Update/solved: As it turns out the problem was indeed my old motherboard; got a new one today and the computer now works fine once more.
The situation leading up to the problem:
For some time now, I have experienced (approximately once a day) that my computer made a strange kind of crash. The computer itself did not actually crash, but my my two monitors turned off and any sort of sounds that may have been played on speakers turned into a strange distorted robotic soundwave. A simple reboot made everything fine (sometimes it had problems booting correctly the first time). I initially suspected my SSD having gone bad after some 3 years, but even with a new SSD it seems to have appeared. So after a bit of reading I began suspecting RAM, motherboard, or PSU.
RAM diagnostics showed no damage. So next I got a multimeter and acquired the following readings:
-- Voltage
- From PSU
12v : 12.14
5v : 5.07
3v : 3.36
- From motherboard (overclocked with MSI OC Genie)
vccp : 1.32
VTT : 1.24
SA : 0.92
DDR : 1.65
PCH : 1.02
- From motherboard (no OC)
vccp : 1.14
VTT : 1.03
SA : 0.92
DDR : 1.48
PCH : 1.02
The situation as it is now
Then today, after doing a BIOS update, the computer died. When I turn on the computer it boots for a second (lights inside the case lights up) but not long enough for my monitors to notice; and I can see that the fans of the system (and CPU) accelerate for a moment before dying down again. This keeps happening - even though I only pressed the power button once - continuously, until I kill the power on my PSU.
I have redone all voltage readings, and they do indeed spike to their values above, before dying down as the computer does not stay booted; all accept one. The VCCP voltage remains 0 on the motherboard at all times. So I tried disconnecting the motherboard from the PSU and with the paperclip-trick force the PSU on. Reading the 2x4-pin connectors to the CPU they show 12v properly. So my conclusion is that the motherboard is somehow damaged now, not sending enough (if any) juice to the CPU, and that this was probably the reason for the strange crashes earlier.
Do you agree with this conclusion? I figured that I might as well ask in here, since I cannot acquire a new motherboard before next week, in any case.
---
Relative hardware is:
Motherboard: MS-7681 v2.01 (MSI P67A-GD65)
RAM : 2x Corsair Vengence 4GB @ 1866MHz
CPU : i7-2600k @3.40GHz (OC GENIE to 3.9GHz)
PSU : Corsair TX850
GPU : Radeon HD 7970 (Model: Sapphire Dual-X)
I should also note that after the boot problem I have tried taking out the GPU, only have RAM in the first slot, and disconnected all external accessories as well as case-connectors.
Edit: I should also note that I first tried clearing CMOS to restore BIOS since I suspected the BIOS update having gone wrong. Tried both jumper and button; still not booting fully, however.
The situation leading up to the problem:
For some time now, I have experienced (approximately once a day) that my computer made a strange kind of crash. The computer itself did not actually crash, but my my two monitors turned off and any sort of sounds that may have been played on speakers turned into a strange distorted robotic soundwave. A simple reboot made everything fine (sometimes it had problems booting correctly the first time). I initially suspected my SSD having gone bad after some 3 years, but even with a new SSD it seems to have appeared. So after a bit of reading I began suspecting RAM, motherboard, or PSU.
RAM diagnostics showed no damage. So next I got a multimeter and acquired the following readings:
-- Voltage
- From PSU
12v : 12.14
5v : 5.07
3v : 3.36
- From motherboard (overclocked with MSI OC Genie)
vccp : 1.32
VTT : 1.24
SA : 0.92
DDR : 1.65
PCH : 1.02
- From motherboard (no OC)
vccp : 1.14
VTT : 1.03
SA : 0.92
DDR : 1.48
PCH : 1.02
The situation as it is now
Then today, after doing a BIOS update, the computer died. When I turn on the computer it boots for a second (lights inside the case lights up) but not long enough for my monitors to notice; and I can see that the fans of the system (and CPU) accelerate for a moment before dying down again. This keeps happening - even though I only pressed the power button once - continuously, until I kill the power on my PSU.
I have redone all voltage readings, and they do indeed spike to their values above, before dying down as the computer does not stay booted; all accept one. The VCCP voltage remains 0 on the motherboard at all times. So I tried disconnecting the motherboard from the PSU and with the paperclip-trick force the PSU on. Reading the 2x4-pin connectors to the CPU they show 12v properly. So my conclusion is that the motherboard is somehow damaged now, not sending enough (if any) juice to the CPU, and that this was probably the reason for the strange crashes earlier.
Do you agree with this conclusion? I figured that I might as well ask in here, since I cannot acquire a new motherboard before next week, in any case.
---
Relative hardware is:
Motherboard: MS-7681 v2.01 (MSI P67A-GD65)
RAM : 2x Corsair Vengence 4GB @ 1866MHz
CPU : i7-2600k @3.40GHz (OC GENIE to 3.9GHz)
PSU : Corsair TX850
GPU : Radeon HD 7970 (Model: Sapphire Dual-X)
I should also note that after the boot problem I have tried taking out the GPU, only have RAM in the first slot, and disconnected all external accessories as well as case-connectors.
Edit: I should also note that I first tried clearing CMOS to restore BIOS since I suspected the BIOS update having gone wrong. Tried both jumper and button; still not booting fully, however.
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