Motherboard finally dead?

[unit 1]

P4C800-E Deluxe
3.2 GHz P4 (Prescott)
Corsair HX750 PSU/Antec Smartpower SL-400

System worked fine for 8 years or so, and now it won't POST. Since the last time I opened the box (which was about a month ago) I've had no problems. Then yesterday I had a "Overclocking failed! Please enter setup to re-configure your system" message (I'm not overclocking, btw). I rebooted, computer worked fine all night, and then today nothing works.

Swapped the power supply (both the new one and the old one have powered the system successfully in the past); still wouldn't POST. The fans start, the lights are on, but there's no beep, no POST, and the screen stays black.

CPU HS is tightly screwed to the backplate, as it always was, and the HS fan is plugged in an works (I have very good temperatures with it, so it's not overheating). The fan is spinning at full speed though (so it's not regulated by Q-fan anymore).

Is the motherboard finally dead?

 

[C1]

Once in awhile I'll get a "CPU incorrect clock" error for some unknown reason. When that happens, the system will default to a lower available CPU/Buss frequency option. So I think that something in the CPU & Memory area needs investigation.

Pull and remount the CPU and memory. Use Deoxit to clean conducting surfaces before remounting. Use fresh arctic silver compound for the CPU/Heatsink and ensure that the CPU fan is electrically & mechanically sound. Check all connections to the MB. REPLACE THE MB BATTERY AS IT IS WAY BEYOND TIME (expected time is 5 years maybe at best). Attempt to restart the system and enter the BIOS to reset the proper CPU/Buss speed for your system. Check/verify all settings for proper value. Hopefully that should do it, provided that there wasnt an actual hardware failure (eg, CPU or memory stick).

 

[unit 1]

Once in awhile I'll get a "CPU incorrect clock" error for some unknown reason. When that happens, the system will default to a lower available CPU/Buss frequency option. So I think that something in the CPU & Memory area needs investigation.

Pull and remount the CPU and memory. Use Deoxit to clean conducting surfaces before remounting. Use fresh arctic silver compound for the CPU/Heatsink and ensure that the CPU fan is electrically & mechanically sound. Check all connections to the MB. REPLACE THE MB BATTERY AS IT IS WAY BEYOND TIME (expected time is 5 years maybe at best). Attempt to restart the system and enter the BIOS to reset the proper CPU/Buss speed for your system. Check/verify all settings for proper value. Hopefully that should do it, provided that there wasnt an actual hardware failure (eg, CPU or memory stick).

Sorry for the late reply; with my dead computer, I cannot access the internet regularly.

I have changed the battery a few months ago, btw; I verified all the values back then. Besides that, I have done all that you have said; still no luck, system won't POST. I can't enter the BIOS.

Keep in mind the system had been working flawlessly since the last time I cleaned it (a month ago). One day I power it up, and it doesn't POST. I tried starting it with no RAM and/or no CPU just for kicks; got nothing, no beeps.

🙁

If I can save it, I will; I don't have money to spend on a motherboard+CPU. But I guess after 8 years, an upgrade is long overdue...

Anyone has another idea?

 

[C1]

You should be able to pick up a whole working P4 system for almost nothing. People give them away to church sales. There's also used computer parts stores that have all kinds of ready to go (ie, tested) mainboards (with CPU and memory included) that you should be able to buy real inexpense.
http://sandiego.craigslist.org/esd/sys/2848960828.html

 

[VirtualLarry]

I have a complete PC in my FS thread for $100. I could do that shipped.

Nforce4, S939 AMD64 4000+ (2.4Ghz, I think), PCI-E GF6200, 2GB DDR, 200GB HD.

PM me if interested.

 

[paul878]

I had this POS motherboard P4C800-E Deluxe, the bios just get corrupted for no reason. I had access to another system with the same motherboard, I hot flash it so many time I lost count.