Possible fried motherboard and/or CPU?

[tarnhelm]

I recently upgraded my video card, only to find that the card ran too hot for the ventilation in my case. I got a better case, but I suspect either the damage was already done, or I was careless in moving the motherboard to the new case. right now, the power all fires up just fine, but I do not get any POST indication at all, and the video display is not active. no ominous beeps, nothing, even if I yank the video card. is there any way I can confirm the suspicion without buying another mobo and/or CPU? this is an ASUS P5N-E Sli with an intel E-series processor, though I don't think that information is relevant at this stage. I had planned to upgrade later in 2012, so I might just have to move that date up a bit. maybe a lot...

thanks,

phil

[Zeisan]

I recently upgraded my video card, only to find that the card ran too hot for the ventilation in my case. I got a better case, but I suspect either the damage was already done, or I was careless in moving the motherboard to the new case. right now, the power all fires up just fine, but I do not get any POST indication at all, and the video display is not active. no ominous beeps, nothing, even if I yank the video card. is there any way I can confirm the suspicion without buying another mobo and/or CPU? this is an ASUS P5N-E Sli with an intel E-series processor, though I don't think that information is relevant at this stage. I had planned to upgrade later in 2012, so I might just have to move that date up a bit. maybe a lot...

thanks,

phil

Phil,

I'm not sure how to confirm your suspicion, but I would like to share an experience I had recently with similar symptoms.

A family member brought me a desktop that would not boot and would not POST. The fans would run, the lights would come on, but nobody was home (so to speak). I opened the case and discovered that the heatsink and fan were loose, which may have pulled the CPU just slightly out of the socket. I tightened the screws, closed the case, and tried booting. The machine immediately went through POST and booted to the desktop.

So, I suggest making sure the heatsink fan, heatsink, and CPU are properly seated. It does not sound likely in your situation that this is the problem, but it never hurts to check.

[tarnhelm]

hi, thanks for the suggestion. In fact the heatsink fan had come loose, but it LOOKED LIKE the heatsink was intact. it certainly can't hurt trying to reseat the cpu and reattach the heatsink/fan combo.

I'll let you know later.

Phil

[CWB]

FYI (and to clarify for others that may stumble across this thread) ...

if the heat sink assembly has come loose , simply tightening down the screws is not a full fix .

cleaning the cpu surface and that of the heat sink (some also provide cooling for the graphics) and "re-gooping" with a decent thermal transfer compound is in order .

ps ... as long as you are in there , clean out the exhaust port and fan .

[tarnhelm]

Well, in the end I gambled and replaced the Cpu. That sens to have done the trick. My new ca's can circulate about twice the air so I should be ok. Thanks for the advice!