Help me please! CPU light on motherboard

Mar 6, 2012
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I broke my old CPU when I was installing a new cooler, so I just bought a new one, got it today. I put it in, plugged in all the connectors, and crossed my fingers.

Boot started fine, all the fans and LEDs started to turn on. Then my CPU light blinked and everything shut down. Happened a few times and I decided to troubleshoot.

I unplugged the 8pin --> 4+4pin extender I had on the CPU power. Same effect. I unplugged my cooler, same effect. Unplugged my CPU power all together and voila, no shut down. The computer obviously doesn't work still, because there's no power.

It's a brand new power supply, never used with the last CPU. Does this sound like a PSU failure? That would really suck, because I upgraded from 650W non-modular to 850W semi-modular. Should I plug in the old PSU and see if that still works? My full setup is in the signature.
 

MrWizzard

Platinum Member
Mar 24, 2002
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A little clarification please,

The "CPU light" is that on the case or the motherboard. I have not seen a case with a CPU light on it, are you talking about the hard drive activity light?

I know there are some Mobos that have a CPU light. If that is what you are talking about then it could be you are using a unsupported CPU, a bios update might be needed, or you bent one of the CPU pins on the the motherboard. Either way from what I can tell something is wrong in detecting the CPU.

Also I am assuming this is not the normal power cycle that some motherboards auto do to find the correct ram timings.
 
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Mar 6, 2012
122
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A little clarification please,

The "CPU light" is that on the case or the motherboard. I have not seen a case with a CPU light on it, are you talking about the hard drive activity light?

I know there are some Mobos that have a CPU light. If that is what you are talking about then it could be you are using a unsupported CPU, a bios update might be needed, or you bent one of the CPU pins on the the motherboard. Either way from what I can tell something is wrong in detecting the CPU.

Also I am assuming this is not the normal power cycle that some motherboards auto do to find the correct ram timings.

In the title it clearly states "CPU light on motherboard". The BIOS is recent, the CPU is the exact same model as the one I had running for a few months. As for motherboard pins, it's an AMD so I didn't think that was even relevant. All the pins are on the CPU, which I checked. They were in perfect straight rows.

For RAM timings, I hadn't thought of that because they haven't been changed at all since last successful boot.
 
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fralexandr

Platinum Member
Apr 26, 2007
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Going by your underclocked laptop, it is likely that you overclocked your CPU or modified the bios in some way.
the most likely fix is to reset your bios/clear CMOS.

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For future reference, it would help if you posted what mobo/cpu you were talking about :p
the one in your sig right?
mobo: asus sabertooth 990fx r2.0 am3+

did you replace the CPU with another phenom II x4 955 black?

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a lot less likely problems:
did you damage the motherboard when you broke the old cpu?
take a look around the CPU area.

It's also possible you received a DOA processor, but that's HIGHLY unlikely.
 
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Mar 6, 2012
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All components in the sig are exactly what I have plugged in right now. Its a 965 BE, I think that's what the sig says.

Ahah! It was the RAM. I pulled one of the RAM sticks out and used the MemOK! button on my motherboard. Put the other stick in, re-ran MemOK! and that bypassed that issue.

Now though I'm getting a BOOT_DEVICE light. Give me a moment to check the HDDs
 
Mar 6, 2012
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Reseated all SATA and power cables and I have a working system again! Thank God, I need my Crysis 3 beta!

My cooler wasn't in right, so I pulled it out, but the CPU came with it. Bounced it off something, bent lots of pins. I broke one while attempting to straighten them with a pencil.

All is well, thanks so much for the suggestion! I love this motherboard. Never thought I'd need that MemOK! button but it turns out it saved me.
 

MrWizzard

Platinum Member
Mar 24, 2002
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In the title it clearly states "CPU light on motherboard". The BIOS is recent, the CPU is the exact same model as the one I had running for a few months. As for motherboard pins, it's an AMD so I didn't think that was even relevant. All the pins are on the CPU, which I checked. They were in perfect straight rows.

For RAM timings, I hadn't thought of that because they haven't been changed at all since last successful boot.

Some people come in here thinking the motherboard and the case and one in the same. We ask questions to make sure they are talking about the same thing we are talking about and are on the same page.

Glad you got it working.
 
Mar 6, 2012
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New problem. Turned it on and it shot right up to 75 Celcius. Do I have to fill the H60 with water? The instructions are terrible.
 

Vectronic

Senior member
Jan 9, 2013
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H60 should have come with it's liquid (and since this is the second CPU it's been mounted on, you should have known that... did you drain it?... no?... then it's still full).

Did you remember to put TIM/Paste on before mounting it?

Did you plug it in? Is the pump making any noise?