9 replies to this topic

[Tex Mechs Robot]

i'm sad.
i went to bed and when i got up, my wife explained the symptoms. she was browsing on facebook and the computer froze. it only responded to holding the power button.

when i try to boot, i get a successful post code "FF" on the XFX 790i ultra sli but not the tell-tale success beep and it doesn't boot to BIOS or output any display of any kind. no RAM errors and with no hard drives connected, it still won't actually post (even though the post code displays on the MB display).

any ideas? right now, i'm thinking MB or CPU failure but my troubleshooting skills are a little lacking. motherboard and CPU are both a little over 4 years old. SSd is about 1 year old, RAM is about 6 months old, and GPU is about 3 months old.

CPU: Intel Q9550 quad core OC'd to 3.4GHz
GPU: EVGA GTX 570 HD
POWER: 850w (can't remember the brand right now)
RAM: 4GBx4 DDR3
OS: Windows 7 x64
HDD: Seagate 320 GB (storage)
SSD: Plextor 120 GB (OS and other software, 40GB free space)

update:
1. i have removed (disconnected power and data) all hard drives, GPU, wireless card, optical drive, and all RAM sticks
2. i reset the CMOS jumper
3. i plugged the PSU directly into the wall (bypassing the power strip)
4. i removed the CMOS battery for 8+ hours and put it back in

at all points i would try to power on the machine and each time there was no change. case fans spin, MB LED's light up, PSU fan spins, and CPU HS fan spins. i would think if the MB was still good, i would get RAM errors and GPU errors (no GPU on MB) but there are no beep codes and the display still shows a successful POST code. GPU and CPU temps have always been normal (idles at 50C and 38C respectively). i am a little OCD about cleanliness so my case is as dust free as they come. i clean it with air and a dry paintbrush about 4-5 times a month and keep the filters cleaned about twice a month.

tomorrow, i will be buying a cheap PSU and GPU to test those and narrow it down to the MB and CPU.

on a side note, i just found out that my MB can only support 8GB of RAM and i've been running 16GB for about 6 months now with no obvious issues. windows 7 recognized all 16GB but i don't know if the RAM overload would affect the MB adversely or if it would just be overkill and underutilized.

[Dymitry]

First thing first, try by running with the least amount of stuff connected , just 1 ram stick anyway. If you have got an integrated gpu, try using that one rather than the gtx, disconnect all the drives etc.

[Tex Mechs Robot]

Done and done. No integrated GPU but I intend to purchase a cheap new one to test. No drives connected.

[Dymitry]

Have you cycled through the 4 ram sticks, just in case that one of them is gone?

[Denisbl4]

Hi. if the fan turns on, the processor means works!! probably 790i died. (if all remaining live). Still look at condensers at MB (if they changed the form, white raid, cracks in the casing that is required changeover)
P.S Sorry, used the translator )

[mechnut450]

sounds like one of the gpus died to me as well, see if can borrow a gpu ( that does not require and extrernal power source ,plug from the psu) and see if boots if this works then try a gpu ( one at a time 0 if the system don"t boot then see abotu a psu ( might have lost a rail ( one of the 12 volt lines) that runs the gpus causing it not to boot( by lack of a proper video signal

[Propnut]

Make sure the aux power plug is seated (usually 4-8 pin located somewhere near the CPU).

[Tex Mechs Robot]

Cycled all 4 DIMMs with no successes. No RAM error tones either when 0 DIMMs are in place. Tried a brand new GPU that draws all power from MB (no aux power from PSU). Did not POST. Tried brand new PSU with only new GPU, 1 DIMM, and MB. Also tried it without GPU. No success. I think I've narrowed it down to either MB or CPU. I just bought a new MB and new CPU and will try those tomorrow evening. At this point, I practically have a new machine lol. If it doesn't boot after this, then I'll start checking residual EMP fields from running so many nuclear powered mechs...

[BustaHead]

Motherboard seems most likely, it is truly difficult to break a working cpu nowadays.
I would take the opportunity to upgrade to a 1155 socket motherboard if i were you, your old quad core sells for good money on ebay, probably enough to get a new quad core about 50% to 100% better for very little extra money, and you can reuse everything else.

[Propnut]

What specific brand and model motherboard do you have?