I Doubt Anyone Can Tell Me What Broke My Computer

pohjis · #1 17th Oct 2009, 05:11

Hi everyone, its my first post here.

I know some basics about computers, and it has been sufficient thus far, but now I have no idea what is wrong with my computer.

My computer's specs were:
NZXT lexa computer case
antec neo HE 450w
asus p5b
e6600
3 x 1gb corsair xms2 800mhz
seagate barracuda 7200.11 320gb
inno3d 9800gtx
soundblaster audigy 2
HP w2216 monitor

Couple months before the computer broke, I bought Iomega prestige 1 Tb external harddrive that seemed very unreliable.

The computer had worked fine for about a year, but one morning it wouldn't start. No power led on motherboard or any sign of life. I measured the voltage from the psu with volt meter, and it appeared to be dead. So I bought new antec neo HE 550w as my new psu, but didn't get further than bios, and after few times it would freeze to opening screen and wouldn't do anything. I bought new motherboard, p5ql pro to fix the problem, and it worked well for few days. After few times it wouldn't even boot, so I looked if everything was correct in the bios, but all seemed to be fine. Soon after that it wouldn't even go to bios, and after few desperate tries, it would freeze to opening screen.

I thought I had solved the problem, though without knowing what caused it. P5ql pro even recognized 4 x 1gb of my corsair xms2 memory, unlike p5b that ignored the fourth memory stick. I used my new setup for few days, even though some CPU sterssing games were stuttreing way more than with my old psu and motherboard. I was comfortable with little stuttering and thought that p5ql pro was infreior gaming board compared to p5b. Then I started noticing some stuttering that occured regardless of what I was doing, and couldn't find any reason for it. Then the computer started acting weird, for it wouldn't start one morning, but after some time it would function normally. It began crashing when I played some heavier games like GTA4 and endwar. Then one time it crashed and wouldn't work again.

When I try to start the computer, fans and leds start working, but nothing happens. There is no signal to the monitor, and no sound of windows starting.

I could always buy a new motherboard, but it would propably give me only few days time to use my computer. I still have good computer case, graphic card, memory and harddrive, but how do I know what part is causing the problem? Motherboard or psu are propably not causing the problem because replacing them didn't help for long, and I havent found any flaws in other components. I will propably have to but a new computer anyway, but I'm wondering if I dare to use components from my old one before knowing what is causing the problem.

Any help would be appreciated, and I thank for it in advance.

**SocialWarfare** · #2 17th Oct 2009, 05:34

Sounds like GPU to me

pohjis · #3 17th Oct 2009, 09:52

If the problem is in GPU, I would only have to buy new GPU and maybe motherboard. It would spare me from buying entirely new computer, which would be great, but how can I be sure? Could the problem be in any other part? If the problem is not in GPU, I might loose more money for nothing when buying new parts. I would really like to know how the GPU could make the computer crash like that. I wouldn't like to spend over 150 dollars for a new GPU if there's a chance it would fail after a week or so. If I can't be sure enough that the GPU is causing the problem, I might have to buy or build new computer, so any further advice could save me lots of money.

I have noticed the tread "Is your PC dead? Find out why and how to fix it", but it might take days to go trough the list, and might cause further havoc if there is something seriously wrong with the GPU or something else.

**Carbon** · #4 17th Oct 2009, 17:40

If it was the GPU, Windows would boot. The previous memory problem sounds like you didn't have the memory voltages set right, and this one sounds like the PSU or perhaps a heatsink being loose.

Since you're going to build a new PC anyway, none of those components are worth reusing. I would part it out.

**xactly** · #5 18th Oct 2009, 12:59

You should try unplugging all leads that connect from the PSU to the motherboard and reseating them.

Also try taking the CMOS battery out from the motherboardleaving it a minute and put it back in.

You could also reseat the memory and graphics card; it's worth a shot.

I have had very similar problems with another PC which I soon fixed.

**4D(Fordy(Ford) Ollie** · #6 18th Oct 2009, 14:29

I love how optimistic you are about this forums users' diagnostic skills

Quote:

I Doubt Anyone Can Tell Me What Broke My Computer

Anywho-how, if you're planning on building a new system anyway - what's the issue? Bring that project forward - no time like the present.

You can always connect up your old HDD's after to recover data.

pohjis · #7 18th Oct 2009, 15:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4D(Fordy(Ford) Ollie

I love how optimistic you are about this forums users' diagnostic skills

The problem is so vague and didn't seem to have anything causing it, so I didn't expect conclusive answers.

I took the RAM and all power cords out, and put them back, and it works for now. I took closer look at my memory sticks, and noticed that 2 of the four had different latencies, which might have been a problem. Now I'm using only 2 gb of ram instead of 4, andt here seems to be no stuttering this time as all ram has same latency now.

I'm still wondering how long my computer will work this time, and if could use memory with different latencies.