DEAD PC

G

gkg101

Limp Gawd
Joined
Jun 4, 2007
Messages
422
Dead PC:
Opteron 185
Asus A8N-E
SmartPower 2.0 500w PSU
2 gigs Corsaire XMS 400 DDR pc3200c2
evga 8800 GTS 320

Something blew on my primary computer last week without a noticeable warning. No post...just 2 long and 1 short beeps...meaning 'graphics adapter' problem. Tested 2 different cards in the 16xPCI-e and still got the beeps. Also tried to use a video card in the aux 4xPCI-e slot that my motherboard provides. Cleared/re-set CMOS but no change.
I'm advised that it could be the PCI-e bus on the motherboard rather than the video card. Another theory is that the PSU is not providing enough power to the graphics system, and thus the 2 long and 1 short beeps. Well I'm gonna swap a PSU, I've a another SmartPower 500W lying around. Should I change the cables or can I use the existing connections? Can a faulty PSU damage PC cables? I was thinking about how sprarkplug wires go bad in a car engine that runs poorly. Is it worth the extra effort to change out the all the cables. Any ideas?
 
I suspect PSU or power connection to the motherboard/graphics card.
Change the cables as well in case one of them simply has a bad connection.
If you have sparks like a cars spark plugs, your PC wouldnt have lasted even seconds. There is no way any part of your PC is generating voltage like a spark induction coil so wont suffer from most of the ill effects a spark plug wire does.
 
Sorry, I know that must be BAD form. In my defense I, I would have put a link at the bottom of preivious tread to this one...is that cool?, but I wasn't able to post more that once last nigth, I'm getting connection problems on this site... using apple OS 9 computer as my backup, OS 9 not supporting my browser, and that might be causing connection problems, but it's unpredictable. Should I try to place link over there now. Maybe I really should just go ahead and try this new PSU tonight and then report back with a new thread since these two threads should be ended, i think
 
Nenu said:
I suspect PSU or power connection to the motherboard/graphics card.
Change the cables as well in case one of them simply has a bad connection.
If you have sparks like a cars spark plugs, your PC wouldnt have lasted even seconds. There is no way any part of your PC is generating voltage like a spark induction coil so wont suffer from most of the ill effects a spark plug wire does.
Click to expand...

hmm...but they do suffer some type of ill effects? By the way, on an related note, is it normal for the PSU to emit a high pitched squeal/humm when not drawing electricity (except for the PSU itself, i would guess) I was noticing this but not sure if its normal or not. I have indeed read on these forums where PC's lasted only milliseconds...usually when something was done wrong.
 
haadij404 said:
No a high pitched sound is not normal. Swap the PSU.
Click to expand...

Nenu said:
+ 1
Click to expand...

I disagree. We had a whole convo about this in another thread a while back, but since the search is disabled, I can't find it. Anyhow, the outcome was that the high pitched sound is not supposed to be there, but apparently it doesn't mean anything if it is. Though, I think it means that the PSU was made poorly, since its not supposed to whine like that. Whatever, try another PSU.
 
enginurd said:
I disagree. We had a whole convo about this in another thread a while back, but since the search is disabled, I can't find it. Anyhow, the outcome was that the high pitched sound is not supposed to be there, but apparently it doesn't mean anything if it is. Though, I think it means that the PSU was made poorly, since its not supposed to whine like that. Whatever, try another PSU.
Click to expand...

I'm an electronic engineer and cannot advise anyone on a Forum to use an electrical device that plugs directly into the mains and squeals.
There are many reasons that a squeal can occur, some are safe, some are not.
Its negligent to say it is safe when you have no idea if it is.
 
Nenu said:
I'm an electronic engineer and cannot advise anyone on a Forum to use an electrical device that plugs directly into the mains and squeals.
There are many reasons that a squeal can occur, some are safe, some are not.
Its negligent to say it is safe when you have no idea if it is.
Click to expand...

Woops... I read those two posts wrong, lol. But, if you read my post, you'll find that I actually do agree with you guys. I didn't say it was safe. I said its not normal. Jeez, I need some coffee -- too early in the morning for me.
 
Well let me apologize to this forum for messing the thread by posting the same subject twice.
Now I swapped in a another Antec SmartPower PSU in my dead rig. Well the high pitched squeal is gone but the computer is deader that ever. Now I don't even get the 1 long and and 2 short beeps. Have to turn off the computer using the switch on the PSU, the case power-on button doesn't function when I don't at least get the 1 long and 2 short beeps. So what kind of motherboard should I buy that matches my components listed on my first post?
 
enginurd said:
Woops... I read those two posts wrong, lol. But, if you read my post, you'll find that I actually do agree with you guys. I didn't say it was safe. I said its not normal. Jeez, I need some coffee -- too early in the morning for me.
Click to expand...

np :)
can I have a coffee too?
 
Do you have another, non-antec-smartpower PSU you could try?

If you think the board is dead, find out for sure. Bring it to a shop and have them test it. If it is dead, find out if its still in warranty. If so, get an RMA replacement. If not, I'd suggest selling all your parts since its hard to find a good s939 board these days. AMD prematurely killed off the socket... those bastids.
 
very good advice. That's what I will do. but I don't think the brand or model PSU is important at this point. The brand new PSU i just tried seems to be working, although it won't solve the problem of a broke mb...but I should at least switch out my ram modules as a last check before I look at a new mb.
 
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