Dead CPU/mobo?

profdlp · 01 Dec 2010

TVeblen said:

This just occurred to me. You are water cooling. A motherboard will not boot without a heatsink/CPUfan connected. Did the watercool kit anticipate that?
You could just plug the fan into the CPU header and hold it to test. I think there is a BIOS setting to turn off the fan check.

I have a bad habit of posting a quick answer before reading the whole thread through, but that is exactly what I would have said had I not restrained myself. Nice call, and for Lordbob's sake I hope you nailed it. :)

smarteyeball · 01 Dec 2010

TVeblen said:

I set it on an anti-static surface (the bag it came in)

For future reference, that is actually a bad idea as the outside of the bag is conductive. The anti-static bag is only non-conductive on the inside of the bag.

Placing it on a non-conductive surface like the cardboard mobo box is a safer option.

****
Dennis,

As Tvblen suggested, remove the board from the case and strip it down to bare components. Basically CPU only.

Remove the waterblock/mounting kit if you haven't already.

Reseat the CPU and install the stock HSF if you still have it. (don't worry about replacing the thermal paste - you won't be running it long enough for it to be an issue)

Double check that you have the 24pin (mobo) and the 4/8pin (CPU) plugs firmly connected.

If it's still dead in the water - you have borked the mobo.

If it springs to life, then the issue is elsewhere (not mobo or CPU)

Lordbob75 · 02 Dec 2010

Guys: Thank you for all the suggestions.
I have tried most of this so far, but I have yet to strip everything and test it individually.

I have pizza, drinks, and a few spare hours to sit and troubleshoot this. :)

~Lordbob

Lordbob75 · 02 Dec 2010

Holy shit I got a beep code. Thank you TVeblen for the recommendation to take it all apart.

I think the problem was a bad pin (again). There was one little one in the socket that was slightly bent over, so we unbent it and made it straight (enough). There was still no Post however. Now that I took it out again, I think the pin next to it was bent downwards, so I bent it back up (read: spent 15 minutes trying to actually touch it with my tweezers).

Anyways, I am going to go through one thing at a time until I get posting.
Thank you all so much for your help (and saving me like $300).

~Lordbob

Lordbob75 · 02 Dec 2010

OK, it all works now

Thanks for all the help guys.

~Lordbob

Dave76 · 02 Dec 2010

Glad to hear you got it running.

Did you identify what was causing the issue?

Inquiring minds want to know...

smarteyeball · 02 Dec 2010

I presume the bent CPU socket pins were not making pad contact to the CPU = no go.

Bending the socket pins back in place to contact the pads = go :)

Hopalong X · 02 Dec 2010

Excellent. What did I tell you. That sounds tacky.
I'm not gloating just glad you found the problem and fixed it.
Sorry you had the problem but glad you got her fixed.

P4's are notorious for bent pins . You have to be SUPER careful on alignment and seating.

Mike

Smartyeyeball

Yes they have pins and a pad.
Bottom pic left side is CPU each gold piece standing up is a pin that matches the pad on the motherboard side in right side of pic. Very delicate. The pic is double actual size at least.

1Bowtie · 02 Dec 2010

Way to go Lordbob glad all went well

smarteyeball · 02 Dec 2010

Hopalong X said:

Smartyeyeball

Yes they have pins and a pad.
Bottom pic left side is CPU each gold piece standing up is a pin that matches the pad on the motherboard side in right side of pic. Very delicate. The pic is double actual size at least.

True to a point mate.

Older sockets and AMD chips still have physical CPU pins, however intel 775 > only have contact pads on the CPU (no physical CPU pins). The pins are only in the motherboard socket.

Still bloody delicate though :)