Help needed

[sheepdog]

I built my second computer in early January of this year. It had been running fine for 5 months. About a week ago it started to shut down on me. I thought my memory had gone bad (so a memory scan said so) so I replaced the RAM on Friday. It worked fine all day Friday after the RAM replacement. I went out of town and shut the computer off Friday evening. Now it won't start up at all. Everyonce in a while it will make it to the splash screen then freeze up. Most of the time it won't even get that far. I thought maybe a wire came loose and have checked all of them. I'm at a loss. Is it a bad motherboard? Bad CPU? Other?

My rig...

CPU = Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 Kentsfield 2.4GHz 2 x 4MB L2 Cache LGA 775 Quad-Core Processor Motherboard = GIGABYTE GA-P35-DS3L

Operating Windows Vista Home Premium.

Had 2GB of RAM and as of last Friday, I upped it to 4GB of RAM. (2 - 2GB sticks)

 

[mechBgon]

It could also be that your power supply is getting flaky. If possible, test with another good-quality PSU that has enough power to run the system.

 

[sheepdog]

Thanks, I'll look into that. Don't have one at the moment and this PSU was salvaged from my previous build so maybe it is.

 

[Chosonman]

I had that problem once. The problem was a dirty motherboard. The all the dust on my mobo caused the computer to overheat and shut down. Solution, clean the mobo and rechecked the heatsink on the cpu to make sure there was enough arctic silver on the cpu.

 

[Chosonman]

Here's what I've learned after building 20 or so systems in my time.

Random shut downs after system starts most often are a result of overheating. (CPU or GPU too hot)

Consistent problems are usually signs of hardware issues. (ie system won't post bios - memory missing, vid card not installed properly, CPU dead, Mobo fried)

 

[Chosonman]

To smell your cpu frying while attempting to solve a problem is the worst feeling.

 

[robisbell]

make and model of ram?
make and model of PSU?

 

[sheepdog]

RAM was Crucial balliistix (2) 1GB sticks http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16820146565
PSU was Antec 350 watt ( http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16817103934 )
I just went out and bought an Antec 500 watt ( http://www.officemax.com/omax/...upply&category_Id=null )

It appeared to be working, as it started up then couldn't find my OS. I had forgotten to plug the power into one of the hard drives so I then did that and now the PSU won't even power up. I had to remove the video card to get the power plugged into the hard drive and don't know if I screwed something up there or not. I have to take off for work so the plan is tonight or tomorrow to break it all down and clean it out then re-build the whole computer.

 

[robisbell]

the power may be arcing off the video card if they are that close.

 

[sheepdog]

Ok, well. I got it semi-fired up again. I think my main HD is bad. My mobo might be shot too. None of the USB ports seem to work, the video card is hit and miss. One time I'll get the splash screen then it'll go to the black (bios?) screen then lock up. The next multiple times the screen never even comes on. I guess that's why I think it's my mobo. What say you?
Thanks for all the help thus far.

 

[sheepdog]

Well, I think I am going to order a new motherboard. Any suggestions to go with my Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600?

 

[Old Hippie]

Originally posted by: sheepdog
Well, I think I am going to order a new motherboard. Any suggestions to go with my Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600?

Abit IP35 Pro, 140.00 + shipping AR.

 

[sheepdog]

I emailed Gigabyte to see if I was covered still. This is the reply I got.

hello,
could be one of the components on board was unstable or some where shorted cause issue , test the board out side the case , remove all components from board take onboard cell battery out for 5 sec clear CMOS first then just connect the 24 pin ATX and the other 4 pin 12v connector from power supply to mother board ( need connect both connectors ) , re-connect cpu heatsink fan to cpu fan connector ( without cpu , video card, memory not thing ) turn system on check if cpu fan runs and keep running if it shut off that tells could be bad power supply test with other power supply, if cpu fan keep running without shut off itself put cpu , video card, single memory back one at a time until issue occured to find out which component shorted cause system stop turn on .

If tested board out side chase with cpu heatsink fan only and swap out power supply issue still persist please refer to our warranty : All motherboards carries an 3 year warranty from the date it was manufacture ( according to serial number ), products which was purchased within 30 days from invoice will be handled directly from your vendor or dealer they will replace mother board . Over 30 days please log on our online RMA service http://rma.gigabyte-usa.com go to end-user click on add new request fill out the RMA request from click on submit or phone 626-854-9338 select option 4 if no computer online available .

I don't get any beeps at all in the POST. The fans fire up and run but that's about it.

 

[robisbell]

if the motherboard, gpu, and hdd's are still within their warranty, rma them immediately.