Solved Strange issue - please read

[linnemeyerhere]

In my opinion it's the only down side to building your own rig. You pick out top flight kit and then assemble with a care that no assembler would ever have time to take......but the big manufacturer makes thousands of the same rig and they are all tested for component compatibility before they ship. We on the other side must roll the dice and sometimes it leads to a component chase and mis-match issues......fun stuff best left for the enthusiast !

 

[ballerjones]

The plot thickens, stick with me now.

I got the new PSU, the nicest I've ever seen. Plugged it in, SAME PROBLEM. Out of anger I held down the power button, the computer boots up and works for about 20 seconds, dies again, with the customary flicker of fan lights at the end.

So, I connect the monitor and try to boot in safe mode and as I'm going through bios menus, the computer shuts off. From my perspective, this nullifies the BSOD driver error as no drivers are even allowed to load.

Every time I turn it on (by holding the button) it stays on progressively less and then if I let it cool down it'll peak at around 20 seconds again.

I put in the old PSU, same thing. Holding the button works (didn't know this before today) but the computer still stays on for only about 20 seconds.

Tried clearing the cmos, no dice. I just have no idea. My guess would be the motherboard but the error is so replicable and strange I wouldn't understand how the mobo could cause it. Not to mention the whole thing was started off by that totally unrelated BSOD error.

 

[linnemeyerhere]

Bummer drag man, sorry but as people hit this latest you may get some ideas. I'm afraid you could be looking at a new mobo. I wish you could take it out and smell it real close for a burned smell and scan it for any burned components. Can you get some serious light on it and grab a magnifying glass and look it over real good? You did say you changed out the battery on the board? I'm grabbing at straws !

 

[linnemeyerhere]

Stay tuned and I try to call in some help.

 

[polarbear]

Something in your unit is heating up and as it gets hotter and hotter, your unit is shutting down sooner and sooner. Looks like your into it for a few dollars.

 

[richc46]

Wow, some thread since my last visit.
All the posts are just guesses. Can you try to boot and listen for the beeps. Then tell us exactly what you heard
one long two short
three short
2 long 2 short.
I think you get it.
Luck

 

[DocBrown]

Try connecting all your parts on a desk or table without THE CASE. See if it will work that way. One member about a year ago found his MB had a very small section on the underside that was shorting out against the computer case. I think he got a different case or MB to solve the problem. Good luck & keep us posting as to your progress.

 

[ballerjones]

Thanks for all the help guys.

For some reason (probably the mobo speaker is disconnected or something), the computer never beeped during startup. Not even for the 14 months it was working perfectly.

Anyway, later tonight I will try assembling the computer outside of the case. The overheating thing is clearly right. I just don't know what's overheating. I recently reseated the cpu and put on a new heatsink and that did nothing so I don't think it's the cpu.

Unless the RAM is bad, it's probably the mobo...which sucks.

I'll get back on here after re-assembling outside of the case.

 

[polarbear]

GL ballerjones

 

[Lunarpancake]

sounds like mobo issues to me.........never once sounded like a PSU issue and I read every one of your posts.

Still...this is just a very very educated guess. (10yrs in Networks Administration and doing desktop support just about every one of those days)

Hard to tell for sure without the pc infront of me and my trusty voltmeter

 

[linnemeyerhere]

When you disassemble double check all the mobo standoffs are in the correct holes and that you don't have an extra one installed. Oh and also as I mentioned before look over the mobo front and back for any darkened solder joints or components. A burned electrical smell will stay with that board for weeks or longer so give it a good sniff as well.

 

[ballerjones]

I want to say thanks again, the issue has been resolved.

I finally had the time to assemble everything outside of the case and really examine everything. The motherboard didn't smell, nothing like that. However, much to my chagrin, when examining the heat-sink, I saw it wasn't making contact with the processor!

This was the replacement heat-sink that I put in place of the wobbly one. But I neglected to put on the compatible brace (new with the i7 socket). So, all I did was clean the old one and put it on well (no wobbles).

The computer is fine now. That BSOD error is still a bit of mystery but only time will tell.

Thanks again.

 

[polarbear]

Hi ballerjones, Glad you got by the big problem and let's hope the rest is easier. GL

 

[linnemeyerhere]

That's great news, sorry it cost you a new PSU ! But very glad you solved the mystery.

 

[ballerjones]

No worries, the PSU is being returned. It was just a stupid error on my part. Hopefully it doesn't happen again.