OT: Which is broken?! (computer part)

Instar · #1 August 3rd, 2004, 03:33 AM

Ok, I've been thinking about my broken computer for almost 3 months, and I'm still not sure which part is actually broken.

To set this up, here are my specs:
MSI 845 Ultra ARU mobo
1.8 Pentium 4 Northwood
Leadtek GF 4 Ti 4400
Creative SB Audigy 1 Platinum
1 gig of DDR
Plextor CDRW
Toshiba (?) DVDROM
Generic floppy
Generic 100/10 ethernet card
80 gig ATA drive (7200 RPM)
2 x 2 gig ATA drives on an on-board Promise RAID controller

This setup ran fine for a long time, no problems. However, at the end of Last semester, it started going wonky at bootup (random stops during POST or whatever). After I brought it home, it lived for about 2 weeks and then finally bought the farm (when I press the case power button, all the system fans spin up, but no beep, and no display on the screen). Mind you this computer is only about 2 years old at the most, so I'm kinda miffed. Now, I've checked the video card (swapped in a PCI card), removed all unneccessary parts (still won't boot), checked the powersupply (on another computer and with voltmeter), the RAM is good (less than 6 months old). I've pretty much narrowed it down to CPU or mobo.

Is there any way to tell which is broken? I don't have a known good mobo or CPU to try, so that's hampered me (this machine I'm using right now is a "slocket" P3).

Arg... any thoughts?

Atrocities · #2 August 3rd, 2004, 03:35 AM

My bet would be HARD DRIVE. That or MB is bad. Could even be a heat issue. Good luck Instar in figuring it out.

Instar · #3 August 3rd, 2004, 03:41 AM

I don't think its the hard drive, the POST quits before it even goes to the HD for something to boot from. It can't be heat (I've got 3 case fans, and I've tried booting with side panel off).

Baron Munchausen · #4 August 3rd, 2004, 04:21 AM

If it doesn't even give the 'I'm awake' beep that comes at the end of POST then it's either the CPU or the Mobo itself. You'll need spares to swap things around and figure out which it is.

Loser · #5 August 3rd, 2004, 04:44 AM

A working computer should POST without a hard drive. Pull out the drive and if it still won't POST then the HDDrv isn't the only problem.

Unless one component is under warranty, I've rarely replaced motherBoards and processors separately. Except when my place of employment has many space processors lying around for testing.

Buy new both. You wanted to upgrade anyway, didn't you?

You know you did.

Don't you deserve it?

Atrocities · #6 August 3rd, 2004, 07:08 AM

I hate to say it, but it could be your video card.