Bad motherboard? 1

[mercie]

Can anyone tell me if this sounds like I've got a dead motherboard? CPU lights (green & red) come on when I turn it on and so does the light on the CD rom but nothing else happens - monitor never comes on, eventually the red light on the CPU goes off and the green one stays on. I tested a working monitor from another computer but it does not come on with this one. The fan is running fine. I took apart all the connections (HD, CD, etc.) and reconnected everything to make sure nothing was loose. I also checked the video card - it's fine. I never got any beeps before it went totally dark. I am going to try the HD on another computer tomorrow but I thought I'd ask first about the motherboard. Is there a way to check them? If it helps it is an ASUS P4SDX.

 

[cjelec]

Hi,

You said that you have checked the video card, what have you done?

I ask this because it sounds like a video problem.

I would check the monitor cable, and check that the card is slotted in the mobo properly. If you can find another card to test it, try it.

 

[G0AOZ]

Presumably this setup has worked ok in the past, or are we talking about something newly put together?

1. Disconnect ALL data (ribbon) and power cables to FDD, HDD and CD-ROM(s).

2. Unplug ALL cards including the video card.

3. Disconnect the front headers for l.e.d.s, power-on and reset buttons.

4. Leave the system speaker wires connected.

You should now have nothing else connected to the motherboard other than voltage supply lines from the PSU.

Identify the power-on button headers, and with main connected to the PSU, momentarily short these headers together.

If the system speaker now produces beeps, either one of your drives or connectors is faulty, or the PSU is dying. Try substituting PSU for a known good one of the same rating (Wattage) or higher.

ROGER - G0AOZ.

 

[electronicsfreak]

A bad stick of ram, bad processor, bad video card all can cause this. try Goaoz suggestions and also try subsituting things out if you have extra laying around.

There is a point in wisdom and knowledge that when you reach it, you exceed what is considered possible - Jason Schoon

 

[mercie]

OK, guys, need some more help!! I've put in a new power supply and power cord. I checked the monitor on another computer and it works. I also tried the video card on another computer and that works too. So, monitor and video card are both OK. I've doubled checked that the memory is in right and that all ribbons are connected well. I'm actually down to either the AGP slot went bad (can they do that with no warning at all??) or something is wrong with the motherboard. The reason I mention the AGP slot is that I took the video card from my computer (the one I'm working on right now) and tried it on the problem computer and I get nothing. So, next question is how do I determine if it's the AGP slot or the motherboard? I'm not too computer savvy so the next statement may sound dumb (sorry!) but FYI the motherboard's little green light is on (if that means anything) and when I turn the power on the CPU green & red lights come on and so does the DVD light. Not sure if those being on has anything to do with the motherboard. Sorry if I can't explain myself better. The computer worked fine one day and just decided not to go on the next with no warning or beeps whatsoever so I am completely lost. Thanks for any help or suggestions. The motherboard is an ASUS P4SDX.

 

[G0AOZ]

Tried my suggestions 1 to 4...?

If ok, the board should power up without any video card attached. You will, however, get continuous warning beeps from the system speaker.

Try completely removing and then reseating the CPU and the heatsink/fan assembly. You'll need to clean off the mating surfaces thoroughly, and then carefully apply a thin layer of new heatsink compound.

ROGER - G0AOZ.

 

[edfair]

Will also suggest that you do a CMOS clear.

 

[firewolfrl]

This really sounds as though the motherboard has died. static electricity can cause this and age of parts can too. remove the motherboard from the case and try to boot it. if it works you have a short to the case somewhere.

Motherboard CPU combos are so cheap nowadays it does not pay to replace the same motherboard when you can buy better cheaper.
Here is a list of Motherboards for cheap that should use the same ram you are using

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/Category/category_tlc.asp?CatId=14&name=Motherboard-CPUs

Though I recommend that you upgrade to a DDR2 style Motherboard

The motherboard you have now uses the socket 478 and those boards are too old to make it worth trying to replace.

if you don't want to mess with assembly buy a refurbished system for $300 +/- . I have bought quite a few for my customers because I can't make a machine from scratch for the price they are selling these machines.

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/category/category_tlc.asp?CatId=2628

 

[mercie]

Thanks for all the replies. It pretty much looks like the motherboard is the problem. I can't think of anything else it could be but just in case listed below is all that's been checked/replaced. FYI we have 2 identical computers (one working perfectly) so switching things between them has been an easy task. So far I've replaced all these in the bad computer - one at a time, of course! When I've put the item from the good computer into the bad one nothing happens yet when I put the item from the bad one into the good computer that one works fine leading me to believe that there is no problem with any of these items - the only think that's left, I think, is the motherboard. Through the years I've replaced many things in our computers but I've never tackled a motherboard so I think I'd leave that to the professionals. By the way, GOAOZ, I get no beeps!

Replaced:
1) HD
2) PSU
3) power cord
4) monitor
5) monitor power cord
6) video card
7) memory
8) CPU
9) heat sink
10) all cables
11) battery

If anyone can think of anything I haven't tried please let me know. Also, let me know if you agree that it is time for a motherboard replacement. Thank you so much for all the help, I really appreciate it!!

 

[G0AOZ]

I think you've just about covered it... The only other thing I'd try, would be to remove the bad motherboard from its case and try running in on the table top on a piece of card. This would eliminate anything that might have been lodged underneath shorting out one or more of the tracks to the case (earth).

ROGER - G0AOZ.

 

[mercie]

Thanks to everyone for all the suggestions. Motherboard is definitely dead so I'll do another post requesting suggestions for a replacement. Just wanted to thank you!