How can I tell whether my CPU, or my motherboard is dead?

Audigex

Audigex

Audigex

Associate
Joined
3 Feb 2009
Posts
2,245
My PC refused to boot today: I’ve swapped the PSU and GPU into a different system and they’re fine, as is the case’s power switch

The motherboard/CPU/RAM combination won’t boot though - It’s possible it’s the RAM but I’ve switched sticks so unless they’ve both gone simultaneously it’s unlikely

So that suggests it’s the Mobo or CPU. Neither of my cases has a case speaker so I can’t listen for post beeps

When I plug the PSU in (when connected to the PC) the motherboard’s LEDs light up for a split second then go off. When pressing the power button I get literally nothing - not even a jolt of the fans.

Any suggestions? I’ve ordered a motherboard speaker, and I’m trying to find another LGA 1151 CPU or motherboard to try to try to narrow it down, but unsurprisingly nobody is proffering their CPU or motherboard up to potentially be fried

CPU is an 8700K from OCUK, Motherboard is a Gigabyte Aurus from the place with all the trees, and I believe both are still under warranty
 
I know you said you've switched Ram's around but have you tried booting with 1 stick in instead of 2?

Have you recently added anything new into your build?
 
Minibiker said:
I know you said you've switched Ram's around but have you tried booting with 1 stick in instead of 2?

Have you recently added anything new into your build?
Click to expand...

Yeah I’ve tried booting with each stick individually, and in several different slots each: this isn’t my first rodeo :p but it’s the first time I’ve not had a spare motherboard or CPU of the same socket

Nothing at all has changed with the build since Jan 2018 when I put it together - it’s literally only opened every few months for a blast of compressed air and a clean out of the dust filters - last done a couple of months ago. Other than that absolutely nothing has changed: it was intended to be a “build once, don’t touch for at least 3 years” PC

Quartz said:
They're super-cheap from the rainforest.

Gigabyte have a rep on here.
Click to expand...

Yeah a pack of 10 just arrived, gonna reattach the PSU and see if it gives me anything - I’ve got a feeling it’s not even getting to the stage of Posting though... I guess that would be an indicator it’s the motherboard?

Thanks, I’ll get in touch with the rep if I can find him/her


Edit: okay so I’ve had a very good play around and I’m fairly confident the motherboard is dead - I get no beeps of any kind from the motherboard with or without the CPU and RAM, and not so much as a flicker of a light or fan. The only sign of life in the motherboard is one flicker of the lights the first time I turn the PSU on (eg from 0 to 1 on the PSU switch) after having it completely unplugged for a while

I’ve got the PSU and GPU working in a Frankenstein-PC, so they’re in the clear. I can also start my super-old PC with the PSU I’m trying to use to start this motherboard. The only things I can’t do are check the RAM and CPU in another motherboard

Looks like I’m gonna have to chase Gigabyte down for the warranty though - they don’t seem to make it easy!

Edit2: Okay scratch that, Gigabyte said contact the Rainforest Place, and then the treefolk just straight up refunded the entire motherboard - didn't even ask me to send it back for testing, just wham bam thank you ma'am here's your money back.

So I guess I'll order a replacement motherboard and can then test the CPU in it...
 
Last edited:
Set back up with the replacement motherboard (I went for the Aorus Z390 Elite) and everything's working perfectly, so it looks like it was the motherboard and that, fortunately, it didn't take anything else with it on it's way out.

Thanks for the help, guys
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom