Help!! I think something's fried!!

[Micah]

I just finished all my installation for my new system, plugged it in, pushed the button, and WHOOSH I smell smoke.

When I started it up, the case LEDs flashed once then went dark. I immediately suspected the heatsink, since I fried an Athlon XP once. So, I undid the HSF, then re-installed it. When taking it off, it seemed as though there was an airtight seal. After reinstallation, I tried again and the LEDs went on and all fans started spinning. However, nothing happened and it just sat there with lights on and fans spinning.

Any ideas?

Here's the new parts of the setup:
AMD Athlon 64 3000+ (Retail, thank god for the warranty)
Retail HSF
Chaintech VNF3-250 Zenith Value
Kingston PC3200 Value RAM

Other relevent stuff:
Antec Sonata Case


Thanks,
Micah

 

[ectx]

my bet is the psu. do yo have a spare one to test it on?

just to be sure, clear the bios and try again.

 

[Steven the Leech]

I second the PSU

 

[Micah]

I tried clearing the CMOS, and that didn't fix anything.

My PSU is an Antec 380W True Power PSU that came with the case. Is 380W enough for an Athlon 64? I don't have a spare but I guess I can run to BB and see if they have anything.

 

[Micah]

If the PSU was fried, would it still be able to run the fans?

 

[awolkoff]

Originally posted by: Micah
If the PSU was fried, would it still be able to run the fans?

Yes.

 

[Micah]

What would be the symptoms of a fried CPU?

 

[pirred908]

Originally posted by: Micah
What would be the symptoms of a fried CPU?

It would look burnt.

Do you have an auto shutdown setting in your BIOS?

 

[Micah]

auto shutdown setting in BIOS?

I dunno. I never even got to the BIOS and it's a new mobo.

I thought the Athlon 64s had a built in heat-spreader that would cause them to fail and shut down before they got too hot. Am I wrong?

P.S. Thanks to all for the quick and specific replies!!

 

[wfbberzerker]

how long after you turned it on did you smell smoke? if it's immediately, then definitely the psu. the old athlons took about 10-15 seconds to heat up and burn, and they didnt have heat spreaders. but, my suggestion is do NOT turn it on with that psu again. try a different one.

also, what brand/wattage psu is it?

 

[MtnMan]

You let the smoke out of something, and if you can't get the smoke back in it, you probably need to replace it with one that still has the smoke on the inside.

Smoke Bad!

 

[Micah]

Originally posted by: wfbberzerker
how long after you turned it on did you smell smoke? if it's immediately, then definitely the psu. the old athlons took about 10-15 seconds to heat up and burn, and they didnt have heat spreaders. but, my suggestion is do NOT turn it on with that psu again. try a different one.

also, what brand/wattage psu is it?

It is an Antec True 380w PSU that came with my Sonata case.

Also, when I turned it on, the lights flashed and everything went dead within 1 second. I smelled the smoke about 5 seconds later.

 

[Micah]

OK, so I realize now that I'm a moron! I did not connect the ATX12V power connector, just the standard ATX connector. I guess it's because I was upgrading from a CPU/mobo that didn't need the ATX12V, so I forgot it was there.

So, I went ahead and hooked it up, but I still get nothing. The lights flashed, then went dead, and now it won't start again at all. Could I have damaged anything by not connecting the ATX12V connector? I can understand why would not start before, but it should start now that I've finally hooked it up correctly, right?

 

[sao123]

You let the smoke out of something, and if you can't get the smoke back in it, you probably need to replace it with one that still has the smoke on the inside.

Smoke Bad!

Smoke is like blood...if you lose too much, something dies.
I think your computer needs a smoke transfusion.

 

[3chordcharlie]

Originally posted by: MtnMan
You let the smoke out of something, and if you can't get the smoke back in it, you probably need to replace it with one that still has the smoke on the inside.

This is classic.

I would also guess PSU here, since it's brand new. Probably defective.

 

[Cheetah8799]

Originally posted by: Micah
OK, so I realize now that I'm a moron! I did not connect the ATX12V power connector, just the standard ATX connector. I guess it's because I was upgrading from a CPU/mobo that didn't need the ATX12V, so I forgot it was there.

So, I went ahead and hooked it up, but I still get nothing. The lights flashed, then went dead, and now it won't start again at all. Could I have damaged anything by not connecting the ATX12V connector? I can understand why would not start before, but it should start now that I've finally hooked it up correctly, right?

Well, try a different psu, and if that doesn't work, you likely fried the mobo.

Can you find any burn spots? If you can't see any, stick your nose in there and smell for the area that stinks the worst. That's probably where something is fried.

I'm pretty sure you can get away with not plugging in the 12v connector and NOT fry the mobo, so maybe you'll get lucky here and only need a psu.

good luck.

 

[Kenazo]

Originally posted by: awolkoff

Originally posted by: Micah
If the PSU was fried, would it still be able to run the fans?

Yes.

not for sure yes, but maybe.

 

[ectx]

Originally posted by: Kenazo

Originally posted by: awolkoff

Originally posted by: Micah
If the PSU was fried, would it still be able to run the fans?

Yes.

not for sure yes, but maybe.

When my psu fried a few months ago, the fans did spin. But the smell was clearly from the psu, so I changed psu and everything was good.

On the other hand, I venture to say that if the cpu is fried, the fan would not spin. Am I totally off base here? Does anyone have any experience? I have never fried a cpu before so I really don't know.

 

[Micah]

Well, I tested the PSU on my old mobo/CPU and everything booted up. However, the old one didn't require the ATX12V connector, so I don't know how much this tells me. But, all things considered, I'm leaning toward mobo failure right now. At least the mobo is a <$100 replacement. Maybe I'll go for a different one than Chaintech. I want something with diagnostic LEDs or readout.

I'm going to BB tonight to try and pick up a replacement PSU (and maybe mobo). If that doesn't work, I'm stuck.

Anyone have any luck with RMA to zipzoomfly? I've probably voided all kinds of warranties by now, but it's worth a try I guess.

 

[Micah]

Originally posted by: ectx

On the other hand, I venture to say that if the cpu is fried, the fan would not spin. Am I totally off base here? Does anyone have any experience? I have never fried a cpu before so I really don't know.

I fried an Athlon XP once (improper HSF installation), but that was a while ago. IIRC, nothing would come on after I fried it. Plus, the thermal goop turned brown. In this case, thermal goop is white and fans would spin and lights would come on.

 

[McMadman]

It's time for you to strip it down and test with bare minimum, since you tested the supply with another board I would assume that the supply is fine. I suspect the motherboard as well.

I've had a cheapo deer power supply blow, turned the power on, there was a loud pop and lots of smoke, it smelled like a cap gun (if anyone remembers those.)

 

[Canterwood]

I didn't think you could fry an Athlon64!
I know the old XP's would fry,but doesn't the AMD64 have some sort of thermal throttling to prevent frying the cpu these days?

 

[Micah]

I bought a new PSU at BB tonight, and I tested it out and...Nothing!! So, I guess that leads me to the mobo. All the stuff I've read seems to indicate that the mobo is most likely the culprit. I'm going to head over to newegg and see if I can get a new one.

*grumble grumble*

 

[Micah]

I just ordered a MSI Neo-FSR from newegg. Once I test that out, I'll tell people how things worked out.

 

[Micah]

Well, I put in the new motherboard and everything boots up fine now. I'm going to RMA the old board back and call it a day.

Thanks for the help in determining that it was either the PSU or mobo.