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Component Troubleshooting, Why did my PC Die?

Tags:
  • Crash
  • USB
  • Power
  • Boot Failure
  • Systems
  • Keyboard Failure
Last response: in Systems
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June 4, 2014 2:49:22 PM

Recently while doing some light tasks on my desktop, my USB mouse and keyboard plugged into the system ports on the motherboard lost power and became unresponsive. Thinking my system might have crashed, I pressed the power button on the case and the system shutdown normally as If, for some reason, my USB ports had gone out but the system was still working normally.

After shutting down, I tried rebooting and I got no video through the display and my USB devices still weren't lighting up as they should. Thinking I might have suffered a hardware failure, I tried the following troubleshooting techniques with no change:

*Resetting the CMOS
*Removing the graphics card and using on-board video
*Reseating RAM sticks in various configurations
*Removing everything, disconnecting, reconnecting and restart

I've been running a moderate overclock for the last week or so and suspect one of my components has failed. My theory puts issue on the motherboard but I assume it could also have something to do with the CPU.

Could memory also be suspect here, does overclocking void my CPU's warranty and does anyone have any suggestions or similar experiences that may be able to help me out?

Thank You All.

System Specs:
Motherboard: MSI Z87-G45
CPU: Intel i5 4670k Overclocked to 4.7ghz @1.35 adaptive voltage
RAM: Gskill Sniper 2x4gb F3-14900CL9D-8GBSR Overclocked to 2200mhz 1.5v
PSU: Rosewill CAPSTONE 450W
GPU: MSI branded Nvidia GTX 770
SSD: Samsung 840 Evo (Confirmed working)

More about : component troubleshooting die

June 4, 2014 2:56:01 PM

Do you have another power supply that you could test the system with? Also does your power supply fans run when you try to turn it on? If the power supply runs then try the system with a single ram stick and no GPU.

Also, 450w for a gtx 770 and overclocked i5 is cutting it really close IMO.
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June 4, 2014 2:59:17 PM

Hmmm, it's hard to say what failed, because it looks like you were pushing all your parts pretty hard. With your level of overclocking, I'd definitely recommend a more powerful PSU; 550W would be sufficient. Since this is a good idea anyway, buying this and testing is not going to be a waste of money. Still, for your machine to still power-on suggests the PSU wasn't what died, at least not outright.
I would agree that the motherboard is the likely decedent. This is because it is at the bottom of MSI's lineup for the socket. MSI has a history of using weak VRMs on its low-end parts (mostly a problem for their AMD boards), so a similar failure here doesn't seem unreasonable. Is there any discoloration on the board or its components, indicating extreme heat?
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June 4, 2014 3:01:45 PM

Remove your overclocks and test again.
As suggested above, 450W is not gonna cut it when you overclock.
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June 4, 2014 3:06:37 PM

He already reset CMOS to defaults; that would remove the OC.
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June 4, 2014 3:26:54 PM

Onus, PSU fan is spinning up and there is no visible discoloration on the board. It is however dark brown so it may be hard to tell.
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June 4, 2014 5:17:36 PM

Just another bit of information, I connected a speaker to the motherboard and all I could get it to do were the 3 long beeps when I removed the memory.
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Best solution

June 4, 2014 5:50:56 PM

I'm not certain, but I think your CPU would have to still be good to recognize that memory was the problem. That you're getting beeps also suggests it is not a power problem. The motherboard seems the likely croakee.
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June 6, 2014 3:35:53 PM

Took your advice Onus and RMA'd the board out to MSI. Picked up athe same board from Fry's to use until the new one arrives. The new board boots right up with no issues. Seems that was the issue. Thanks.
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