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Suspected dead 2600k CPU

Durzel

Durzel

Durzel

Soldato
Joined
10 Oct 2003
Posts
5,518
Location
Wiltshire
Following on from this thread I suspect my retail i7-2600k CPU has died.

Basic configuration is as follows:
  • ASUS Maximus IV Extreme
  • Intel Core™ i7-2600K CPU (8M Cache, 3.40 GHz)
  • 8GB G.skill Ripjaws-X F3-17600CL9D-8GBXLD
  • Antec Signature 850W PSU
  • Noctua NH-D14 heatsink/fan
Built this system shortly after buying it from OCUK and it had been running without issue for a couple of months. The only overclocked component in the system was the graphics cards - 2 x ASUS 6950s (flashed to 6970) running a known-good overclock. Everything else is running at its default "optimal settings" BIOS configuration.

One day I was using it without issue, switched it off as normal to get some food. Shortly afterwards I tried booting it up again and it wouldn't POST. Q-code LCD on the motherboard just said 00. It initially shows 00, then shutdown then start up again, after that it would show 00 forever with the fans spinning but no POST or beeps.

Thinking perhaps the motherboard had died I removed it and got it replaced under the Sandybridge recall program. I received the new B3 board back from ASUS last Friday, rebuilt PC and tried switching it on and was surprised to find it doing exactly the same thing as the old board.

Things I have tried/eliminated:
  • Graphics cards - neither are installed, PC doesn't get as far as even acknowledging with beeps that there is no video
  • Memory - PC does the same thing whether memory is installed or not, does not acknowledge if no memory is installed at all
  • Motherboard - it is conceivable that I received a DOA B3 motherboard from ASUS, but for it to behave in exactly the same way as the old (presumed defective) board is a bit too coincidental?
  • Loosened the heatsink screws slightly (maybe too tight?)
  • Removed motherboard completely from case and tried running it on a cardboard box (assuming mobo was grounding on case) - same result.
I have also tried another old Enermax 550W PSU - unfortunately it was designed for P4s so only has a 20-pin ATX power connector, and 4-pin instead of 8-pin extra power. Despite this when trying to use it the PC behaves exactly the same way - 00 on Q-code LCD, no POST, no beeps. I'm fairly confident therefore that the Antec PSU isn't faulty.

Is it possible for a CPU to just randomly die? I've never had an Intel CPU fail on me out of the blue, especially one that is barely 2 months old.

Would appreciate any help/assistance anyone could provide. Additionally if there is anyone in the Westbury/Trowbridge/Wiltshire area who wouldn't mind helping me see whether it definitely is the CPU that is faulty I would be hugely grateful and would shout them a beer or two :)

Sorry for the long post but thought I'd give as much details as possible.
 
Sorry should've said I checked that, although I haven't yet checked it on the new motherboard.

When I removed the CPU to RMA the old motherboard I checked the underside of it, there was no obvious marks. Likewise the CPU socket didn't have any obvious bent pins, etc. I'm pretty meticulous (anal?) when it comes to building stuff so I would be surprised if I had damaged it through installation.
 
00 is listed as "Unused" in the manual. It has shown 02 once or twice, which is (iirc) "Microcode loading".

I tried clearing CMOS (jumper and removing battery for 10+ minutes) on old board, and switched between BIOS banks. On new board, which obviously would have a fresh CMOS and BIOS it's behaving exactly the same way.
 
Already did that, it's currently connected. :(

That said the Molex should in theory only provide additional power to the PCI-E slots, which are currently unpopulated.... In an ideal world if there was someone local to me I could let them test my CPU which would remove all doubt.
 
I'd be inclined to agree with you except for the fact that it does the same thing whether any memory is installed or not. It doesn't even acknowledge that there is no memory installed.
 
Speed: You have email :)

What's frustrating is that I would be happy (relatively speaking) if I knew I'd caused this through overvoltage or ham-fisted installation or something, but for it to just die out of the blue when it's running completely stock settings is just bizarre and very frustrating.

I had less aggro from my Vapochill based system, and this was supposed to be a less stressful solution!
 
Hmmm... unfortunately I don't have any spare DDR3 that I can try. :(

I've removed the CPU from the system now so it seems logical to try and actually test that in another PC (if I can find someone willing to help!)
 
I'll try giving that a blast I guess. I had a play with the Mem OK! button but it didn't seem to make any difference at all.
 
I think it just blinked, if memory serves. To be honest I didn't even really understand what it was supposed to do. Either way it didn't change anything on the Q-code LCD thing.

I forgot to mention - if its important - there's a strip of LEDs near the ATX power socket, one for CPU, one for memory, one for VGA and one for "boot device". The only one that lights up is the CPU one, which is bright red and never goes out. The others never illuminate.
 
I'll see if I can get a photo of the LEDs. From memory the only ones lit is an orange one at the bottom which shows which BIOS is being used, and the red CPU_LED next to the ATX power socket.

And yes, CPU fan was in the CPU fan header. :(
 
Should find out definitively tonight, Speed has very kindly offered to help me diagnose the problem using his equipment. :) Will update thread later for any interested parties.
 
Conclusion: CPU is dead

Went to see Speed (absolute star) who popped my CPU in a MSI board he already had up and running with another i7-2600k when I got there. Booted it and all it did was constantly power off and on, never POST'd.

To be absolutely sure he also stuck it in another known-working PC (also a i7-2600k) with an ASUS Sabertooth P67 motherboard. Same result - no POST or beeps whatsoever.

So that's two completely different motherboards, two seperate sets of memory, two known previously working systems and my CPU wouldn't work in either of them.

Big thanks to Speed for his invaluable help in helping me diagnose this problem.
 
Yeah it's good news that I've finally found out what's wrong, Speed was very helpful..

Unfortunately I've been told I'd have to wait 28 days for a replacement! Pretty annoyed at that to be honest but what can you do.

Word to the wise - make sure you're not unlucky enough to get a duff CPU unless you want to be without a PC for a month (unless you fork out for another chip)
 
Yeah it was "up to 28 days". What's frustrating is that the CPU is clearly faulty, it's not like it's being quirky and BSOD'ing Windows occasionally or whatever - i.e. anything that would actually require extended diagnosis. Boards don't even POST with the CPU installed, it would take 20 mins to discover this and realise that it needs to be replaced.

I just feel like I've been fobbed off to be honest and have had to order another i7-2600k elsewhere just to tide me over until I can get this faulty one RMA'd.
 
I haven't been told that my warranty was affected, only that I should expect to have to wait up to 28 days for a replacement. That's basically the risk you take it seems if you order these from OCUK, if it goes wrong you're not given the benefit of the doubt (even though channel partners have advanced warranty replacement via Intel), you're going to be PC-less for ~28 days.

As I said it's pretty disappointing considering there is no shortage of stock of this CPU, and as stated it's clear as day that it's faulty. It seems a formality to me to send it off to get a replacement, but apparently it isn't.

I even offered to buy another processor from OCUK under the proviso that when Intel send OCUK back a replacement for my defective one that I would get a refund, but that wasn't an option either.

Not being funny but this seems to me to back up the widely reported rumour that you're fine buying stuff from OCUK so long as it never goes wrong, but when it does you're either fobbed off or only offered perfunctory warranty service. :( It's hugely disappointing considering the sums of money being spent.
 
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