Resolved Is my motherboard dead?

I recently posted a similar post but now have a question.
Recently my second PC refused to power up.
On pressing the power button (front of case)
1) CPU fan and Case fan run
2) The power light on the case lights
3) NO display on monitor (monitor does not come out of sleep state so must not be receiving any signal)
4) NO BEEP from the speaker (which normally happens 1 or 2 seconds after pressing the power on button).
I have checked the following
1) Changed power supply
2) Checked the CPU on another motherboard (it is working)
3) Checked RAM - it is ok
4) Installed a PCI video card (the motherbooard has onboard video)

I now think that perhaps it is the CHIPSET.

Here is the question. Does the CHIPSET contain a program for booting up? If so could the program have become corrupted? Can this be fixed?

 

Thanks Pete,
I tried removing all the memory but no continuous beeping when I tried to power up (without memory).
Seems that it is a dead Mobo. I was just wondering if the ChipSet contains a program to enable it to read the BIOS, check the other peripherals and boot up and also wondered if it was possible that the problem is caused by a faulty ChipSet.
Yes it was working fine, I was installing software and on the first run got "... has encountered a problem and needs to shut down ". I powered the PC off and when I tried to power up again it wouldn't. Probably just coincidental (that it seemed to happen at the same time as I got the "... has encountered a problem... ".

 

Older motherboards had jumpers for changing from onboard graphics to add-in graphics, so you might want to check the manual.

You should try starting up with only the basics, CPU, RAM, and graphics (monitor, keyboard and mouse). Disconnect all the drives. The problem with the software installation should only affect the HDD (drive controller problem?). Do the Clear CMOS reset again as PeteC described.

If say, the graphics controller or the IDE (drive) controller/s are kaput, you may well be able use an add-in card. [On this computer, the graphics card fan has burnt out and I have rigged up a replacement, on another computer, the IDE controller failed and I was able to use an IDE card]. If the system is more than say, 4 years old, it is better to save money towards a new computer, the problems most likely indicate that the hardware is failing, as you suspect.

Motherboard replacement? It will mainly depend on the RAM. You should still be able to buy motherboards that use DDR RAM. Swapping the CPU over is a little tricky [this computer has had the motherboard changed, it cost about AU$80 and gives me things SATA and RAID controllers, but it is really only to see it's days out as a basic workhorse].

Matt

 

Thanks Matt for all the suggestions to check.
I really think it is time I put this one "to bed" - actually in the rubbish bin as I have done everything that has been suggested -
1) No jumpers on board
2) tried to power up with no drives attached, no plug in boards, no memory (does not sound continuous beep)
3) Checked that the power supply is ok (used another power supply known to be working)
4) Checked that the CPU works (tried on another similar motherboard and it worked)
5) Could not see any capacitors which look 'swollen'
6) removed CMOS battery for at least 30 minutes

The motherboard has a separate 4 pin power socket onboard and what happens is the same as if I didn't connect that 4 pin power plug (I know as when I built another similar PC I accidentally did not plug in that socket and nothing happened - no beep, no onscreen display).
This is probably completely unrelated.

 

You have done very well John! Yes, seems like not even mouth to mouth will resuscitate that one. You have done all tests I do and more.

What's your plans for a replacement? You will be able to build your own with a blindfold on. Building your own is a snap nowadays. If you plan to replace the motherboard, as I said, swapping over the CPU is a little tricky, you need to replace the thermal compound between the CPU chip and the heatsink, but that is just a matter of perfecting a technique. New CPUs are supplied with the thermal compound applied already.

For a new computer, don't try to to skimp on parts. A "moderately" priced system will see you through for many years. You can also put a little more towards those areas that you are interested in...for example, a little more towards graphics or monitor if you do any gaming or other graphics intensive programs, good storage and RAM for video/audio editing or multimedia.

Maybe a new door has opened

Matt

 

Matt
There really isn't a plan to replace that PC as it is only my second PC which I don't reply on heavily.
I normally use my "number one" PC which while it is now nearly 5 years old it goes fast enough for me. It is a P4 2.4GHz with 333Mhz RAM.
I keep think that I should upgrade it by investing in a "home built" PC with a Dual Core Pentium.
Back to "number two" PC. I have already replaced the motherbord/CPU with a P4 1.5Ghz PC100 RAM which while not fast is ok for just testing new software on.

BTW I found today that the motherboard which died has a jumper for clearing the CMOS (I had hopefully cleared CMOS days ago by removing the battery for an hour or so).
It is a 3 pin socket on the motherboard and there is supposed to be a jumper on pins 2 and 3 and to clear CMOS you move the jumper to pins 1 and 2 for a few seconds (then back to pins 2 and 3). I wonder why the jumper is normally on pins 2 and 3 (maybe just to store it). There was NO jumper at all on the socket so I have placed one on pins 2 and 3 (after firstly placing it on pins 1 and 2 for a few seconds).
I haven't tried to see if the motherboard now works as I'm not confident as it had been working without the jumper for many months.
John

 

John:

If your board has a three pin CMOS header, it will not run without a jumper on pins 1 & 2. That jumper is needed to complete the circuit. Moving the jumper to pins 2 & 3 grounds out the circuit and clears CMOS. Trying to power up with a jumper on pins 2 & 3 may damage your board although this is not universal.

If you are certain that you were able to run this machine with no jumper, you have either located something other than the CMOS header or your board is defective. Again, that jumper is necessary to complete the circuit.

 

The motherboard is a Gigabyte GA-8VD667K extracted from a PC I managed to save from the scrap bin.
I downloaded the user guide and page 27 states -
The clear CMOS temporarily short pin 1-2
The diagram for the socket showing the two positions for the jumper states
1-2 close: Clear CMOS
2-3 close: Normal

Your reply states the opposite ie pins 2 -3 clears CMOS.

Anyway I have now tried to power up the board with no drives and the jumper in place (pins 2-3) and still nothing.

Obviously the board is dead. First time I have had a motherboard die in 10 years.

RIP

 

Is your primary PC "fault-proof "? A secondary PC is nice if you have problems with the primary.

Matt

 

Yes Matt,
I have already installed a slower motherboard/PC of 1.5Ghz with PC133 memory and I also have another PC the same and another with a Celeron 1.3Ghz both not being used (so 4 PCs in total 2 being used).
I have been lucky that I work for 2 schools and they both have upgraded their PCs recently. The one which died was also one of their discards.
I am blessed I guess as there is an ACER VERITON 5500 (2Ghz) still at one school (discarded) which I can take if I want.
While being slow they are fast enough for most software except high speed games which I don't play.

 

jparnold:
Thinking you were/are mistaken, I just downloaded that manual too - you are so correct in that page 27 reads just as you referenced. This is a first for me and I've been around more than a few motherboards, including GigaByte. An earlier page in that same manual references pulling the battery for 30 seconds to clear CMOS but I've always been one for using the jumper. It is also usually necessary to disconnect the main power header at the motherboard when using the jumper but no reference is made to this in the manual.

Regardless, this one certainly is bass ackwards. Thanks for sticking to your guns and pointing this out. I guess there's an exception to everything and this certainly is an aberration to me.

I'm not sure I'd be tossing in the towel quite yet but if you can't get into the BIOS there's not much else one can do.

Regards,