[OT] Dead motherboard or dead CPU?
Greetings, all. Someone recently reported a problem booting their computer. I've had my first ever major failure of a system where I can't boot my machine. My situation is a little different than in the previous thread about a boot problem. FYI, my machine is an HP m7680n with an Intel Core 2 Duo CPU that I have had for several years and gets a lot of use every day. When the machine powers up all the fans start spinning and the drives do their initial power on reset activities. The CPU doesn't seem to warm up AFAICT (unless I haven't let the system run long enough for it to warm up). The first time I had a problem starting up the system I power cycled the machine a few times and got it to boot. I did that on three consecutive days but starting with the fourth day power cycling the machine is no longer able to kick the machine in to showing signs of life. A POST card shows ---- instead of any actual code. All the LEDs on the POST card light that are related to power supply voltages. CLK is also lit up and the RESET LED comes on briefly at power up and power down. The IRDY and FRAME lights are always off. I have tried to boot after pulling all plug-in cards and even after also pulling the RAM and disconnecting the SATA drives. The power supply is a Corsair TX650M that is only a few months old. The separate four pin 12V connector to the MB is reading within tolerance. There are no signs of bad capacitors on the MB (ie. none that have bulges on the top). I don't have an ESR meter to propery test the individual capacitors. Am I looking at a motherboard failure or is it possible the CPU has died? I read the C2D is quite reliable so CPU failure seems less likely than an MB failure but anything is possible when dealing with electronics. -- Cheers! Kevin. http://www.ve3syb.ca/ |"Nerds make the shiny things that distract Owner of Elecraft K2 #2172 | the mouth-breathers, and that's why we're | powerful!" #include <disclaimer/favourite> | --Chris Hardwick
On Thu, Nov 20, 2014 at 06:41:38PM -0500, Kevin Cozens wrote:
Greetings, all.
Someone recently reported a problem booting their computer. I've had my first ever major failure of a system where I can't boot my machine. My situation is a little different than in the previous thread about a boot problem. FYI, my machine is an HP m7680n with an Intel Core 2 Duo CPU that I have had for several years and gets a lot of use every day.
When the machine powers up all the fans start spinning and the drives do their initial power on reset activities. The CPU doesn't seem to warm up AFAICT (unless I haven't let the system run long enough for it to warm up).
The first time I had a problem starting up the system I power cycled the machine a few times and got it to boot. I did that on three consecutive days but starting with the fourth day power cycling the machine is no longer able to kick the machine in to showing signs of life.
A POST card shows ---- instead of any actual code. All the LEDs on the POST card light that are related to power supply voltages. CLK is also lit up and the RESET LED comes on briefly at power up and power down. The IRDY and FRAME lights are always off.
I have tried to boot after pulling all plug-in cards and even after also pulling the RAM and disconnecting the SATA drives. The power supply is a Corsair TX650M that is only a few months old. The separate four pin 12V connector to the MB is reading within tolerance.
There are no signs of bad capacitors on the MB (ie. none that have bulges on the top). I don't have an ESR meter to propery test the individual capacitors.
Am I looking at a motherboard failure or is it possible the CPU has died? I read the C2D is quite reliable so CPU failure seems less likely than an MB failure but anything is possible when dealing with electronics.
Well short of swapping parts it can be hard to determine the problem. Could be motherboard, power supply, CPU, ram, video card (if not onboard). -- Len Sorensen
On 22/11/2014 7:23 PM, Lennart Sorensen wrote:
Well short of swapping parts it can be hard to determine the problem. Could be motherboard, power supply, CPU, ram, video card (if not onboard).
I realized that. I was hoping somone who builds/repairs computers on a regular basis would comment on the chances that a Core 2 Duo chip failed vs. the motherboard failing. I've ordered a replacement CPU that isn't costing me much $. If that doesn't get the machine booting it is a MB failure. Possibly the common issue with bad caps (although none are obviously bad)? Caps can be replaced more easily than the replacing the MB. I'll see what happens after I can swap the CPU. -- Cheers! Kevin. http://www.ve3syb.ca/ |"Nerds make the shiny things that distract Owner of Elecraft K2 #2172 | the mouth-breathers, and that's why we're | powerful!" #include <disclaimer/favourite> | --Chris Hardwick
I realized that. I was hoping somone who builds/repairs computers on a regular basis would comment on the chances that a Core 2 Duo chip failed vs. the motherboard failing. I've ordered a replacement CPU that isn't costing me much $. If that doesn't get the machine booting it is a MB failure. Possibly the common issue with bad caps (although none are obviously bad)? Caps can be replaced more easily than the replacing the MB. I'll see what happens after I can swap the CPU.
Have you checked the power supply voltages? If the supply has failed with an overvoltage, that could cook the mobo. And other periferals. This happened to one of my systems... P. -- Peter Hiscocks Syscomp Electronic Design Limited, Toronto http://www.syscompdesign.com USB Oscilloscope and Waveform Generator 647-839-0325
On 29/11/2014 4:44 PM, phiscock@ee.ryerson.ca wrote:
Have you checked the power supply voltages? If the supply has failed with an overvoltage, that could cook the mobo. And other periferals. This happened to one of my systems...
I checked the 4-pin aux connector that is connected to the MB and it seems within spec. The power supply lines aren't easy to access but I can test them. I wouldn't expect a failure of the power supply as I haven't had it long and it is one that has a wattage rating about twice that of the original. Power supply failures I've had in the past have usually been ones where the fan bearings wore out. I have swapped the CPU for one that was supposed to be a good one and no change. I have built myself a simple ESR meter. After I pull the MB out of the case I will be able to check the caps ane see if one of them failed. -- Cheers! Kevin. http://www.ve3syb.ca/ |"Nerds make the shiny things that distract Owner of Elecraft K2 #2172 | the mouth-breathers, and that's why we're | powerful!" #include <disclaimer/favourite> | --Chris Hardwick
participants (3)
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Kevin Cozens -
Lennart Sorensen -
phiscock＠ee.ryerson.ca