Cloud_Strife

Ok, this is a long one. I first bought all the parts for my PC last month, and the motherboard I bought was a K9N4-SLI. This is the second PC I would be building for personal use. I put everything together, and I had put on the PC with the processor for a few seconds, and then later removed the heatsink, and put it back on. I didn't know I had to reapply thermal paste on the heatsink so the PC came on for a few seconds, I saw the MSI screen and then the PC turned off. I smelt a burning, and thought it was the PSU so i took it out and threw it from me thinking it would blow, but the smell was still there, and I had saw the 4 diagnostic LED lights stay red meaning the processor is either defective, or damaged. So I came to the conclusion that killed the processor, luckily I still had warranty so I sent back the processor (AMD Athlon 64 X2 5000+) and got it replaced. I waited for the processor to come back, and today I put everything back together to see the LED hang on 3 red, and 1 green meaning the RAM is either damaged, or isn't installed correctly. I tried each stick in each slot (I have 2x 1GB sticks of DDR2 RAM, and 4 DIMM's to put them in) I tried every combination possible with them together and singled, and same thing. I'm not sure if its the RAM or not. While I was waiting for the new processor to arrive, I took the motherboard to a tech shop, and same thing happened, he said it was his RAM, it was probably faulty, or that my motherboard doesn't support 4300 DDR2 RAM that he was using. So I'm having the worse day ever, since this morning a handheld bricked on me when I was updating it, and I'm broke, so I can't fix anything ASAP. And I'm extremely confused about the mobo and ram situation. Oh also, when the PC is on, those little battery type towers on the motherboard get extremely hot compared to the other ones away from the RAM area. Any help anyone? Thank you.

Doby

Is this motherboard in a case?
Do the capacitors look like they have swollen tops or leaking?

Those capacitors should not be getting that hot this indicates a case short so bench test it.

http://www.techsupportforum.com/hardware-support/building/171424-how-bench-test-your-system.html

Cloud_Strife

I will try that soon, but whats a case short? Also, it mentioned a motherboard short too? What are those, and what happens if it occurs? Thank you.

Doby

The motherboard has to be supported by standoffs to keep it from touching against the case and shorting. These standoffs need to line up exactly with the motherboard mounting holes and you should have one for every hole, no more and no less. If they don't line up or you have to many they will touch the bottom of the motherboard and short.

A motherboard and a case short is the same thing

What happens is the board shorts causing any number of problems, it can ruin the board in extreme cases

Cloud_Strife

If I'm not wrong, I believe the edges were touching the case, I think around the same area where those capacitors were hot. They didn't look like they had a swollen top though. Would that screw around with my diagnostic lights too telling me somethings wrong with the RAM?

Doby

I am not sure what you mean by edges but if any of the solder traces on the bottom of the board were touching a standoff or the case that would be a short.

Yes it could mess with the diag lights

Cloud_Strife

The edges I was talking about was the area the screw holes were at, when screwed in the edge touches the case tray, and I believe some of the soldered parts. I just did the bench test and same thing, says the RAM, but the RAM was working fine before the processor had fried itself, I'm leaning towards the motherboard being the problem, because I have two sticks of RAM and it says that for both of them.

EDIT: Those capacitors near the upper right of the motherboard (After all the RAM slots) get extremely hot quickly, they could actually burn me if instinct and pain didn't cause me to remove my fingers.

dai

how can any of the m/b fixing screws be touching the case

Attached Images

msimb.JPG (61.0 KB, 7 views)

Doby

Before the bench test when it was in the case, you were using standoffs correct?

The stand offs screw into the case tray then the motherboard sits on top the stand off and a screw is placed thru the motherboard mounting hole and into the standoff to secure the motherboard in place.

This holds the board up off the case tray.

The caps should not be getting that hot when you bench test there is something wrong with the motherboard.

Give us a link to your case.

When you get the new motherboard in bench test it first, then make sure you fully under stand what we are talking about before you mount it in the case

Cloud_Strife

Heres a review to the case (http://www.bigbruin.com/reviews05/re...sagitta&file=1)
And I wasn't given any specific screws to mount my motherboard, I just used the regular ones like the ones that attach the PSU to the case.

Doby

These are the standoffs I was referring to

http://us.st11.yimg.com/us.st.yimg.com/I/directron_1965_327478506

Cloud_Strife

Wait, I do have those, but I didn't use them to screw the motherboard in place. And the stoppers would probably be the red looking washers that come with it? So its probably certain, I fried my motherboard?

Doby

Yes its fried RMA it.

you don't screw the motherboard in place with these you screw them into the case tray then set the motherboard on top of them and use screws to fasten the motherboard to the standoffs.

The red washers are usually not needed

Doby

http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/article/145/1

See if that helps you understand better

Cloud_Strife

Thank you, I plan to RMA the ram as well just to be on the safe side.

EDIT: Also the first time I got the PC to work, when the CPU fried, I noticed a burning smell, I removed the processor and smelt it, it didn't come from that, yet inside the case (motherboard installed) smelled like smoke, thats probably when it fried?

Doby

Yes that is most likely when it fried

Your welcome and please keep us updated when your new board arrives.

And remember the bench test is important to make sure all components are good before mounting in the case. I would even install the drives and boot into windows before installing in the case just to make sure

Then take care when mounting in the case

solman

Yeah, that will do it. If you turn your MB over, on the back there are "bumps of solder that are visable and when they touched the metal from your case tray...well, it had a reaction, kind of like dropping a hair dryer in the bath tub while it's running.

Take a look at the specs for your MB as well, Samsung is not listed as memory that is Supported for your board. I have had non supported memory work on MSI boards before but not all the time.

http://www.msicomputer.com/product/p...SLI-F&class=mb

Calling MSI for an RMA is your fastest way to get a response. DO NOT TELL them you failed to install the standoffs when you had a board failure.

MSI Contact info:

(626) 581-3001

Cloud_Strife

Of course I won't lol. But yeah, thanks and I will keep update. The RAM I'm using is the Corsair Value select 2GB DDR2. I checked it with the Corsair site before I bought it to make sure its compatible, just the only thing, when I was noticing the capacitors getting extremely hot, the same thing with the RAM, so I'm not taking any risks. Thanks again!

EDIT: Do you rather I call MSI, or fill out an RMA request online. I was going with online unless you guys recommend otherwise.

solman

You can go which ever way you please but from past experience, they are usually a bit quicker if you call them and have them email you an RMA. I say faster, it usually takes 3-4 days for an email response when you submit online. I beat my record on my last MSI RMA last time by an hour and a half and got it completed in 30 minutes on the phone. I think this is because no one was taking cigarette breaks and their coffee cups were full. I called first thing in the morning, I think they open at 9AM PST.

Good luck and post back when you get your new board back.