reads "CPU init" and the comp never posts far enough to change. Evsn the hard drives don't havs time to spin up bsfore the computer reboots. I also noticed the cpu led lights on the motherboard never lights up bsfore rsbooting. Msybe i somehow killed my cpu? Any ideas?

Two Thoughts... Pull CMOS Battery, and Drain CMOS... Pull Everything except 1 Stick of RAM... Try to get post beep, and any errors... If No post.. Pull RAM... Check for Post. Still no Post.. You probably ESD'd it

 

[ddarko]

Thanks for the suggestions. I contacted Asus tech support and they suggested removing all the components from the board - CPU, video card, memory - and then just powering on the board. I did and the board remained powered. As soon as I added ONLY the CPU, the boarded shut down and rebooted. I think it's pretty clear at this point that whatever is causing the problem is related to the CPU; either the CPU itself or the motherboard's CPU slot.

I went out and bought a Q9300 but I'm in a catch-22. My board has an older BIOS than the ones that support the Q9300 but I don't have another 775 processor to add to the system so i can flash the BIOS (assuming the CPU itself is the problem and not the CPU slot, in which case none of the CPUs will work). So I need to update the BIOS to use the q9300 but the only processor I have is the Q9300. If I put the Q9300 in the board without updating, would the CPU get fried? Bad idea or can I at least test it to see if I can at least post so I can update the BIOS? Anyone have any personal eperience with the Maximus Formula and the Penryn processors?

 

[OCChronic]

**TAKE MY ADVICE AT YOUR OWN RISK**

Pull your system apart and get a clean workspace with a power bar plugged in and handy. Place the motherbaord flat with an electrostatic bag underneath it to protect the underside of the motherboard. Install the Video Card in it's proper slot. Install only 1 of the RAM modules into the slot closest to the CPU socket. Install the CPU & HSF while using a proper amount of thermal paste, spread evenly across the heatspreader of the CPU. Finally, connect the various PSU connectors required to power the mainbaord and video card and be sure the PSU is plugged in and powered on. This is the bare minimum of hardware to get a POST SCREEN and is the beginning of the elimination process. Once you get it to post check voltages and temps in BIOS to see if evrythiing is normal and run Memtest to see if at least the RAM and CPU can get thru 1 pass. This ensures that at least you can count on a bare minimum of stability as it is. Once you get this far try two sticks of RAM and reapeat until all modules are installed. If you can still post and pass Memtest with all the RAM installed, try connecting your boot device next(i.e. harddisk or array). If you can boot into windows/LINUX, etc. and evrything looks good, run Prime95 for about an hour to test for minimum windows stability.

Once you get this far, re-install everything into the case and try Prime95 again and leave it to pound on your system for 12 hours at least, preferably 24 to 36. this rules out almost all memory errors and virtually all CPU errors. Also, 24 to 36 hour tests will reveal any long term overheating due to airflow problems within your case.

Psot back to let us know how it's going...



**TAKE MY ADVICE AT YOUR OWN RISK**

 

[Sarsbaby]

I've heard of the Rampage Formulas doing this exact same thing.

Are you using Load Line Calibration?

What are some of your BIOS settings if you can remember? Voltages, extra options, etc....

 

[ddarko]

Hi guys, thanks for your advice. Here's an update on my situation; nothing good, unfortunately, in fact, a SECOND motherboard got killed. I think the culprit is the 4870 video card. I installed it on another board, a A8N-SLI Deluxe with an Athlon64 3500 processor with Windows XP (my first computer was using Vista). Turned on the system and the fan on the video card started but in spurts, like it was trying to reach full spin but never did. Turned it off on again and this time the fan didn't sputter but the system didn't boot either. Took out the 4870 and installed the Radeon 1900XT that was in the board 5 minutes before. Turned it on. Nothing. No POST or boot at all. The fan on the 1900XT goes full speed but never throttles back like it does during a regular boot.

I suppose it could be my Cosair HX620 power supply, which I used on both systems, but the PSU is definitely supposed to handle this card plus how would inadequate power disable two separate motherboards like this. I'm kicking myself b/c the second computer was working perfectly and I foolishly and stupidly installed the killer 4870 in it. Should have left well enough alone.

Sarsbaby,

Can you post any links to where you read other people having this problem? I haven't seen anybody else experience this. As for BIOS settings, everything was default, I wasn't overclocking at all, memory settings were default (I can't remember my exact memory off the top of my head but the timing on it was pretty slow; it's a Corsair but regular sticks, got them for their price).

 

[Me XMan]

Wow...this is the exactly thing happened to me with crossfiring 4850's. Initially it was working and then dead stop and can't get by CPU Init. Gave up and RMA'ed it.

Originally posted by: ddarko
ok I have had an asus maximus formula x38 since jan. It's been pretty flawless. Tonight, I swapped out an 8800gt for an ati 4870. Psu is a corsair hx620, which is certified by ati for a single 4870. After installing the new card, I turned on mut computer and the fans and video card start then suddenly stop. Never even starts to post. After a few secs, the computer reboots.. Stops again. Endless loop.

I thought it was the new card so I put back the 8800gt. Same problem.

Swapped out the PSU for a silverstone 600w psu. Same problem.

Removed motherboard, reset the CPU, reinstalled everything. Same problem.

At this point, I'm at wit's end. Is there anyone who can diagnose what's going on? The LCD diagnostic gadget reads "CPU init" and the comp never posts far enough to change. Evsn the hard drives don't havs time to spin up bsfore the computer reboots. I also noticed the cpu led lights on the motherboard never lights up bsfore rsbooting. Msybe i somehow killed my cpu? Any ideas?

 

[Me XMan]

ddarko. You've got PM.