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Motherboard LED Amber-coloured

I have a problem. Whenever power is connected to the computer, it starts for itself, the motherboard led shows solid orange, the power led also shows solid orange, and it cuts out after 5 seconds or so. No monitor activity. Then, a second after it shuts off, it powers on by itself, and the cycle goes on till I remove the power cord. When I unplug the 4-pin cpu power plug from the board, while leaving in the main 24-pin motherboard power plug, the computer powers on, fans spin at high speed, and it doesn't cut out. Both the motherboard led and power button led remain amber. I've tried switching out the PSU, RAM, jumpers for bios, and changing the processor. Nothing worked. Any Ideas? Thanks.

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adriaanvw

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SOLUTION

Michael Machie

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mavcom

ASKER

The problem started when I tested a processor from a machine that was problematic, into this one, to see whether the other MB was bad, or if it was the processor. It detected the processor in the bios, so I switched off and put back the original processor. There is where the problem started.

Michael Machie

It is very possible, regardless of how careful you are, that you touched a capacitor near the processor while removing the CPU. The static from your fingers could easily burn out a capacitor and cause the problems you are experiencing, even if you did not directly touch it - sometimes getting close can cause the static to jump over and burn out the capacitor.

Question - is this an AMD, or worse Citrix, CPU? A Gateway PC specifically? I only ask because I have worked at a place that sold only AMD processors and would do just what you did to test MBs and CPUs. However, when they powered on the machine after moving a CPU, the CPU would burn out within 30 seconds because the Tech did not install a fan, thermal paste or a heatsink. AMDs are notorious for getting superheated super fast and without proper cooling can burn out in an instant.

That timing would be about right for loading the BIOs to check the CPU and then powering the machine off.

mavcom

ASKER

The original processor was an Intel Core 2 Quad, and I tested an Intel Dual-Core in it. When I put back in the Core 2 Quad, the problem started. I even tested an Intel Core 2 Duo, which was practically new, in it afterwards to see if somehow the Quad went bad as well. I installed the heatsink and fan, and used some thermal paste on it. I even discharged the board using the method of pressing and holding the power button for 20-30 seconds. Its still looping, with amber lights on motherboard and power LED.

Michael Machie

Do you get the same behavior when the CPU is removed and the board is powered on with nothing in the socket?

mavcom

ASKER

Yes. Tried that, same problem.

SOLUTION

Michael Machie

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nobus

since it started after replacing cpu's - it looks like you may have bent the cpu contacts
i suggest to open up the system, and remove the cpu, and inspect the contacts for bent ones

i had this, and was able to rectify the problem

mavcom

ASKER

775 CPU contacts are on the MB

nobus

i know - they'r in the socket - are they bent, or not?

Michael Machie

If they are bent the cpu would not fit in the socket properly and you could not close the cpu lock.

nobus

maybe one broke off? check carefully

mavcom

ASKER

CPU sockets were not bent. Remember that it was two different boards.

Michael Machie

I am still curious as to what the issue was. Did swapping the MB fix the issie, or swapping the CPU again? Thanks for the points but my main concern is getting you up and running.