3 mobos, 5 PSUs, 2 CPUs, 4 RAM sticks = no functioning combination

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David DeBrota

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Jul 13, 2013
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I had a working Phenom X4 system die. I had a working Athlon II system die. In both cases, symptom was that system would not boot. I thought the problem in each case was the PSU. But I tried multiple old 430W PSUs with same results. I pulled both mobos from the cases, stripped them of everything but the CPUs, RAM, and a speaker, and tried each with a brand new 650W PSU. Fans would spin for about 2 secs, then PSU would shut off. So I figured the mobos had died. Bought a brand new mobo. Tried each CPU on the new mobo (an ASRock model which should supposedly work with either of them)... still fans would spin and then turn off. No beeps, because the shutdown is so quick that the POST doesn't even get going, and of course no video. Tried without RAM modules... same immediate PSU shut down. Finally I tried applying power to the mobos without ANYTHING on them... no CPU, no RAM... and all 3 mobos power on, spin attached CPU fans until I switch off power. Naturally with no CPU there is no beeping.
I guess I'm down to the conclusion that both CPUs have died. Or can anyone else suggest another interpretation?

P.S. I also tried resetting CMOS... no luck
P.S.S. The shutdowns come so quickly after power on that the CPUs don't even get warm to the touch
 
Solution
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R U Sure That Your Ram Is Ok? As From My Past Experience,Im Seeing This Problems On A Athlon II System,And The Problem Is Mostly Ram Related,

Another Suggestion Is Check Your Pc With Another Cpu If You Have:) Till Then Best Of Luck.
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David DeBrota

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Jul 13, 2013
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I have many old CPUs around here, but I don't think I have any others that will go into an AM2/AM3/AM3+ socket. If I get myself angry enough, I may shell out another $38 for a Sempron so I can at least (hopefully!) make some use of the new ASRock mobo I stupidly purchased. I checked the pins on the CPUs I have very carefully... no pins damaged.

What amazes and frustrates me about this whole adventure is that despite all the possible combinations I have tried, I can't get a single working combo of mobo+PSU+CPU+RAM.

From what I have read, the problem is somehow in the "power good" signal that needs to be generated... by either the CPU or the mobo. If this signal doesn't get generated, a piece of circuitry somewhere (on the mobo? in the PSU?) tells the PSU to shut off.
 
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David DeBrota

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Jul 13, 2013
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During testing, mobos were sitting on a piece of cardboard, or on other insulating material.

Minor update... the ASRock mobo seems to work better with no power switch connected (that is, with power switched only by the switch on the PSU), although even here there seems to be some inconsistency.

As I type this I have had the ASRock mobo running for about 10 solid minutes with the Phenom X4 CPU, two Patriot RAM sticks, and a video card installed. But it is very finicky. I have to turn off the PSU, wait ~30 seconds, and then turn the PSU on. If I am lucky, the fans then start and don't immediately stop. I will try next to connect hard disk and DVDRW drives.
 
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David DeBrota

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Jul 13, 2013
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If I power off the PSU, wait a while, and then power the PSU back on, as I do so, the mobo starts up... even with no power switch connected to the mobo.

I have the Phenom X4 + ASRock mobo working, I guess. I'm going to put it in a new case, with a hopefully good power switch. I guess my old one was flaky.
 
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David DeBrota

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Jul 13, 2013
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With Zalman cooler in place atop the Phenom X4, the system ran several hours. But when booting ubuntu, I saw a brief text message flash by suggesting that the CPU temperature sensor was being ignored because it was unreliable or inaccurate or something (I can't remember). Does anyone know how to determine if a CPU temperature is correct?
 
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Souvik Re

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Jul 15, 2013
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R U Sure That Your Ram Is Ok? As From My Past Experience,Im Seeing This Problems On A Athlon II System,And The Problem Is Mostly Ram Related,

Another Suggestion Is Check Your Pc With Another Cpu If You Have:) Till Then Best Of Luck.
 
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Solution
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David DeBrota

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Jul 13, 2013
6
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10,510
DDR2 RAM sticks I am playing with seem OK. I have a pair from Crucial and a pair from Patriot. I tried swapping them in various configurations, using only one at a time, etc. Never impacted the results.

I read that some AMD CPUs are reported by ubuntu to have "unreliable CPU thermal sensor" but work OK anyway.

I have had the Phenom X4/ASrock mobo/Patriot RAM combo running continuously for 24h. I don't think there is a thermal issue or it would have shown up by now.

I think the one thing I have done with the greatest impact on my problems was to replace the "power switch" with a "reset switch". I think my power switch may have become "sticky" and stopped acting like a momentary contact switch.
 
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