I think i killed my processor?

[El_Mayo]

First post
Anyway my cpu died after overclocking to 3.0ghz
it was reaching about 71*C
at first I suspected the motherboard, so i sent it off to ebuyer for a replacement
but the computer still had the same problem (all the fans would spin when the pc is booted, but no post beep sound and nothing comes up on screen)
i just want to confirm its definately the cpu, so i can buy another one

 

[Gillbot]

without testing components elsewhere, you can't confirm what is the problem. You need to test the ram and CPU in another system, and get known good ram to put in your mobo to verify which has failed.

 

[Idontcare]

Welcome to the forums El Mayo!

As Gillbot is saying you have to seperate symptom (computer doesn't boot, etc) from the disease (dead cpu, dead ram, dying PSU). You need to cure the disease if you want the symptoms to go away.

What was your cpu and what was the voltage you were using on it? What PSU do you have?

 

[Borealis7]

have you tried resetting the BIOS? either by switch/jumper or by taking out the 5V battery for 30 seconds.

and yes, overclocking can be dangerous. what CPU was it? i dont think most CPUs will die at 71C.

 

[El_Mayo]

Welcome to the forums El Mayo!

As Gillbot is saying you have to seperate symptom (computer doesn't boot, etc) from the disease (dead cpu, dead ram, dying PSU). You need to cure the disease if you want the symptoms to go away.

What was your cpu and what was the voltage you were using on it? What PSU do you have?

it's not the psu i know that
it's between the RAM and teh CPU
i have a tracer ballistix stick with flashing lights to show RAM activity, but the lights currently aren't flashing
i stressed tested the cpu to 70* without it crashing, but when i loaded up CoD4 it crashed within minutes, so it's more likely to be the RAM (?)

have you tried resetting the BIOS? either by switch/jumper or by taking out the 5V battery for 30 seconds.

and yes, overclocking can be dangerous. what CPU was it? i dont think most CPUs will die at 71C.

Athlon 64 4400+ X2
sorry bout the very late reply, anandtech didn't email me that there was a reply to the thread :/

 

[zagood]

Check video card.

Please list complete system.

 

[El_Mayo]

Check video card.

Please list complete system.

There's no video card, it was intergrated
i thought the same thing as well, because i overclocked the IGP to 700mhz and it crashed and recovered, then i reduced it to 600mhz and it crashed and never recovered. i changed motherboard and it still never recovered.

AMD 64 4400+ X2
2GB RAM - Tracer Ballistix
250GB Hard Drive
ASUS M4A78-VM motherboard

 

[Schmide]

Dude you're voiding your warranty by overclocking. You should not return it.

 

[El_Mayo]

Dude you're voiding your warranty by overclocking. You should not return it.

lmfao i already did.
but it still doesn't work ;(
what's really confused me is how it didn't crash in prime95 but it did in a game. surely that's less demanding?

 

[Schmide]

Were you watching your temperatures or did you just hope it wouldn't fail?

 

[El_Mayo]

Were you watching your temperatures or did you just hope it wouldn't fail?

well i couldn't watch my temps from ingame, so no. i wasn't.
i didn't bother because i was playing with an overclock and it was fine for about 3 days until i overclocked the IGP

 

[El_Mayo]

nope, no replies?
damn ;(

 

[Arkaign]

Could be mobo damage. Actually that's far more likely that an X2 cooking at only 71c.

 

[El_Mayo]

Could be mobo damage. Actually that's far more likely that an X2 cooking at only 71c.

I RMA'd the old motherboard for a BRAND NEW one and still the same problem.

 

[Arkaign]

I RMA'd the old motherboard for a BRAND NEW one and still the same problem.

Wow. Color me confused then. I see those things at 70c+ all the time with no problems, as AMD cheapened up on the OEM heatsinks they were using. The old heatpipe coolers during the socket 939 days were really a lot better, and would usually keep things in the 40s-50s depending on overclock. Still, 71c is not that hot for the CPU you mention. It's hotter than I like to see, but usually not a danger of murdering it. Was it overvolted? Sometimes that can cause damage even if the temps are relatively low.

 

[CurseTheSky]

In my time building computers, I've never seen a processor die unless they're physically damaged (bent pins putting it in the socket) or fed extreme voltages (1.55V+ for 65nm, 1.5V+ for 45nm, etc.)

Chances are either your memory or your power supply is bad. Disconnect everything except processor, heatsink, motherboard, and one stick of memory (yes, that means disconnect the hard drive, sound card, all but essential fans, etc.). Use the clear CMOS jumper to reset BIOS settings, and even remove the main PSU connector, remove the BIOS battery, and push the power button a couple of times to be absolutely sure.

If it STILL doesn't start, you will most likely need to find another computer to test your memory and power supply in. If those check out ok, your new motherboard is faulty, your processor is indeed dead, or you have some kind of short somewhere.

 

[El_Mayo]

Wow. Color me confused then. I see those things at 70c+ all the time with no problems, as AMD cheapened up on the OEM heatsinks they were using. The old heatpipe coolers during the socket 939 days were really a lot better, and would usually keep things in the 40s-50s depending on overclock. Still, 71c is not that hot for the CPU you mention. It's hotter than I like to see, but usually not a danger of murdering it. Was it overvolted? Sometimes that can cause damage even if the temps are relatively low.

it was at about 1.35V full load

 

[El_Mayo]

In my time building computers, I've never seen a processor die unless they're physically damaged (bent pins putting it in the socket) or fed extreme voltages (1.55V+ for 65nm, 1.5V+ for 45nm, etc.)

Chances are either your memory or your power supply is bad. Disconnect everything except processor, heatsink, motherboard, and one stick of memory (yes, that means disconnect the hard drive, sound card, all but essential fans, etc.). Use the clear CMOS jumper to reset BIOS settings, and even remove the main PSU connector, remove the BIOS battery, and push the power button a couple of times to be absolutely sure.

If it STILL doesn't start, you will most likely need to find another computer to test your memory and power supply in. If those check out ok, your new motherboard is faulty, your processor is indeed dead, or you have some kind of short somewhere.

okay i'll go do that now

 

[Arkaign]

okay i'll go do that now

Yep, his trouble-shooting list there is spot-on.

 

[CurseTheSky]

okay i'll go do that now

That's the spirit. You'd be surprised how many people will muddle through hardware problems for days just because doing the troubleshooting the RIGHT way is too much work. If they just did it in the first place, they'd save themselves so much time.

 

[El_Mayo]

Yep, his trouble-shooting list there is spot-on.

nope! still nothing.
fans spin up... but once i push power on.. i can't power off with the button either :/

 

[Arkaign]

nope! still nothing.
fans spin up... but once i push power on.. i can't power off with the button either :/

Sounds like you might have the exception that proves the rule. Athlon and Athlon XP's were pretty fragile during the socket A days (lol I can still hear the 'cccrack' of the die shattering when my buddy was putting a socket A golden orb cooler on), but modern AMD processors since Socket 754/939/940/AM2/AM3 have been pretty hard to kill unless you overvolt the bejeezus out of them.

Sorry to hear it

Only real way too 100% confirm would be different ram, or try that CPU in a known good configuration of an alternate system.

 

[El_Mayo]

Sounds like you might have the exception that proves the rule. Athlon and Athlon XP's were pretty fragile during the socket A days (lol I can still hear the 'cccrack' of the die shattering when my buddy was putting a socket A golden orb cooler on), but modern AMD processors since Socket 754/939/940/AM2/AM3 have been pretty hard to kill unless you overvolt the bejeezus out of them.

Sorry to hear it

Only real way too 100% confirm would be different ram, or try that CPU in a known good configuration of an alternate system.

I would, but i don't have another system to test it on
My new RAM hasn't arrived yet either! :'(