Is my processor dead?

[asdf90091]

Hello fellow enthusiasts,

I've been having heating problems with my computer for the past month or so, but it was never a major issue so I ignored it. Pentium D's supposedly run hot and I was using the stock cooler, so the occasional rare shutoff didn't have me too worried.

Two nights ago, my computer shut off in the middle of browsing the internet. 5 minutes before this I had checked my processor temperature and it was under 80C. I assumed the processor had overheated like before so I left it for about 30 minutes and came back to it. The LEDs in the fans started to light up and then the PC instantly shut down. I then tried power cycling the PSU, but it still would shut down instantly.

I've had a PSU go bad on me before and it produced similar symptoms, although I had to do alot more power cycling then. Like any good techie, I unplugged everything but the 24 pin power, the cpu heatsink fan and the 4 pin cpu power. I flipped the PSU switch and tried to start it, again getting an instant shutdown.

Since the only thing still plugged in was the cpu and its heatsink, I unplugged the cpu power cable and tried it. This time it stayed on.

I then went back and plugged in everything but the cpu 4 pin and tried to start it up. It worked perfectly.

I read somewhere that the CPU smells burnt when fried, so I unseated the CPU and sniffed the underside. It did smell a little toasty, but I'm not sure if that means it's burnt or if that's from it being under high temperatures for the past 4 years.

Anyways, I'm about 99% sure the processor's dead but I wanted to get a second (or third or fourth) opinion first before I buy replacement parts for a 4 year old motherboard. Your input is appreciated.

Thanks!

 

[iam2thecrowe]

the CPU power cable? are you talking abour the 4 pin connector? if your plugging this in and it fails it suggests that the psu may be faulty, or the main board/cpu has a short which is bringing down the PSU. Remove the CPU all together and try power it up, just to see if it powers on. if it does there could be a short in the cpu. What is the make and model of the PSU?

 

[asdf90091]

Yeah, I was referring to the 4 pin connector. My PSU is a Kingwin ABT-600MA1S. Unfortunately the only connectors that aren't modular are the cpu power and the ATX connector.

I took the processor out and tried it. Still instantly shuts off. My PSU had two different 4 pin connectors and neither one worked.

How would I check the connectors to see if they're getting power?

 

[asdf90091]

I still don't have this figured out, but I do have an update. I swapped PSU's with an older computer and my computer still wouldn't boot, but the other computer booted fine with my Kingwin PSU so I think the 4 pin cpu power cable is fine. I tested with and without the processor, still wouldn't stay on.

It's gotta be either the cpu itself or the 4 pin power socket on the motherboard. Are there any tests I could do other than migrating the processor that would tell me which component is defective?

 

[ghnader hsmithot]

How can browsing the internet get you 80c?
I think you might need some new thermal paste.

 

[asdf90091]

How can browsing the internet get you 80c?
I think you might need some new thermal paste.

I think my thermal paste might not have been on very good. I'll be putting some Artic Silver 5 on once I figure out what's wrong and order a replacement part. Pentium Ds always run hot but it probably shouldn't have been that hot.

 

[Ubrales]

I agree with ghnader; re-seat the heatsink using Arctic Silver 5 thermal compound.

 

[asdf90091]

I agree with ghnader; re-seat the heatsink using Arctic Silver 5 thermal compound.

If the problem was overheating, the computer would run for several minutes before shutting down, not turn off instantly. The first time I assembled my computer I didn't have the heatsink on tight and it would run for several minutes before shutting down from the heat.

I know for sure it's either the processor or the 4 pin cpu power socket on the motherboard, I just don't know how to test either one of those without a second mobo with an LGA775 socket.