no post

[zfunk]

i recently ordered an entire new system to build for my uncle. when i originally ordered it and put it together i wasn't getting a post at all but the fans for the heatsink and power supply were coming on. i sent the cpu and motherboard back.

now i have the new cpu and motherboard installed. i just had barebones hooked up and it posted fine so i connected everything else. i turn it on to install an OS and it posts fine as well, but says something about default CMOS settings being loaded and then went into the BIOS. I was looking in the BIOS and then the power just shut off. I didn't change any settings or anything. Now I am not getting a post again with barebones nor am i getting a light for the power led which worked fine before. the fans still fire up. i am debating on sending the cpu back again and getting another fan as well because the bottom of it had some small abrasions on it. i am also using arctic silver. any suggestions are appreciated.

also, i was wondering if i would get post beeps with just the motherboard hooked up and nothing else (cpu,memory,video).

[Budfred]

Welcome to http://www.pcguide.com/ubb/pcgubb.gif

I am guessing that you may have a problem with the power supply rather than the CPU or mobo. Do you have another power supply you could try?

I believe most boards would POST with just the mobo and power, but I am not sure about that. Someone else will know more.

Budfred

[setoguro]

Check if you have a clear cmos jumper and if so see if it is in the clear position.

[zfunk]

i do have another power supply in my other computer. i suppose i can try that tomorrow. the power supply should be good because it came with a brand new case, but who knows. i know that i did fry the original cpu i sent back because i was so frustrated. i've been building computers for the past 5 years and never had such a problem with all new components. the cmos jumper is set correctly. i have also tried to reset it, but that does no good either. when the cmos jumper is in reset mode it doesn't turn on at all nor is it supposed to according to the manual.

[Budfred]

I bought a case recently with an included power supply that worked about 3 times before it died. If it is one of those obscure brands, it may be a piece of crap.

Budfred

[zfunk]

i hope that's all it is. i don't really feel like sending this cpu back again. i already send back a motherboard and cpu within a week. i don't even know if they have refunded me for them yet. i'll try a different power supply tomorrow and let you guys know what happens.

[zfunk]

i'm feeling a little skeptical about it being a bad power supply, but i will still try it out tomorrow. the reason i am skeptical is because the fans and other components such as cd rom power up. just not getting a post or anything now. i don't know what it could be. it started up fine and was posting and then just shut off and nothing. is it possible that the fan could have fried the cpu? i don't see any blown ics on the cpu and it looks fine, but i can't think of anything else. the cpu i sent back got fried and created some weird abrasions on the bottom of the fan. i used arctic silver when i installed then new cpu and put some on the heatsink like the instructions said. it worked fine then nothing....nothing....nothing.

[Budfred]

The power supply that died on me did POST a couple of times and did get some fans spinning, but then it just died. It may not turn out to be that, but it seems unlikely that you got 2 bad CPU/mobo combos. I would do a lot of testing of options before sending it back in.

I would also try a minimal boot outside the case to rule out the possibility that you have a short in the system. Put the mobo on a nonconductive surface to do that.

Budfred

[mjc]

Power supplies supply several voltage levels to the motherboard, one or more of them can die without affecting the others, but the board will not work, because all the needed voltages are not present.

If the 3.3V leg is the one that has died, the fans will still spin as the 12V is still ok (for a while at least).

[zfunk]

i already tested it outside of the case to see if there was a short on the motherboard because i had some similar things happen to me before when there was a short on the mb. i'm going to put a power supply in it now and see what happens.

[zfunk]

alright. since i was taking the power supply out of a similar working machine i decided to take the processor out of it as well and test it in the one that is having problems. i put the working cpu and fan in before testing the power supply and it booted up fine and posted. i tested the cpu that was in the one that was having problems in my working machine and it wouldn't post. i guess this means the cpu is bad. both power supplies work fine. i'm just wondering as to what could have fried the new cpu. it was working fine then just shut off. i think maybe it might be the bottom of the fan, but would that really matter if there is enough thermal compound covering the core? maybe i just got a bad batch of cpus which seems extremely rare. also in the manual it said it was only tested and supported up to a 2100XP. i was using a 2200XP because it came with the motherboard in a bundle deal. The manufacturer of the board said it supports up to a 2400XP when i emailed them though. the fan supports up to a 2800XP. this is just very frustrating. i am just going to exchange for an 1800XP w/fan. i don't think i am going to buy anything from tiger direct again. i never had problems with them in the past, but this is ridiculus. it takes forever just to get a hold of them too. they don't respond to any e-mails and they put you on hold for 15 minutes or more before a representative comes on.

[Budfred]

Sorry to hear about the CPU problem, but it begins to make more sense when you mention Tiger Direct. They are pretty bad. It wouldn't surprise me to find out that the CPU you are trying to work with is the same as the one you sent back before. Check out their ratings at:

http://www.resellerratings.com/

Budfred

[zfunk]

i never had any problems with them in the past, but now that i am looking at that site i will definately never buy from them again. i don't think they sent me the same cpu because the one i sent back was fried bad. you could see the blown ics on it and heat damage. hopefully they refund most of my money and send me good parts this time. they put labels and seals on the container the cpu comes in and i just peeled them back carefully so i could reseal it if i had to send it back. now they won't even be able to tell it was open or if they can they can't prove it because the seals aren't broken. :)