I installed a new heatsink and now computer won't post.

[hwmicre]

I don't think it has anything to do with a heat related problem. I guess it could be some heat sensor that isn't working properly but I doubt it.


I have a feeling either the cpu or the mobo is the problem. I am leaning towards the cpu being the problem because that is what I was working on when this problem started. Also, why won't it run at the overclocked settings it has been running at for over 2 years? Especially now with the cpu temps being so much lower.

This is a weird problem, but I don't think I've ever seen a CPU work part-time like this. it either works or it doesn't. I'm still leaning towards some intermittent electrical issue (short, whatever) - could be the mobo making the wrong contact with something or intermittently losing a connection.

[Beeker]

Intermittent problems are always the worse to figure out. It could be an electrical short but its strange that a short some how fixes itself if I don't turn the computer on for a few hours.

The fact that I can't run at the overclocked settings I have been stable at for over two years makes me think my cpu is getting tired.

When I get home tonight I will find out if it was able to run prime all day at stock settings. If so then I will try to overclock again to see if I can get it stable.

[Street Tough]

Take the CPU out completely, clean and reapply the thermal paste. Make sure you reseat it properly and have the HSF on tight as well. I had a similar problem a while back where my computer would freeze and after resetting, wouldnt post as well. I swapped out and tried many different PSU's, ram and vid cards, finally when i put in another processor of the same type, it booted up. I took my original CPU, cleaned it off, reseated it and havent had a problem since.

[Beeker]

I've actually removed and cleaned it over 7 times in the last 2 days. Each time I applied a fresh coat of ceramique. I am 100% positive the cpu and heatsink are installed properly.

Besides, if the heatsink wasn't seated properly I would have extremely high temps. Or possibly a fried cpu.

It may take a miracle to figure out what is causing this problem.

[gkline]

Do you have another AMDxp to try?

[hwmicre]

Do you have another AMDxp to try?

Go back a page.....

[gkline]

hwmicre: sorry missed your post. I think he would be well served by trying another cpu.

[ImaNihilist]

Check your 12v rail. I have a feeling it's way too low.

[commanderkeen]

I had a P3 system that acted a little like your describing. I would have to restart atleast 3 times to get it running, but after it was up I had no problems. Never figured out what caused it, and didn't really try to either. Just accept the problem if you can't fix it within a week, you would be wasting your time trying to make it work when it already works.

On that note, get some compressed air and clean out every socket on your motherboard (Ram, Cpu, PCI, AGP). Also check that wires are neatly tucked away and correctly connected, could be as simple as a fan connecter not working correctly. Other than that I wouldn't waste my time... look at it as a chance to upgrade.

[Beeker]

I am not one to give up. I would like to know what the problem is before I upgrade anything. What good is all this aggravation if I don't learn something from it.

I came home from work after letting prime run when I left to find the pc running but it hadn't posted. It must have crashed while running prime but didn't restart. I hit resest and it posts and loads like normal. I decided to try to burn a dvd to see if the pc crashes. It didn't. It burned the dvd perfectly. I then shut the pc down to install a 3 to 4 pin adaptor with speed sensor for the 92mm heatsink fan. I had plugged the fan directly to the mobo but I didn't want to leave it that way in case I wanted to run the fan at full speed. After installing that I turned the pc on and sure enough it won't post. I hit reset a bunch of times but still it won't post.

This is really strange. How can a pc be stable enough to rip and burn a dvd but can't repost after shutting down?

I think I might stop by Compusa tomorrow and pick up a power supply to eliminate that as the problem. If that isn't the problem then it must be either the cpu or mobo. If compusa allows cpu's to be returned then I will try that next if the power supply turns out to not be the problem.

[Beeker]

Now it won't post even after sitting for 10 hours. I picked up a new 400w Antec ps. I connected just the main mobo connector and primary hard drive and turned it on. Still no post.

So it's not the power supply. I am going to pickup a cpu tonight to see if that's what it is. If it's not the cpu then it must be the mobo. Right???

[hwmicre]

Now it won't post even after sitting for 10 hours. I picked up a new 400w Antec ps. I connected just the main mobo connector and primary hard drive and turned it on. Still no post.

So it's not the power supply. I am going to pickup a cpu tonight to see if that's what it is. If it's not the cpu then it must be the mobo. Right???

You've gotta narrow it down, and I guess the best way to do it is to do the easiest replacements first....tell ya, I'll REALLY be surprised if it isn't one of the 3 you're working with........

[Beeker]

I picked up a sempron 2800+ last night because that was the only socket a cpu compusa had in stock. I installed that but still it wont post. Now that could be because the sempron won't work in my mobo without a bios reflash. I am currently using bios 1005 and according to asus I would need 1009 in order to use a sempron. I was just hoping it would at least post with the sempron. I guess not. I am going to try a different compusa tonight to see if they have a regular XP or Duron socket a in stock.

[eternaljammer]

good luck Beeker.

[Beeker]

Ok. I'm back.

The Sempron didn't post. I posted a question about the sempron. I asked if a sempron would post in a mobo that has a bios that was created before the sempron existed. No one answered but I assume it should at least post and then run the cpu as an unrecongized cpu. Either way, it didn't post.

I couldn't find a socket A cpu at any retailers but I found a computer at work that has a Xp 2000+ cpu. I brought that computer home and used it as a guinea pig.

I removed the cpu from my work's computer and installed my Xp 2500+. Sure enough it posted and the mobo listed my 2500 as an unrecongized cpu and ran it at 1466 mhz and 266 fsb. I loaded windows and the pc worked like normal.

I then installed the "borrowed" Xp 2000 in my pc. And you guessed it, no post!

I then tried the power supply from the "borrowed" pc in mine. I know it isn't the power supply, since I already tried a brand new Antec 400w, but since I had it I figured, what the heck. Again, no post!

So I still don't know whats wrong. I know it's not the power supply or the cpu. I guess that leaves the mobo. What else could it be?

I am going to call Asus tomorrow. Hopefully, I'll get to talk to an intelligent tech. Maybe everything I've tried some how corrupted the bios. I doubt it but I'm sure Asus will tell me to start there. I'll probably have to wait for them to send me a new bios chip. After I receive that I'll have to call back and tell them it didn't fix it. Then they will tell me I have to send the mobo in to be inspected/repaired. It's almost 3 years old so I'm sure it's not under warranty. So where does that leave me? Paying to repair a 3 year old mobo doesn't make a whole lot of sense.

If that's the case then I guess I'm selling my Xp-2500 and looking into an A64 setup.