Dead... the damn thing's dead...

Hi folks,
I s'pose I should start with system specs, so here goes -
A7N8X Deluxe,
512MB PC3200 RAM (Samsung)
1x60GB HDD,
1x80GB HDD,
Ti4200 graphics card,
333MHz XP2600,
550W PSU,
DVD-R/RW,
Several fans etc...
Modem,
TV capture card.

Okay, so now that's outta the way, here's the problem -
I was working on a website this evening, and as I was about to save the
page, the damn computer just froze. I press the reset button and it shuts
off, but doesn't restart...
It just hangs there, drive light on, power to the motherboard, DVD-R/RW
spinning up, all the internal lights on, fans going... but that's it. The
monitor stays dead and there's no POST, beeps or anything... The drives work
in my other computer just fine, and I tried a new PSU in the system but I
get the same problem. Were it the CPU or RAM, the thing would at least POST
and tell me there was a problem, wouldn't it? Even after a CMOS reset,
nothing happened.... I'm gonna try again with a new CPU tomorrow, and maybe
some RAM if I can get hold of some, but I doubt that's the problem...
Anyhoo, ideas would be gratefully recieved.
Thanks in advance,
Dave.

 

Doesn't sound good. Were you overclocking, or running default speeds?
Did you monitor temperatures while it was running, and if so, were they
'normal'?
Sounds like a bad CPU, or motherboard problem, since you don't even get
anything from the BIOS.

 

Yeah, it was all at stock speeds... I haven't overclocked in a long time.
And I saw no reason to be monitoring temps, as it was running at stock.
*shrugs* I dunno, I'll try a new CPU tomorrow, but my money's on the mobo...

 

I had to ask, but since it's not overclocked, a CPU temp poblem is
unlikely. I hope the new CPU fixes it, but it really sounds like a dead
MB to me also.
Good luck.

 

You're welcome, and do that.

 

Ooooh, finally I get the bugger back online... As I, and everybody else I
asked, suspected, it turned out to be a dead CPU that was causing the
problems... I stick in an old XP2200 and it works fine! I've got a new
Barton XP2500 coming next week as a replacement, which is good 'cos I was
looking for an excuse to upgrade =P Thanks again for your help...
Dave.

 

Thanks for the update, Dave. Good thing that it was the CPU and not the
motherboard! You know that the Barton XP2500+ will easily overclock to
XP3200+ speeds by simply setting the FSB to 200 MHz (and maybe having to
up Vcore just a bit.)
Your choice, of course, but the XP2500+ is a good CPU in any case.
Good luck.

 

Aye, that's why I plumped for it ~ I saw some good results in
alt.comp.hardware.overclocking.amd (seem to remember your name popping up in
there occasioanlly, too =P) I'll give the bugger a whirl and let you know
how I get on. Thanks again!
Dave.

 

Yes, I do lurk in the overclocking.amd news group occasionally.
My system is a NF7-S MB with a XP1700+ running at 2200 MHz (1.6v core)
with a 220 MHz FSB, and PC3500 OCZ memory. I've seen many builders get
just as good performance with ASUS A7N8X, so you're all set. I'll be
looking forward to seeing how you do with the XP2500+. See you either
here, or there. And, you're welcome.