Motherboard fault?

Marsden

Hi folks,

Not sure if this is in right place but anyway,

Bought a second hand pc over the summer for gaming and worked fine till I tried to turn it on last night, power going to pc, fans whirring but no post. I'm new to this so I didn't want to mess around with the components in case I really feck them up.

I changed the ram around and made sure everything was seated correctly, no loose wires etc. but still nothing but lights and fans coming on and gpu fan running at 100% (I think).

I did as much googling as I could and it seems the most likely scenario is a bad mobo, but before I run out and spend money on a new one I'm wondering if anyone knows a way to check if it really is the mobo or if theres any other likely issues.

Any help really appreciated

specs
amd phenom quad core 2.3
3gb ram
nvidia gt320 1gb
640 gb hard drive

Monotype

Have you ruled out the screen or the graphics card?

Marsden

Dont think its the screen but I have a spare monitor I can dig out and and check it, would it not start up even if there was a problem with the graphics card?

Have just replaced the cmos but still the same thing. The date and time had reset itself twice over the past month so I thought it could be this either.

I'm not getting any beep at the start, just fans and lights.

Monotype

You said that fans are spinning. It could be booting but you might not be able to see it booting.

If the date and time was resetting, it would indicate a failing motherboard battery (or a failing motherboard, but usually the battery).

If you normally get beeps, then it could be a motherboard issue, but I'd double check the monitor and graphics card all the same. Have you got integrated graphics on the motherboard that you can plug into?

Marsden

Alright, monitor ruled out. I think theres an integrated graphics card but it will take me a bit of googling to find out how to disconnect current one and reconnect the integrated card. I'll check it out then get back to you. Thanks for the help.

Monotype

You just need to connect to one of the motherboard video outputs - VGA/HDMI/DVI.
You may need to take out the graphics card for it to revert to the integrated.

Marsden

Ok I'll do that now, I assume if theres a DVI port attatched to the motherboard there must be an integrated graphics card?

Marsden

Ok started up with other graphics card connected and nothing other than the usual fans and lights, safe to say I need a new motherboard?

Monotype

That does seem most likely. It could be a PSU but they tend to just mean a dead system. I don't suppose you could borrow one to try it out?

Do you need help picking a new motherboard? It's quite likely that your windows install will be broken with a new motherboard incidentally.

Marsden

Yes I'm not too sure about compatibility and what type I need. I'm not sure what motherboard I have, it showed up blank under devices drivers, I even downloaded a program to check which motherboard I was using and it wasn't able to tell me. I've not much of a budget unfortunately, do you know if a cheap motherboard would do or is it worth it to just spend an extra few quid to get something more future proof.

I'm starting college tomorrow and I know one of the lads is well up on his pc building so theres a small chance he might have an old motherboard I could borrow.

Monotype

You'd need the right socket to support your CPU and RAM. Can you open up the case and see if there's any big writing across the centre of the board? Would you happen to know the exact model number of the CPU?

Marsden

No writing across the board, only small barcodes with numbers on them. The cpu is amd phenom 2.3ghz quad core (cant remember the rest). I've emailed the chap I bought it from, I reckon he'll remember the exact model number. I'll post tomorrow when I get the full specs. Thanks again Monotype.

Marsden

The lad I bought it from is not replying so I'm now in this situation, I dont know what motherboard I have or the exact model of my CPU. Does this make it impossible to pick a replacement motherboard? I know its ATX from the layout but after that I'm stumped.

spix

Marsden wrote: »

The lad I bought it from is not replying so I'm now in this situation, I dont know what motherboard I have or the exact model of my CPU. Does this make it impossible to pick a replacement motherboard? I know its ATX from the layout but after that I'm stumped.

Take a picture and we can try identify it

Monotype

That's a good idea.

You can identify the CPU by taking off the heatsink and it's written onto the CPU. You'd be needing new thermal paste though.
You'll actually be needing new thermal for putting the CPU into a new board anyway.

Marsden

Error 503, wont let me upload picture, any chance you could pm me your email and I'll send it on to you.

spix

try upload it to tinypic.com then copy paste the link here

Marsden

Ye that won't work for me either I'm afraid, I can thank my 0.26 upload speed for that, good oul vodafone. I'll be able to do it tomorrow from me da's. I'll check the CPU model number then too and reply.

whizbang

Dont give up yet...

Did you change the battery yet ?

do the fans start at full speed for a sec, then slow to normal,
start at full and stay at full,
or start slow and gradually build ?
does it power off with start switch ?

find out what(if) the bios reset keys are, and try that.
does the monitor flicker into power on anytime or stay off? yellow/green light?
any leds on the MB?

loads more....

Marsden

Yes I changed the battery and tried reseting the cmos. It starts up with the fans working at normal speed except for the gpu fan which is running at max speed. The leds on the pc are coming on and the monitor is getting some sort of signal I think as its just going black. No colours and its not going to sleep.

Marsden

Quick question, I've found a loose screw inside pc, I also see a whole in the motherboard where I think it goes. Could this possibly have anything to do with my problem, or am I grasping at straws?

Tea_Bag

its possible that it's a necessary grounding, but unlikely.

sure screw it back in and try it out. couldn't hurt.

Marsden

No-where to screw it, not that I can see. Theres a place on the mobo for a screw but nothing to hold it from behind. I took the board off to see if there was anything behind it but there wasn't. I'm just back from a pc repair centre and they couldn't diagnose the problem, they reckon its a bad mobo but thought it shouldn't be as its newish. They also told me replacing the mobo battery was a waste of time. Theres someone on adverts selling a replacement motherboard cheap so I'm going to buy that and hope for the best. Pain in me nether-regions at this stage!:mad:

Marsden

Motherboard has been replaced with a new one, the down-side is it still doesn't work, same sh1t different mobo. On the upside the fan on the tower that wasn't working is(a small victory). So its not the GPU, its not the mobo or cmos battery and its not the monitor or monitor cables. Whats left? PSU, I've read this is highly unlikely, or maybe the processor itself, I hope this isn't the case, any input appreciated.

Monotype

Most of the times when PSUs go, they either start shutting down randomly and just don't start at all. However, sometimes just parts of them break, so you'll have fans working but not the rest. CPUs very rarely break, so the biggest suspect left does seem to be the PSU.

Marsden

PSU replaced, same story. Am I right in assuming the last thing to try now is the CPU?

whizbang

We all are terrified to answer, in case it isn't !

However i have seen PSU's go high voltage and take out virtually everything.
But as you recon the fans are ok, that would lead me to believe Mobo is ok.
does it do anything different on power up with CPU out ?

Marsden

whizbang wrote: »

We all are terrified to answer, in case it isn't !

Don't worry I'm not planning on hunting down anyone for giving unfruitful advice...yet

Everything seems the same with CPU in or out. I've read that I could test the CPU by turning on the PC without heatsink for 2 seconds and then turning it straight off, if it starts to heat its good, if not its bad. Is this advisable?

whizbang

Its not really going to tell you anything...
nearly half a billion transistors, could be just one...!

Marsden

I'm going to try a new(ish) CPU. Recommend for me please.

Phenom 8650 X3 2.3 ghz (triple core)

or

AMD 6000+ 3.0 ghz (double core)

PC is used soley for gaming.

Monotype

What's the motherboard?

And what's the prices?
They're a few generations old.

Marsden

Both €30 and the motherboard is geforce 6100pm-m2.

Monotype

This?

http://www.ecs.com.tw/ECSWebSite/Product/Product_Detail.aspx?DetailID=857&CategoryID=1&MenuID=20&LanID=0

I suppose €30 isn't bad. Can you overclock with that motherboard? I'd go the the X3 because of the newer architecture and extra core. It would be nice if you could squeeze a bit more out of it in speed.

Marsden

Yep thats the one, it was running alright for me with the 2.3 I had so I'll give it a while before I try to overclock it. I dont want to be back to square one, assuming this finally sorts it for me. I'll update when I try the new CPU.

Marsden

Ok I've got me mits on a cheap (€10) CPU as I've gotten impatient waiting for my new one from Taiwan. I've ordered thermal paste too but it will be at least another week before I recive eiter product. Is it possible to use the cheap processor without applying fresh paste, theres still a fair bit stuck to the heat sink.

Monotype

As a temporary measure, it might be okay. Keep a sharp eye on temperatures though - on idle, over time and under heavier loads. Try to avoid air bubbles between the heatsink and CPU.

Marsden

If I can get to a point where I can see the temperatures I'll be happy. Would a fried CPU have taken out my motherboard too, should I only use the replacement?

Monotype

It's unlikely that you'd destroy the CPU or board that fast. You could damage a CPU if you put no heatsink on at all. I'd say you'll be alright. Sure hardwaresecrets tried things such as toothpaste and mayonnaise and they got on alright.

Marsden

Un-funking belivable, I've now replaced the cmos battery, the motherboard, the psu, the cpu and the monitor. Still the same thing. I'm close to building a second PC and still no signs of life other than the same thing I had from the beginning. Apart from taking me own life the only other step I can see is that maybe the old ram isn't compatible with the new motherboard. Is there a way of hooking the pcs hard drive up to my laptop to see if its still functioning?

Monotype

O.O Sorry about your troubles, you've been quite unfortunate. You'd need an enclosure which you could connect the the laptop with USB. It's very unlikely that it's the hard drive as it should work without it. Unless there's some kind of electrical fault in it. You should be able to boot up if you had the hard drive disconnected if this was the case.

What exactly is it doing now?

Marsden

Same as before, it powers up and the fans start whirring (at a constant speed) but theres no post. The leds come on too and the CD drive is working. I can hear what I think is the hard drive but I'm not 100%. Power seems to be going to everything including speakers and the monitor (input signal is detected but it quickly goes to sleep).

Marsden

Monotype wrote: »

O.O Sorry about your troubles, you've been quite unfortunate.

Thanks Mono, I'm at me wits end. I use the PC for me source of gaming, I even sold me PS3 just to get it. Not a good start to the world of PC gaming.:(

Monotype

Have you tried your other monitor with your new board?

EDIT: Be sure that you're connected to the graphics card with the monitor and not the motherboard!

Marsden

Yes I tried both monitors plugged into the motherboard and graphics card but no luck.

Jordan5372

any many sticks of RAM do you have, try taking out one and turn it on.

Marsden

Jordan5372 wrote: »

any many sticks of RAM do you have, try taking out one and turn it on.

I have four but I'm only using one while trying it and its the same.

Jordan5372

maybe that was in faulty, have you tried each stick in each slot one at a time?

Really are running out of options, unless it is something stupid, like the monitor is on the wrong video channel or something.

Marsden

You absolute beauty, its running. Problem sorted, bonza! Its the case! I breadboarded it and its booting:D:D:D! How the case stops it from booting I've no idea but at least its working. Now all I need to do is install windows 7 and get a new case. To everybody that gave advice it was greatly appreciated, Monotype, Jordan, Spix, whizbang, teabag your all heros.

whizbang

Fair play, you didnt give up!

Btw a little bit of WD40 is the dogs b'x to reuse old thermal paste.

Jordan5372

no problem, delighted you got it working

I don't however see how a case would stop a computer from booting, only reason i can think of is is that it was grounded properly. Have you got the motherboard on risers and there are no risers touching the middle of the motherboard that are not screwed in.

Monotype

I was going to suggest the case earlier on, but I thought that you had tried it with your old motherboard, so thought that it couldn't be the... erm... 'case'. At least you got it sorted eventually. Maybe you can salvage some of your spare components and sell them on to make a few euro back.