PC dead, smells burnt

[Leeb00]

My dependable desktop PC today bit the dust. When I saw it it had rebooted itself and was frozen at the XP logo screen. The PC would not POST, no floppy access at all, no beeps. The Epox 8KHA+ motherboard reports an "FF" condition.

The PC smelled like burning electronics, so I swapped in a spare power supply. Same result.

Now what to check? Am I safe to assume that the CPU would be the only other component that could cause the burnt smell? I pulled the HS and the cpu looks ok, but it didn't have hardly any arctic silver remaining on it, and one of the screws holding the HS wouldn't losen, it just spun (had to hold the retaining nut w/pliers). It COULD have already been loose, or it could have been tight and then loosened when I turned it, no way to know.

Should I do any other testing? Just buy another CPU chip? I didn't try removing boards or disconnecting the hard disk. Just looking for advice here. 🙂

 

[UptheMiddle]

I'm no expert, but this could also be due to your motherboard frying. I can't accurately remember this next statement, so hopefully an expert will pitch in some of their knowledge.
If the CPU is good, when the power is turned on, the BIOS gets its nod to perform its routine which is to test your systems hardware before the boot process. If the CPU doesn't work at all, then no BIOS check, no bootup. So, I'm a bit confused by your statement that your comp was frozen at the XP logo screen. Is this the case every time you try to reboot?

I did read this about your motherboard ( http://www.duxcw.com/digest/Reviews/MBs/Epox/8kha/4.htm):
Review of the EpoX 8KHA+ DDR Athlon Motherboard
Last updated: 7/31/2002
HARDWARE MONITORING. Like most, if not all, recent motherboards, the 8KHA+ does not fully support the Athlon XP processor. This processor has a built-in diode circuit to monitor processor temperature and to shut down the system before damage can result from a defective heatsink-fan. Instead of using this feature, the 8KHA+ employs an inferior combination of the temperature monitoring capabilities of the Winbond 83697HF super I/O chip and a thermister mounted in the center of the socket A, which are a hold-over from previous motherboard designs and are necessary for monitoring and compatibility with older Thunderbird core processors. Another diode next to the W83697HF monitors the system temperature.

 

[Daishiki]

my mobo fried a few months ago at 630 am. left the nasty burn smell with smoke coming from the sides

 

[Leeb00]

The Windows XP logo freeze was the first indication of a problem. Since then I get nothing when I powerup. The PC shows nothing on the screen at all, and emits no beeps at all, I hear no floppy activity, nothing. The motherboard lights do light up, the hard disk spins, and the indicator display on the motherboard itself displays "FF" which means "mainboard problem" or "add-on card insert inappropriate".

 

[Shaftatplanetquake]

Remove PCI add in cards, hard drive, optical drives, motherboard switch/LED connectors, USB/Firewire connectors, usb peripherals, floppy drives, extra sticks of ram(make sure you have JUST ONE in), and see if the post code changes. If it doesn't, it is probably the motherboard, but it could yet still be: monitor(lol, ..would take quite the PEBCAK error for this to be it), processor, video card, or memory.

 

[caz67]

Originally posted by: Shaftatplanetquake
Remove PCI add in cards, hard drive, optical drives, motherboard switch/LED connectors, USB/Firewire connectors, usb peripherals, floppy drives, extra sticks of ram(make sure you have JUST ONE in), and see if the post code changes. If it doesn't, it is probably the motherboard, but it could yet still be: monitor(lol, ..would take quite the PEBCAK error for this to be it), processor, video card, or memory.

I agree, this seems the most logical way to diagnose issue..

 

[Leeb00]

Originally posted by: Shaftatplanetquake
Remove PCI add in cards, hard drive, optical drives, motherboard switch/LED connectors, USB/Firewire connectors, usb peripherals, floppy drives, extra sticks of ram(make sure you have JUST ONE in), and see if the post code changes. If it doesn't, it is probably the motherboard, but it could yet still be: monitor(lol, ..would take quite the PEBCAK error for this to be it), processor, video card, or memory.

OK, after disconnecting everything as you suggested, no change. FF still displayed on motherboard. I tried both sticks of memory, by themselves, same result.

After being powered up for about 30 seconds, the little coil thing (copper wire coiled around a donut-shaped thing), one of these is very hot. Its the one near the PS connector. Doesn't seem it should be that hot, but I'm not sure.

Its looking like its the motherboard. But how likely is it that its the CPU?

Shoot, I don't want to buy a new mainboard and keep this CPU (XP1800), or vice versa... unless its a cheap one or the other, I don't want to buy both. I'll upgrade to AMD64 if its likely that both are bad.

Ok, if its likely the motherboard that is bad, and NOT the cpu, maybe I should ask what you guys think. I do need a machine to replace my IPCop server. Maybe this PC with a new, inexpensive MB could do it. Which MB is cheap and realiable? No overclocking, etc. Must accomodate an Alpha PAL8045 heatsink.

By the way, THANKS for all the suggestions.

 

[iwantanewcomputer]

yeah sounds like your mobo fried. i'm pretty sure it should have the led's on it on if it is powered up, which it should be even if you don't have a cpu in there

upgrading to an athlon 64 would be a bit more expensive but it would be best to upgrade when you are getting a new part anyway.

 

[0roo0roo]

take it apart and look/smell closely. i once had a mystery frying. turns out the atx plug/mb had permanently melted together from the side i couldn't see. grr

 

[CasTroLTraN]

same thing happened to me a couple months back...I thought it was the PSU or the board but it turned out to be that my HDD had burned.

 

[cirthix]

castroltran, it was a maxtor right, its that little rectangular chip about 1cm long and 6mm wide on the bottom, with a 1.5mm diameter burn in it

 

[Jeff7]

Look at the bigger capacitors on the motherboard - their tops should be flat. But if they are bulging outward, or leaking browish gunk, that would likely be part of the problem.
I've never had a bulging/burst capacitor problem result in a burning smell though.

 

[Kaieye]

My Epox 8KHA+ refurbed mb purchased from newegg almost two years ago had a resistor glow orange burned right out...

 

[Gamingphreek]

Well when you opened you case can you see any yellow goop anywhere. Like Jeff7 said any bulging capacitors.

Also you said there was no thermal grease left on the CPU... was there any left on the heatsink? SOuns like you overheated man, i dont recall if that board has overheating protection.

Did it just freeze or did it shutdown.

At any rate just sell what comopnents you have left that are good if you cant find the problem soon.

-Kevin

 

[Leeb00]

Originally posted by: Jeff7
Look at the bigger capacitors on the motherboard - their tops should be flat. But if they are bulging outward, or leaking browish gunk, that would likely be part of the problem.
I've never had a bulging/burst capacitor problem result in a burning smell though.

Yes, some of the capacitors tops are bulging a bit, and several have just a tiny bit of yellowish stuff on their tops, like it was just starting to ooz out. It feels kinda powdery, but the PC has been powered off since last night.

There was a bit of thermal grease remaining on the heatsink, and the CPU looks ok, but I'm not sure looks matter... I reapplied thermal paste and reassembled, then powered on the PC. The burning smell returned, so maybe its not the CPU?

I'll have to look for an inexpensive, reliable board to replace this one, assuming the CPU is good. Not sure which board that would be.

 

[CraigRT]

20 bucks says the CPU is fine.
most of the time in a case like this, it's the mainboard.
I'd think about investing in a new board, or at least testing the CPU in another board, and then going from there if it works fine.

 

[Jeff7]

Originally posted by: Leeb00

Originally posted by: Jeff7
Look at the bigger capacitors on the motherboard - their tops should be flat. But if they are bulging outward, or leaking browish gunk, that would likely be part of the problem.
I've never had a bulging/burst capacitor problem result in a burning smell though.

Yes, some of the capacitors tops are bulging a bit, and several have just a tiny bit of yellowish stuff on their tops, like it was just starting to ooz out. It feels kinda powdery, but the PC has been powered off since last night.

There was a bit of thermal grease remaining on the heatsink, and the CPU looks ok, but I'm not sure looks matter... I reapplied thermal paste and reassembled, then powered on the PC. The burning smell returned, so maybe its not the CPU?

I'll have to look for an inexpensive, reliable board to replace this one, assuming the CPU is good. Not sure which board that would be.

Well that's not good, that's for sure. Your motherboard's dead, or at least the capacitors are. Visit Badcaps.net for more information on this, and a place for replacements.

As for a replacement board, check out an nForce2 board - if you get one with the MCP-T southbridge, you can probably sell your soundcard. If gaming isn't a major concern, you can get an nForce2 IGP, which has the graphics right there on the chipset too.


Edit: Another option - post this at Epox's site in their tech support section. I opened a support ticket for my 8KTA3, which currently has only one bulging cap (the rest will soon follow though), just to ask what their bulging capacitor policy was:
"Sorry for the troubles. Although your board is out of warranty we'll still offer you RMA repair for the board with bad caps. Please await for the RMA number and then send the board in. Thanks."

So I pay to ship it, and I get a good-as-new board back, apparently. 🙂

 

[mrweirdo]

Originally posted by: Jeff7

Well that's not good, that's for sure. Your motherboard's dead, or at least the capacitors are. Visit Badcaps.net for more information on this, and a place for replacements.

As for a replacement board, check out an nForce2 board - if you get one with the MCP-T southbridge, you can probably sell your soundcard. If gaming isn't a major concern, you can get an nForce2 IGP, which has the graphics right there on the chipset too.


Edit: Another option - post this at Epox's site in their tech support section. I opened a support ticket for my 8KTA3, which currently has only one bulging cap (the rest will soon follow though), just to ask what their bulging capacitor policy was:
"Sorry for the troubles. Although your board is out of warranty we'll still offer you RMA repair for the board with bad caps. Please await for the RMA number and then send the board in. Thanks."

So I pay to ship it, and I get a good-as-new board back, apparently. 🙂

My motherboard just suffered the same fate. It was an ECS KS75A and I wish ECS would do something like that for me but of corse its ECS so wishfull thinking right 😉
That right there tells you something about Epox in the fact that they stand by their products.

 

[ViRGE]

Originally posted by: Jeff7

Originally posted by: Leeb00

Originally posted by: Jeff7
Look at the bigger capacitors on the motherboard - their tops should be flat. But if they are bulging outward, or leaking browish gunk, that would likely be part of the problem.
I've never had a bulging/burst capacitor problem result in a burning smell though.

Yes, some of the capacitors tops are bulging a bit, and several have just a tiny bit of yellowish stuff on their tops, like it was just starting to ooz out. It feels kinda powdery, but the PC has been powered off since last night.

There was a bit of thermal grease remaining on the heatsink, and the CPU looks ok, but I'm not sure looks matter... I reapplied thermal paste and reassembled, then powered on the PC. The burning smell returned, so maybe its not the CPU?

I'll have to look for an inexpensive, reliable board to replace this one, assuming the CPU is good. Not sure which board that would be.

Well that's not good, that's for sure. Your motherboard's dead, or at least the capacitors are. Visit Badcaps.net for more information on this, and a place for replacements.

As for a replacement board, check out an nForce2 board - if you get one with the MCP-T southbridge, you can probably sell your soundcard. If gaming isn't a major concern, you can get an nForce2 IGP, which has the graphics right there on the chipset too.


Edit: Another option - post this at Epox's site in their tech support section. I opened a support ticket for my 8KTA3, which currently has only one bulging cap (the rest will soon follow though), just to ask what their bulging capacitor policy was:
"Sorry for the troubles. Although your board is out of warranty we'll still offer you RMA repair for the board with bad caps. Please await for the RMA number and then send the board in. Thanks."

So I pay to ship it, and I get a good-as-new board back, apparently. 🙂

Not to knock your hopes down quite yet, but you may want to confirm that they'll give you a whole new board; with these bad caps, the caps can be taken off and new ones put on in a very short period of time, so they may be doing that instead of giving out whole new boards.

 

[Leeb00]

Checked with Epox, they denied my request for an RMA because I had removed the chipset fan and installed a Zalman heatsink, plus the board was out of its 2 yr warranty.

 

[Jeff7]

Not to knock your hopes down quite yet, but you may want to confirm that they'll give you a whole new board; with these bad caps, the caps can be taken off and new ones put on in a very short period of time, so they may be doing that instead of giving out whole new boards.

Well either way, it's better than having to buy new capacitors.


Leeb00 - sucks that they denied your request. Maybe you can debate it with them? Mine was out of warranty too. Chipset cooling has absolutely nothing to do with burst capacitors and they know it.