Dead PC :-(

[matthewhiatt]

My system comprises P4 3Ghz (northwood), Asus P4c800, 4 * 512MB Corsair XMS 3200 memory, Radeon 9800 Pro, and it appears to have died.

I was playing WKB when my monitor went dead. The PC continued to run for about 5 seconds, sounds still playing and then it froze totally. The power was still on, all fans & hdd's running, but no display,sound or response to keys.

I powered off the system and then tried to rebooot. All the drives and fans came on, the power led on the mobo lit up, but other than that it had no signs of life. No beeps, no display.

I stripped the pc down to basics, 1 stick ram, video card, cpu and nothing else and it still doesn't come to life. I even tried it without the video card, but even that didn't get any post beeps. I've tried everthing I can think of including clearing cmos and praying without any luck. Sadly my other pc is so old non of the components are interchangeable so I can't even swap items out.

The system had been running without problem for over a year, I'm stumped as to what could have caused this. I'm going to buy a new mobo tomorow, but do you think I should replace the video card aswell. I just hope the cpu & ram aren't buggered too.

Any sugestions?

Matt

[matthewhiatt]

I've taken the mobo out of the case to remove shorts as a cause of fault. Now if I boot the mobo without the video card I get a series of v.quick beeps (5-8) and the caps/num lock keys work as does ctrl-alt-del. However with the video card in place the system wont post as before. I guess this means that the mobo 'may' be ok, and the video card is probably shagged.

Matt

[matkubicki]

If you have another graphics card then try it with that in. Keep it at the most basic, mobo on a sheet of paper usually works for me, power supply next to it, just CPU, heatsink, memory and keyboard plugged in.]

This (http://www.amptron.com/html/bios.beepcodes.html) site will explain the beeps for you, you probably have an AMI bios by the sounds, and i suspect the code yr getting is for video error (as you have no graphics card in)

Keep us posted and people will try and help but so far it does sound like the graphics card as had a problem

[six5tring]

seconded!.. if you have not got another suitable grafix card try and find any friends with a spare AGP card then try that.. i know i normally have one or two spare! (you never know when your gonna need them). - six

[matthewhiatt]

Thanks for the advice guys, I've now tried a different video card which lets the board post ok. I tested the 9800 Pro in my mates pc, it's totally dead :-(

I'm definately going to get a new video card today, probably a x800xt, but I'm unsure if I should get a new mobo aswell. I don't want to install the new video card and then find my mobo frags it.

Cheers

Matt

[ojobson]

Probably just overheated and died... When my graphics card overheats playing cs, I usually get a blank screen and sound continues for about a second and then it reboots. Think the motherboard would probably be fine, especially if it posted with a different video card...

[matthewhiatt]

I must have the worst luck ever :-( I just purchased a radeon x800xt in coventry, and the dammed things faulty. Still my pc is now back up and running using an old 32MB savage pro card.

When I try to boot the pc with the x800, the card complains that the psu molex isn't connected even tho it is. I've done the obvious and tried other connectors along with another psu to no avail. I just hope they will exchange it for me when I go back tomorow.

Matt

[Cod Ball]

Over heated playing cs! :eek:
It's not a very graphics hungry game (is it :confused: )
I remember Haz had a problem a few time where his moniter went blanc we took the video card out and blew it and then it worked fine just had dust in it.

[matthewhiatt]

Cheers for all the help guys, the system is now sorted :-)

I exchanged the faulty x800, and for good measure got a new psu.

Matt

[ojobson]

Seriously, if i turn all the graphics up at max resolution on CS:source, it will overheat within about 5 to ten minutes. Getting a zalman copper fan gpu cooler & some arctic silver to try and resolve it! Plus even though my arctic cooler is quiet, its not quiet enough and produces a dull whine/drone noise that is almost the only noise my system makes apart from the sound of air moving...