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first build - power up, go to BIOS, powers down

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  • Homebuilt
  • BIOS
  • Power Up
  • Build
  • Systems
Last response: in Systems
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December 8, 2006 1:13:27 AM

I have a first time build here and when I power up and go to the BIOS to start looking around in there, it lets me look around for about a minute, and then the whole thing just powers down.

Is there something tell-tale about this symptom that someone can tell me to fix?

Thanks.

More about : build power bios powers

December 8, 2006 1:32:19 AM

This is very commonly caused by overheating.

Is it intel? The stock heatsink has a really bad way of clipping in to the motherboard. Make sure the clips are in all the way. I had the exact same thing happen some time ago with a Pentium 630 (same HSF). I ended up replacing it with an aftermarket cooler because it was more trouble than it was worth.

There really should be a sticky about this problem.
December 8, 2006 1:34:01 AM

When you get into the bios, the temperatures are likely shown & by the bios stage should not have gotten over like 35C. If the temps are high it is shutting down to protect your cpu which is inadequately cooled likely due to the seating of the heat sink. Make sure enough thermal paste is on your cpu and that you have clipped the heat sink rigidly flush against the cpu.

Jo
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December 8, 2006 1:40:53 AM

Thanks to you both for your replies. This is an AMD build, and I'm using an AM2 chip with the heatsink that came along with it in the package. I took extreme care to make sure the heatsink was seated properly, but having never done this before, it is likely that I wouldn't know it if I got it wrong.

I guess I'll try it again. The manufacturer's heatsink came with a thermal pad underneath filled with gel, so I didn't have to deal with the thermal paste. I'm hoping that taking it apart doesn't cause it to ooze all over!

Any advice anyone can give about getting it to seat right would be welcomed. Thanks again and I'll be checking back.
December 8, 2006 1:43:38 AM

Well, before you go taking things apart, you should check out the temperature monitor in the bios like JMecc says. It'd be a waste of time and effort to do all that if temperature wasn't the problem.
December 8, 2006 1:46:20 AM

If the AM2 is like the 939, you have to clip the heat sink on one side and then the other and lock it all in with a lever, which squeezes it all in. You generally have to push harder than you'd like. Make sure the lever is in the right position before starting.

Jo
December 8, 2006 1:54:38 AM

motherboard temp 29
cpu temp starts at 77 and got up to the 90's pretty quick.

hit about 128 before it powered down.

Does that sound like I should re-seat it?
December 8, 2006 1:55:26 AM

Definitely. The motherboard temp is fine but the CPU is through the roof.
December 8, 2006 2:07:33 AM

OMG! Okay, there was a plastic piece on the bottom of the heat sink that I didn't even see when I took it out of the package. Hope I didn't damage anything. I did have to force it on there pretty good, but I read that was normal.

Anyway, the fix couldn't have been any easier than that. Temps are at 38 degrees now.

Thanks all for your help! Rock on!
December 8, 2006 2:14:36 AM

Haha, sounds like a mistake I'd make! Thank God for CPUs smart enough to power themselves off.
!