[JimT.]

Question: Will a bad CPU cause a system to be completely dead, or will the power supply still come on?

Here's the situation: I just assembled a system using an FIC K8M 800M motherboard (socket 754) and a Sempron 2800. Front panel connections verified by the vendor as being standard IBM and are connected properly. Power supply tested with a working tester and found good. Memory (swapped twice) and known good. Case known good (tried screwdriver start, anyway). No response whatsoever.

I've only encountered one bad CPU over the years (actually, it was the wrong CPU for the board), and got no video, but I can't remember if the power supply came on or not. I think it did.

I have to decide which part (MB or CPU) to blame. No guessing on this one, please.

Jim T.

 

[dai]

what are you running
video card
cpu
m/board
ram
power supply
brand
wattage

set it up out of the case on a piece of cardboard with
cpu
video
ram
speaker
and see if you get post
check you have the correct amount of standoffs no more no less
that they line up with the holes in the m/board
usually 9

 

[Tosinv]

As dai said try the following guide. Maybe of help

http://www.techsupportforum.com/f15/how-to-bench-test-your-system-262998.html

 

[JimT.]

Thanks for responding, guys. The whole question may be mute because I went into my workshop this morning, pressed the power button in one last futile effort, and the power supply came on. I'll connect the basic stuff as soon as I get time, and see what I get. The only change between yesterday was the temperature in the room. Or maybe visitations by ghosts when I was sleeping.

 

[Tosinv]

Looks like a temperature issue. look out for CPU Fan and SMPS being spinned when you turn on the Workstation

 

[Tyree]

A bad CPU will not prevent the PSU from powering up.
Without knowing what specific hardware you are using I would suspect the PSU.