Sod's law strike again

Rozzy85

Rozzy85

Rozzy85

Associate
Joined
27 Jun 2008
Posts
1,538
So, my computers been working fine for about 2.5 years with no real issues. The CPU has been overclocked but only barely (Q6600) to 3.0GHz and was happily running like this until I had to run it at stock again after a memory upgrade. The memory upgrade was the last thing I changed which was about 4-5 months ago and then updating to Windows 7 from XP a month or 2 later. Since then I've had no issues apart from the odd crash here and there.

Then today I was browsing the net, left the PC for a minute or two then come back to find the mouse icon had frozen. I tried the keyboard too but nothing so it had completely froze up. I banged the reset button and still nothing until it suddenly switched itself off. I then tried to come on again but after no less than a second switched off again and repeats the process until I pull the plug. There's no POST or any beeping, nothing. I've just pulled everything from it leaving just the CPU but it still does it. I then removed the CPU and it comes on and stays on but it does nothing. All the fans roar at 100% and nothing else starts up. The diagnostic LEDs also don't indicate that there is a fault. The board is a Gigabyte GA-EP45-DS5

I've tried a different PSU incase it was that but the same thing happens. Right now it either seems the CPU is fried or the motherboard has bricked itself (third time combo for me). I don't have another board or CPU to test with so I can't find out.

Kinda annoyed that this has happened again and at complete random. Last time I had two boards that just 'commit suicide' and now it seems it has happened again.

Not sure what to do now as I don't know which bit has broken if it has. I think the CPU was OEM so I guess I'm screwed if that has gone but the board was retail (not from OcUK) so I'm hoping it's still in warrenty. I also accidently damaged the plastic power connector on the board in frustration. Either way this kinda seems like another nail in the coffin for me with custom builds as they always seem to go wrong for me. :(

EDIT: Something I forgot to ask. Because this has happened I need to retrieve some files from the HDD. Since the computer was running Win7 and the old desktop I'm using now is running XP will there be any problems reading user files from the disk drive?
 
Last edited:
Have you tried a CMOS reset firstly?
If the answer is no then take the big battery out the mobo for 5 mins then put it all back together and try again
Secondly OEM should still have warranty, not as long as retail (1yr vs 3 normally for CPUs)
To answer your last question yeah you should still be able to attach the HDD as a slave to another machine and pull the files off
Its unlikely to of just randomly bricked itself whilst running desktop, have patience and fingers crossed youll get there
 
Last night I took the battery out before I went to sleep. It had been out for about 8-9 hours. I also reset the CMOS with the switch and using the jumper but still nothing. :( Just starts up and then switches off a second later. It'll only stay on if I take the CPU out but it doesn't do anything other than light up (no beeps, no indication that there's a fault).

I haven't changed anything and the system has been running in this config for many months. I guess a single component on the motherboard has decided to die.

The CPU will be well out of warranty if that's the case as it's over two years old. The motherboard appears to still be in warranty so I can at least raise a RMA.
 
CPUs don't die particularly often unless they've had some serious voltage put through them for a 'suicide overclock'. Chance are you're right about it being the motherboard.
 
I've removed every single component from the board including the RAM. Even with just the CPU and GPU it should be able to at least POST but it simple lights up and does nothing. With the CPU removed all the fans run at 100% until I turn it off which seems abnormal. Unfortunately I don't have another board available to test the other components.

It could be the PSU that has gone and taken the board with it. This was what happened last time but when that happened the PSU went bang and this time the computer just froze up with no indication it could be the PSU. I might try it on a working old board so it won't matter to much if it damages it.
 
Tested the PSU in another machine and it's working so it doesn't appear to be that. Does anyone know what a Gigabyte motherboard would do if it was powered on with no components connected? ie no CPU, no RAM, etc. The diagnostic lights don't seem to indicate there's any abnormality.
 
I just had a Gigabyte motherboard do this in the last couple of weeks, changed graphics card switch back on and nothing no post no beeps, so I found the same board on ocuk in the b-grade section bought it swapped it out and everything sprang back to life, the MB just bricked it self.

Sounds like you have the same issue, my board is currently been sent to gigabyte for repair or replacement.

Hope that helps

Cheers
 
Tested the PSU in another machine and it's working so it doesn't appear to be that. Does anyone know what a Gigabyte motherboard would do if it was powered on with no components connected? ie no CPU, no RAM, etc. The diagnostic lights don't seem to indicate there's any abnormality.
Click to expand...

The board will need a CPU and RAM to sucessfully POST. If you want to see anything you'll obviously also need a video adapter of some sort.

Do you have a speaker connected? If not you may be missing out on useful error beep codes.
 
If CPU was dead, it won't switch on at all.
If RAM will be faulty, it will beep.

You said that you've tried with different PSU so it's gotta be motherboard.
 
I just did a test with just the CPU, PSU and one stick of RAM. The PC speaker was also connected. Even like this is just stays on for a second then switches off and continues in a loop. No beeps from the speaker either.

EDIT: I've upload a video as it should help explain it a bit better than with just words. It's a little dark but you can see it starting up and then shutting off.

http://www.hamaloo.co.uk/dl.php?f=motherboard.avi
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom