Yet another PC problem

[petrama25]

So I recently got a EVGA GTX 960 2GB and a EVGA 600w PSU. I installed them into my puter with no issues. Installed all drivers and whatnot. However, I noticed that all 8 of my CPU cores were reaching temps of 70-100 C at idle, so I decided to remove the heatsink and remove the thermal paste from it and the CPU. I didnt have any Rubbing alcohol on me at the time, so I decided to put a VERY small amount of water on a clean cloth to remove the paste. It was barely wet. (Yes, I'm that stupid XD) I reaplied new paste and mounted the cooler back on the CPU. I hit the power button only to find that it starts up, but the fans start pulsing on and off for about 3-5 seconds before the whole thing powers off. I tried clearing the CMOS and checking for any metal touching the mobo with no luck. Here are my specs-

Intel i7 920 8 Core
Dell N1996 Mobo
8 GB DDR3
EVGA 600w PSU
EVGA GTX 960 2GB DDRR5

Hopefully someone here has an answer.

 

[JCitron]

So I recently got a EVGA GTX 960 2GB and a EVGA 600w PSU. I installed them into my puter with no issues. Installed all drivers and whatnot. However, I noticed that all 8 of my CPU cores were reaching temps of 70-100 C at idle, so I decided to remove the heatsink and remove the thermal paste from it and the CPU. I didnt have any Rubbing alcohol on me at the time, so I decided to put a VERY small amount of water on a clean cloth to remove the paste. It was barely wet. (Yes, I'm that stupid XD) I reaplied new paste and mounted the cooler back on the CPU. I hit the power button only to find that it starts up, but the fans start pulsing on and off for about 3-5 seconds before the whole thing powers off. I tried clearing the CMOS and checking for any metal touching the mobo with no luck. Here are my specs-

Intel i7 920 8 Core
Dell N1996 Mobo
8 GB DDR3
EVGA 600w PSU
EVGA GTX 960 2GB DDRR5

Hopefully someone here has an answer.

There are more than a few things to check here that can cause this:

1) Your power supply is getting a load signal and sensing a short so is shutting down.

2) Your CPU isn't seated properly so the system is shutting down, usually though you get just fans spinning, but it may do this as well.

3) Check that all the power connections are reconnected including your video card if you removed the power from the card as well to get at the CPU.

4) Did you check that you didn't have any water left on the motherboard? If water is on the board and the board is totally dried then there wouldn't be any problem, but some could be there causing a short causing item 1. above.

Use IPA next time. Walgreen's has it on sale ATM for $3.50 a bottle.

John

 

[petrama25]

Thanks John. I rebuilt the pc today including taking out just about everything. (Mobo wouldnt come out for some reason even after taking all screws out) I made sure to reseat the CPU with no luck. It still is doing the same thing as yesterday, so I'm pulling my hair out trying to find where it's shorting. Hmmm. Hope I can figure this out soon without having to go to a shop. Perhaps my CPU is dead? After all it is from 09.

 

[JCitron]

Thanks John. I rebuilt the pc today including taking out just about everything. (Mobo wouldnt come out for some reason even after taking all screws out) I made sure to reseat the CPU with no luck. It still is doing the same thing as yesterday, so I'm pulling my hair out trying to find where it's shorting. Hmmm. Hope I can figure this out soon without having to go to a shop. Perhaps my CPU is dead? After all it is from 09.

The motherboards usually have a bunch of screws that are in rows across like left upper corner, middle, right corner, and these continue down, spaced a few inches apart with probably 9 screws that are all screwed into metal stand-offs mounted to the case so you might have missed one somewhere because they can be difficult to see.

The CPU might very well be dead, though they don't die that easy, unless you zapped it (hope not), or it got hit by a voltage spike. Check the heat sink again and ensure that it's not shorting out against something. In the end you may have to bring it to the shop.

 

[petrama25]

I took every last screw out. Had nothing plugged into the mobo so I could see better. Idk whats holding it in.

Honestly now that I think of it, the CPU doesnt seem to be the case. It powered on for a slightly longer amount of time. Still cant get it to POST. I also do dont have my GPU plugged in. What also is odd is that there is not the usual beep code that happens when it is missing one. Also, On the copper part of heatsink, I noticed a buch of heavy scratches. Could that as well be causing this?

Could RAM be another possible cause? I might have zapped a stick by accident that was out of the case a while back. If it is thats no biggie. The ram needs an upgrade to 32 GB anyway.

 

[clam1952]

A few ideas?

Try a different power cable from the mains to the PSU could just be an intermittent connection inside the rubber / plastic bit or a loose wire at the wall end.

Check the main power connector to the motherboard is seated properly and that all the pins are pushed home if you can see any metal bits sticking up they may need pushing down, use something non conductive like a match stick.

Got the heatsink and fan on the right way round? Some of them might foul a component if the wrong way round.

Connected the fan back to the right plug on the mother board? or is it the right way round, some can be plugged in wrong way round I've even seen them plugged onto an audio connection! as in I built a new PC and the fan won't work.

Memory slightly unseated? can happen if removing the CPU if they are close to it although you probably get some bleeps it that was faulty.

Any spare power leads floating around, check one of the pins hasn't found a friendly screw to mate with! believe me it happens spare cable shove it out of the way in an empty drive bay that has a screw or a bit of metal it can make contact with.

Disconnect power leads from everything other than the CPU and it's fan then see if it still does the same,
then remove the graphics and check, then the ram and check.

 

[petrama25]

Malc, I have tried all these methods and nothing seems to work sadly. Every time I try something different, the amount of time the PC tries to turn on varies. Also it's worth noting that I can not turn it back on unless I unplug the power cord from the PSU and put it back in. I am really lost here. I find it funny how I am always the one having these types of problems XD. Guess its just bad luck. (Or I'm just a complete idiot) Looked all over online and still havent found a solution yet.

Edit: Should I have the 4+4 ATX cables plugged into my CPU? Only one fits in the socket due to the odd pin arrangement

 

[malikrthr]

One of the tests that I would perform is a power supply test. I remember when I built my first computer, I put everything in the case and once the build was finished, nothing had powered on. Maybe your power supply could be defective. To see if the power supply is working okay, you can use a paper clip. One side of the paper clip would go in the green connection of the 24 pin connector and the other side of the paper clip would go in a black connection from the 24 pin connector. If the fans are spinning, then the power supply should be okay. From what I remember studying, if you use a power supply tester to test the power supply, I think it would be best to replace the power supply if the connection is getting a little bit less than 11V. Also, check to see if the polarities for the front panel connections on the motherboard are correct?

 

[petrama25]

AFAIK the PSU is just fine. I tested it in a friend's PC right after and it worked. Keep in mind I had this PC working for a day before I decided to mess with it, which ended up bringing me to where I am now. Also, I tried another PSU that i had laying around and gor the same results. So now it is narrowed down to mobo and CPU.

 

[JCitron]

AFAIK the PSU is just fine. I tested it in a friend's PC right after and it worked. Keep in mind I had this PC working for a day before I decided to mess with it, which ended up bringing me to where I am now. Also, I tried another PSU that i had laying around and gor the same results. So now it is narrowed down to mobo and CPU.

There is something shorting out somewhere, which is causing your power supply to crowbar and lock. This explains why you have to pull the power plug out and reseat it again.

I have a feeling too that this is related to the motherboard or CPU, but mostly the CPU, however, if you crushed the socket then you'll probably have to replace the motherboard.

When you reseated your CPU, did you put it in the right way? I know it's a dumb question, but I have to ask. This can kill it because the power is wrong.

Also, if when you put the CPU into the socket, did it go in okay meaning did it just drop into place or did you have to fiddle with the chip? The chips don't have pins on them; the socket does and these can get bent and crushed if the chip goes in wrong. Once these pins are bent, even very, very slightly, your screwed.

Just a couple more things to check. If you lived closer, I'd come by and take a look.


John