PC has died

Hi
i'm with Knight2000 on this one as my computer had the same problem as the orginal poster, only difference was it was not one of my memory sticks that failed but both of them.
When i replaced them with 4GB of OCZ Gold it ran perfectly.
 
hey guys, I tried a using the same sticks in different positions, but only used a couple of them - not all four.
Ill try this today and try all four, it would be difficult for me to tell if they were all broken though as I don't have any ddr3 to try out.
 
hey guys,
I've just received a new motherboard from my RMA, so installed it.... and, nothing :(
I'm pulling my hair out, was almost certain it was that.
Now ive singled everything out apart from the PSU...
Obv i want to be sure that its the cause of this, but by plugging it into a friends pc there is a chance that this will damage it, correct? Also, if it is and its taken out the motherboard don't corsair offer some sort of compensation for that?? cheers
 
Got any old components to test it on? You could ask your friend (if their PSU is up to it) to borrow their PSU and try powering up your machine.

Installing your (maybe faulty) unit could well damage another machine, although it's unlikely.
 
He has the same psu as I do, and we previously tried swapping his into mine to see if that would work.. it didn't, of course! It's really doing my head in! Wishing I'd just gone DDR2 now! would be much easier to check everything.
 
So am I right in thinking you've changed every component bar the PSU and it still doesnt work?

Is it plugged into the same wall socket/4-gang adapter etc every time? Might be worth changing where it's plugged in, just as a long shot.
 
I've changed every component bar the RAM.
Ill just go over everything, so your all upto date.

Ive changed the graphics card
Changed the processor
Swapped PSU over.

now today I just received a brand new mobo, plugged it in and nothings working.
So i've swapped the RAM about but thats made no difference...

So, essentially i've changed everything apart from the RAM.
Is it likely for all four sticks to go?
Really appreciate the help here, thanks to everyone who has contributed!
 
apart from the PSU...
Obv i want to be sure that its the cause of this, but by plugging it into a friends pc there is a chance that this will damage it, correct?
If you have multimeter you can jumpstart PSU and then measure voltages.

Thanks to stupid for every electric engineer decision of removing colour coding in that PSU you just have to compare connector to that of other PSU for finding out Power on wire or then use the fact that pins with same voltage are "shorted" inside PSU and ground pins simialry to PSU's casing for finding out which way pins are counted by measuring resistance.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ATX#ATX12V_2.0
(if that sounds too complicated remember that next time when you're selecting fashionable feature instead of utilitarian feature)
 
Hello again, its been almost a month since my first post and I'm no further forward with this!
Today i received new ram but its still not working!
thats every single component changed over but nothing. Im really lost as to what to do now. any ideas, I would even stick it into a shop to get tested!
 
Have you tried running your tests outside of the case?

It's a very slim chance but it may be shorting on the case - and you may have fitted the new motherboard in exactly the same way - replicating the short - if it is. (I realise it worked before - but it's not beyond the realms of possibilty.)

I would try rebuilding it on some carboard by the side of your case just so you can rule out shorting.

EDIT: Have you tried different SATA cables and heatsink/cooler etc? (I know it sounds extreme but after reading these forums for a few years I've learnt not to rule out any component, no matter how small.)

Good luck - sounds like a nightmare.

Plec
 
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Hi bud, yeah I was recommended to do so from a mate so I built her up on the desk. Still nothing. Ive not tried any SATA cables I'm afraid. Surely this wouldn't stop me from entering BIOS?
The HDD spin up once but nothing kicks in.
It is a nightmare!! haha

Think I may try another PSU again as thinking that (if) it has blown it would have destroyed the mobo with it. So, new Mobo fitted surely all will be good? :S

Complete confusion!
 
Think I may try another PSU again as thinking that (if) it has blown it would have destroyed the mobo with it.
Complete confusion!

Quite possible - definitely worth a try.

Ive not tried any SATA cables I'm afraid. Surely this wouldn't stop me from entering BIOS?

Very, very, very unlikey - but changing cables at least rules them out too - i'm just working on a shorting issue and what may be the cause. I've seen a post where a sata cable turned out to be a guys problems. Odd i know.

Good luck with the psu test

Plec
 
Very, very, very unlikey - but changing cables at least rules them out too

Should point out that when it was setup on the desk there were no SATA connections being used. Forgot to mention that.
Anybody recommend a Decent repair shop near Edinburgh?
 
Have you tried a different heatsink/fan?

I know, agian it's a very slim possibilty - but you seem to have tried every other conceivable test.

Unless, your replacement motherboard is duff? - that, unfortunately, really isn't unlikely, i've had replacement parts in the past that are equally knackered. Maybe worth considering?

Plec
 
I'm thinking perhaps the new motherboard is knackered too... but again its trying to prove that it is before i pay ANOTHER £16 to get it sent off!
I haven't tried different heat sink, I do have the old Intel one in the garage, Its a complete PITA to fit though as Ill need to remove the motherboard again and detach the backing plate.
I want to break down and cry! haha
 
I know how you feel - i've just finished the build from hell myself - a faulty gfx card and then memory - 2 weeks of constant testing and waiting for rma's in between.

The only up side to testing the cpu fan is that it would almost certainly point to the motherboard again - and at least the company who sent it to you would be entitled to pay your p&p this time if it did prove faulty. (Plus you'll have to disconnect the cpu, anyway, to rma the MB if it is knackered.)

A computer shop will probably charge you £40 minimum for the tests you want and you've done most of the hard work yourself already - having said that it may be worth it for the speed and peace of mind...

Good luck with it.

Plec
 
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Hey guys, quick update.
After receiving the new motherboard, one avenue I never went down was to try my old cpu in the new mobo.
So, having done so, the system fired into life!
Such a relief, so it seems it was a dead motherboard and cpu at the same time, which is rather weird. RAM seems to be OK as is other hardware.
CPU > 6mnths so I will be getting a replacement RMA couple days after the courier arrives.
Having just been chatting online to Intel customer support, I have to say they were very good. Having just woke up and still being rather tired, they asked me if I had used a third party heatsink - to which i replied "yes" only to be told that the warrenty does not cover third party heatsinks (found this strange as I've never read anything to say so! Infact I was sure that they were pro-third party HSF?)
The rep said that as a one off they would replace the chip however, which was very decent of him!
From now on I will use the bundled intel HSF ;)
 
Just to be sure: When you tried your friends PSU you didn't happen to use your own PCI-E cable did you?

My main thought would be a multiple failure - one thing blew taking another with it. Obviously the only way to test would be to swap two and three things at a time.

Motherboard with different RAM and CPU
CPU with different Mobo and RAM
RAM with different CPU and Mobo

If you can try those three parts in your mates system you may find that two or even all three don't work.
 
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