VERY old PC doesn't post

[tuetenk0pp]

I recently got a very old PC off ebay for 20 bucks. Previous owner says the last time he used it everything worked (that was one year ago). My problem is: The PC turns on, one short beep and then nothing; no graphics output.

 

Here is the Hardware list:

 

• Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-K8NS (rev. 2.0), specs here
• CPU: AMD Athlon 64 3000+
• RAM: 2 Sticks Infineon 512MB PC400
• GPU: GeForce FX5200 128 M
• Storage: Maxtor Diamond Max Plu 9 200GB SATA HDD (Probably Windows 7 but not sure)

 

Here is a list of what I tried:

 

• tried various VGA/DVI cables but no success.
• Monitor works with HDMI, so I don't think that the monitor is the problem here. I have no other VGA source to test it with.
• cleared CMOS
• removed Disk Drive and Floppy Drive
• reseated GPU, RAM, CPU, Storage
• disconnected storage
• tried to boot from usb stick
• got another GPU (ATI Radeon 9200SE 128M)
• tried CTL+F1 to get into BIOS but no luck

PLEASE HELP! I am out of ideas at this point. My original plan with this system was to put batocera on it (admit, because of the video) but it turned to troubleshooting maze instead.

[jaslion]

Pics of the board. Make sure all the caps are visible.

 

Massive chance the caps on the board are just fucked

[PDifolco]

What did you expect for 20 bucks ?

[mp4freak]

Could also be the PSU. Have you checked either the cable for the PSU or the unit itself?

[bezza...]

probbably is not this but reseat power cables or anything else that could get disloged in shipping

[Applefreak]

1 hour ago, tuetenk0pp said:

I recently got a very old PC off ebay for 20 bucks. Previous owner says the last time he used it everything worked (that was one year ago). My problem is: The PC turns on, one short beep and then nothing; no graphics output.

 

Here is the Hardware list:

 

• Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-K8NS (rev. 2.0), specs here
• CPU: AMD Athlon 64 3000+
• RAM: 2 Sticks Infineon 512MB PC400
• GPU: GeForce FX5200 128 M
• Storage: Maxtor Diamond Max Plu 9 200GB SATA HDD (Probably Windows 7 but not sure)

 

Here is a list of what I tried:

 

• tried various VGA/DVI cables but no success.
• Monitor works with HDMI, so I don't think that the monitor is the problem here. I have no other VGA source to test it with.
• cleared CMOS
• removed Disk Drive and Floppy Drive
• reseated GPU, RAM, CPU, Storage
• disconnected storage
• tried to boot from usb stick
• got another GPU (ATI Radeon 9200SE 128M)
• tried CTL+F1 to get into BIOS but no luck

PLEASE HELP! I am out of ideas at this point. My original plan with this system was to put batocera on it (admit, because of the video) but it turned to troubleshooting maze instead.

 

1 hour ago, tuetenk0pp said:

I recently got a very old PC off ebay for 20 bucks. Previous owner says the last time he used it everything worked (that was one year ago). My problem is: The PC turns on, one short beep and then nothing; no graphics output.

 

Here is the Hardware list:

 

• Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-K8NS (rev. 2.0), specs here
• CPU: AMD Athlon 64 3000+
• RAM: 2 Sticks Infineon 512MB PC400
• GPU: GeForce FX5200 128 M
• Storage: Maxtor Diamond Max Plu 9 200GB SATA HDD (Probably Windows 7 but not sure)

 

Here is a list of what I tried:

 

• tried various VGA/DVI cables but no success.
• Monitor works with HDMI, so I don't think that the monitor is the problem here. I have no other VGA source to test it with.
• cleared CMOS
• removed Disk Drive and Floppy Drive
• reseated GPU, RAM, CPU, Storage
• disconnected storage
• tried to boot from usb stick
• got another GPU (ATI Radeon 9200SE 128M)
• tried CTL+F1 to get into BIOS but no luck

PLEASE HELP! I am out of ideas at this point. My original plan with this system was to put batocera on it (admit, because of the video) but it turned to troubleshooting maze instead.

Check all the cables, fans as well. 

A single beep, if I remember correctly should be something trivial as memory. 

Old boards like that will not boot without a CPU, GPU and good Memory present. 

By running the system without the RAM or the GPU you should get other beeps, if not the board might be bad.

Try those memory modules one at a time. Keep in mind that on older boards memory modules are not placed in every other slot but in the first then second and so on.

[tuetenk0pp]

1 hour ago, jaslion said:

Pics of the board. Make sure all the caps are visible.

 

Massive chance the caps on the board are just fucked

You are probably right. I just had a closer look and found some suspicious looking caps near the cpu socket. Here's' a picture.

[Beerzerker]

OUCH - Those caps are toast and probrably why it's not working.

I have one of those boards myself, it's a good board for what it is but in your case a total VRM recapping is in order along with any others you may happen to find like those.

Luckily, if you have the soldering equipment and know-how it's not that bad of a job to do as long as you have good replacement caps onhand.

[tuetenk0pp]

9 minutes ago, Beerzerker said:

OUCH - Those caps are toast and probrably why it's not working.

I have one of those boards myself, it's a good board for what it is but in your case a total VRM recapping is in order along with any others you may happen to find like those.

Luckily, if you have the soldering equipment and know-how it's not that bad of a job to do as long as you have good replacement caps onhand.

Yeah I will look into that I am kinda motivated

[jaslion]

2 hours ago, tuetenk0pp said:

You are probably right. I just had a closer look and found some suspicious looking caps near the cpu socket. Here's' a picture.

Yeah all of the ones next to the cpu are dead dying deceased

 

If you want these old boards are quite beginner solder job replacement friendly

 

Oh and get some decent replacement caps not super cheap stuff of questionable origin

 

Also I recommend you use a different psu or worst case check the psu too (dont open it that shit is dangerous and literally deadly even if unplugged) big chance the caps are also busted

[Beerzerker]

5 hours ago, jaslion said:

Yeah all of the ones next to the cpu are dead dying deceased

 

If you want these old boards are quite beginner solder job replacement friendly

 

Oh and get some decent replacement caps not super cheap stuff of questionable origin

 

Also I recommend you use a different psu or worst case check the psu too (dont open it that shit is dangerous and literally deadly even if unplugged) big chance the caps are also busted

This is a perfect situation for the OP to start learning how to solder if they don't know already.
The reward is what they learn and probrably a working board too as a bonus.

[Whatisthis]

If you are going the soldering route, get an iron that is adjustable temp with an holder and a couple of different shape tips. It’s so much nicer working with a decent iron than the $5 ones.

[tuetenk0pp]

I will keep you updated

[Beerzerker]

11 hours ago, Whatisthis said:

If you are going the soldering route, get an iron that is adjustable temp with an holder and a couple of different shape tips. It’s so much nicer working with a decent iron than the $5 ones.

Grabbing an 862+ soldering station is a good call too and also has the air wand for desoldering stuff with.
I too suggest for whatever you get to have several different tips onhand, just having the one usually found sometimes doesn't cut it. Many say a chisel tip is the most useful out of all the different tips you'll use so be sure to at least have one of those handy.