One year old P4 fried - What do I do now?

  • Thread starter Thread starter BP
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BP

Hi all. I have a one year old system I assembled myself using an ASUS
P4C-800E Deluxe and a P4 3.0Ghz processor. Today, while doing other things,
I noticed the screen go black. Figured it was the power save. When I moved
the mouse to use the computer the screen didn't come back up. After chasing
my tail for a couple minutes I turn the box off with the power supply switch
and turned it back on. Got a vocal POST message: "System Failure - CPU
Test". I opened the case and noticed that the CPU fan was not running. I
don't know if the fan failed and then the processor burned up, or if the
processor burned up and the fan failed. I had another fan and plugged it in
and it did not work either. The fan is Intel and came with the processor.
I'm pretty sure the processor is history, it smelled like burnt wires. All
other fans are working and, obviously, the onboard sound. Can't tell much
more.
Call ASUS and they said to get an RMA for the MB and send it back to be
tested. Haven't contacted Intel yet about the 3 year warranty. Don't know if
it applies in this case.
Does anyone know (care to guess) whether the MB is most likely damaged?
Would it be smart to get a new processor (in a hurry) and plug it in to see
if it works? If I send the board back should I send the processor too? The
memory?
Any help or pointers on how best to go about repairing this system would be
greatly appreciated.
 
well first see what asus tells you about the board, if the board is bad wait
until you get a new one then try the processor. If the processor works your
good if not just tell Intel the processor failed and you don't know anything
else. Tell them you have a friend who put in another processor and it
worked.
Don't tell them the board failed and burned out the processor or your going
to pay. You may also want to get your Power Supply checked.
 
Gee. How surprising. Another ASUS craps out and
cooks the cpu. Call ASUS, and if they don't threaten
to charge you a ton of money to do it, send the mobo,
cpu, and ram to them for testing. If you have to break
it up, that is going to take some time. ASUS will keep
the thing for weeks and weeks. Make sure you send
the board registered so you have a record of them
receiving it. They sort of tend to lose them if you don't.
If you think the cpu is fried, don't put it back in a new
mobo just to check it. You'll probably have to send it
to Intel for testing. They are pretty good, but again
send it by registered mail. They will turn it around in 2
weeks. Ram ?? I would RMA that back too.

johns
 
You know why the chips are getting fried, because asus
lets people overclock their systems. Oh yea but people
don't tell you that they had their system overclock with an
inadequate cooling system. Sure just clock it up to 30 percent, wow
is it fast now with a stock fan and heat sink and a 350watt PS.
 
Did not overclock or alter any standard parameters..

: You know why the chips are getting fried, because asus
: lets people overclock their systems. Oh yea but people
: don't tell you that they had their system overclock with an
: inadequate cooling system. Sure just clock it up to 30 percent, wow
: is it fast now with a stock fan and heat sink and a 350watt PS.
:
: : > Hi all. I have a one year old system I assembled myself using an ASUS
: > P4C-800E Deluxe and a P4 3.0Ghz processor. Today, while doing other
: > things,
: > I noticed the screen go black. Figured it was the power save. When I
moved
: > the mouse to use the computer the screen didn't come back up. After
: > chasing
: > my tail for a couple minutes I turn the box off with the power supply
: > switch
: > and turned it back on. Got a vocal POST message: "System Failure - CPU
: > Test". I opened the case and noticed that the CPU fan was not running. I
: > don't know if the fan failed and then the processor burned up, or if the
: > processor burned up and the fan failed. I had another fan and plugged it
: > in
: > and it did not work either. The fan is Intel and came with the
processor.
: > I'm pretty sure the processor is history, it smelled like burnt wires.
All
: > other fans are working and, obviously, the onboard sound. Can't tell
much
: > more.
: > Call ASUS and they said to get an RMA for the MB and send it back to be
: > tested. Haven't contacted Intel yet about the 3 year warranty. Don't
know
: > if
: > it applies in this case.
: > Does anyone know (care to guess) whether the MB is most likely damaged?
: > Would it be smart to get a new processor (in a hurry) and plug it in to
: > see
: > if it works? If I send the board back should I send the processor too?
The
: > memory?
: > Any help or pointers on how best to go about repairing this system would
: > be
: > greatly appreciated.
: >
: >
:
:
 
I replaced a cpu under warranty recent.

Heres how it works

If you do the return yourself they send a questionairre to complete then
take weeks to get back to you........

If you take it to the dealer you bought it from they pick it up from the
dealer by courier and replace it in 48hrs!
 
BigJim said:
You know why the chips are getting fried, because asus
lets people overclock their systems. Oh yea but people
don't tell you that they had their system overclock with an
inadequate cooling system. Sure just clock it up to 30 percent, wow
is it fast now with a stock fan and heat sink and a 350watt PS.
Click to expand...

I thought P4 processors were supposed to shut down if they overheated.
 
That is what I've been told and what I'm hoping.
Been reading a lot about a lot of ASUS boards having a solder problem under
the processor. The fan clamp is too tight on an Intel fan and when the
processor overheats and something melts and bridges a circuit.
Also heard about a Southbridge failure that is commonly caused by plugging
and unplugging USB cables while the system is on.
I'll post back when I find what the cause really is.

: BigJim writes:
:
: > You know why the chips are getting fried, because asus
: > lets people overclock their systems. Oh yea but people
: > don't tell you that they had their system overclock with an
: > inadequate cooling system. Sure just clock it up to 30 percent, wow
: > is it fast now with a stock fan and heat sink and a 350watt PS.
:
: I thought P4 processors were supposed to shut down if they overheated.
:
: --
: Transpose hotmail and mxsmanic in my e-mail address to reach me directly.
 
Mxsmanic said:
BigJim writes:




I thought P4 processors were supposed to shut down if they overheated.
Click to expand...

They are, but the temperature at which damage might occur is not the same
when over-volted (commonly done to get a better overclock) as at the stock
voltage.
 
OK. Did not have time to screw with this problem in the middle of the work
week and needed my business back pronto, so I dropped the box off at my
local computer geek's who tested everything out. Results:
Bad Mainboard. Processor survived (could kiss an Intel engineer for the
thermal switch!). Power supply good, memory good. Intel processor fan: dead
(kill Intel engineer?).
He replaced the mainboard with an Intel D865PERL which he had in stock. A
step down from the ASUS but like I said, I don't have the luxury of time
right now. I will examine the board when I get it back and see if there is
any solder bridging evident before RMAing the thing back to ASUS.

: Mxsmanic wrote:
:
: > BigJim writes:
: >
: >
: >>You know why the chips are getting fried, because asus
: >>lets people overclock their systems. Oh yea but people
: >>don't tell you that they had their system overclock with an
: >>inadequate cooling system. Sure just clock it up to 30 percent, wow
: >>is it fast now with a stock fan and heat sink and a 350watt PS.
: >
: >
: > I thought P4 processors were supposed to shut down if they overheated.
: >
:
: They are, but the temperature at which damage might occur is not the same
: when over-volted (commonly done to get a better overclock) as at the stock
: voltage.
:
 
BPwrote:
"Also heard about a Southbridge failure that is commonly caused by
Click to expand...
plugging and unplugging USB cables while the system is on.
I'll post back when I find what the cause really is."

My Asus board (P4P800-E Deluxe) has had the southbridge fried twice.
Click to expand...
Each time the board only lasted about 2 weeks. I dont know about the
first time it fried, but the second time it fried RIGHT when I plugged
in a USB cable. BP, or anyone else, if you have any idea of why this
happens, or maybe any way to fix it, please let me know by emailing
me. I am a desperate man now, and have been through Asus's shitty
RMA service too many times....
 
I dont know about other problems, but I believe my southbridge blowin
up must have been a power supply issue. I sent my Asus board i
aswell as my Thermaltake power supply, and have been running stron
for 6 months..
 
There is a "known" issue with mainboards with an ICH5 southbridge. The USB
connections are not grounded properly. A static charge from touching the
metal end of a USB plug is enough to fry the chip. If you were hot plugging
any USB device about the same time that the board blinked out then I would
say that is the near certain reason.
 
There is a "known" issue with mainboards with an ICH5 southbridge. The USB
connections are not grounded properly. A static charge from touching the
metal end of a USB plug is enough to fry the chip. If you were hot plugging
any USB device about the same time that the board blinked out then I would
say that is the near certain reason.
 
BP said:
OK. Did not have time to screw with this problem in the middle of the work
week and needed my business back pronto, so I dropped the box off at my
local computer geek's who tested everything out. Results:
Bad Mainboard. Processor survived (could kiss an Intel engineer for the
thermal switch!). Power supply good, memory good. Intel processor fan: dead
(kill Intel engineer?).
Click to expand...

Seems like an eerie coincidence that both the CPU fan and the
motherboard failed. Is it possible that one of the two caused the
other?
 
BP said:
There is a "known" issue with mainboards with an ICH5 southbridge. The USB
connections are not grounded properly. A static charge from touching the
metal end of a USB plug is enough to fry the chip.
Click to expand...

My little server uses this southbridge. I haven't had a need to plug
in any USB stuff, but what precaution should I take if I do? What do
you mean by "touching the metal end"?
 
It is late. I will try and dig up the link for you later.
Since I encountered this problem I do not "hot plug" anything that comes
with a power cord. Hot plugging is when you connect a USB device while the
computer is on. Cameras and other battery powered devices seem to be safe as
far as I can tell (meaning I haven't burnt out this board plugging my camera
into it). If I'm going to work on my printer I shut off the computer then
unplug the USB cable.
If you look at a USB plug on either end you see a shiny chrome metal "box"
with a white plastic wafer inside. That is the metal end. As long as you
hold the plastic grip on the plug, and your fingers don't touch the metal
part you can't send any static electricity up the ground or neutral wire.
 
Mxsmanic said:
Seems like an eerie coincidence that both the CPU fan and the
motherboard failed. Is it possible that one of the two caused the
other?
Click to expand...

Oooo. Dumpster diving!
As it turned out, the fan was OK. It didn't work on the burnt out MB (of
course) and the computer shop either never really checked it out or conned
me into a new fan. But I have a spare P4 fan if you ever need one.
After blaming everyone on the planet for my misfortune I found the article
(from Gigabyte) that addressed the southbridge issue. That is when I
realized that I was indeed unplugging my failed printer when the screen went
dark. Odds are good that the ICH5 issue bit me in the ass.
 
BP said:
It is late. I will try and dig up the link for you later.
Since I encountered this problem I do not "hot plug" anything that comes
with a power cord. Hot plugging is when you connect a USB device while the
computer is on. Cameras and other battery powered devices seem to be safe
as far as I can tell (meaning I haven't burnt out this board plugging my
camera into it). If I'm going to work on my printer I shut off the
computer then unplug the USB cable.
If you look at a USB plug on either end you see a shiny chrome metal "box"
with a white plastic wafer inside. That is the metal end. As long as you
hold the plastic grip on the plug, and your fingers don't touch the metal
part you can't send any static electricity up the ground or neutral wire.
Click to expand...

Here is the link:
http://tw.giga-byte.com/Motherboard/Support/FAQ/FAQ_456.htm

And here is the thread:
http://groups.google.com/group/alt....CH5+USB+failure&rnum=9&hl=en#734335eb150d49bd

Happy reading!
 
BP said:
It is late. I will try and dig up the link for you later.
Since I encountered this problem I do not "hot plug" anything that comes
with a power cord. Hot plugging is when you connect a USB device while the
computer is on. Cameras and other battery powered devices seem to be safe as
far as I can tell (meaning I haven't burnt out this board plugging my camera
into it). If I'm going to work on my printer I shut off the computer then
unplug the USB cable.
Click to expand...

Ah, okay. I don't have any USB stuff that is externally powered, so
maybe I'm okay.

On my P5GDC (Asus) motherboard for my desktop, it seems that there is
one backpanel USB jack that isn't recognized by Windows, or doesn't
work, or something. Fortunately, I don't need all the jacks, so I
don't use it. It has always been that way. I don't know if it's a
hardware or software issue, or for that matter if it's even a real
problem (I might be misinterpreting what I see and remember).

Overall I don't care for USB at all, and I resent the fact that so
many devices insist on using this interface.
If you look at a USB plug on either end you see a shiny chrome metal "box"
with a white plastic wafer inside. That is the metal end. As long as you
hold the plastic grip on the plug, and your fingers don't touch the metal
part you can't send any static electricity up the ground or neutral wire.
Click to expand...

OK. That's how I normally hold plugs, anyway.
 
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