Symptoms of a broken CPU in new system? (AMD A8-3870K)

[Domner]

Why not take the CPU to the local pc shop and ask them to test it ?
i'm sure they've got an fm1 board they could swap it in real quick

Actually don't think there is a PC shop around here that would be able to do that, there are really just a couple of local places that even sell components, and with me not having even bought the stuff from them it is unlikely that they would test it for me...

 

[Domner]

Domner what city are you in ?
If you're in the san diego area i've got an A8-3850 we could swap in.

Also I think fry's will update bios for you for a small fee.

Thanks for the offer, but I'm not anywhere near there.

 

[Domner]

Thanks for all the replies so far, it has been very helpful.

So far I have seen several of you mention that I might need a BIOS upgrade for this CPU, but on the other hand some mention that even with an old BIOS I should still get some kind of output.

I have also seen that a couple of you mention that these exact symptoms with no beeps, no graphics output and fans spinning are consistent with a busted CPU. Unfortunately I do not have access to a new CPU to test with, so I may just have to go ahead and return it to my retailer and see what they say.

 

[cppguru]

have you tried using a different gpu? Add in card if using IGP, otherwise try IGP if using add-in card.

 

[Kristijonas]

Interesting, I was actually going to use a Corsair CX 430W for this build, so that is one of the power supplies I'm using. The other one I have tested is a Zalman though.

Trust me it won't work. I bought all my computer parts at a store that helps build the computer. They said they tried 3 different corsair cx430w's before giving up.

 

[Domner]

have you tried using a different gpu? Add in card if using IGP, otherwise try IGP if using add-in card.

No, I have not. I'm attempting to use the IGP.

 

[Domner]

BIOS version is not the issue, found a sticker on the Asus board that has the BIOS version (1103), and that is the correct version to support the A8-3878K CPU. Very helpful of Asus to put that sticker there btw. Am in the process of returning the CPU to my retailer and hope that will solve the problem.

 

[Magic Carpet]

BIOS version is not the issue, found a sticker on the Asus board that has the BIOS version (1103), and that is the correct version to support the A8-3878K CPU. Very helpful of Asus to put that sticker there btw. Am in the process of returning the CPU to my retailer and hope that will solve the problem.

It's very rare, though.. but sometimes a bad flash can cause all sorts of problems. Since you have no tools to play with, it's best to return. Hope, you get a new one that works

 

[Domner]

Figured I would provide an update on this as it might help anyone with the same symptoms who finds this thread through a search. I haven't had all that much time to work on this, but I did come to the conclusion that it must be a broken CPU and so I returned it and received a new a few days ago. Annoyingly enough the system still failed to start, so by now I was getting very very frustrated. Then last night I got the idea that I should try to disconnect the reset switch, in case that was short circuted, and today I got the chance to test my theory. Indeed once I disconnected the reset switch connector from the motherboard everything booted fine! Testing the connector with a multimeter showed that it was indeed short circuted, causing the motherboard to think the reset switch was permanently pressed and causing the symptoms I experienced.

In the end a good result, but very annoying that it took so long to find the problem and surprising that it was a fault in the last component I would expect to be broken.