what would be the cause of a computer freeze at initial BIOS boot screen?

[Trizik]

hi, i recently put together a new computer and it's been running great for the past two weeks. before that, it fried two brand new power supplies that came with my Aspire X-QPACK case. i am now on my 3rd power supply from Aspire and just ran into this problem as i was getting ready to quit Battlefield 2 (i clicked a menu in the game and the computer automatically rebooted).

basically what's happening is my system is freezing at the initial BIOS boot-up screen, you know the splash that shows processor, memory, etc. info in DOS. when i power on the computer, it says "Processor: AMD Athlon 64 Venice 3200+" at the top and "Hit DEL to enter setup" at the bottom, however that's all it says and i can't do anything as it sits there for hours.

i've narrowed it down to a bad motherboard or i hate to say it, another bad power supply. what do you think?

here are my specs:

ASPIRE X-QPACK-AL/420 Black/Silver Aluminum MicroATX Desktop Computer Case 420W Power Supply - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16811144109

MSI RS480M2-IL Socket 939 ATI Radeon XPRESS 200 Micro ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16813130485

AMD Athlon 64 3200+ Venice Integrated into Chip FSB 512KB L2 Cache Socket 939 Processor - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819103535

ATI 100-435500 Radeon X800XL 256MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI-Express x16 Video Card - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814102509

2 x mushkin SP3200 1GB 184-Pin DDR SDRAM Unbuffered DDR 400 (PC 3200) System Memory - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820146190

Western Digital Raptor WD740GD 74GB 10,000 RPM 8MB Cache Serial ATA150 Hard Drive - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16822144160

SONY Black IDE Combo Drive Model CRX320E Black - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16827106819

 

[wpshooter]

After 3 power supplies, I would begin to doubt that it was power supply problem unless this power supply is not sufficent to run your installed hardware. I am not familiar with that brand and it's quality or possible lack thereof.

Have you dis-assembled the computer including motherboard to make sure that you don't have a short somewhere ?

Edited: P.S. - Are you overclocking ?

 

[birdpup]

It is definitely hardware related and the problem is most likely in identifying a component.
Are the hard drive(s) jumpered correctly?
Are all components solidly connected or seated properly?

 

[mrbill14]

My PC did the same thing.... finally tracked it down to a bad CPU.

I guess the CPU got hot, and fried itself. I believe it even took the motherboard with it (probably shorted something else out).

I eventually replaced both the motherboard and CPU. Everything else - memory, videocard, soundcard... works fine.

 

[newParadigm]

aspire PSU's = Total Shit. I had one in my x-dremaerII case, and ended up switching it out for an Antec True430 after massive stability problems.

This seems typical of aspire. Just get a better PSU. I've heard the XClio 450 watt is good. Or just spring a few bucks more, and get an Antec.

~new

 

[Trizik]

thanks guys.

since the power supply came with my Aspire case it was required to send back the entire case along with the power supply to get a RMA. so yes, i have completely taken the computer apart and rebuilt it. i must say, all three Aspire power supplies got VERY hot... as in hot enough to not want to hold my finger on the back of it during heavy load. that's why i believe they are just junk power supplies.

no, i am not overclocking. as far as i am aware everything is seated properly and the hard drive is jumpered correctly.

i just really hope this last one didn't take any other hardware with it. seems strange that the boot-up screen locks up like that... could it just be that there's not enough power coming out of the power supply to load more than that initial boot-up screen?

i should also mention that my CPU did get kind of warm at times. during heavy load it would run at about 65C (never more than 66C), normal load about 58C and idle anywhere from 48C to 55C. i know these temps are a little high but they shouldn't be dangerous, right?

 

[Trizik]

OK, really weird... i couldn't get past the BIOS boot screen for the life of me last night. but this morning, after letting the computer cool down all night, it booted up no problem and i am actually writing this message from the computer. CPU temp is currently at 51C.

the power supply is nice and cold right now. when i was trying to boot past the BIOS screen last night, it was still pretty hot. all i can figure is the computer was drawing too much power from the PSU, causing the PSU to overheat itself, increasing friction and decreasing current, which wasn't enough to power the computer. is that realistic?

i ordered the NeoPower. i'll let you know in a few days if that was the problem. in the meantime, any suggestions i might be missing? thanks.