I think my OCed AMD 64 is no more :(

[realjones]

So I'm using my other computer earlier tonight to watch a movie when all of a sudden the monitor goes blank, and then it starts flipping back and forth between analog/digital and finally shuts itself off. The hard drives and fans in my case keep spinning, so I'm sure it's not a power issue.

My motherboard is a MSI K8N Neo 2 Plat socket 754 and the processor is an AMD 64 3200+ Clawhammer. Before turning the computer off, I check the D-Bracket in the back and it has four red lights lit up. According to the MSI website, the "D-LED will hang here if the processor is damaged or not installed properly." So I attempt to restart my computer just to be sure, and it hangs at the four red lights for about 10 seconds, and then shuts itself off (no posting).

I open up the case and take out the processor; it looks fine. No burn marks, no bent pins - it looks perfect. I clean it and reseed it with arctic silver, reset the CMOS on the motherboard, and attempt to restart again. No dice. Still hanging at 4 red LEDS lit and then shutting off without posting.

My case is watercooled and the processor temperature was always around 35C. The processor is about 1.5 years old was overclocked to 2400 mhz (240x10).

Since I didn't see anything noticeably wrong with the processor, I just want to be sure before I shell out $150 for another processor that it really is a processor issue, and that it is not hanging at 4 red LEDs because of a motherboard problem or something else.

Thanks.

 

[Captante]

Bad news is that it sounds like your correct about your CPU.. a better question would be why it suddenly died... check the vcore & make sure it wasn't unexpectly high, also if you were relying on the MB tempeture sensor theres a good chance it was running hotter then it was reading since those things are very inaccurate. You might also pull the CPU & take it to a local PC shop to be bench tested & if its a retail model you can try to get an RMA if you still have the factory HSF.
If it turns out you do need a new CPU, I'd suggest spending a few extra $'s on a skt 939 mb to go with it since skt 754 is about to be phased out of production.

 

[lopri]

Originally posted by: RGone
Try this exactly.

Remove power from the system. Pull cord from wall if you must. Or from rear of power supply.

Remove the battery.

Move the CMOS jumper to clear.

Move the speaker jumper to on position. Page 7 quick start manual.

Make sure you have a wired keyboard plugged into the PS2 port. Not USB in other words. USB to PS2 OK.

Leave the CMOS jumper at clear for at least 30 minutes.

Put ONLY one ( 1 ) stick of memory in ORANGE slot closest the top edge of motherboard.

Set the CMOS jumper back to normal.

Replace the battery.

Press and hold down the "Insert" Key on the keyboard.

Apply power to power supply again WITH "Insert" key still pressed down.

Press the start/power on button on the rig. WITH the "Insert" key still pressed down.

When you hear the beep from the speaker. Release the "Insert" Key and quickly press the "Delete" key
and enter the bios and load optimized defaults. Save and Exit bios and reboot to enter bios to make necessary adjustments.

RGone....

I know this is for DFI boards, but try it. There's nothing to lose, anyway. It worked wonders for me many times.

 

[realjones]

I'll try it, I'm curious though - what is it supposed to be for?

 

[PingSpike]

What was your dimm voltage running at? I'm curious.

 

[realjones]

1.65v I think? Whatever the highest number was that wasn't flashing red in the bios (i.e. the highest grey one).

 

[Quinton McLeod]

I highly doubt it's your processor.

Stick your processor into another computer and see if that other computer runs.
It sounds to me like the MB died instead. Besides, if your processor was overheating, you WOULD HAVE seen burns on it. You said you didn't see any, so it's gotta be something else.

 

[Wentelteefje]

Originally posted by: realjones
So I'm using my other computer earlier tonight to watch a movie when all of a sudden the monitor goes blank, and then it starts flipping back and forth between analog/digital and finally shuts itself off. The hard drives and fans in my case keep spinning, so I'm sure it's not a power issue.

My motherboard is a MSI K8N Neo 2 Plat socket 754 and the processor is an AMD 64 3200+ Clawhammer. Before turning the computer off, I check the D-Bracket in the back and it has four red lights lit up. According to the MSI website, the "D-LED will hang here if the processor is damaged or not installed properly." So I attempt to restart my computer just to be sure, and it hangs at the four red lights for about 10 seconds, and then shuts itself off (no posting).

I open up the case and take out the processor; it looks fine. No burn marks, no bent pins - it looks perfect. I clean it and reseed it with arctic silver, reset the CMOS on the motherboard, and attempt to restart again. No dice. Still hanging at 4 red LEDS lit and then shutting off without posting.

My case is watercooled and the processor temperature was always around 35C. The processor is about 1.5 years old was overclocked to 2400 mhz (240x10).

Since I didn't see anything noticeably wrong with the processor, I just want to be sure before I shell out $150 for another processor that it really is a processor issue, and that it is not hanging at 4 red LEDs because of a motherboard problem or something else.

Thanks.

Are you sure about that... The burn marks will be underneath the Integrated Heat Spreader... Did it smell like a fried chip?

DIMM voltage is the voltage for your RAM...

 

[realjones]

No the CPU did not smell or look burnt at all which was what made it seem weird to me.

My bad on the voltage. The RAM (DIMM) voltage was set to whatever the default was, as I wasn't overclocking the RAM at all.

I'm doing the above the instructions now and I ordered a new processor and motherboard. I'll try the processor first because I don't want to have to peel apart my computer if I don't have to.

 

[Unkno]

before taking the cpu out.....answer this: what was your vcore set at (in bios and in windows if different)

 

[realjones]

Originally posted by: Unkno
before taking the cpu out.....answer this: what was your vcore set at (in bios and in windows if different)

"1.65v I think? Whatever the highest number was that wasn't flashing red in the bios (i.e. the highest grey one)."

 

[Unkno]

1.65V isn't too high for a clawhammer....your cpu shouldn't be dead so fast

 

[Captante]

The motherboard is the other likely thing to have failed, but it will be harder to pull out & test so I'd still say you should either get the CPU tested in a shop or if you have a secon skt 754 mb laying around you could try that too. Clearing the CMOS is also woth a try, but if either the CPU or mb is dead it won't do a thing.

 

[shimsham]

make sure you test that power supply before ordering anything.

ive had two machines that did the same thing. fans would spin, drives would power up, but no post. first time i wasted money on a new proc, then mobo, before finally replacing the ps. second time i tested the ps first and saved the time, money, and hassle.

i thought the same thing you did, that it wasnt the ps because everything was spinning like normal. but that doesnt mean the ps isnt bad. i swap the ps first now when i cant post.

 

[ianmills]

If it is your motherboard that died, chances are that some of the capacitors will be blown.

Take a close look, if it is your first time finding a blown capacitor, it can be a little difficult, but once you know to look for, it is easy to find. The tops of the capacitors are often popped out. Sometimes you have to touch them with your fingers to notice the top is raised.


Here is one example I found on Google:
http://blog.sarcaza.com/hello/28/1277/1024/blown-capacitor-close-up1.jpg

Note: blown the capacitors often don't have that liquids squirted out, so might not be this obvious.

Good luck

also, if your CPU is blown and is a boxed version, you can always try to RMA it. It should still be under warranty.

 

[realjones]

An update:

Tried a new processor today, no dice. I'm going to go get a power supply and try that before I tear the whole thing apart.

here is an interesting thing I noticed, which perhaps someone with more computer knowledge could fill me in on:

With the 4pin 12v motherboard connector connected to the motherboard, the system turns on (doesn't post), hangs for 10-15 seconds, then shuts itself off. If I remove the 12v connector from the motherboard and turn it on, the system will hang indefinitely until I press the power button and turn it off myself. Could this be a sign of a power supply issue?

edit: I tested the Antec PSU in my other computer (an old 2.0 ghz Pentium) and it does power it up and boot it. Is this a sign that is my motherboard, or is it possible that the PSU has enough juice to run my old computer, but doesn't have enough to run my main rig?

 

[Shenkoa]

Not a PSU problom or CPU by what this looks like. BTW you need that extra 12 volt 4 pin molex for extra juice, PC's are powerfull these days. If I was you I would try to RMA the motherboard and then just wait and hope for the best.

 

[shimsham]

Originally posted by: realjones
An update:

Tried a new processor today, no dice. I'm going to go get a power supply and try that before I tear the whole thing apart.

here is an interesting thing I noticed, which perhaps someone with more computer knowledge could fill me in on:

With the 4pin 12v motherboard connector connected to the motherboard, the system turns on (doesn't post), hangs for 10-15 seconds, then shuts itself off. If I remove the 12v connector from the motherboard and turn it on, the system will hang indefinitely until I press the power button and turn it off myself. Could this be a sign of a power supply issue?

edit: I tested the Antec PSU in my other computer (an old 2.0 ghz Pentium) and it does power it up and boot it. Is this a sign that is my motherboard, or is it possible that the PSU has enough juice to run my old computer, but doesn't have enough to run my main rig?

could be a bad rail the 4pin12v is coming off of. i would still try a different ps in the problem comp just to be sure and rule it out before tearing it all down.