[J3Vr6]

Yeah, I followed all the instructions I've seen including touching the base of the machine before fiddling.

I got this floppy (it boots up from the floppy) called memtest that should run tests on the memory.  But a quarter into it I got the same error that I always get if I'm in at the command prompt:  computer freezing and funny symbols showing up.

When I turn on the computer it freezes either in processor info or at chipset initialization or memory testing.  Normally what it would do regarding the LED is that it would show memory test initialization then jump to early chipset initialization, you'd hear a click, and then go back to memory test lights.  But mostly it hangs at the processor info one.

[Liberator]

A click?  There shouldn't be any noises except for the CPU fan until the POST completes successful or not.

I'm leaning at this point toward the processor being damaged by the high temp somehow or the memory is damaged somehow.

[Thorn]

Originally posted by Mr. Fury
Well, if the computer sometimes does not POST at all, take your pick:
- Motherboard
- PSU
- RAM
- CPU

Almost all motherboards howewer should POST but give warnings about faulty CPU or RAM. So my guess is either the mobo or PSU.

Faulty HDD shouldn't prevent the system from POSTing, because it does not read any data from HDD at that point.

Howewer, it does not read out the possibility that HDD or any other component might be damaged, because faulty PSU's can damage other components as well. Rarely howewer faulty mobo damages anything except maybe data being written.

I have a feeling your system is self-built because you haven't yet taken it to a service under warranty. So your best bet is to call a few friends and ask them to bring their systems for testing, or you can take your computer to them and switch components until you can confirm what the problem is and RMA it if the warranty is still valid. Make no mistake, faulty PSU or mobo is not easy to track down because it may not have any immediate effect to a new HDD or other components.

Howewer, try to check the PSU with a voltage meter or somesuch to see if there are any irregularities. PSU's must always give steady amount of power, otherwise fluctuations will damage other hardware.

With self-built systems there is this possibility and this is why people who have not prepared for this possibilty would be better to buy prebuilt systems from a store.

I hope you get the system up and running properly again.

I've had machines fail to POST because of a faulty IDE cable....

[Arc]

Given your diagnostics, I'd be focusing on the cpu and ram. Problem is that you can't really tell which without testing them separately. Did you buy these recently? You could try asking the store to check them for you if you did. Or look for a local pc shop or pc repair company maybe? Even the IT dept at school/college/work might do you a favour if you ask nicely.

[J3Vr6]

Well, I was looking thru MSI's forums and it looks like their boards don't like Kingston memory too much.  So maybe it's that.  

As a "just in case" I went ahead and got me a power supply last night, up to 430.  I found a website that calculates how much power you need and anothter link on the MSI forum where it details that my board needs to have the powersupply running in the 30%-70% of capacity to really work well.  The minimum I needed was 316 watts.  Add 30% to that and it goes up to 411 watts.  I may upgrade later, so I got an Antec True 430 watt.

I got home, and sure enough, it wasn't the problem  So we've ruled out the PSU.  Next is either IDE cable, the processor, or the RAM (I'm going in order as I think I saw here).  I'll check the IDE cable when I get home for lunch (if I get home for lunch that is).  U guys answer my question on the other thread on which is a good processor for me and in the meantime (if the IDE cable didn't work) I'll be looking for muskin memory cheap.

[J3Vr6]

Alright guys, I think this processor is done.  I took out the processor to check it and it looked a little burnt.  The green part that's around the actual chip was brown.  I turned it over, and between the little pins and in the middle of those 4 rows of gold dots, was a brown smudge.

So that's burnt, right?

[Thorn]

Or going at the very least....
If you have access to another processor that your board will accept, try using it and see if the problem persists....

[J3Vr6]

I ordered a 2600 and hopefully will get  it this week.

[Arc]

This time, make sure your heat sink's got thermal paste on it before you turn it on.

[J3Vr6]

 I'll pee on it too.

[Liberator]

Or a pad.

I wouldn't, water does have a very good thermal conductivity, but it would evaporate it quickly and leave the important bits unprotected and leave a nasty smell.

[J3Vr6]

Well I bought a really big fan the other day (when I got the processor) and it has already some thermal compound already at the bottom of the heat sink.  I'll be using that fan.

Ooo, a question.  How do I get more ventilation into my case?  Is drilling holes a smart thing to do?  I was thinking of drilling some holes at the front of the case, as there's a fan there but hardly anywhere to get air from (there are tiny slots at the bottom of the front, but seems as if it has to travel an awfully lot to get to the fan).  As it is now, I've placed my hand infront of the fan and didn't feel any air from there.

Wanted to get some other fans, but not sure whree I have to put them to get the most advantage of them.