mykel
asked on
Fried Motherboard?
First I would like to thank anyone who tries to help me in advance. Thank you. Ok, now for my problem. I have an asus a7a266 mb and WAS running an xp 1900. Of course I was greedy and thought I needed more speed.I bought an unlocking kit and unlocked my cpu. It worked great. Got a little warm though so I bought a thermalrigt slk800. I installed the heatsink , using some thermal coumpound supplied with it, I made sure not to put too much or too little on, hit the power button and NO BOOT. Wont even POST. I disconnected the power and checked the heatsink to see if it was seated correctly. All looked ok. Powered it back up again and noticed a litttle burning smell...NOOOO. Turned it off right away and unplugged it. I took the HS off and inspected the cpu..no burn marks but it will not boot..no post no nothing..so waht do ya think..bad cpu or bad MB? Also,if I buy another cpu and install it and the MB is "bad" can it damage the new cpu? And will it post without a cpu installed? to see if it is the cpu or the MB?
since you where overclocking, assuming there's nothing else wrong with your system, I'd say it's the cpu - it gets the heat/damage from overclocking. as long as the settings for the higher speed where on the cpu only, the mother board won't damage it. if the speed settings where in the bios you can reset the bios with the jumper with a new processor in and it shouldn't hurt anything. Lets just say, if it were my system (first off I wouldn't overclock but that's just me) I would assume the CPU was bad, reset the bios with a new cpu in and fully expect to continue on my merry way.
mykel,
I agree with slink9, you may have smoked the CPU. However,,,chances are that your board may have suffered damage and if you stick another CPU in it,,,it could also fry. Like Clint Eastwood said "Do you feel lucky?"
I would not chance it, as boards are not as expensive as CPUs.
Good Luck
BDog
PS If you have a spare cpu that you are willing to sacrifice, go for it. It will let you know if the board is smoked. I did this with a spare celeron I had and of course it went up in smoke,,,motherboard gone now!!!
I agree with slink9, you may have smoked the CPU. However,,,chances are that your board may have suffered damage and if you stick another CPU in it,,,it could also fry. Like Clint Eastwood said "Do you feel lucky?"
I would not chance it, as boards are not as expensive as CPUs.
Good Luck
BDog
PS If you have a spare cpu that you are willing to sacrifice, go for it. It will let you know if the board is smoked. I did this with a spare celeron I had and of course it went up in smoke,,,motherboard gone now!!!
I wouldn't use a spare cpu in the mobo. I'd try that cpu in another mobo.
Clear your cmos if you haven't and try again. If you don't remember your settings for overclocking, oh well. You'll just get more experience by working them up again.
How much did you have it overclocked?
Was the thermal paste dark brown?
Did you examine the voltage regulators and other chips on the mobo for damage?
Did you smell the power supply exhaust to see if it had an unusual odor?
Did you smell around the mobo to see if it had an unusual odor?
I overclock all the time but I am careful to not push it too far. I realize if I do that any damage is due to me and I am willing to accept it.
If you wind up getting a new mobo/cpu and you go athlon again, try to ensure you get a thoroughbred b core (or barton core) for the cpu.
Clear your cmos if you haven't and try again. If you don't remember your settings for overclocking, oh well. You'll just get more experience by working them up again.
How much did you have it overclocked?
Was the thermal paste dark brown?
Did you examine the voltage regulators and other chips on the mobo for damage?
Did you smell the power supply exhaust to see if it had an unusual odor?
Did you smell around the mobo to see if it had an unusual odor?
I overclock all the time but I am careful to not push it too far. I realize if I do that any damage is due to me and I am willing to accept it.
If you wind up getting a new mobo/cpu and you go athlon again, try to ensure you get a thoroughbred b core (or barton core) for the cpu.
ASKER
Wow, Thanks again for the Fast replys... OK, I'm pretty sure the chip did'nt fry because of heat related issues. I ran it overclocked for about 2 months stable without any "issues". The cpu temp was 46c IDLE and never got over 52c Underload. I had it running @ 11x160 so the internal clock was 1767.49, 321 system bus. The problem started right after I installed the new heatsink and thermal compund. There was an "odor" when I took the HS off. The chip has no signs of being "burnt". Do you think The thermal paste coud have shorted it out? I just ordered a 1.1 Duron for $28. I was going to use that as a ginipig just to see if she will post. If she fries..she fries. Then I guess I have to get another MB. Too bad there is not another way to tell. I hope its just the cpu and not the MB. This wont stop me from overclocking though...Its like a disease..I gotta do it. LOL
Get a P4-2.4G and overclock that one. It will be a killer!!!
ASKER
Wow, Thanks again for the Fast replys... OK, I'm pretty sure the chip did'nt fry because of heat related issues. I ran it overclocked for about 2 months stable without any "issues". The cpu temp was 46c IDLE and never got over 52c Underload. I had it running @ 11x160 so the internal clock was 1767.49, 321 system bus. The problem started right after I installed the new heatsink and thermal compund. There was an "odor" when I took the HS off. The chip has no signs of being "burnt". Do you think The thermal paste coud have shorted it out? I just ordered a 1.1 Duron for $28. I was going to use that as a ginipig just to see if she will post. If she fries..she fries. Then I guess I have to get another MB. Too bad there is not another way to tell. I hope its just the cpu and not the MB. This wont stop me from overclocking though...Its like a disease..I gotta do it. LOL
My comments regarding he thermal compound was to see if when removing the heatsink it was dark brown or brown. This would indicate it experienced some extra heat, maybe due to the heatsink not being properly seated, and hence it didn't actually cool the processor. Remember, you said you just changed the heatsink.
If you visit toms hardware site you can find an article and a video about how the AMD processors and their problem with a faulty or mis-seated HSF. The video shows them taking the HSF off both intel and amd processors and the consequences. Newer motherboards will shut off the powersupply if you don't have them properly cooled. How new is your mobo?
I've fried a processor by not having the HSF properly seated even in a non-overclocked system.
Did you clear the bios?
Can you try the processor in another mobo?
If you visit toms hardware site you can find an article and a video about how the AMD processors and their problem with a faulty or mis-seated HSF. The video shows them taking the HSF off both intel and amd processors and the consequences. Newer motherboards will shut off the powersupply if you don't have them properly cooled. How new is your mobo?
I've fried a processor by not having the HSF properly seated even in a non-overclocked system.
Did you clear the bios?
Can you try the processor in another mobo?
I have a better idea :P
relock the cpu.
On unlocking the CPU, you may bridged one of the L1 briges together, or some of the the conductive compound used to unlock it may have gotten in one of the laser cuts. I would seriously recommend cleaning it off and checking the operation of it again.
If it still is acting the way you said it was, then try the other troubleshooting methods.
relock the cpu.
On unlocking the CPU, you may bridged one of the L1 briges together, or some of the the conductive compound used to unlock it may have gotten in one of the laser cuts. I would seriously recommend cleaning it off and checking the operation of it again.
If it still is acting the way you said it was, then try the other troubleshooting methods.
ASKER
Jimbo99 ---> My MB is an asus a7a266. I got it about a year ago so i would say its pretty new. I just remembered something. When it would'nt boot the first time I think I heard a "spark" sound. That can't be good. I will try the processor in my friends pc. He has the same MB.Thanks alot for all of your suggestions. =)
Win2k4life--> I used the unlocking kit from highspeedpc.com
To bridge the L1 I used the conductive grease that was supplied in the kit. I can clean it off wwith the cleaning coumpound it came with. Is it ok to leave the "pits" empty and try to see if she will boot that way?
Win2k4life--> I used the unlocking kit from highspeedpc.com
To bridge the L1 I used the conductive grease that was supplied in the kit. I can clean it off wwith the cleaning coumpound it came with. Is it ok to leave the "pits" empty and try to see if she will boot that way?
ASKER
Jimbo99 ---> My MB is an asus a7a266. I got it about a year ago so i would say its pretty new. I just remembered something. When it would'nt boot the first time I think I heard a "spark" sound. That can't be good. I will try the processor in my friends pc. He has the same MB.Thanks alot for all of your suggestions. =)
Win2k4life--> I used the unlocking kit from highspeedpc.com
To bridge the L1 I used the conductive grease that was supplied in the kit. I can clean it off wwith the cleaning coumpound it came with. Is it ok to leave the "pits" empty and try to see if she will boot that way?
Win2k4life--> I used the unlocking kit from highspeedpc.com
To bridge the L1 I used the conductive grease that was supplied in the kit. I can clean it off wwith the cleaning coumpound it came with. Is it ok to leave the "pits" empty and try to see if she will boot that way?
I have heard of cooling units crushing the cpu core.
Some of the new coolers are often VERY tight to fit, and can apparently damage the cpu unless fitted very carefully.
Personally, never seen it tho.
Oh, and are there any beeps? The POST checks the cpu registers first usually, should be a beep of some kind.
Some of the new coolers are often VERY tight to fit, and can apparently damage the cpu unless fitted very carefully.
Personally, never seen it tho.
Oh, and are there any beeps? The POST checks the cpu registers first usually, should be a beep of some kind.
ASKER
No. As stated b4. No POST. No "beeps"
ASKER
No. As stated b4. No POST. No "beeps"
ASKER
No. As stated b4. No POST. No "beeps"
mykel,
I am using a very similar kit in my comp as well. I am a bit worried about it because it does use a "grease" to fill the pits, instead of superglue. I think the superglue is better simply because it is not a fluid after it hardens. Grease by nature does not harden, but instead usually becomes more runny at higher temps.
I would recommend cleaning it with the solvent, making sure you have cleaned out the laser pits as well. BTW, did you have any problems immediately before you unlocked it? If not, I'm bettin it was the unlock. If it still exibits the same behavior after you have "relocked" it, then I would recommend testing the CPU/MoBo the way Jimbo and baddog have stated.
Also, unlocking and changing the clock multiplier is not really overclocking. How do you think AMD makes their XP1900+ processors a different speed than their XP1800+'s? Same way, they bridge/cut the L1 bridges in the right combination. If the CPU is unlocked correctly, no damage can be made to the CPU as long as the multiplier remains within the range of that CPU family. TRUE overclocking (FSB overclocking) IS hard on your system. That is what is meant by the phrase "overclocking may cause damage to your system."
I am using a very similar kit in my comp as well. I am a bit worried about it because it does use a "grease" to fill the pits, instead of superglue. I think the superglue is better simply because it is not a fluid after it hardens. Grease by nature does not harden, but instead usually becomes more runny at higher temps.
I would recommend cleaning it with the solvent, making sure you have cleaned out the laser pits as well. BTW, did you have any problems immediately before you unlocked it? If not, I'm bettin it was the unlock. If it still exibits the same behavior after you have "relocked" it, then I would recommend testing the CPU/MoBo the way Jimbo and baddog have stated.
Also, unlocking and changing the clock multiplier is not really overclocking. How do you think AMD makes their XP1900+ processors a different speed than their XP1800+'s? Same way, they bridge/cut the L1 bridges in the right combination. If the CPU is unlocked correctly, no damage can be made to the CPU as long as the multiplier remains within the range of that CPU family. TRUE overclocking (FSB overclocking) IS hard on your system. That is what is meant by the phrase "overclocking may cause damage to your system."
Also, did the old fan have an RPM output wire that connected to your MoBo? Does the new one?
If the second answer is no, then the boardmay not be letting you boot because it is not sensing a fan. I know that Asus boards have excellent thermal protection features which may be kicking in in your case.
If the second answer is no, then the boardmay not be letting you boot because it is not sensing a fan. I know that Asus boards have excellent thermal protection features which may be kicking in in your case.
First try to locate the burned part.
Shorted power supply on the MB can destroy a new cpu.
Silver filled thermal filler is conductive, and can short out the cpu jumpers.
AMD exposed die cpus can be cracked by tilting the heat sink.
Also try your cpus in a borrowed MB.
Shorted power supply on the MB can destroy a new cpu.
Silver filled thermal filler is conductive, and can short out the cpu jumpers.
AMD exposed die cpus can be cracked by tilting the heat sink.
Also try your cpus in a borrowed MB.
mykel,,,
You can try your CPU in your friends MoBo, but be aware that a fried CPU can smoke the other MoBo. You are taking a chance here, again. Just some food for thought.
BDog
You can try your CPU in your friends MoBo, but be aware that a fried CPU can smoke the other MoBo. You are taking a chance here, again. Just some food for thought.
BDog
ASKER
Guys,
I took the chip to a local shop and they tested it...it's dead =( oops...So the duron I ordered should be here by Thurs or Fri. I am going to try that and see if it works. If it does with no problem then I am going to put a 2 ghz 2400+ in it and just leave her alone.I know what youre thinking, why did'nt I have the mobo tested too right? I was too lazy to take it out. Sorry. So you all think I am taking any chances putting a new chip in the mobo now that we know the old CPU is fried? Oh..and the mobo has a thermal sensor on it...ya think I "tripped" it when the cpu died? And..When I put the new cpu in do I HAVE to clear the CMOS? I know that was like 4 questions but you guys have really helped me...I thank you again.
I took the chip to a local shop and they tested it...it's dead =( oops...So the duron I ordered should be here by Thurs or Fri. I am going to try that and see if it works. If it does with no problem then I am going to put a 2 ghz 2400+ in it and just leave her alone.I know what youre thinking, why did'nt I have the mobo tested too right? I was too lazy to take it out. Sorry. So you all think I am taking any chances putting a new chip in the mobo now that we know the old CPU is fried? Oh..and the mobo has a thermal sensor on it...ya think I "tripped" it when the cpu died? And..When I put the new cpu in do I HAVE to clear the CMOS? I know that was like 4 questions but you guys have really helped me...I thank you again.
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A bad mobo can fry a good CPU. It is always better to replace the CPU and mobo together because of this.
Look on the bright side. If you replace both, you can have as much speed as your budget can stand.