Snap, crackle and Pop!

SuprSi

Last night my computer gave out on me. I was installing 2Gb of Ram that I got hold of, and as I booted up for the first time I heard a nice loud pop, followed by a smell of burning.

I subsequently removed the memory and went back to the original configuration, though on power up only heard a little electric crackle from the back, and after 30 minutes of fluting around with it I snapped, and walked off before I really broke the thing.

I can't figure out what's going wrong. I have an Epox motherboard, with an AMD XP2600, 512Mb PC2100, 9800 Pro. I should add that the whole thing is water cooled but there were definitely no leaks as I spent ages checking this out. At the moment the machine will power on and the fans and disks will spin, but nothing else happens. My HD activity light is constantly on, though I get no POST beeps or nothing. I've tried removing all of the hardware except for the processor but it hasn't made a difference. I don't think it's the power supply as the machine is turning on, so I'm guessing it's the motherboard, though can a motherboard make a popping sound like that?

Anyway, has anyone come across anything like this? I was bored out of my mind without my computer last night and I'd like to get it working as soon as possible, even if it means buying a new motherboard.

Cheers,

Si.

Static M.e.

it sounds like you have blown a capactitor <Sorry I cant spell) definatly infact

Check two things
1 check to make sure you have the correct voltage on the PSU

2 Get a bright light and check the MOBO thouraghly, look for little burnt areas around the capactors, see if you find anything

SwampThing

SuprSi wrote:

I can't figure out what's going wrong. I have an Epox motherboard, with an AMD XP2600, 512Mb PC2100, 9800 Pro.

Correction, you HAD an Epox m/b.

It's never good when there's smoke and crackling. Was the burning from the new memory? I was thinking you might have gotten away with just frying the memory but obviously not, if it won't boot when back to the original config.

Are you 100% there wasn't a leak? Maybe you moved a pipe when installing the memory and got a drop of liquid on the board; just moved it enough for one or two drops to eek out.

Anyway doesn't sound good mate. New mobo i'm afraid....

BigEejit

If you have the sticks of ram handy smell them .... if you smelled smoke from outside the case whatever caused it should be reeking of that burnt electronics smell ....
Note that new equipment sometimes has this smell, but it wont be strong and will go away after the item has been burnt in through normal usage.....

SuprSi

I just got my hands on a little Maglite so I'll check the mainboard thoroughly when I get home this evening for any scorch marks. As for leaks, I was using distilled water which doesn't cause shorts, or am I way off with that? I was told that if distilled water spills on electrical equipment that it will just burn off, rather than shorting the equipment out.

I guess the motherboard blowing isn't the worst thing that could happen anyway, as it's fairly cheap to replace.

Thanks for the help

Si.

SwampThing

Way off - water is electrically conductive, distilled or not.

There are a few non-conductive liquids, like CFC - I've seen a PC working in a bath of the stuff - but you wouldn't run your cooling rig with it. It's the same stuff they use for cooling fridges/freezers etc.

BigEejit, that's my avatar, ya big eejit ya