Fixing up my PC

[namenotfounderror404]

Hi everyone,

I'm writing here mostly to become more confident I did everything right. My story is as follows:

I've installed new Motherboard (MSI Z 370 A Pro) for my 8700K CPU since my previous MB died on me. Being a happy owner, I was excited to boot up my system. However, the only thing I saw/heard was my GPU fans spin 100% and No-Display signal on my monitor. I started digging up some info, tried to reseat the cables (both 8pin and 24pin) - nothing helped. Then, seemingly randomly, PC booted up and went to the Windows just fine. I thought that was strange since I didn't do anything deliberate to "fix" it so I was mentally prepared it might die on me again. 

 

Couple of hours later (I stress tested CPU/GPU with Aida64 and some graphic benchmarks - all was fine) - PC shuts down on me when I'm on Discord with my friends. I suspect this wasn't due to high loads or anything, since it passed stress tests before. 

 

After trying to turn it on again - same thing, fans on GPU spin really loudly and nothing shows on screen. Figured, this can't be GPU since if I remove it and use processor as iGPU - same thing. Started digging some info online and noticed that MSI boards have EZ Debug LED thingie on the right and I noticed it was lit with a white color on CPU fail/not detected. So that narrowed down my suspicions. 

Read up online that this could be due to BIOS version, incompatible ram sticks etc. Tried each RAM stick solo in every slot - didn't help. Removed GPU (which is RTX 2080) since it's most likely not connected to the failure. Tried to reseat each cable in the PC case. Didn't help at all.

 

Being very angry and frustrated - I went to sleep, but couldn't get any of it. Woke up couple of hours later to give it one more try and it randomly turned on (no EZ Debug LED was visible), but obviously no display since I disconnected GPU. Reconnected GPU. Turned it on - booted up to Windows just fine. Figured I might as well update BIOS. Prepared Flash Drive. Restarted PC to get into BIOS and it doesn't boot - same EZ Debug LED on CPU error. It all seemed very random with no logic behind it.

 

Went to sleep and in the morning I decided to reseat my CPU heatsink+fan. For the good measure, also checked CPU and the socket - socket was just fine, no bent pins - CPU was also seemingly fine. Put it back in the socket  - make sure it stays there firmly. Installed heatsink, connected every fan and tried to boot up without GPU. 

CPU Led wasn't visible. CPU passed the test (or at least motherboard said so) and now showed that there's no video output (duh, no GPU haha). So I installed my RTX 2080 back in the case and prayed it boots up. It booted up to Windows, I can see the image on my monitor. Stress tested with FurMark + Aida + some Heaven benchmark. Totaling 2 hours of testing - nothing bad happened, everything seems fine. 

So my question to you. How probable is it that reseating CPU was the solution? What might have been the problem behind it? Because in my mind - if the CPU wasn't seated properly, it shouldn't have booted up, not even once. But it randomly did.

Please let me know if I should feel safe from now on. 

Thanks for reading my story. Appreciate any input here. Cheers!

[jaslion]

The probability of it being a badly seated cpu is high if that is the fix. But no way to say 100%.

 

What is the psu you have? Just out of curiosity.

[namenotfounderror404]

Just now, jaslion said:

The probability of it being a badly seated cpu is high if that is the fix. But no way to say 100%.

 

What is the psu you have? Just out of curiosity.

My PSU is Raidmax Cobra 700W. I know (at least suspect) it is not that good, but it did its job just fine for 2.5 years before last mobo died on me. Can this be the problem? I should probably consider going for 750W reputable PSU then.

[jaslion]

1 minute ago, namenotfounderror404 said:

My PSU is Raidmax Cobra 700W. I know (at least suspect) it is not that good, but it did its job just fine for 2.5 years before last mobo died on me. Can this be the problem? I should probably consider going for 750W reputable PSU then.

Like buy a good psu right now this is a low end psu that is pretty much listed in the pc killer class of psu's.

 

Very very very much so get a good psu asap to not kill another board, component or the system. You are basically running on luck :p.

 

Get a b tier unit from the psu tier list at least and if you want to lets say upgrade to a 3080 class card later on aim for 850w. The revolution D.F is the new hot psu on the block that offers insanely high quality for a very good price.

 

https://linustechtips.com/topic/1116640-psucultists-psu-tier-list/

[namenotfounderror404]

5 minutes ago, jaslion said:

Like buy a good psu right now this is a low end psu that is pretty much listed in the pc killer class of psu's.

 

Very very very much so get a good psu asap to not kill another board, component or the system. You are basically running on luck :p.

 

Get a b tier unit from the psu tier list at least and if you want to lets say upgrade to a 3080 class card later on aim for 850w. The revolution D.F is the new hot psu on the block that offers insanely high quality for a very good price.

 

https://linustechtips.com/topic/1116640-psucultists-psu-tier-list/

Got it. It's not hard to replace PSU right? Do I have to take the motherboard out?

[jaslion]

1 minute ago, namenotfounderror404 said:

Got it. It's not hard to replace PSU right? Do I have to take the motherboard out?

Normally not. Remove ALL old cables of the psu. This old one of yours shouldn't be modular but if it is DO NOT USE any of the old cables they are not compatible with the new unit and can kill parts if used.

[namenotfounderror404]

Just now, jaslion said:

Normally not. Remove ALL old cables of the psu. This old one of yours shouldn't be modular but if it is DO NOT USE any of the old cables they are not compatible with the new unit and can kill parts if used.

I'm pretty sure it's not modular. So once I disconnect all cables - I should be able to remove them all at once. Alright, I'll aim for 750-850 W PSU now.

[namenotfounderror404]

Should I go for Enermax Revolution DF 850W 80Plus Gold?

[jaslion]

1 minute ago, namenotfounderror404 said:

I'm pretty sure it's not modular. So once I disconnect all cables - I should be able to remove them all at once. Alright, I'll aim for 750-850 W PSU now.

Do check the list and post here your results. Plenty of garbage psu's in that wattage bracket. Don't forget to tag and or quote us so we see the reply.

[jaslion]

Just now, namenotfounderror404 said:

Should I go for Enermax Revolution DF 850W 80Plus Gold?

Yup super good psu just recommended it to you :p.

[namenotfounderror404]

10 minutes ago, jaslion said:

Yup super good psu just recommended it to you :p.

Thanks. I'll order it. Replacing PSU should be easy, right? I'm feeling there's almost no way to mess it up.

[jaslion]

1 minute ago, namenotfounderror404 said:

Thanks. I'll order it. Replacing PSU should be easy, right? I'm feeling there's almost no way to mess it up.

Remove all the old cables, remove the psu, place new psu, connect cables and done. (NEVER EVER USE OLD PSU CABLES FROM A PREVIOUS PSU WITH A NEW ONE they might not be compatible and fry the system).

 

Just a small tip but connect the psu first to all the parts and see if the system works this is to prevent you from putting all the work in routing all the cables only for it not to work and be doa. It is rare that it happens but it happens and that is just to save the pain of undoing all the work again :p.

[namenotfounderror404]

2 minutes ago, jaslion said:

Remove all the old cables, remove the psu, place new psu, connect cables and done. (NEVER EVER USE OLD PSU CABLES FROM A PREVIOUS PSU WITH A NEW ONE they might not be compatible and fry the system).

 

Just a small tip but connect the psu first to all the parts and see if the system works this is to prevent you from putting all the work in routing all the cables only for it not to work and be doa. It is rare that it happens but it happens and that is just to save the pain of undoing all the work again :p.

Got it. I think I'll do it in the next three days. Thanks for the help.

I just was really surprised that reseating CPU could fix my original issue. Point is taken though - try not to use "PC repair services"...

[jaslion]

1 minute ago, namenotfounderror404 said:

Got it. I think I'll do it in the next three days. Thanks for the help.

I just was really surprised that reseating CPU could fix my original issue. Point is taken though - try not to use "PC repair services"...

Repair services are fine if you go to the right ones. Those big chaing stores often basically don't care a single bit whereas a good local shop does.

 

Also doesn't hurt to always to your own research and ask question what they are replacing things with. Had a local store KNOWINGLY put cheap shitty Logon and chieftec psu's in their in store built systems so the customer HAD to come back to get it fixed so they could make more money. Got pissed about them doing it to a friend trice I fixed it for them others heard came to me started a small business and basically nearly forced him to close up shop due to lack of clients as I was cheaper, faster, had better service, wanted ultimate customer satisfaction and didn't screw people over :p. All whilst still being a student mind you and a minor at the time which impressed people a lot when they heard about it.

[namenotfounderror404]

15 minutes ago, jaslion said:

Repair services are fine if you go to the right ones. Those big chaing stores often basically don't care a single bit whereas a good local shop does.

 

Also doesn't hurt to always to your own research and ask question what they are replacing things with. Had a local store KNOWINGLY put cheap shitty Logon and chieftec psu's in their in store built systems so the customer HAD to come back to get it fixed so they could make more money. Got pissed about them doing it to a friend trice I fixed it for them others heard came to me started a small business and basically nearly forced him to close up shop due to lack of clients as I was cheaper, faster, had better service, wanted ultimate customer satisfaction and didn't screw people over :p. All whilst still being a student mind you and a minor at the time which impressed people a lot when they heard about it.

Thanks for the help! Appreciate it. I have order Revolution DF 850W. Might be a bit overkill in terms of wattage - but better safe than sorry. Would you mind briefly explaining how PSU can be PC killer..? I just don't get how it works etc. 

[jaslion]

17 minutes ago, namenotfounderror404 said:

Thanks for the help! Appreciate it. I have order Revolution DF 850W. Might be a bit overkill in terms of wattage - but better safe than sorry. Would you mind briefly explaining how PSU can be PC killer..? I just don't get how it works etc. 

So basically your pc expects certain voltages like 12V, 5V and 3V. Some bad psu's have a lot of ripple in those delivering unstable voltages that go under or below spec nonstop and this can damage components. It is one of the things a bad psu can have as an issue.

 

The gigabyte G PM is even worse than that. It uses the cheapest components possible that have basically 0 durability so when a part fails it shorts and that short doesn't get stopped as it doesn't have any protections against it like a good psu does. So that kills a bunch more stuff AND on top of that due to all the components being so cheap in it you have a cascade failure and a true firehazard and hazard in general.

 

This is a very simplified explanation of only 2 common faults. Your current psu has both and a some others.

[namenotfounderror404]

1 minute ago, jaslion said:

So basically your pc expects certain voltages like 12V, 5V and 3V. Some bad psu's have a lot of ripple in those delivering unstable voltages that go under or below spec nonstop and this can damage components. It is one of the things a bad psu can have as an issue.

 

The gigabyte G PM is even worse than that. It uses the cheapest components possible that have basically 0 durability so when a part fails it shorts and that short doesn't get stopped as it doesn't have any protections against it like a good psu does. So that kills a bunch more stuff AND on top of that due to all the components being so cheap in it you have a cascade failure and a true firehazard and hazard in general.

 

This is a very simplified explanation of only 2 common faults. Your current psu has both and a some others.

Great that I stumbled on your reply then! PSU will arrive tomorrow/Sat. Do you recommend not using PC until then? I feel super stressed right now...

[jaslion]

1 minute ago, namenotfounderror404 said:

Great that I stumbled on your reply then! PSU will arrive tomorrow/Sat. Do you recommend not using PC until then? I feel super stressed right now...

I recommend not using it yes as I said before you are basically running on luck :p.

[namenotfounderror404]

On 6/3/2021 at 4:47 PM, jaslion said:

I recommend not using it yes as I said before you are basically running on luck :p.

Hi there,

New PSU arrived - I installed it. So far so good. Thanks for all the help. Will report back in case any problems arise (hope not).

Cheers.

[jaslion]

14 minutes ago, namenotfounderror404 said:

Hi there,

New PSU arrived - I installed it. So far so good. Thanks for all the help. Will report back in case any problems arise (hope not).

Cheers.

Hopefully no more problems.