Help with rig refusing to boot

OpenToSuggestions · 4 Aug 2014 at 10:43

Hey all.
My gaming rig is as per my signature.
I have been experiencing bsods on and off, which as I am now using it more for gaming I thought I'd try to fix.
Last night I loaded a saved overclock - I know it isn't quite stable but I'd be running it for many years beforehand.

Now it won't post. I just got a few seconds of power then off. For some reason this has now changed to continuous running. I do not have an internal speaker but the motherboard has LEDs which do not change at all, suggesting problem is with motherboard or CPU.

The PC has done this before but after either mashing reset repeatedly or leaving it it lived with failed overclock message.

I have tried:
A different PSU, but is old and only has 4 pin CPU plug not 8 pin.
Bare motherboard and CPU (no graphics card, ram etc.)
CMOS reset
Removed battery for an hour (doing that now).
One ram stick on its own (thinking I added more ram a year or so ago and never retested overclock).

I am pretty sure I don't need to remove the motherboard due to a short circuit as it has not been removed since new 4 1/2 years ago!
Any help much appreciated!

Danny75 · 4 Aug 2014 at 10:57

CPU out, clean old TIM, add new, try again? Might as well if it's been 4 1/2 years.

OpenToSuggestions · 4 Aug 2014 at 11:06

I agree it requires refreshing but how could that help with posting?

Danny75 · 4 Aug 2014 at 11:22

OpenToSuggestions said:
I agree it requires refreshing but how could that help with posting?

I can't tell you how exactly, but it's worked twice for me in the past.

wazza300 · 4 Aug 2014 at 11:31

do a long cmos clear,leave battery out a good 30 minutes then try

also with 16gb of memory i would up the qpi/vtt to around 1.3v to 1.35v

that could be the cause of the instability

OpenToSuggestions · 4 Aug 2014 at 11:35

Had CPU cooler off. Paste looks fine. CPU looks like new.
Will remove battery for a while...in the OP I was doing an hour but gave up at 10 min.

OpenToSuggestions · 4 Aug 2014 at 13:42

Left battery out for well over an hour.
Motherboard now out of case.

CPU inspected and no signs of burn or anything.
Genuinely out of ideas now.

wazza300 · 4 Aug 2014 at 13:49

so it was working fine till you loaded the oc profile?

seems strange,long cmos clear usually cures it

could be board problem idk,id doubt its cpu they last pretty long time

Danny75 · 4 Aug 2014 at 16:02

Does your motherboard have dual BIOS? Might that be worth a shot despite the CMOS Clear already carried out?

OpenToSuggestions · 4 Aug 2014 at 17:09

I think it is a motherboard problem.
Last CPU that died on me was an AMD Duron 1.1Ghz when I had no idea what I was doing.

I have left battery out for many hours with no change.

A used motherboard could be the answer?
In general I am happy with my i5 750. I could upgrade but as I can't prove what of mine is fubarred I cannot sell any of my current kit on.

ByMRK1 · 4 Aug 2014 at 18:14

I had a similar problem years ago and asked many on different forums. I tried everything - removing CMOS etc. After purchasing a new PSU and the PC still not booting I decided to buy a budget motherboard just to check. Guess what? It worked. I'm not sure why or how but the PC started first time and then the lengthy OS-Reinstall began. I'm not saying this will work but give it a shot - it might save you a pricey part-swap.

OpenToSuggestions · 5 Aug 2014 at 00:35

I am fairly certain that the motherboard is dead.
CPUs rarely die.
Motherboards for this socket are no longer made and they aren't that cheap second hand.

I am on MM now discussing the sale of a new CPU and motherboard that is an upgrade as it is a better CPU, Sata 3 motherboard and nice case.