Computer froze and now won't POST

ghop · 28 Jan 2011 at 15:12

I was watching some TV and leaving my computer idle (only programs open were AVG and MSN pretty much) and I come back to it and the screen has frozen. As in the clocks in my gadget bar had froze, I couldn't move the mouse or do anything at all so I hard restarted and now it won't POST at all. I've tried the ram sticks 1 at a time, different slots. Unplugging all the hard drives and the DVD drive, different graphics card, removing the sound card and firewire card, plugging into the onboard graphics and just about everything I can think of. The only thing I haven't tried is a different CPU (don't have one) and a different PSU (I have a 6 year old 400w FSP supply, but it only has a 4 pin motherboard connector whilst my mobo takes an 8 pin. Not sure if it would run with just a 4 pin).

Is there anything else I could try/guidance on what the problem may be? My only thoughts currently are CPU, PSU or Motherboard. The computer's about 7 months old and only has a modest overclock on it. I've also tried resetting the CMOS.

I think the specs are in my sig, but here's the main components anyway - 1055T at 1.3v and 3.8ghz, M4A89GTD Pro Motherboard, 4gb Kingston 1600mhz DDR3, 2 500GB Seagate 7200.12s in RAID 1 and a Samsung F1 1TB drive.

95thrifles · 28 Jan 2011 at 15:28

You say it wont POST, does anything at all happen when you press on switch or is it just dead?

ghop · 28 Jan 2011 at 15:32

95thrifles said:
You say it wont POST, does anything at all happen when you press on switch or is it just dead?

It switches on, all the fans run etc but the screen will just display 'no signal' constantly. The GPU fan also sticks at top speed constantly when usually after a successful POST it will drop the speed down a fair bit.

kristmace · 28 Jan 2011 at 16:33

Sounds to me like the GFX card. I'd try a different card (if possible), but also, that PSU probably needs upgrading since you have a Hex Core overclocked.

ghop · 28 Jan 2011 at 16:41

Tried it with my 8600gt and my X300 as well as my 6870 now. Same result on all of them unfortunately. My normal PSU is a Corsair TX650 but I've since tried the 400w and had exactly the same problem so I'm unsure it's the PSU. At present, I have the 650w PSU plugged in, 8600gt graphics card and all hard drives and DVD drive unplugged. I'm really stumped on what to try next

I have my old 8800GTX knocking about so I'll try that out, but I'm really doubting it's the graphics card now that I've tried 3 of them.

Savvy · 28 Jan 2011 at 17:58

Noticed you have same board as me, have you tried cmos reset? or if that fails try the onboard gfx if same happens you know it could either cpu or board

ghop · 28 Jan 2011 at 18:03

Savvy said:
Noticed you have same board as me, have you tried cmos reset? or if that fails try the onboard gfx if same happens you know it could either cpu or board

I've tried removing the CMOS for a few minutes. Is this the correct way to do it on this board?

Savvy · 28 Jan 2011 at 18:14

ghop said:
I've tried removing the CMOS for a few minutes. Is this the correct way to do it on this board?

If that hasn't worked, remove battery, change jumper to pins 2-3 leave 5 to 10mins place jumper back pins 1-2 and place battery back in

doesn't work try booting from the onboard gfx

ghop · 28 Jan 2011 at 18:58

Tried what you've said, still the same problem

. At this point I'm guessing it's either the motherboard or the CPU which has decided to cease to function. I've now tested 4 different graphics cards (5 including onboard), the memory in every slot configuration imaginable, switching the switch card around, a different PSU, removing all the expansion cards, resetting CMOS in every way imaginable and many other things. Would it be more likely to be the Motherboard or the CPU? I've not really heard of CPUs failing before so I'm leaning toward motherboard.

ghop · 29 Jan 2011 at 14:13

Sorry for double post, but just to update this, I think I've tried every single thing possible, bar a PSU I know will definitely boot the motherboard, & a different motherboard or CPU. I guess it's going to be a return CPU, Motherboard and RAM to the place I bought it. In the meantime I'll try to borrow a computer to test the CPU with, or a spare CPU to test my motherboard with. I'd rather pinpoint the problem and send the specific broken bit back. Any more suggestions & what it's more likely to be? I'm hoping it's not the CPU, but if it is, I might get a 95w version in replacement which would be nice.