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Way to determine if either motherboard or CPU is the problem?

U

User5

Senior member
Okay, so to make a long story short, my computer will not boot. It worked for 5 months prior to this. Specs are:
AMD64 3200+ (at 2.4ghz)
Asus K8V SE Deluxe
1024MB Corsair XMS Ram
160GB Seagate SATA HDD
eVGA 6800GT
Antec TRU550w PSU

Okay, so the computer will not boot up. I can hit the power switch, and the lights and fans come on for a split second and then turn off. I immediately suspected it was the Power Supply, so I tried a new one, and same problem occurs. I took the 4-pin atx connector at the top out and with this out (and just the 12-pin connected) the fans and everything come on for however long I would like without dying, but of course the comptuer doesent boot without that connection. Plugged the 4 pin connector back in, and the lights and things turn on for a split second, and then die out.

What could be the problem? it isnt the powersupply, so Im starting to think that it is the motherboard. I wouldnt mind getting a new motherboard (since the new DFI one looks pretty nice) but I am afraid that the CPU might have been the problem then, and vise versa or even something else the problem. Is there any way that I can test what the problem is? Should I give Asus a call and try to troubleshoot with them? My buddy has the same motherboard and processor, is there any way I could test with his too? How difficult would the processor and such be to remove and replace back onto a new motherboard?

Thanks in advance!
 
Check to make sure that you have the CPU fan plugged into the header marked "CPU FAN" on the ASUS board. Lots of them have a "CPU protect" function that cuts power if the fan stops to the processor.

- M4H
 
Yep, check the cpu fan. Since you say it was running for a while, the cpu fan may be failing. Does the CPU fan run when you unplug the ATX12V connection (the 4 pin plug)?
 
I don't think it's possible but make sure the 4pin plug is in the right way. CHeck cpu is in right. SHould have an arrow on a corner to line up.
 
Thanks for the replys.

Yes, the CPU fan seems to be fine, it runs forever if I unplug the 4-pin connector and run it. Only when the 4-pin is connected, does the fan, and every other thing in the case turn on and then off after a split second.

The cable looks fine, I just inspected both cables for that matter, and they both look okay. And I've also tried another PSU so its narrowed down to the CPU or the Mobo, and hopefully not both or more!

How difficult is it to remove the heatsink/fan and then the processor? I was just looking at it before, and it doesent look too easy to do.


Thanks 🙂
 
After you've double-checked the CPU (or before--it doesn't matter), remove (disconnect) each device, drive, or card--including the video card--one at a time, and see if one of those is the culprit. If that doesn't locate the problem, move on to the RAM. If you're not running 2X512 or 4X256, just pull out the 1024 module--a normally running PC should stay powered on without RAM, but obviously, it won't boot. If you still haven't found the problem, it's time for a motherboard swap. (CPUs rarely fail unless you severely mistreat them, so it's most likely the motherboard.)
 
Yup, tried starting it without anything. Removed video card, ram, sound card, fans connected, hard drive, etc. Tried with nothing besides the heatsink/fan and obviously the processor, and the same problem still occurs. I even removed everything from the case, and tried running the mobo in a cardboard box and starting it with a screwdriver, and still nothing.

Should I just pretty much assume its the motherboard and just buy the new one? I dont know if I will buy the DFI board or if I will just buy the same board, since it did work perfectly before whatever happened. Ive never owned a DFI product so I dont know of their quality. And also, I dont know how hard it is to remove the processor and its heatsink/fan. It seems to be on there pretty good, and it seems like if I were to continue to yank it out, that the processor will fly out with the heatsink and bend or break pins and such, since its on there pretty good (with the thermal paste it comes with and all)

Thanks
 
Originally posted by: Viper96720
I don't think it's possible but make sure the 4pin plug is in the right way. CHeck cpu is in right. SHould have an arrow on a corner to line up.
Click to expand...

not to be an ass, but it can only go in 1 way, and it was working prior to the problem, so that obviously is not an issue 😛
 
I had the same problem with an ASUS CUSL2 MOBO.
ASUS' email support was NO help.

My configuration worked without a hitch for three + years.
I think my power LED and fans and PSU fan/lilght always stayed on.

I swapped the PSU.
It worked for less than an hour.
I swapped THAT PSU and it worked for 24 hours.
The first PSU that I threw away was probably good.

It would sometimes boot and sometimes just power-up but not boot.
If it did boot, I could use it for 3-8 hours before it shut down and required a 24 hour nap before it would MAYBE boot again.

I sometimes had a "burning" smell.
However, there was NEVER any sign of burnt insulation, melting caps or trace burn-throughs or pops anywhere.

This continued with new cables and new HDs.
I finally stripped it down to only one HD and one CD-RW.
I'm using the original HD hard jumpered rather than cable selected.
It hasn't given me a problem for the last 5-months.

I'm looking to order a cheap IDE Controller PCI-Card to connect 4 HDs.
I'll put my CDRW and another optical drive on the MOBO's main IDE channels.

I've been told that the IDE channels on MOBOs aren't really designed to handle hard drives, never mind numerous HDs.

I'm guessing you have a bent pin or a reversed or broken cable.
Otherwise, perhaps you're overloading the abilities of the MOBO.
I know, I know, mine worked fine with everything installed for 3+ years.
It seems to have over taxed it.

Good Luck

Please report back what works for you.


p.s.
As mentioned in this post
http://forums.anandtech.com/me...7055&enterthread=y
there are sometimes incompatabilities between PSU and MOBO.
However, it's odd that for you and I, our PSUs worked fine as is for a considerable amount of time.
 
The OP's problem is EXACTLY" the same problem as mine right now. With the 4-pin plugged in just a quick flash of lights, without it will stay on, but nothing happens, not even any sort of boot. I would like to know what you ended up doing? Did you try without hte harddrives etc and did that fix it? That is about the only thing I didn't unplug, is it even possible for the drives to affect that?
 
Originally posted by: CraigRT
Originally posted by: Viper96720
I don't think it's possible but make sure the 4pin plug is in the right way. CHeck cpu is in right. SHould have an arrow on a corner to line up.
Click to expand...

not to be an ass, but it can only go in 1 way, and it was working prior to the problem, so that obviously is not an issue 😛
Click to expand...

I have seen computers with stuff plugged in wrong even though keyed to go in one way.
 
Update, I tried unplugging all the drives and such and still no luck...I'm gonna order a new one

edit: I know its not the cpu, i tried it in a different comp as well as power supply
 
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