View Full Version : did my motherboad die?
Ok, so my new processor came in. The problem is when I installed it (someone who installed a couple made sure I installed it right and such), the computer wouldn't do anything. The fan would run and such, but no video signal out and no beeping. Ajmukon and I did a bare bones test, and got nothing. Any ideas on how to fix the problem?
apparently there is some damage on the motherboard so I am going to be calling tomorrow and getting it taken care of tomorrow.
The last BIOS update for that board lists 'update microcode' which is BIOS-speak for saying 'we've added support for more processors'...
And, no, just because you purchased your board recently doesn't mean it has the latest BIOS version. The BIOS is from July...your board could have been sitting around at least that long. 3 months is short for the time to get the board from the plant to the retail customer...
well, the bare bones (no processor) didn't do anything. I also don't know how flash the bios with out any signs of life (aside from fans running and the hard drive starting up...) If someone has any idea how to fix the problem, I'll try it, but tomorrow about 2 PM (Eastern Standard Time) I am going to call Gigabyte and get them to take care of it. it's still under warranty... :D
I also don't know how flash the bios with out any signs of life (aside from fans running and the hard drive starting up...)
Is this with the old processor too?
hockey man
10-09-2008, 11:34 PM
What do you mean by damage?
Ajmukon
10-10-2008, 12:18 AM
one of the heatsinks MOVED when i removed the Video card- noticeably moved with just a tap..
i do not think heatsinks are supposed to move...
Umm...northbridge/chipset?
No, they aren't supposed to move. If you've ever tried to remove one to put a third-party cooler in place you'd know how secure they are supposed to be...
hockey man
10-10-2008, 12:29 AM
Looks like it could have been DOA...see if they'll replace it.
it was working fine with the old processor (excluding the continuous BSODing...) since installing the new one, it doesn't work at all, though something could have happened to it between today and the last time I fired it up while it was waiting for said new motherboard.
So, I am going to have to flash the motherboard with a new bios. How easy is it to do that if I can't get Vista to load?
I got my motherboard back today, and installed everything right away. I hit the power button and got no beep. I hooked it up to a monitor and got no signal. I removed the ram and got no beep either. (the tech support from india or some other non-native english speaking company... suggested the idea)
He also suggested that since it is not beeping, and 2 techs and 2 other people looked it over and tested it, to take off the CPU fan, put my finger on the CPU, hit the power button, after 10 seconds turn the computer off. If the CPU heats up, that the problem is the motherboard. If the CPU doesn't heat up, the problem is the CPU...
I don't like that method of diagnosing the problem and I would like a second opinion... any suggestions as to what I should do?
webbwbb
10-29-2008, 11:17 PM
You said your new processor. Does this imply that you have an old processor that will work in the board? If you choose to do a heat test you do not need to remove the heatsink/fan. You can leave it on and after 2 minutes or so touch cautiously the base of the heatsink to see if it feels warm. Just make sure you don't stick your finger in the fan or touch the motherboard. Also be ready to pull away in case it is too hot.
I do not have an old processor that will work with my computer aside from the one currently installed... Is there anything else I can try to narrow down the problem? and did I remember correctly about the CPU working if it is hot and not working if it is cold?
webbwbb
10-29-2008, 11:40 PM
If the CPU is cold it is definitely dead. If it is warm then it is likely good.
jlreich
10-30-2008, 01:33 AM
It is a fairly reasonable way to test it. Another is to try the CPU in a known good board, if available.
If you are not sure send them both back. ;)
ok, well, I just did the CPU heat test. After 3 minutes (the length of the song that I was listening to...) the CPU Heat sinc copper pipes that come off of it started to get hot. like at 2 minutes it felt slightly hotter then room temperature. Should I just send both in (another 3 weeks with out the computer...) or any suggestions as to what I should do now?
jlreich
10-30-2008, 06:21 PM
If you don't have spare parts to properly test with, and if you send one in and it will be three weeks anyhow, you might as well send them both back to make sure it won't be another three weeks after that.
Without going back and reading through the rest of the thread have you tested the PSU, video card, and monitor? Bare bones boot?
when I first got my new CPU (and had previously shipped back my old CPU) Ajmukon and I had done a bare bones test. I'll try that later tonight and see if anything is solved. The monitor works, the graphics card should work, that may be a maybe, and I don't know how to test the PSU or Graphics card.
any easy to do tests that I could run besides a bare bones (which is the next thing on my list)?
jlreich
10-30-2008, 08:04 PM
To test the video card you need to put in another compatible system. You don't even need to boot it up all the way, just as long as you see something on the screen you know you have gotten farther than the card being in your system and you know the card is most likely good.
The power supply can be tested the same way, by temporarily hooking it up to another system. Or by using a PSU tester. Or by using a multimeter. Or you can hook up another known good power supply to your system.
Surely with all your roommates you can find a system that you can swap a few parts with. :p
Getting no beep with the ram pulled out is a sign that the board is bad, but not 100%.
Since you have such a long wait to get parts back I suggest you rule out the other possibilities first to make sure you aren't just spinning your wheels. ;)
many thanks, I'll be asking the people in my suite today if they wouldn't mind helping me out... If they do, I'll take the computer home thanksgiving day weekend and get my dad or someone else I know who has more knowledge then I do in troubleshooting.
at the moment, I have a 430 Watt PSU powering my system. would my problems be symptoms of a computer that's under powered?
webbwbb
10-31-2008, 04:04 PM
I suppose it's possible but unlikely. Could you post what all you have running in it? If it's power problems then it would be more likely to be unstable power. Are you using an Antec, Thermaltake or other major brand PSU or are you using some weird off-brand? A lot of people make power supplies that give bad voltages and may not even supply the power they are supposedly rated for.
jlreich
10-31-2008, 06:03 PM
at the moment, I have a 430 Watt PSU powering my system. would my problems be symptoms of a computer that's under powered?
If you are running a modern system on a 430w single +12v rail with 18A it's very possible. But as web said we would like to see your specs and the PSU specs.
I have a Phenom 9950 with these parts
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820134641
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148335
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827106229
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817153023
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128075
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130316
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811147086
I got a friend who is willing to test my Graphics card, and I'll reply if that is a problem. I do think I want to get a better PSU (I was hoping a bit later like when I did more upgrading on it...)
jlreich
11-02-2008, 06:20 PM
I have had two of those PSU's. They are great PSU's to run old equipment like s478 and sA but not your modern hardware.
I originally had one of those PSU's on my previous system when I first built it. s939 3000+, ATIx700, 1GB DDR400. It would occasionally crash for no reason. I tried OC'ing it and couldn't get more than a few MHz before it wouldn't boot. Picked up an Antec 550W with 2x +12v rails with 19A each and never had crashing issues again and was able to get a significant OC on the system even after upgrading the system to a 4400+ X2, 2GB ram, and a 7900GS.
The PSU like the one you have is still running an old s478 P4 3.0GHz Prescott system I gave my brother about six months ago. It runs that system like a champ, but it is not meant to run a modern system.
That PSU cannot in any way power your Phenom 9950. ;) I am not saying if you buy a new PSU that the system will magically boot up and be fine. Although it is highly possible. Honestly I wouldn't even try to boot it up until you get a decent PSU in there. ;) And I wouldn't send any parts back.
You need a 550-650w PSU with either three or four +12v rails with 18A each or more, or one with a large single +12v rail with 60A or more. With your current GPU you can get away with less, but if you have any plans to upgrade the GPU I wouldn't go less.
ok, so, what PSU should I buy (I'll probably buy it tonight if you guys reply soon enough) and I'll be able to give some more details as to whether or not it works hopefully by Friday. I have about 100 dollars to put into this investment, but I can reluctantly go up to 150.
jlreich
11-02-2008, 09:11 PM
Here is a good one (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139005) right at your budget. It's more than you need right now with your current GPU, but it gives you plenty of room to grow if you decide upgrade.
well, I have decided I am going to upgrade. The next couple of upgrades will be Sound Card, some sort of Audio Inputs or Firewire thing, and then a graphics card (I really am serious about the computer being primarily being for audio as much as I want to play games on it too...) I just need to get money for the upgrades...
The PSU came today. According to Ajmukon it sounds better, but couldn't give much more of an answer. He believes that everything but the Graphics card works. He heard the computer switch from the Bios to searching the Hard Drive for the OS. I'll be getting the graphics card tested this Friday I hope and have an answer by Sunday.
jlreich
11-04-2008, 04:39 PM
It sounds like you are at least making some progress. Hopefully you can get the no video thing sorted out and get up and running.
The Graphics Card tests OK in the friend's PC. I am now going to buy some more RAM to see if it is something strange with ram. (and an excuse to more RAM...) I would be looking for another 2 sticks of 2 gig ram, what ram should I get to see if the problem is RAM? (if someone could post back in a matter of minutes so I can buy it and get it by friday, that would be nice...)
Ajmukon
11-12-2008, 04:05 PM
do not buy more RAM util you are sure it is the RAM.
DO NOT put more money into this build until you are positive what is broken.
i have a sinking suspicion that the motherboard is really dead... even though it "sounded" better to me....
(i thought i heard the HD accessing something.. which i did not hear before.)
I am trying to get all other possibilities out of the way. I am sure I installed the motherboard correctly, and I don't have time to send off the motherboard and CPU and wait 3 weeks. Between shipping and buying codeweaver, it will be about the same price. I may beable to borrow Ram from someone, but I also want to have 8 gigs or more for Vista...
LadyGrey
11-12-2008, 10:47 PM
aw, please forgive an old lady for butting in here but, honey in my limited experience, if you are getting nothing and I mean nothing from a board, no beeps, no signs of life, then the board is dead, it's dead. If you continue to try and test things, working HDDs and cards and such, then you run the risk of frying those. What ever is wrong with the board could possibly, not for sure, but possibly damage your components that are working.
As I said please forgive me for butting in, and I'm still not quite sure what you are trying to build here. Just that I care about you all and I hate to see hard earned money spent when it doesn't need to be.
Hugs,
LG
I have reason to believe that the board is not bad. Aside from the board switching from Bios to hard drive (or so it is currently assumed) Gigabyte claims that it is not the board, and the CPU seems to behave the way it should. (aka, the heat sync is heating up a little after it has been on for a few minutes)
There are two other possibilities that could be the problem at the moment. The first is the graphics card, which works in a known working computer, the next would be ram. It could be as simple as the ram is not fast enough and I need to get a faster kind of ram... (once I get it booted, I can mess with the BIOS and get the ram to work right.) I currently like this theory over the Motherboard and/or the CPU not working right because I have a deadline to install some software from a while back...
Thank you for your input, I plan on borrowing ram from my room mate to test the ram, then I will concede defeat (unless someone else has another idea about a possible and easy to fix cause...) and send both the processor and graphics card in for repairs. The only problem is I don't want to pay on shipping for that.
I put in 1066 RAM, and there is no change in the system. It still doesn't boot. I'm going to be checking the CPU and then sending either the CPU or the CPU and Mobo in for repairs in the near future.
So, after talking to Gigabyte and AMD, the problem has been narrowed down to issues between the two. my phenom 9950 125 watt is not supported by my motherboard. the 9950 140 watt is however... I'm waiting to hear back from gigabyte, who may be willing to mod my motherboard for me so I'll have no problems with compatibility anymore. (would have been nice if someone had caught this earlier on...[I'm including my self on this too])
vBulletin v3.6.1, Copyright ©2000-2012, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.