Computer Fails POST After Attempted Overclock

Edward Fernandez · Feb 24, 2015

After a successful cpu overclock from stock 3.4-3.8ghz, I attempted further and resulted with the computer not being able to post and a red cpu warning led on the motherboard. I've attempted to clear CMOS using the pin and removing the battery but no result. The video card and memory were tested successful in another computer and the power supply tested well using a power supply tester.

Motherboard:Asus Sabertooth 990fx gen3 r2.0
CPU:AMD Phenom ii x4 965 rev c3

royalcrown · Feb 24, 2015

When you attempted to clear the CMOS did you either switch off the power supply or unplug the computer from the wall ? If not the standby power can damage the motherboard or keep the CMOS from being cleared.

Edward Fernandez :

HEXiT · Feb 24, 2015

remove the battery from the motherboard.
turn the pc on at the power brick. then on and off at the prower button.
turn it off at the wall and quickly short the battery +/- terminals.
this should reset your bios. short them for 1-2 seconds only.
put the battery back in and reboot the system it should boot. if not look in the manual and find the shorting jumpers.

Edward Fernandez · Feb 24, 2015

I did switch the power off and disconnect the power cord from the PSU before removing the battery and toggling the clear CMOS jumper. Is shorting the battery +/- terminals different from the clear CMOS jumper?

royalcrown · Feb 24, 2015

No.

Edward Fernandez :

Edward Fernandez · Feb 25, 2015

HEXiT :

I've tried what you suggested but still no post. What would you suggest next between motherboard RMA or buy a CPU?

smorizio · Feb 25, 2015

try this to see if the mb will come back. use the usb flashback port and put the newest bios file on a usb stick and use the usb flashback port. the usb flashback does not need ram or cpu to work.

HEXiT · Feb 25, 2015

http://event.asus.com/2012/mb/USB_BIOS_Flashback_GUIDE/
+1^^

Edward Fernandez · Feb 25, 2015

Thanks for the tip, unfortunately using the BIOS flashback didn't yield any change. I followed the steps from the manual and the video but the motherboard still won't POST.

HEXiT · Feb 26, 2015

does your motherboard have a speaker or a led display?
if it doesnt have 1 or the other it will have a motherboard speaker connector and you need to attach 1 of these to it.
https://www.google.co.uk/search?client=opera&q=motherboard+speaker&sourceid=opera&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8#q=motherboard+speaker&tbm=shop&spd=8958566836168635855

only then will you hear the beep code that bios emits when it finds an issue.
if you do have 1 already and its not working then yes look at the pins on the cpu.

smorizio · Feb 26, 2015

is the cpu red led on or any led?? issue right now could have killed the mb vrm or the cpu. I would see if a friend or a shop can toss in a cpu see if the mb is fine.

Edward Fernandez · Feb 26, 2015

The board doesn't have an LED, I do have a system speaker attached to it but it does not beep at all after powering it up. There's nothing wrong with the pins of the cpu, the computer was running fine up until the OC attempt. For the sake of argument I switched the aftermarket cpu cooler with the stock cooler and checked the pins in the process. If only there were a way to borrow a cpu for testing without having to purchase one, so the decision at this moment is to either prepare to RMA the board or buy a cpu for testing with knowledge that it can't be returned and it will either boot up fine or it won't and I'd still have to RMA the board.

HEXiT · Feb 26, 2015

it still boots with only 1 ram stick?
in that case check the manual for ram speed limitations. sometimes if your ram runs faster than the cpu's mmu it can switch you to 1 stick per channel mode. (check the *notes and small print)
meaning you can only use ram on slot 1 and another slot that doesnt use slot 1 as its i/o channel. this may be the reason the second stick didnt work on the other slot. if this is the case there should be a diagram in your manual.

Edward Fernandez · Feb 26, 2015

HEXiT :

I don't think you understood my response, RMA=Returned Merchandise Authorization, not RAM, unless your response was meant for someone else's thread.

HEXiT · Feb 26, 2015

have you tried the mem ok button or the direct key button?

MemOK! button
Installing DIMMs that are not compatible with the motherboard may cause system
boot failure, and the DRAM_LED near the MemOK! switch lights continuously. Press
and hold the MemOK! button until the DRAM_LED starts blinking to begin automatic
memory compatibility tuning for successful boot.

HEXiT · Feb 26, 2015

Edward Fernandez :

HEXiT :

I don't think you understood my response, RMA=Returned Merchandise Authorization, not RAM, unless your response was meant for someone else's thread.

lol yes mate that was for a different thread. i had about 3 open at the time... sorry...

Edward Fernandez · Feb 27, 2015

HEXiT :

I have tried both of those as well in the process but still no change. I've contacted Asus about the situation and waiting for an update.

Edward Fernandez · Mar 9, 2015

As it turns out I've discovered it was the CPU that has stopped working. I had an approved RMA from Asus ready but I discovered a thread from another forum that involved the same exact situation including the motherboard and replacing the cpu resolved the situation. For me it was either risk sending the board to Asus for repair or try a new CPU. Because I've read some scary stories involving Asus' RMA process I took a chance at buying another cpu first and if it didn't work then I'll still have the RMA available. New CPU was the solution. Thanks for all the input and help with this situation.

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