Is my CPU dieing?

[Storrm]

Hi all,

Just recently I've been having a load of problems with my PC refusing to boot when I switch it on. I hear the drives spin up but nothing else happens, not even any post error beeps. I switch it off, leave it a while (sometimes I also give the CPU a little 'tap') and try again. When it eventually springs into life I notice that the CPU (a P4-3Ghz) speed is sometimes reported as only 1.4Ghz or 2.4Ghz!! Indeed, if I then run CPU-Z it confirms the processor speed as 1499Mhz or 2398Mhz!!

I don't know if its the mobo (Asus P4C800-E Delux) or the CPU giving out, but I also noticed that CPUz reported some quite worrying figures on other aspects of the system and memory :-

When BIOS reported CPU at 1.4Ghz, CPUz reported :-
Core Speed @ 1499Mhz, Multiplier@x15, Bus Speed@100Mhz, FSB@400Mhz, DRAM Frequency @ 133Mhz, FSBRAM 3:4, Timings 2-2-2-6

When BIOS reported CPU at 1.6Ghz :-
Core speed @ 1600Mhz, Multiplier@x8, Bus Speed@200, FSB@800, DRAM Freq@200, FSBRAM 1:1, Timings 2.5-3-3-6

The mobo is set to 'standard' overclock meaning 'dont do anything', so does anyone have any ideas as to whether its a mobo or CPU issue?

 

[Storrm]

Yep - tried that. Reloaded the defaults and set everything to auto (as it always has been). Funny thing is that even in the BIOS, the P4 is reported to be running at only 1.6Ghz !!!!!! (*starts to look for hammer to 'tap' the CPU some more!*)

 

[Storrm]

Nope - no speedstep. Got some more info though which may point to either a CPU problem or motherboard. I got the PC to boot this time with the processor correctly reporting 3Ghz and my BIOS correctly saying it's a P4 3Ghz, locked. CPUz also reports correctly that its a P4 running at 3Ghz , 15x multiplier, 200Mhz Bus and 800Mhz FSB etc.

Now, heres the strange thing...... In previous boots when it was saying the wrong speed, the BIOS would report it as an unlocked CPU and allow me to alter the multiplier etc. CPUz would also report the processor as a P4 running at 0Ghz !!! Could this be a loose pin on the CPU ?

 

[Storrm]

didnt think of that, but it sounds plausable. I'll try to run some tests and the next time I get it to fail but boot, I'll check the voltages to see if any are out of tolerance. Cheers for this

 

[Storrm]

just to close this one out - I bought a Corsair 620w and everything is fine and dandy now

 

[Storrm]

urgh - I spoke to soon. Problems have reappeared. The PC will generally just spin up the fans/psu/harddrives and nothing else when I power it up. I don't even get a POST beep. I've found that if I 'man handle' the CPU cooler ie. tap it gently or give it a slight side-to-side twist, I can sometimes get the PC to boot. However, the bios reports that I've installed a new CPU each time and asks me to configure it. It reports my P4 Northy 3Ghz correctly BUT says that its unlocked!!!! Anyway, I save/exit and my PC boots as normal but if I shut down and restart it, the bios again reports that I've installed a new CPU. If I leave the PC for a few hours switched off and come back to it, I again have troubles starting it at all unless I 'play' with the CPU cooler

So - either I've got a loose pin on the CPU (doubt it as I've had it out and checked) or I've got a short on the mobo somewhere. Seeing as I doubt I'll find another Asus AGP/PCI/Socket 478 board, am I now forced into upgrading the whole rig to a spanking new Q6600+8800GT???