Computer Hope
Hardware => Hardware => Topic started by: pcjoseph1974 on December 02, 2007, 10:30:37 AM
-
If a processor was going bad, what would it look like?
-
Why do you suspect the processor ? ?
Without an identical machine to test it on it is difficult to diagnose conclusively whether it is the processor at fault or other components...
However with a flowchart approach which we use here quite often we can at least narrow it down until a culprit is found.
Start by posting as much info on the system, OS what happened prior to this etc and we can go from there.
List all the symptoms as well in the order they started occuring.
-
Well first let me describe the problem, I put together a new Pc from old spare parts, but not really that old. It was runnung fine for about three weeks and then one morning I got up and the monitor displayed weird patterns of colors. I turned it off and rebooted it and it was fine untill later that night. The computer began to restart and crash untill just completly becomming non responsive. I tried a new power suppley, memory and hard drive..... nothing. The mother board is only a year old and in great condition.
Biostar p4m80-m4
Pentium 4 2.6 northwood
2 gig 2700
xp sp2
ati 2600 xt
30gig hd
380 watt or 500 wat ( either one is just as responsive)
netgear wireless
Just alittle bit of additional info..... When I was first trying to put the rig together, I was trying to put an A drive into it and when I did that the computer started to wig out, basicall doing the same thing it is now. When I took it out it was fine but I had to switch the hard drive out to get the computer to respond. After doing that and reinstalling windows with out the a drive everything was great.... untill now. ????
-
I would recheck all your connections! Also whats specs of your old system?
-
Specs on old sytem unimportant, checking connections...... seriously????
-
Specs on old sytem unimportant, checking connections...... seriously????
Well when you mix the old with the new you tend to get problems, thats why i asked about connections. I also think it maybe your graphics card or monitor, but since you know so much i'll leave it to you.
-
Sorry, dont get me worng, I appreciate the advise, but asking me to check the connections is like asking someone who's car died on the freeway to check the gas level. Ive done that already. Anyway... All Im really asking for is if anyone knows the symptoms of a dying processor.
-
Sorry, dont get me worng, I appreciate the advise, but asking me to check the connections is like asking someone who's car died on the freeway to check the gas level. Ive done that already. Anyway... All Im really asking for is if anyone knows the symptoms of a dying processor.
Well it depends, are you overclocking the cpu? If so turn the clock speeds down. This would apply if your computer is freezing, but you give very little away to know. What you speak about sounds like a graphics card or monitor problem.
-
Im not overclocking, If it was a monitor problem the computer would at least boot, If it was a video card then it would not work in another computer, which it does. The only two other things it could be is the MB or the processor. The motherboard is practically new and somehow I cant believe its that. I inherited the processor and my friend says that he was having problems with the computer it was installed on. But again the computer ran fine for three weeks. Here is the deal...... The problems I'm having now I had orifinally when I tried putting in the A drive. When I left the A drive out they went away only to reappear three weeks later. If these problems are being caused by a faulty MB, they would not just have gone away only to reappear later,.... would they? I guess it would be the same for the processor too. Im just looking at the connections between the old problems and the new problems. The only constant is the processor.
-
And what problems was your friend having with the cpu? or his computer? btw, if it is a graphics card problem it might work in one pc and not the other.
-
Freezes and such, how is it possible that a video card may work in one computer and not another?
-
Freezes and such, how is it possible that a video card may work in one computer and not another?
Depends on the specs of your computer and if your motherboard can take that card.
-
Specs on old sytem unimportant, checking connections...... seriously????
Well when you mix the old with the new you tend to get problems, thats why i asked about connections. I also think it maybe your graphics card or monitor, but since you know so much i'll leave it to you.
LOL , i mix old and new all the time what has that got to do with anything .
-
Sorry for trying to help.
-
no no no , dude dont take me the wrong way please , i wasnt being mean.
I was just saying .
-
OK here's my advice .
1. Take it all apart , look at all connections on the motherboard and make sure its all in good shape.
2. Take out all extra pci , pci-e cards , give them a good once over to make sure there not to dusty .
3. take the cpu out the of 478 socket and wipe of all thermal compound .
4. Check the pins on the back and make sure none are bent , if you happen to find a bent pin , carefully adjust it to its correct and up right postion with some tweezers.
5. check for any type of dust in the 478 socket , compressed air if there is any will do the trick .
6. re apply a thin layer of the paste , and smear on with a card , be sure not to leave any gaps or any big splodges of the thermal compound .
7. reattach all wires and cables fans pci cards etc , and boot up .
8. If you manage to boot , go into bios and remain in your systems vital settings for about 20 Min's , make sure all temps are OK and are idle at around 40 to 50 max .
I generally believe this is a heat issue.
Tony
-
Frankie, I dont mean to be mean here but the advise and info your giving me is at the 1st grade level. Im simply looking for the signs and symptoms of a bad processor, nothing more. Maybe I'll look elsewhere unless someone has something useful to say.
-
Yes, I thought it may be a heat issue also, but would a heat issue cause a computer to not even boot up after not having been on for several days? Orignally when I assembled the rig there was a heat problem. I reapplied the paste and everything was fine after that, that was only three weeks ago. I just find it hard to believe that in three weeks time a heat issue would arise from a problem with the paste. Curiously..... I used Dynex paste, is there any quality issues with this brand that anyone knows of? I looked at all the pins already and see that nothing is bent or missing. I cant for the life of me figure this thing out.
-
Well, this may not help you much, but I have recently have done the same thing. [Made a comp from other comps] Every thing is compatible, that was my first check. And I checked my cables. [duh] My problem is quite similar. My comp worked for a while, then I had problems with the monitor signal cutting in and out. Finally it just stopped sending signal all together, but my computer starts up. I can hear the hard drive working, plus I tested it. I have tried two different video cards, two different motherboards, several monitors and all the same thing. No signal output. The only thing I haven't changed is the CPU . How it went bad is a mystery to me but I can see slight rainbow looking discolorment on it, when they are normally fully silver toned. [and i mean FULLY] I had another CPU that had this same discolorment and it would randomly shut down. Later I found out that it came with a heat sink that was incompatible and caused it to over heat running at its normal clock value [3200]. So theres my bit of research and I'm sure your CPU is bad. I hope this helps you. When I get money I'm gonna buy a new one and test my theory out. I'm pretty sure I'm right. [I know old cpu's are cheep but I'm really broke lol]
-
i would say if you have another mobo with the same socket that works with the same cpu, i would swap the good cpu out with the old one and see if it does it then. if you can do it that way you will find your answer if its a bad MOBO or bad CPU ect.
-
you just bumped a 4 month old thread...
-
3rd or 4th one today i've seen.
Lot's of newcomers on board....
-
Check the CPU fan/heatsink and make sure it is operating correctly.
-
you just bumped a 4 month old thread...
-
A guy's gotta get his post count up somehow.