Serious Help needed here! ASUS A7266-E and other hardware

[DeafBug]

To make the long story short.
I bought ASUS A7266-E, Althon XP 1800+ retail box, ATI AIW 8500DV and one 512MB PC2100 memory stick at a computer show. I bought the Antec SX830 case with the 300W PS included from Best Buy.

First day, Mobo and CPU fried under an hour. Exchanged the mobo from a vendor at the show.
Second day, I ordered OEM CPU and Alpha 8045 HSF from newegg.com.
Third day (Monday) I called AMD for RMA number and they approved. Shipped the CPU then.
Sixth day, OEM CPU arrived. I installed it with Alpha HSF. Temps average about 43 degrees. CPU fried under 2 two hours. I was able to flash the BIOS to the latest version, 1005.
Seventh day, I called newegg and told them that CPU was DOA. They issued me an RMA. Shipped the CPU to them.
Tenth day, new CPU from AMD arrived. I installed it with less thermal compound and the temps average about 37 degrees. Still the CPU got fried just under two hours.
Today, I learned that newegg.com shipped my new CPU last Friday. I should get it today.

First of all, I made one small mistake on the jumpers. All the jumpers were set to default according to the manual. Well, one of the default settings was wrong with Althon XP which I set it to Athlon/Duron instead of Palomino. But with the third CPU, I made sure that it was correct. Still got fried under two hours.

What is wrong here? When I took the Alpha HSF off after the third CPU was dead. The compound looked beautiful applied (no mess) as the temps then were 37 degrees versus the first one, 43 degrees. I used all three washers on the spring screws.

I thought the problem may be the PSU that came with the case. So last night I disassembled everything. Now it is ready to be exchanged. I am going to exchange it simply because I want to as it is only Best Buy.

Could it be the video card?
Could it also be the mobo? (What are the odds of having two bad mobo in a row? Or did it get screwed cuz I made the jumper mistake on the second CPU with the exchanged mobo?) Should I get a RMA for the mobo?

With my new OEM CPU arriving today. I want this to work otherwise it will be a paperweight until Fall cuz I can't afford any more components until the price goes down.

In all cases that the CPU fried, everything worked and all the detection takes place when booting up. Until somewhere between 1 1/2 to 2 hours later, when I had rebooted the computer, all it did was that detection (makes sounds and lights were on) nothing on the screen as the monitor power light remained orange, never got to green. Press the power button on the case doesn't do anything. I have to switch the switch on the PSU to turn it off. CPU is warm but nothing works. No beeps or anything. Why is it that is dies under two hours?

Also is there anyone living in Minneapolis, MN area that could team up with me and do some troubleshooting. I don't have the tools or anything to monitor what is wrong. First I am taking a two week vacation, Mardi Gras and DC. Then I ll be back. I will check this post while I am on the road to answer any questions or thoughts. Thought I should get the bad products shipped before I hit the road Friday so the new ones are here by the time I get back. I am going to call AMD one more time and see if they are willing to exchange it once again. That will give me one more chance in case the OEM fries up.

 

[mcveigh]

Holy Crap!

ok... How do you know it was the CPU that got fried?
Did you apply artic silver according to instructions? (did you use artic silver or some other thermal compund)
I would think power supply or motherboard. Also after getting it running next time. I would do it with bare mninimum-cpu ram and video card. let it just sit and run for an hour or 2, watch the temps and voltages in the bios.

Hope this helps, there are others here more knowledgable than me though

 

[Theslowone]

What mobo do you have? Is it the A7A266, A7v266, or A7N266?

 

[DeafBug]

The mobo is (sorry bad subject ) ASUS A7V266-E.

Well, the only way I determined that CPU was dead was that when I put the new one in. It worked! It was the only thing that got changed between CPU #2 and CPU #3. Same symptoms in both cases. The only thing that was different was the BIOS version (now at 1005, formerly 1004b) and the CPU temp 37 vs 43.

Yes I used Artic Silver 2. Yes I did follow the instructions. For CPU #2, it was too much but it kept it at 43 degrees. For CPU #3, it was a lot less and at 37 degrees. BTW, the instructions said to use a razor to spread it. I found that a pin was easier for finishing touch.

Now I am more inclined to replace all the components (except memory. Don't know who the vendor is.) But I don't want to use the RMA at each manufacture. Making me look bad when I have to ask for an RMA the second time in the future. Like am in now with AMD.

What I want is to know what may cause this problem and what one or two things should get replaced. Also what are the odds of having a bad mobo twice. But then again can it go bad if I had the wrong CPU jumper on the mobo? Could the videocard fry the CPU?

I was kinda hoping "Third time a charm" NOT!

Edit to say that I have no intentions on O/C. My old CPU is P3/500 so going from there to Althon 1800+ is a thrill ride for me.

 

[tazdevl]

LOL only way I can see a problem withyour installation is if you applied AS2 over the entire chip and not just the core. It's conductive... that would fry your CPU. Other than that it either sounds like a power supply issue (is it AMD approved?). 300W is pretty low for an AMD XP.

Switching the jumpers for CPU selection won't make a difference. It ties in with the themcpu jumper next to that one. Be sure that jumper is set to tbird, not reserved. The board doesn't read the internal diode... so it's pretty much useless.

My voltages got all wacked out on my A7V266E. Sent it back for RMA. You could be having the same problems. Thankfully my CPU is OK... I think. We shall see when I get my new motherboard back.

I've tried the 1005 and 1006 beta BIOS for the board. IMO, go back to the 1004b... much more stable.

 

[DeafBug]

<< LOL only way I can see a problem withyour installation is if you applied AS2 over the entire chip and not just the core. It's conductive... that would fry your CPU. Other than that it either sounds like a power supply issue (is it AMD approved?). 300W is pretty low for an AMD XP. >>



I think I got the AS2 applied correctly according to the directions. It is just the core. There are some 300W that AMD approved so what makes that different from this. Anyway I no longer have that case. I took it back to Best Buy. I am looking for a new case with at least 400W AMD approved PS.



<< Switching the jumpers for CPU selection won't make a difference. It ties in with the themcpu jumper next to that one. Be sure that jumper is set to tbird, not reserved. The board doesn't read the internal diode... so it's pretty much useless. >>



Thanks, I am not sure on this one. Cuz I am not an engineer so I am not sure how much difference it makes on the mb.



<< My voltages got all wacked out on my A7V266E. Sent it back for RMA. You could be having the same problems. Thankfully my CPU is OK... I think. We shall see when I get my new motherboard back.

I've tried the 1005 and 1006 beta BIOS for the board. IMO, go back to the 1004b... much more stable. >>



I am calling ASUS tomorrow and get that RMA. Blame it on the defective PS. I will take a test drive on the BIOS version when I get mine back. Hopefully AMD will do the same for me.

 

[Theslowone]

You are calling asus, haha good luck on that one.
Your powersupply with that antec case should be fine, but you said you took it back. A 300w antec can run your system fine with out a lot of extras hooked up.
Are you sure that your ps is set to 115v?



UHM according to the alpha link, you have to mod your alpha hs to put it on this board for it will not touch a capacitor, have you done this?

 

[DeafBug]

There is no change needed for the Alpha HS unit. Fits right in perfect without needed a dremel. There is an imprint where there would be a capacitor located. That I could see how you would have to cut it out. I didn't need to do that.

 

[DeafBug]

Called the vendor and they are going to exchange the motherboard. So I will have a new one. I took back the case to Best Buy, told them defective PS.

Now I only need AMD to give me a new RMA number even though they just did last week.

I am starting to feel better as I am getting a new fresh start. Hopefully the memory and video card still is good.