Opinions on what is dying/dead in my system?

[marmasatt]

Hi, Haven't been around in a few years but I know I can count on some AT folks to point me in the right direction. Trying to isolate part and/or cause by symptoms.

Keep in mind, all I did was move houses. So could have rattled something loose in the move, could be coincidence with older hardware, etc. System: Old ECS P67 mobo (7yrs old), 2500K (never really oc'd), 15 gigs corsair ddr3, ocz 600 watt xstream psu, ati 6970. (I know it's time to upgrade, just never needed to for what I do).

When I plugged system in new house (older house 2 prong outlet at this particular outlet) the system kind of chugged for a second and I got to splash screen and even Windows start up a few times and then the PSU would restart and it becomes a boot loop. (I also got same symptoms with other outlets). It also did the boot loop with no video on screen a few times. I tried reseating memory, and then a new video card (as I thought it was failing) and got same symptoms. I then reseated CPU a few times and then got no video at all, but same reboot loop with PSU shutting down and restarting. Now the 2nd time I reseated cpu, I went back in to reseat it and I saw my damn grain of rice thermal paste! I didn't press HSF down enough. So reseated a few more times, now I can't even get video (splash screen/bios) when I try.

I thought for sure it was video card but new card didn't change things. I thought PSU, but that would be a bit random/coincidental alongside the move. And if it was cpu, why was I getting symptoms before reseating (and my blunder) maybe I knocked it loose then made it worse?!

What do people think this is? I may scrap it, (especially if it's mobo/cpu or something). Thanks!

 

[C1]

Typically for me with something like moving an aged system that has been in place for a long time, any issue just turns out to be a bad/dirty connector/connection. The cure is almost always removing connectors or components, cleaning them with DEOXIT then reconnecting.

The issue that you have now is that you have messed with so many things (particularly CPU the contacts on the MB of which are delicate) that you've greatly complicated things.

Advice is to let a shop find out what's going on.

Otherwise, the procedure is to simply dedicate a day to pulling the system down to scratch (bare MB removed from case), carefully inspect all components, clean contacts, then try to energize the MB in primal table-top mode and if/when successful begin adding components one-by-one sequentially testing in each case (ex, MB bare, MB w/CPU only, MB w/CPU and minimum memory, etc.).

A repair facility is easier able to get to the bottom of the issue as they should have all necessary test tools and critical components to do parts swapping.

 

[VirtualLarry]

I still vote for trying a newer, fresher, known-good PSU of adequate wattage. Boot loops can be caused by insufficient power. But the idea that you need to just simply clean the contacts is a good one too.

 

[marmasatt]

Update: Well this is interesting. Put an i3 2120 in there (same socket) and get the same results. No video, reboot loop after 20 seconds. Took the same i5 2500K and it boots fine on a vanilla dell sff intel board. Someone locally had suggested that they'd bet the pins on the board are actually bent or askew. I did see some abnormalities and attempted to fix with no result. (Looked like some were touching). Lastly, if I take one stick of memory and put it in the first slot, the original system will boot up occasionally. But even 3 or 4 slots it won't boot. So it looks to me the memory controller on the cpu is borked (probably by the pins?). Not worth my time for an 8 yr old board.

 

[VirtualLarry]

I did see some abnormalities and attempted to fix with no result. (Looked like some were touching).

Yeah.. uhh... that's NOT a good sign... bent pins are ... baaad.

Edit: On the plus side, times are looking good for an upgrade!