K7S5A Help..

[wkapri]

Hi,

I have the K7S5A, and now it won't start. I press the power button, the computer turns on a few seconds then shuts right down. Sometimes it stays on longer, but yea, need help. what' wrong, is it the mother board or the power supply?


Here's a history and detail of my computer:
I bought the board almost a year ago from newegg when it came out and everyone was getting it. Got it up and running, not too many problems, sorta know what I'm doing... I keep it on almost 24/7, then in May had a few problems, it randomly turned off once or twice. Then I moved my system home from school. When I got home, the computer would turn on but only stay on for like a minute. I thought it was a power problem, since the electricity at my house wasn't too stable (very old house) and since it was summer, it was hot and everyone was using their AC. I didn't use my computer for a while, until it got cooler, it worked no problems.

Then I move back to school, plug everything in, and I'm getting a similar problem, it would turn off after a couple seconds. I'm thinking either there's a short or something in my power supply or the motherboard. The power supply is a cheap brand, but 400W. Anyway, I took everything out and apart, cleaned everything, dust and all. Don't really see anything wrong, but it didn't help.

Then I turn to you all for help and advice...


Motherboard problem? Power Supply problem? I think the power supply works, i plugged it into this old board and it turns on and stays on (nothing posts though but that's another story). and i tried an old working 230 W PS on the ecs K7S5A but either the board is messed up or it's just not enough juice to even start.

I'm thinking its the mobo, so leaning towards buying another. random question, is there warranty on the board? it's almost a year but not yet i believe. what boards do you guys recommend? should i give ecs another try and pick up another K7S5A from newegg? only $55 now.


long message, i know. thanks if you read this far.. thanks even more if you reply....

 

[DieHardware]

Do you hear/see any error/beep codes? Double check all connections. Run memtest86 on your RAM. Oh and keep trying and you'll find the source of the problem.

 

[osage]

Try testing it out of the case with just the minimum components. If you can get another PSU from someone to try would be good.

 

[Buz2b]

A couple of "red flags" came up as I was reading your post.

I moved my system home from school. When I got home, the computer would turn on but only stay on for like a minute

That board can be extremely sensitive to component seating; video card and RAM to be exact. The fact that you moved the box and then started having problems would seem to point in that direction. Remove and reseat both of those items carefully.

the electricity at my house wasn't too stable (very old house)

Big "Uh-Ohhh". Inconsistant line flow (especially low flow or "brown-downs) can kill a board/system. Best bet would be to use a UPS in these situations.

it got cooler, it worked no problems

Could again be the power issue (no one using their AC) or, as you say, a heat issue. Maybe in the move the HSF was jostled to the point of not making good contact for efficient cooling.

it randomly turned off once or twice

Not a good sign; did you try anything to resolve this at the time. Could point to the PS (among many other things), especially when paired with,

power supply is a cheap brand

Not saying you should have spent big bucks on a "top of the line" PS, as it could have more to do with that unit simply crapping out.
Bottom line: Remove and reseat components as mentioned. Also, remove and reinstall the CPU and HSF with new thermal paste. Retest. If that doesn't work, try a better PS. The easiest (believe it or not) and best way to do all this would be with the MB out of the case. That would also eliminate another slight possibility of something "shorting" the board as a result of the jostling from the move.

 

[yayoiz]

Buz 2b has already covered all what might be the case, he's a real 'guru' here. Another thing I 'd like to add is; if you haven't already done so, getting a relatively good 'box' for your setup. What I normally go for is something in an upper price range, especially if you move your 'box' often. Good Luck.

 

[wkapri]

wow, some quick and great responses.. thanks..

I've already tried most of the things suggested, I unplugged everything, all drives and cards except for the video card. I've reseated everything already, I've even tried running it with the mobo outside the case.
I think it's the motherboard and not the power supply. I'm gonna try again tonight to play/clean/reseat everything. If still nothing, I think I'm just gonna buy another board.

If I do buy a new board, I have a couple questions about that, first, what to do with the old one, is there still warranty or soemthing so that I can send it in and fix/replace it? It's almost been a year. As for a new board, not too sure what new cheap boards are out now. I might just buy the same one, it's only $55 or so. What other good inexpensive boards are there? How's the MSI K7T Turbo2?

Alright, again thanks for your input. I'll update you guys what happens tonight...

 

[Buz2b]

First off, please don't forget the comment about the power "problem" and my suggestion for a UPS. They can be had for under $35 in many places and as low as $25 in some. That would be well worth the investment if it keeps you from frying a MB or two.
As to your questions: The same board is still a good bargain. NewEgg is clearing them out for I believe around $52.99. Good price. Heck, if you live near a Fry's, they have a sale right now on one with a 1.2 GHz Duron for $79.99 (at least in CA they do).
Other boards: The Shuttle AK31A v3.1 is a good buy right now but it only does DDR. Faster (a bit anyway) chipset though. The other board you mention is also good. I built a MSI K7T Turbo2 for my wife in the not too distant past. Works like a charm and rock solid. Not as fast as the K7S5A but unless you do a lot of heavy gaming, digital photography or video editing you are likely not to really notice the difference. Good board.

 

[wkapri]

ok... i got the computer up and running for more than 10 seconds! well during that time i was messing with the bios... I was looking at the cpu temperature, it got up to 45 C right before it closed, i think that's fine though, right? the heat sink isn't hot. but just then i realized that the capacitors and chips next to the cpu, power plug, and usb, serial parallel ports, the stuff between there got really really hot. untouchable hot, i guess that's the problem. it's not supposed to get hot there, right? i dunno why it is..
don't think there's a solution, is there?

guess i'm gonna order a new motherboard...

 

[Buz2b]

just then i realized that the capacitors and chips next to the cpu, power plug, and usb, serial parallel ports, the stuff between there got really really hot. untouchable hot, i guess that's the problem.

It looks like the last thing I mentioned in an earlier post could be showing itself; "slight possibility of something "shorting" the board as a result of the jostling from the move. " I'd almost be willing to bet that is what is happening. Even though you took it out of the case earlier, get that sucker out of the case. That's the only way to confirm this and/or save the MB. You've got nothing to lose but a bit of time and a lot to gain. Take it out again and see if it will boot to the BIOS again. Then see if those components get hot again. If notl; you know what is happening. If they do, then you are kind of back to square one in that it could be either or the MB or the PS. But, it's all about narrowing things down further. Hey, if all else fails, Antec makes a small, very simple ATX PS testor that only costs ~$12. Most places like CompUSA, Fry's and Best Buy carry them; maybe more. Well worth the investment. It's pretty simplistic though. You hook it up to the ATX power connector (from the PS) and turn on the PS. If the light comes on; it's good. If not; it's bad. But, you can also use a volt meter to check individual lines at that time.