System Failure: AMD Box not posting.

by **Dakana** » Wed Jun 02, 2004 3:18 pm

Well, here we go.

Alright.

One sad, lonely night I had gotten done reformatting and was preparing to install Windows XP Professional. I put the disk in and booted up fine. The first phase of setup, the "Copying files for installation" went fine, and then I rebooted. The next step in Windows installation is graphical, so it went to the graphical splash screen with the loading bar underneath a Windows XP logo. At the end of this, it BSODed. I rebooted and get the same result. This time I change RAM and reboot. Still, it BSODs me. The next time I reboot, I get no power to my hard drive, there are no beeps, and the system does not POST. Panicking, I reboot. No dice and no POST.

I've swapped out the power supply twice, both ones I know work, and I've also swapped the RAM out for some that I'm positive work.

Sometimes, the hard drive will boot, and sometimes it won't.

I've reseated the Video Card, CPU (cleaning it off and re-applying thermal paste), and done an out-of-case test (to eliminate the possibility of it shorting out)

I've cleared the CMOS by taking out the battery for a bit, and also have tried to force a RAM failure by booting with no RAM. The RAM test yielded no beeps.

Now, should I send back the processer or nag my friends until they let me try my processor in their motherboard and/or vice versa. Is there a possibility to fry a motherboard with a bad chip, or fry a chip with a bad motherboard?

My specs:
Processor: AMD Athlon XP 2500+ (Obtained through Newegg, retail)
Motherboard: Abit NF7 revision 2.0 (Obtained after two RMA's.)
Video Card: ATI Radeon All-In-Wonder 8500DV (Brother bought it retail, passed it down to me. I see no reason to suspect it.)
RAM: Kingston ValuRAM, 512mb PC3200. Also I've tried Kingmax 256mb PC2700, Samsung 512mb PC3200, and Samsung 128mb PC2100. None of them got any results. I was suspicious after the BSOD on Windows install, but the Kingmax I know works and I was able to try that after the non-POST fiasco.
Power Supply: Generic 400w (brand new... but suspicious due to its generic nature, but I have tried an Enermax 310w and Antec 350w, the Antec guarenteed to be working)

If you need any more information, please tell me.

Just to recap.
1. Should I send my processor back now?
2. If I decide to nag my friends to let me diagnose, could a good processor fry by being in a bad motherboard, and could a bad processor fry a good motherboard?

Thanks!

by **Evan** » Wed Jun 02, 2004 3:46 pm

Sounds like a Motherboard problem.

by **Dakana** » Wed Jun 02, 2004 3:58 pm

I'm almost positive it's motherboard or CPU, becuase the forced RAM failure didn't give me any beep error codes.

We tried to take off my friend's clip-on heatsink to try my CPU in his motherboard, but all we managed to do is bend the clip and break off a transistor (thank God it still works fine), so we didn't pursue that anymore. Right now I'm stuck between sending one back, or both back, or finding a walkthrough for the best way to get a clip-on HS off.

By the way: out of three forums I've posted this on, this was the first intellegent post. The others consistedd of people telling me that if I was getting a BSOD, then it's not the processor, and people suggesting that my hard drive is preventing the POST. I don't know whether to laugh or cry.

by **Horsepower** » Wed Jun 02, 2004 4:01 pm

need driver for 3rd party controller? (Promise etc.)

by **Evan** » Wed Jun 02, 2004 4:02 pm

It's most likely the motherboard, Dakana. If you get a new one, get this motherboard:

http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=13-131-478&depa=1

by **Dakana** » Wed Jun 02, 2004 4:08 pm

I may get that one, or I may just RMA the one I have. I'm really kind of leaning away from Abit though... it hasn't been the best board ever. Asus is good. If I had the money I would refund this board and get that, but I'm pretty much completley broke and can only RMA the NF7.

by **Bullhead** » Wed Jun 02, 2004 4:22 pm

Dakana, I think you're cursed, since everyone I know who owns an NF7-S v2.0 (the -S is critical, otherwise you can't compare it to the ASUS) loves their board, and has had nothing but luck with it. I've abused this board alot, o/c'd the shit out of it (over 250FSB for a while, although my proc can't take it), and it's still kicking strong.......

That being said, yes, you likely have a bad mobo, but possibly a bad proc. I think something in your system keeps killing these new RMA boards. Have you replaced any other hardware since the last RMA? If not, I'd say you got something rather defective in there.

Yes, a bad proc can cause the mobo to short out. Same goes for a bad board. Testing either way always presents a risk, which is why it should be done on a NON-primary machine (i.e. not your daily gaming rig).

BTW, I had just as many headaches with both an old ASUS board, as well as a SOYO board, yet people will tell you both are great products.

PPS. If you broke of a transistor on your friends mobo, especially one around the CPU socket, I'd HIGHLY advise RMA'ing it. Those are there for good reasons, and not having one could cause lots of long term problems (including killing other components by shorting them out). Mayhaps you should be a little nicer to it next time?

by **Evan** » Wed Jun 02, 2004 4:27 pm

Bull, for any product there are going to be those that say it's great - even if the majority say it sucks!

by **Mr. Slayer** » Wed Jun 02, 2004 4:27 pm

Originally posted by Evan
It's most likely the motherboard, Dakana. If you get a new one, get this motherboard:

http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=13-131-478&depa=1

If you get this board it is very nice. Its a bargain for only $99. My friend has that and has had no problems what-so-ever!

What I have is I believe the lesser version; the A7N8X Deluxe
(no -E) and it runs great. One of the best boards I've ever had actually....

Good luck man!

-Slayer

by **Evan** » Wed Jun 02, 2004 5:30 pm

I have the ASUS A7N8X Deluxe Revision 2.0 (non-E version). They don't have my board at Newegg anymore, and the newer boards no longer have SoundStorm onboard audio.

SS has the best sound I've heard so far on a motherboard. Thank god I got it before they pulled it.

by **Dakana** » Wed Jun 02, 2004 5:43 pm

I have the non -s. Cheaper, but without SoundStorm or SATA.

I didn't see any physical damage on the CPU, but that probably doesn't matter.

I guess it's off to Abit with the motherboard. I need a job.

by **Dakana** » Wed Jun 02, 2004 5:55 pm

I requested an RMA with Abit. Since it is the 3rd time, they should send it out ASAP and give me tons of support if its fubar.

Bullhead - No part is messing it up. I've had a TON of trouble with boards - three RMAs with an Epox 8rda+ and now three with the NF7. The only peice of hardware that has stayed through all of these is my hard drive. RAM, CPU, PSU, and Video Card have all been since changed.

I'm starting to think my house is cursed.

1. Six of my motherboards going/being bad.
2. Friend's hard drive dying.
3. Friend's RAM dying.
4. My Power supply frying, causing one motherboard from #1.

These happen when I have LAN parties at my house. #2 was during it - "clickity click click click click." #3 was en route to my house.

Maybe I should throw a sheet over my computer, lock it in a cage and walk away and forget everything about it.

by **American McGee** » Wed Jun 02, 2004 7:20 pm

Brownouts. Get a constant power battery backup if you can. Unlike a surge protector, ,which only protects against spikes and overloads, most battery backups have a series of high cap. capicitors...if the power drops briefly (a brownout), the caps provide a boost of power to the computer to prevent power damamge from low power. Over time, drops in power can do as much or more damage than spikes. The only way to be certain that this is the case is if your power drops ever get bad enough for you to notice the flicker in the lights in your house. People who live in windy areas know the effect...the lights stay on, ,but sometimes get dimmer briefly, or have an almost unnoticable flicker.

Anyway, just a possibility, since you seem to have a history of dieing electronics...

by **Rule of Wrist** » Wed Jun 02, 2004 7:55 pm

*gazes into crystal ball*

Your problem is....... SmackeRiSK touched your computer...

*checks magic 8-ball just to be sure*

It is decidedly so.

by **Evan** » Wed Jun 02, 2004 7:56 pm

Haha. I bet all his hardware was hand me downs from Risk..

System Failure: AMD Box not posting.

System Failure: AMD Box not posting.

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