Question PC just went dead, been out of the loop, need upgrade advice

[Rhezuss]

Hi! Turned off my PC last night and this morning it won't turn on. I tested the PSU with a paper clip and the fan spins so it's not that. I replaced the CR2032 battery and still won't start.

My current old RIG is in my signature. I'm guessing a faulty motherboard. I have this PC since early 2000 iirc (with upgrades here and there) ...so I think i'm overdue for an upgrade.

I don't really want to dish out tons of money but i'd love to vet something that would last me quite a while. I'm ok keeping the GTX 970 too.

I've been out of the loop for quite a while so i'd like some tips on what to buy. I had Intel and AMD over the years so either will be fine.

This time I won't do any overclocking so no need for these features.

So, what would you recommend for a mobo, CPU, power supply (might replace it too) and memory for my next upgrade?

 

[DAPUNISHER]

I have an okd Hyper 212 EVO fan that I used on my i7-3770k...Do you think it could fit for my new Ryzen or i'll need to buy the newest model? View attachment 27407

I am thinking the AM4 holes will be slightly off for the 212's backplate. And while buying a new one solves the problem, a quick mod should let you use the one you have.

You need those 4 tall standoffs, and the 4 nuts for mounting it anyways. So if the 212 backplate does not line up, which is what I expect. Take the stock AM4 backplate and drill out the holes just big enough for the standoffs to fit through it. the x brace should adjust to line up. But I would check that before drilling; measure twice, cut once and all that. I suspect as long as the standoffs pass through the AM4 backplate you can just tighten it down and be good to go.

If you are not the handy type, yeah, buy a cooler.

 

[Rhezuss]

Nice thanks, I will check that when I get my stuff.

Many thanks to everyone, for your patience in answering my many questions. You all rock!

 

[Steltek]

Cooler Master's support website advertises an AM4 upgrade kit for the Hyper 212 Evo, part# is RR-AM4B-H212-S1.

I haven't seen it in stock anywhere online recently as the newer ones come with an AM4 support bracket, but the Cooler Master support website says it is available.

Now, that being said, the last time I tried to get one from them for somebody early in 2019 they wanted to charge me more than a new cooler would have cost just for the kit.

You have nothing to loose by calling or emailing their tech support department tomorrow and see what one costs as things may have changed since my prior contact with them.

Worst case, the 3600 comes with a stock Wraith Stealth cooler. The most recent revision of it isn't very good, but it will get you up and running until you can afford a better one.

 

[Rhezuss]

I got the 3600X that have the Wraith Spire fan. Is it better than the Stealth?

 

[Steltek]

Yes it is, even after the redesign (AMD cheaped the 2nd gen Wraith Spire by removing the 1st gen copper vapor core in return for a solid aluminum heatsink and a fan that runs up to 700RPM faster fan the 1st gen fan did).

If you use a well ventilated case, it will probably be fine for running the CPU at strictly stock speeds. It will be warm under load, but should be within AMD's specs (they wouldn't sell it, otherwise).

OTOH, if you plan to overclock (either now, or in the future), do yourself a favor and invest in a good quality air cooler like a Noctua or a beQuiet Dark Rock Pro, or a decent quality Corsair water cooler.

 

[Rhezuss]

Noctua NH-D15 chromax.Black, Refroidisseur CPU Dual-Tower (140 mm, Noir) : Amazon.ca: Électronique

Noctua NH-D15 chromax.Black, Refroidisseur CPU Dual-Tower (140 mm, Noir) : Amazon.ca: Électronique

www.amazon.ca

Like this one?

 

[Steltek]

The D15 is a fantastic cooler - I have one myself. Be aware, it is also very, very large, very heavy, and fairly expensive (especially related to your proposed build). Your case would also have to be large enough to install it (the Focus G is, BTW, but if you change cases you have to check that the one you pick supports a max cooler height of over 160mm).

You previously indicated that you don't plan to overclock. If that is still the case, the D15 is major overkill for your proposed system build unless you plan for a major CPU upgrade (say to a Ryzen 9 3950/3970 or future 4000) down the road.

 

[Rhezuss]

I have an old Cooler Master 690 II Advanced case. From what I gathered it should be ok.

As for overclocking, I might do some basic OC like I did with my i7-3770k. I simply used the presets in the BIOS.

I think i'm gonna buy a new cooler just to be safe in case I decide to do some. overclocking.

 

[Rhezuss]

I remembered something this morning. With the Hyper 212 EVO, the fan was covering one of the RAM slots, which made it difficult to access and it was limiting the kind of heatsink I could use.

I bought the G.Skill RAM with a higher heatsink...do you think it would still fit?

 

[DAPUNISHER]

I remembered something this morning. With the Hyper 212 EVO, the fan was covering one of the RAM slots, which made it difficult to access and it was limiting the kind of heatsink I could use.

I bought the G.Skill RAM with a higher heatsink...do you think it would still fit?

No worries. You went with 2x8GB and the proper slots for that config are A2&B2 which leaves the first slot unpopulated, leaving plenty of room.

 

[Steltek]

I doubt the D15 would block your DRAM slots - worst case, you might have to shift the fan up a little though.

However, if the B550 Phantom Gaming 4 is laid out the same as the X570 version (and it looks like it is to me, based upon the Asrock support site), I'd be more concerned that the D15 would interfere with the top PCIe slot - it is known to do so for the X570 Phantom Gaming 4.

You might want to go with something smaller like the Noctua U12A with that board.

 

[Rhezuss]

Juste ordered the Hyper 212 EVO RGB...since I don't plan to OC that much anyway.

Again, thanks everyone for your helpful tips!

 

[Rhezuss]

Impatient as I am lol...should I grab a RX 5700 now or wait for "Navi"?
My GTX 970 SSC still works...but I have the itch...

 

[Rhezuss]

Well...PC still won't start even with all the new components.

I did the paper clip test on the PSU and the fan spins, but could it still be a faulty PSU?

 

[VirtualLarry]

tried a different outlet in the building?

 

[Rhezuss]

Yeah just did that, didn't worked...will go buy a new PSU tomorrow and if it doesn't work I don't know what else I can do...

 

[Rhezuss]

Ok guys, i'm at a loss now. Just plugged the new PSU (Corsair RM850x) and still nothing.

It's as if there was no power going to the motherboard...I don't know what to do, tried everything...

Could it be a short somewhere?
Sould I try to run the thing outside of the case?

 

[Rhezuss]

Well, just assembled the mobo, ram and gpu outside the case and it booted...will try to reinstall in the case and see how it goes.

 

[Rhezuss]

SOLVED...I guess...

The culprit: my Razer Deathadder mouse (wired)...as soon as I plug the mouse, PC won't turn on. Without the mouse PC boot like a champ...looks like that mouse cost me a full upgrade lol.

EDIT: If I plug the dead mouse next to the keyboard, the PC won't start. If I plug the mouse anywhere else, the PC starts and boots but the mouse doesn't work. Tried with an old mouse and PC booted like a champ.

I now also have a new mouse 😛