cpu failure?

[jethro bodine]

I'm having a problem with a pc I built 6 months ago.
Epox 8RDA mobo
AMD XP1800 cpu
enlight case
DDR 2100
Asus Geforce4 Ti4200 AGX video card

No mods or overclocking. It will not boot. The fans run and I can hear
the hard drive spin and chatter normally on boot. Onboard display reads ff
which could be bios or motherboard problem. I swapped motherboard with a
brand new Asus A7N8X-X.
Same problem. I have also swapped video cards, juggled ram DIMMS, swapped
hard drive, check ATX power supply voltages. Voltages OK except -12V was
-11.79V, how critical is it? I would think it's within limit.

About all that's left is the cpu. I'm ready to order another (faster,
of course) one. Anyone have experience with a cpu crapping out? One that
hasn't been modified or o'clocked?
Thanks JB

 

[John]

I'm having a problem with a pc I built 6 months ago.
Epox 8RDA mobo
AMD XP1800 cpu
enlight case
DDR 2100
Asus Geforce4 Ti4200 AGX video card

No mods or overclocking. It will not boot. The fans run and I can hear
the hard drive spin and chatter normally on boot. Onboard display reads ff
which could be bios or motherboard problem. I swapped motherboard with a
brand new Asus A7N8X-X.
Same problem. I have also swapped video cards, juggled ram DIMMS, swapped
hard drive, check ATX power supply voltages. Voltages OK except -12V was
-11.79V, how critical is it? I would think it's within limit.

About all that's left is the cpu. I'm ready to order another (faster,
of course) one. Anyone have experience with a cpu crapping out? One that
hasn't been modified or o'clocked?
Thanks JB

Never.
In fact my first one Athlon got chipped - I wasnt that used to
mounting the heatsink , it was far easier on the Pents. I read at the
time alot of the Athlons were getting chipped and AMD was refusing to
take any back because it was a user caused problem and it was
happening alot. There were lots of sites with pics of crushed and
chipped chips. Theres a fair sized sliver taken off of a 1 gig I still
have and it miraculously runs perfectly. No problems at all.

The only time Ive seen one crap out was when the heatsink wasnt put on
right and after starting the PC up the heatsink went BOING and fell
when the clamp slipped off the plastic hook. The CPU burned up
internally but you couldnt tell from looking at the chip. It looked
fine but was totally dead.

When you say wont boot - you mean nothing comes up at all on screen or
it does post , it just wont boot.

 

[jethro bodine]

When you say wont boot - you mean nothing comes up at all on screen or
it does post , it just wont boot.

No screen display. Led on monitor is amber indicating no input. I hear the
hard drive spin and chatter momentarily then nothing. Don't know about
post, there is no indication of it, no beeps, etc.
What makes the hard drive spin and read on boot? BIOS or cpu?
Thanks

 

[John]

No screen display. Led on monitor is amber indicating no input. I hear the
hard drive spin and chatter momentarily then nothing. Don't know about
post, there is no indication of it, no beeps, etc.
What makes the hard drive spin and read on boot? BIOS or cpu?
Thanks

I think the motherboard. I recall the MB was powering up - there was
just no video etc.

Everything does point to the CPU but like I said - Ive never heard of
or seen a CPU just go dead but anything is possible.

Dont you have an extra one from your personal PC that you can take out
and try? That would be the obvious test. If it still didnt work with
the other MB then theres got to be something really obvious that maybe
you are missing. Something really subtle.

 

[saila]

Try removing and reinstalling your video card.

I think the motherboard. I recall the MB was powering up - there was
just no video etc.

Everything does point to the CPU but like I said - Ive never heard of
or seen a CPU just go dead but anything is possible.

Dont you have an extra one from your personal PC that you can take out
and try? That would be the obvious test. If it still didnt work with
the other MB then theres got to be something really obvious that maybe
you are missing. Something really subtle.

 

[jethro bodine]

Try removing and reinstalling your video card.

Done that. Even tried another card.
Thanks

 

[jethro bodine]

I think the motherboard. I recall the MB was powering up - there was
just no video etc.

Everything does point to the CPU but like I said - Ive never heard of
or seen a CPU just go dead but anything is possible.

Dont you have an extra one from your personal PC that you can take out
and try? That would be the obvious test. If it still didnt work with
the other MB then theres got to be something really obvious that maybe
you are missing. Something really subtle.

My other pc is an Intel. The cpu in question is an AMD.
I'm still not sure about the power supply. I'm going to either rob one
out of my other pc or find a local repair shop that will work with me before
I order a cpu.
Thanks.

 

[jethro bodine]

Hi,

I managed to borrow an Athlon system today. Put the cpu into my pc and
it booted OK. So, it was the cpu.
Thanks

 

[John]

Hi,

I managed to borrow an Athlon system today. Put the cpu into my pc and
it booted OK. So, it was the cpu.
Thanks

If its still under warranty you could get a replacement if its not
obviously burned or physically damaged.

Take a look and see if there are any obvious signs of damage - bent
pins , missing pins, burn marks. If not call AMD and see if theyll
send you a new one. Often its not worth the hassle though - multiple
calls and then $10 to send the old one etc. Maybe thell even charge
you to send a new one to you.