FX-8320 No-post

[KerbalPhysicist]

So, my setup is a FX-8320 with 2x4GB sticks of ddr3, an R9-270 graphics card, an Asrock 970 performance AM3+ mobo, and a corsair 750 watt psu, all of which were known to be working up until yesterday. I was playing a game, and the CPU fan died. By the time I noticed the computer was too quiet, it was too late and it thermal shutdown. I booted it into the BIOS, and sure enough the CPU temp was hovering around 80 C. I took the cooler off the CPU, swapped the fan for one of the other ones in the case, and cleaned/reapplied the thermal compound. After reassembling everything, there was no post. The fans spin up for a second or two, then stop. There's no video output either. At this point, I started doing all the normal things that you'd do in case of a no-post. I tried different RAM, 1 stick of RAM, swapping GPU's, clearing CMOS, reseating everything that can be reseated (including the CPU) and at one point even swapping monitors. Of course the motherboard doesnt have a speaker or readout, so there's no way for me to figure out which post-code it hangs on. Since it's an AM3+ board, I tried to install a old athlon 2 x6, but it actually didn't fit in the socket. Same for another athlon 2 x4. But the FX-8320 fits perfectly! My running theory now is that something is maybe wrong with the socket? I have had to bend pins back into place on the 8320, but they're all straight now. I'm grateful for any ideas anyone can offer me.

[PrinzyXX]

Well considering all the steps you took, the only other solution would be to try a different motherboard to confirm the chips death or not, which I suspect it might have.

 

[KerbalPhysicist]

26 minutes ago, MysticalRainXIV said:

Well considering all the steps you took, the only other solution would be to try a different motherboard to confirm the chips death or not, which I suspect it might have.

 

Well, I tried forcing the athlon in there (since its old, and damaging it isnt a massive problem.) and it fit, but it still didn't boot. I then tried that same athlon in a working system and it worked fine. So it looks like its the mobo, and possibly the processor too. I guess I'll try getting a new motherboard, since its really all I can afford for the time being, and if it still doesn't work (but it will boot with the athlon) then I guess I need a new processor too. Lovely. Thanks for your help though

[PrinzyXX]

8 hours ago, KerbalPhysicist said:

Well, I tried forcing the athlon in there (since its old, and damaging it isnt a massive problem.) and it fit, but it still didn't boot. I then tried that same athlon in a working system and it worked fine. So it looks like its the mobo, and possibly the processor too. I guess I'll try getting a new motherboard, since its really all I can afford for the time being, and if it still doesn't work (but it will boot with the athlon) then I guess I need a new processor too. Lovely. Thanks for your help though

You pretty much covered all you bases already so theres nothing else I could think of that could help alleviate the problem. I hope all goes well in your endeavors, and If you manage to fix it please let me know, I'd be curious as to what made it tick again.

[KerbalPhysicist]

On 5/27/2017 at 11:36 PM, MysticalRainXIV said:

You pretty much covered all you bases already so theres nothing else I could think of that could help alleviate the problem. I hope all goes well in your endeavors, and If you manage to fix it please let me know, I'd be curious as to what made it tick again.

Welp, basically I just had to replace the mobo, I got as close to the same model as possible, so I didnt even have to reactivate windows. And since its newer I've got USB-C now to boot! but no thunderbolt, because its still an old AMD machine...

 

[PrinzyXX]

50 minutes ago, KerbalPhysicist said:

Welp, basically I just had to replace the mobo, I got as close to the same model as possible, so I didnt even have to reactivate windows. And since its newer I've got USB-C now to boot! but no thunderbolt, because its still an old AMD machine...

 

Hey thanks for letting me know! Glad it wasnt the CPU and was just the motherboard, although the old AM3 platform doesnt officially support USB3 either so your mileage may vary..

[KerbalPhysicist]

Just now, MysticalRainXIV said:

Hey thanks for letting me know! Glad it wasnt the CPU and was just the motherboard

You and me both! I couldn't afford a new CPU, I would've been stuck with that athlon till like August! Thanks for your replies though.