How would I know if my CPU is dead?

[LuDaCriS66]

Okay, since coming back from the holidays to my dorm room, my computer won't boot... no I didn't leave it on the whole time, it was off.

When I press the power button, I do not get a signal to the monitor. The optical drives light up and the HD LED lights up.... but I don't get any beeps whatsoever.

I've tried
resetting the CMOS
tried three different video cards.. including a Voodoo PCI card
tested each stick of RAM
removed all PCI cards
changed motherboard from an 8RDA+ to an NF7-S

still... the same result with each time I try to boot

The CPU is an Athlon 2400+ .. it was slightly overclocked to 2600+ speeds

 

[LouPoir]

Other than what you have already tried -

Change power supply - could easily be the problem.
Try processor in another know good system

Lou

 

[Slugbait]

I don't know about the PSU...considering you "light up" on the drives, and you swapped mobos, I'd say the CPU is dead.

This is assuming that the other mobo has nothing wrong with it. I had a similar experience with an old P2B-LS, and my problem ended up being fried ATA...so if you're using an ATA card for your drives, this might also be the culprit.

 

[LuDaCriS66]

Yeah, I may grab a 2500+ tomorrow at the shop or something..
can't try the CPU in another system... there arent really any available I can try it in here

 

[LuDaCriS66]

What about the fact that the system stays on though? All the fans and lights stay on... but the boot process never goes through.

I mean.. if it was a heat issue or something, then the system shuts itself off...

 

[Slugbait]

Originally posted by: LuDaCriS66
What about the fact that the system stays on though? All the fans and lights stay on... but the boot process never goes through.

I mean.. if it was a heat issue or something, then the system shuts itself off...

Heat would only end your current session eventually, it doesn't deny the session altogether.

If you have power, you have power. That's why the system stays on. My experience above also had no boot process, no floppy seek, no beeps...but it had power.

Call me paranoid, but I once lived in a dorm, and I've been rat-f*cked. Considering it was working fine when you shut down before you left, I'm wondering if perhaps someone with access to your room swapped processors. I've seen worse.

This is just a theory, another possibility, if you will...I may be talking out my arse and your CPU simply met an untimely death. Don't go suspecting anybody. But you basically covered all the hardware-swap possibilities for what could be wrong, and it looks like a dead CPU to me (until you verify by plugging it into a working system).

 

[Viper96720]

It does seem strange a system that was off and working before doesn't work now.

 

[LuDaCriS66]

hmm.. replaced the CPU with a new 2500+ Barton and everything is fine now...

don't understand how the CPU died on me though