built first computer, won't boot up

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bobthebaker

Weaksauce
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Oct 30, 2005
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when i turn on my new system (pentium d 2.8, 7800GT, 2x512 dual channel, 430 PSU), it boots up past the intel boot screen and then goes to a black screen that says "CPU was previously shutdown for thermal heat (overheating)" then it shuts off automatically a little after.

If i try to turn it back on again immediately after, i hear 4 beeps and it shuts down almost instantly.

If i let it sit for awhile and try to turn it on again, it will load a little past the overheating message and then shut down.


Obviously the thing is overheating but i don't know why, and why it's overheating so quick, and what do the beeps mean? My mobo manual only lists beep codes for 1,3, and 8 beeps........not 4???
 
Check the heatsink to make sure it's on good, if anything pull it off, buy some thermal paste and reapply. Also check to make sure the fan is working on the sink also.
 
Ditto... make sure the heatsink is on properly and use Arctic Silver 5 instead of the crap goo that comes with your stock heatsink (or you could have a thermal pad attached to the heatsink). Also I would highly recommend investing into a high quality heatsink fan combo that is compatible with your socket. Search the cooling forums for ideas on which ones are good.
 
ok, i took apart the computer and the heatsink off the cpu to see if the thermal glue was the problem or not............only i don't know what i'm looking for

is this normal?

 
bobthebaker said:
ok, i took apart the computer and the heatsink off the cpu to see if the thermal glue was the problem or not............only i don't know what i'm looking for

is this normal?

http://www.supload.com/thumbs/default/DSC00314.JPG
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it looks like your heatsink wasnt making good contact with the cpu, the bottum half of the cpu was making good contact while the top side was barely touching the heatsink. anyhow clean off the thermal paste with high-purity isopropyl alcohol and q-tips before reapplying thermal paste. hopefully you have a tube of thermal paste lying around.. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16835100009

btw for dual channel you want your 2 sticks of ram installed in either the 2 black dimm slots or the 2 blue dimm slots.
 
heero884 said:
it looks like your heatsink wasnt making good contact with the cpu, the bottum half of the cpu was making good contact while the top side was barely touching the heatsink. anyhow clean off the thermal paste with high-purity isopropyl alcohol and q-tips before reapplying thermal paste. hopefully you have a tube of thermal paste lying around.. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16835100009

btw for dual channel you want your 2 sticks of ram installed in either the 2 black dimm slots or the 2 blue dimm slots.
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gotcha i just went to frys to pick up some arctic 5, but a couple quick questions:

1. When i clean off/reapply the thermal paste on the top cover of the CPU, do i take it off the motherboard or just leave on the motherboard and clean it/reapply it?

2. I'm missing some screws to secure my motherboard on the tower, so i'm only putting screws on each corner of the mobo (4 total). Is this a problem (the screws are only supposed to secure the mobo in place right?)

thanks
 
bobthebaker said:
gotcha i just went to frys to pick up some arctic 5, but a couple quick questions:

1. When i clean off/reapply the thermal paste on the top cover of the CPU, do i take it off the motherboard or just leave on the motherboard and clean it/reapply it?

2. I'm missing some screws to secure my motherboard on the tower, so i'm only putting screws on each corner of the mobo (4 total). Is this a problem (the screws are only supposed to secure the mobo in place right?)

thanks
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Take it off

It should be fine aslong as you dont put too much pressure on it while it is installed. When you have screws in the 4 corners and you push down, the center of the mobo is pushed down which might cause it to snap. So just be careful with it. Id highly suggest buying some additional screws to fill all the holes.
 
Seems like a heatsink problem. If this is your first build, there's a good chance that you didn't seat the heatsink properly. Do what all the previous posters have suggested, take it off and reseat it.

You should be good to go :)
 
Zidoas said:
Seems like a heatsink problem. If this is your first build, there's a good chance that you didn't seat the heatsink properly. Do what all the previous posters have suggested, take it off and reseat it.

You should be good to go :)
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thanks for all the help guys.......is there anyway to ensure a proper HSF seat? Do you have to press down on the heatsink or hear a snap when you mount it or anything?
 
bobthebaker said:
thanks for all the help guys.......is there anyway to ensure a proper HSF seat? Do you have to press down on the heatsink or hear a snap when you mount it or anything?
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The documentation you get with the CPU should answer that question, really. If you want to absolutely make sure, I would put the HSF on the CPU while the motherboard is outside of the case, and look from the side.
 
Heatsinks go on tighter than you might think. Make sure the screws are tightened enough. Refer to documentation, as said before. Good luck
 
Heatsink installation was always the toughest thing for me when I started building computers. Those retention mechanisms can be a bit tricky and awkward, and often the instructions are a bit vague. On mine, it involved clamping two opposing levers down simultaneously and it was a big pain. There will probably be some little tabs on the socket with corresponding holes on the HSF unit, and the trick is to make sure the holes seat on both sides. Its gonna be WAY easier to do this BEFORE you install the motherboard by the way, as you will be able to see a lot better and won't have to work around parts of the case.. Good luck man, congrats on the new rig.
 
bobthebaker said:
thanks for all the help guys.......is there anyway to ensure a proper HSF seat? Do you have to press down on the heatsink or hear a snap when you mount it or anything?
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Install the heatsink onto the mobo before you put it in the case, it is much easier. I remember cracking couple of those Socket As back in the days :p

Since you're using a third-party heatsink, there should be a documentation as to how to install the heatsink in the package that it came with.

I'm not familiar with the heatsink you have but it seems like the retention mechanisms are simply screwed-ons. If that's the case:

1.) Take the mobo out
2.) Place it flat on a surface and put a foam under it (I install heatsinks on the box the the mobo comes with)
3.) press down on the heatsink a little bit to make sure full contact WHILE you're screwing on the retention mechanisms.
4.) connect mobo to peripherals WITHOUT putting the mobo inside the case.
5.) Power it up and see if it'll boots
6.) If boots, power down, put everything in the case and you're good to go.
If it doesn't boots, come back here :p
 
Zidoas said:
Install the heatsink onto the mobo before you put it in the case, it is much easier. I remember cracking couple of those Socket As back in the days :p

Since you're using a third-party heatsink, there should be a documentation as to how to install the heatsink in the package that it came with.

I'm not familiar with the heatsink you have but it seems like the retention mechanisms are simply screwed-ons. If that's the case:

1.) Take the mobo out
2.) Place it flat on a surface and put a foam under it (I install heatsinks on the box the the mobo comes with)
3.) press down on the heatsink a little bit to make sure full contact WHILE you're screwing on the retention mechanisms.
4.) connect mobo to peripherals WITHOUT putting the mobo inside the case.
5.) Power it up and see if it'll boots
6.) If boots, power down, put everything in the case and you're good to go.
If it doesn't boots, come back here :p
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actually i'm using Intel's heatsink that came with my CPU.

I'm sure i'm putting on the HSF on right now because the computer is booting up fine (i'm installing windows as i type), however, i've tried 3 times already and i can only achieve initial bios readings of 63-64C.

Until i get enough money for a new HSF, is this acceptable?
 
bobthebaker said:
i've tried 3 times already and i can only achieve initial bios readings of 63-64C
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Its not outrageous but that does sound pretty high...I really think even the stock cooler ought to keep it cooler than that at stock frequency shouldn't it?
 
enlightenedby42 said:
Its not outrageous but that does sound pretty high...I really think even the stock cooler ought to keep it cooler than that at stock frequency shouldn't it?
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yeah it should, i've searched through the forums and people say the stock fans on their Pentium D's are getting them 55ish idle and no more than 65 on load.......i don't know what's causing my heatsink to suck balls, if it is my heatsink?


edit- what is the problem with having a temperature above 60 anyway? What problems can it cause if any, besides not allowing me to OC?
 
Well, I guess it might shorten the life of the processor a tad, but honestly, as you obviously have seen, if it gets into the danger zone it will shut itself off. If its high enough that its doing that periodically, then its a stability issue, but if its working reliably now I suppose you should be alright.
 
enlightenedby42 said:
Well, I guess it might shorten the life of the processor a tad, but honestly, as you obviously have seen, if it gets into the danger zone it will shut itself off. If its high enough that its doing that periodically, then its a stability issue, but if its working reliably now I suppose you should be alright.
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I installed windows and speedfan to measure my temps while in windows.........it says my CPU is 56 idle.....what are the possibilities that this is right over my bios temp readout?
 
bobthebaker said:
I installed windows and speedfan to measure my temps while in windows.........it says my CPU is 56 idle.....what are the possibilities that this is right over my bios temp readout?
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If I'm not terribly mistaken both temperatures are being read from the same hardware mounted temp probe..
 
right, but BIOS and Windows readings usually are different. On my DFI, the BIOS reading was 10C over because of a BIOS bug... reflashed, temps were back to normal. Get a temp probe and check it that way...

However, if you're a casual user - don't worry about the temps too much. If it works fine for a week or so and it starts letting out smoke, then Intel will gladly replace it if it's under warranty.Usually all of these 'Hardcore' people on the forums worry about temps too much... I've been running my video card at 85-90 and haven't had any problems or artifacts - if it ain't broke don't fix it.
 
You could use a stress test program to see whether or not 100% load will make the cpu cut voltage. Honestly, high temps on a stock HSF are nothing but normal in my experience. However, check the speeds on the fan, as it might not be spinning up to a good speed. I have a friend that had a stock fan that only hit half the speed it should have, resulted in very high cpu temps.
 
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