Broken new motherboard?

dark_perfect · 10-20-2009, 10:44 AM

Hey, I'll try to be as brief as possible :

My mum's desktop broke. When I pressed the power button, case fans would turn on, PSU fan on, but CPU fan wouldn't and nothing would appear on the monitor. No POST, beeps, nothing.

So...Bought a new motherboard. Set everything up. Pushed power button. This time, case fans turned on, CPU fan turned on this time, but nothing on monitor again, no POST, no beeps.

On inspecting the CPU, I noticed one of the pins was bent...my bad, thought I might have bent it when swapping to new motherboard. Ordered a new AM3 CPU (new Mobo is AM2, however, Gigabyte says new CPU would be compatible with latest firmware).

New CPU arrived today. Installed, however exactly the same problem. So CPU not the problem... What is???

I tried removing everything from motherboard EXCEPT processor, two sticks of memory, main power connector from PSU and cpu fan power connector. Also connected case's power switch connector and speaker connector. No change. Tried removing all memory. No change.

I'd actually be relieved if it beeped a million beeps at me, at least it would be telling me it acknowledged a problem!!

Anyways, I can rule out the PSU being the problem (I tried 4 different PSUs just to make sure lol, 3 of which are borrowed from working PCs). I have a bout 10 sticks of RAM all of the same type, and I tried those too. I believe it should beep at me even with no RAM though...

It's a brand new processor, and it was a problem it with the old one (albeit with a bent pin) so unlikely to be that, right?

Don't have any hard drives or anything in PCI slots, so not that...

Have 'reseated' everything there is to reseat about 20 times over...fairly sure there's not a problem there, though i've only done the CPU fan 3 or 4 times...

Anybody agree with me that it's likely the motherboard? I'm planning on swapping tomorrow...

Also, just to check: even if the motherboard currently has an older firmware, it should still at least BOOT to bios to enable me to upgrade the firmware to make it compatible with the AM3 CPU, right? Just want to rule out any possibility of incompatibilities between motherboard n CPU.

Thanks in advance guys - been pulling my hair out for two days over this!!

Also...this is possibly the wrong forum to post this in...my bad if that's the case...

Phædrus2401 · 10-20-2009, 11:04 AM

You might have a case short (the motherboard may be touching the metal of the case, causing an electrical short, and thus the mobo to not work). The way to test this is a bench test:
How to Bench Test Your System

Other possibility is that the motherboard does not support the processor(s) you've tried to install. A BIOS update may fix this, but we'd have to check the board's CPU compatibility list to be sure.

What is the brand and model of all the components in the configuration you want to achieve:
Motherboard
CPU
RAM
Graphics card (if not integrated)
Power supply

dark_perfect · 10-20-2009, 11:50 AM

Hi Phædrus2401,

Thanks for the reply.

I might try a bench test tonight, thanks for the info on that one.

Here's the info on the current components that i'm using :

Motherboard : Gigabyte M61PME-S2 (rev 2.0 - says so on the motherboard). Link -> http://www.gigabyte.com.tw/Products/...ProductID=2755 ;
CPU : AM3 Athlon II X2 250 @ 3000mhz;
RAM : I have about 5 lots of "Corsair 1GB (2 x 512MB) DDR2 667MHz 2x64Mx64 non-ECC 2x240 DIMM Unbuffered CL5" for some reason. Tried various combinations of them incase any of them were duff.
Graphics Card : I'm using the graphics chip that's on the motherboard.
Power Supply : I've tested with 4 different PSUs. The most reliable one (which i know to be working, as I stole it from another PC...) is a Corsair TX650W 650W PSU.

Hope that helps! The page I provided for the motherboard actually has a link to "CPU Support List" on the right.

Thanks for your help, once again!

walkitout · 10-20-2009, 02:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dark_perfect

Hi Phædrus2401,

Thanks for the reply.

I might try a bench test tonight, thanks for the info on that one.

Here's the info on the current components that i'm using :

Motherboard : Gigabyte M61PME-S2 (rev 2.0 - says so on the motherboard). Link -> http://www.gigabyte.com.tw/Products/...ProductID=2755 ;
CPU : AM3 Athlon II X2 250 @ 3000mhz;
RAM : I have about 5 lots of "Corsair 1GB (2 x 512MB) DDR2 667MHz 2x64Mx64 non-ECC 2x240 DIMM Unbuffered CL5" for some reason. Tried various combinations of them incase any of them were duff.
Graphics Card : I'm using the graphics chip that's on the motherboard.
Power Supply : I've tested with 4 different PSUs. The most reliable one (which i know to be working, as I stole it from another PC...) is a Corsair TX650W 650W PSU.

Hope that helps! The page I provided for the motherboard actually has a link to "CPU Support List" on the right.

Thanks for your help, once again!

Could you let me know how the bench test went please, if it was the Case or not as I think I may have the same problem with mine.

Phædrus2401 · 10-20-2009, 02:41 PM

The motherboard only supports the Athlon II X2 250 from BIOS vs. F4 and later, so make sure you have that BIOS version. If not you'll have to do a BIOS flash to make the CPU work.

dark_perfect · 10-20-2009, 03:19 PM

Hi,

Haven't gotten around to the bench test yet, it'll be tomorrow morning before I do.

I realise the the motherboard only supports AM3 from BIOS vs f4, but how am I supposed to upgrade or even check the BIOS version when I can't even get POST working? Is this likely what the problem is? If this is most likely the problem, then i'll swap a different AM2 processor into this one, just to upgrade the BIOS. Don't want to do it unless I have to, really though...swapping CPUs for a BIOS upgrade seems too much like hard work to me!

Thanks

**wrench97** · 10-20-2009, 05:33 PM

Quote:

I tried removing everything from motherboard EXCEPT processor, two sticks of memory, main power connector from PSU and cpu fan power connector.

Do you have both the 24 pin main and the 4 pin CPU power leads plugged into the motherboard?

dark_perfect · 10-20-2009, 05:57 PM

Hey Wrench,

Yes, sorry, my terminology wasn't great - that was what i meant by "main power connector from PSU" (24 pin main) and "cpu fan power connector" (4 pin CPU power lead).

Anyways...

It's now fixed!! Phædrus2401 was absolutely correct. I knew that the AM3 processor was only compatible with latest BIOS, but thought it would at least POST with an earlier BIOS after which point I could flash it using the QFlash feature embedded in the ROM. Apparently not!

Ended up swapping with an AM2 processor, after which the PC booted fine. Then flashed newest AM3-compatible BIOS, swapped new processor back and hey presto!

Thanks for everyone's help! Massive burden lifted!

Phædrus2401 · 10-20-2009, 06:01 PM

Glad you got it sorted.

Phædrus2401 · 10-20-2009, 06:23 PM

Ignore this.

10-20-2009, 10:44 AM	#1 (permalink)
dark_perfect Registered User Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 4 OS: Windows 7	Broken new motherboard? Hey, I'll try to be as brief as possible : My mum's desktop broke. When I pressed the power button, case fans would turn on, PSU fan on, but CPU fan wouldn't and nothing would appear on the monitor. No POST, beeps, nothing. So...Bought a new motherboard. Set everything up. Pushed power button. This time, case fans turned on, CPU fan turned on this time, but nothing on monitor again, no POST, no beeps. On inspecting the CPU, I noticed one of the pins was bent...my bad, thought I might have bent it when swapping to new motherboard. Ordered a new AM3 CPU (new Mobo is AM2, however, Gigabyte says new CPU would be compatible with latest firmware). New CPU arrived today. Installed, however exactly the same problem. So CPU not the problem... What is??? I tried removing everything from motherboard EXCEPT processor, two sticks of memory, main power connector from PSU and cpu fan power connector. Also connected case's power switch connector and speaker connector. No change. Tried removing all memory. No change. I'd actually be relieved if it beeped a million beeps at me, at least it would be telling me it acknowledged a problem!! Anyways, I can rule out the PSU being the problem (I tried 4 different PSUs just to make sure lol, 3 of which are borrowed from working PCs). I have a bout 10 sticks of RAM all of the same type, and I tried those too. I believe it should beep at me even with no RAM though... It's a brand new processor, and it was a problem it with the old one (albeit with a bent pin) so unlikely to be that, right? Don't have any hard drives or anything in PCI slots, so not that... Have 'reseated' everything there is to reseat about 20 times over...fairly sure there's not a problem there, though i've only done the CPU fan 3 or 4 times... Anybody agree with me that it's likely the motherboard? I'm planning on swapping tomorrow... Also, just to check: even if the motherboard currently has an older firmware, it should still at least BOOT to bios to enable me to upgrade the firmware to make it compatible with the AM3 CPU, right? Just want to rule out any possibility of incompatibilities between motherboard n CPU. Thanks in advance guys - been pulling my hair out for two days over this!! Also...this is possibly the wrong forum to post this in...my bad if that's the case... Last edited by dark_perfect; 10-20-2009 at 10:47 AM.

10-20-2009, 11:04 AM	#2 (permalink)
Phædrus2401 Hardware Tech Team Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: New Orleans Posts: 3,909 OS: Vista Ultimate x64 SP1 + Ubuntu 9.04 My System	Re: Broken new motherboard? You might have a case short (the motherboard may be touching the metal of the case, causing an electrical short, and thus the mobo to not work). The way to test this is a bench test: How to Bench Test Your System Other possibility is that the motherboard does not support the processor(s) you've tried to install. A BIOS update may fix this, but we'd have to check the board's CPU compatibility list to be sure. What is the brand and model of all the components in the configuration you want to achieve: Motherboard CPU RAM Graphics card (if not integrated) Power supply __________________ Good PSU brands: Corsair, SeaSonic, CWT, PC Power and Cooling, Thermaltake Toughpower, CoolerMaster Real Power Pro On 80+ Certification - PSU Information and Selection - Power Supply Myths You don't get what you don't pay for.

10-20-2009, 11:50 AM	#3 (permalink)
dark_perfect Registered User Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 4 OS: Windows 7	Re: Broken new motherboard? Hi Phædrus2401, Thanks for the reply. I might try a bench test tonight, thanks for the info on that one. Here's the info on the current components that i'm using : Motherboard : Gigabyte M61PME-S2 (rev 2.0 - says so on the motherboard). Link -> http://www.gigabyte.com.tw/Products/...ProductID=2755 ; CPU : AM3 Athlon II X2 250 @ 3000mhz; RAM : I have about 5 lots of "Corsair 1GB (2 x 512MB) DDR2 667MHz 2x64Mx64 non-ECC 2x240 DIMM Unbuffered CL5" for some reason. Tried various combinations of them incase any of them were duff. Graphics Card : I'm using the graphics chip that's on the motherboard. Power Supply : I've tested with 4 different PSUs. The most reliable one (which i know to be working, as I stole it from another PC...) is a Corsair TX650W 650W PSU. Hope that helps! The page I provided for the motherboard actually has a link to "CPU Support List" on the right. Thanks for your help, once again! Last edited by dark_perfect; 10-20-2009 at 11:52 AM.

10-20-2009, 02:41 PM	#5 (permalink)
Phædrus2401 Hardware Tech Team Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: New Orleans Posts: 3,909 OS: Vista Ultimate x64 SP1 + Ubuntu 9.04 My System	Re: Broken new motherboard? The motherboard only supports the Athlon II X2 250 from BIOS vs. F4 and later, so make sure you have that BIOS version. If not you'll have to do a BIOS flash to make the CPU work. __________________ Good PSU brands: Corsair, SeaSonic, CWT, PC Power and Cooling, Thermaltake Toughpower, CoolerMaster Real Power Pro On 80+ Certification - PSU Information and Selection - Power Supply Myths You don't get what you don't pay for.

10-20-2009, 03:19 PM	#6 (permalink)
dark_perfect Registered User Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 4 OS: Windows 7	Re: Broken new motherboard? Hi, Haven't gotten around to the bench test yet, it'll be tomorrow morning before I do. I realise the the motherboard only supports AM3 from BIOS vs f4, but how am I supposed to upgrade or even check the BIOS version when I can't even get POST working? Is this likely what the problem is? If this is most likely the problem, then i'll swap a different AM2 processor into this one, just to upgrade the BIOS. Don't want to do it unless I have to, really though...swapping CPUs for a BIOS upgrade seems too much like hard work to me! Thanks

10-20-2009, 05:57 PM	#8 (permalink)
dark_perfect Registered User Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 4 OS: Windows 7	Re: Broken new motherboard? Hey Wrench, Yes, sorry, my terminology wasn't great - that was what i meant by "main power connector from PSU" (24 pin main) and "cpu fan power connector" (4 pin CPU power lead). Anyways... It's now fixed!! Phædrus2401 was absolutely correct. I knew that the AM3 processor was only compatible with latest BIOS, but thought it would at least POST with an earlier BIOS after which point I could flash it using the QFlash feature embedded in the ROM. Apparently not! Ended up swapping with an AM2 processor, after which the PC booted fine. Then flashed newest AM3-compatible BIOS, swapped new processor back and hey presto! Thanks for everyone's help! Massive burden lifted!

10-20-2009, 06:01 PM	#9 (permalink)
Phædrus2401 Hardware Tech Team Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: New Orleans Posts: 3,909 OS: Vista Ultimate x64 SP1 + Ubuntu 9.04 My System	Re: Broken new motherboard? Glad you got it sorted. __________________ Good PSU brands: Corsair, SeaSonic, CWT, PC Power and Cooling, Thermaltake Toughpower, CoolerMaster Real Power Pro On 80+ Certification - PSU Information and Selection - Power Supply Myths You don't get what you don't pay for.

10-20-2009, 06:23 PM	#10 (permalink)
Phædrus2401 Hardware Tech Team Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: New Orleans Posts: 3,909 OS: Vista Ultimate x64 SP1 + Ubuntu 9.04 My System	Re: Broken new motherboard? Ignore this. __________________ Good PSU brands: Corsair, SeaSonic, CWT, PC Power and Cooling, Thermaltake Toughpower, CoolerMaster Real Power Pro On 80+ Certification - PSU Information and Selection - Power Supply Myths You don't get what you don't pay for. Last edited by Phædrus2401; 10-20-2009 at 06:23 PM. Reason: Oops, wrong thread.