Bad Main Board or CPU, GPU?

[megacal]

Hi,
I built a computer a few years ago to be able to use Octane Renderer for GPU
rendering:

Main board: ASUS M4A89GTD Pro/USB3
Graphics cards: Zotac GTX 580 AMP! for rendering, Galaxy 210 for display
CPU: Phenom II 955

The computer has run fine until now.....no blue screens, no crashes....... I had put it in sleep mode, but now, it just won't start.

The power light is on on the mainboard, so there is power, but the screen is black. The power button does not turn on the computer. It doesn't try to boot at all. The fans are off.

How can I determine if it's the CPU, graphics card, or MB?

Thanks!

 

[i7Baby]

Disconnect the OS drive and see if it posts (to bios).

If not, use an internal speaker and get the post/beep code to determine where the problem may lay - http://www.computerhope.com/beep.htm

 

[InvalidError]

It could also be the power supply. I have two PSUs that "work fine" except for 5VSB being out of spec and that is enough to cause a few weird problems during power-up.

 

[Vexillarius]

Try removing the 210 and plugging the display into the 580. If that works, put the 580 in the slot the 210 used to occupy. If it still works then your 210 has probably gone bad.

EDIT: Read it wrong, if it won't power up at all the first suspect would be the PSU in my opinion.

 

[menetlaus]

I would unplug almost everything from the motherboard except the CPU, one stick of ram, CPU fan, and the wires to the power switch.

That means I would remove the GPU's unplug the SATA cables from the motherboard, case fans, and make sure the core unlocker and turbo switches are set to off/disable. Use the onboard graphics to test.

If still not starting, I would try to either use the clear CMOS jumper or remove all power (including the battery on the Mobo) and try it at default settings. If no go, switch to the other ram stick (or try to test using the check memory button on the Mobo).

If nothing starts up - I'd call the motherboard dead. You might also want to make a good inspection on the board when disconnecting things. A bulging capacitor or signs of scorching from part overheating might be obvious.

After that - short of trying to use another known working mobo to test your CPU/memory - not much advice I can give.

If it does work with minimal stuff attached - add things back one at a time until you find what was causing the issue.

 

[megacal]

Thanks for all the great ideas!

I think it's the hard drive. I disconnected power to the OS hard drive, and wa-la!,
it tried to boot, the ASUS software came up.

All my data was backed up on an external drive. I just wish I'd cloned the drive to a new HD at the same
time as the backup with EZMigration.

At this point, I think I need a new HD and re-install Win7, re-install a few apps, re-load my data (?)

Possible replacement HDs at Amazon:
Seagate Barracuda 2 TB HDD SATA 6 Gb/s NCQ 64MB Cache 3.5-Inch $80
WD Green 2 TB Desktop Hard Drive: 3.5 Inch, SATA III, 64 MB Cache $78

Are there better choices for the money?

 

[menetlaus]

Did you only disconnect power to the drive, or did you unplug the SATA cable as well?

I've heard some people say they have had a bad CABLE which caused all sorts of issues. Figure it's worth a shot to confirm if another SATA cable works with the drive - or if the drive itself is toast.

Kinda seems strange to me that the PC wouldn't even show the BIOS with a bad HDD. But PC's can fail in all sorts of strange and wonderful ways lol

 

[i7Baby]

I like the Barracuda. Mine's running great.

 

[megacal]

Did you only disconnect power to the drive, or did you unplug the SATA cable as well?

No, but I will before I buy a new HD, thanks.

 

[megacal]

I like the Barracuda. Mine's running great.

Great, it was my first pick, too.

If the data cable is bad, I'll replace it, but get the Barracuda, and clone the old drive.

1hr later......ordered the new Barracuda, and it's shipped already.....Amazon is amazing.

Thanks for all the great help! I hope to have it back up by the weekend.

 

[megacal]

It was the sata cable after all! Not bad, just loose! Doh!

Well, lesson learned hopefully for next time. But it was good as
it forced me to get the new HD, and will clone the old drive....which is still working fine.

Thanks again for the help!