Building Problems

Discussion in 'General Hardware' started by zxivate, Jun 18, 2008.

  1. zxivate

    zxivate Geek Trainee

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    Hello, I just got done building my new computer. It was working alright and then when I was installing Windows, it just turned off by itself. Is there a heat problem, I am using stock cooling but not overclocked. Is it possibly something is dead, motherboard, cpu, ect. Or possibly something else, that can be easily fixed?
     
  2. Dwarfer

    Dwarfer Guest

    hey, sorry for the long words but may help you:


    1) check your cpu temp in bios straight after a shut-off, a stock cooler will usually come with compound already on the heatsink base (did you see any?). your temp should be no more than 45'c in BIOS. Anything over 56'c is very suspecious and a reading of 70'c+ in bios is sure to be an overheating cpu as the problem. if you dont know how to check the temp then RTFM (consult your manual) :D

    2) did you take your psu wattage into consideration? a new (fast) pc with an 8800, a hard disk, few optical drives for example needs a good psu, like a 550w for optimal performance, the more stuff you have the more watts you need

    3) might be, but unlikely, your power button or contact. if the above is ruled out its time for some troubleshooting. switch on the pc and then remove the power switch contacts from the motherboard, there MAY be a slight short in the wires, this will rule out that possibility.

    if it continues after the above is ruled out get back to us
     
  3. zxivate

    zxivate Geek Trainee

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    Thanks man, I can't look at my cpu temp until around lunchtime, but I think that that might be the problem. The heatsink came with the thermal grease aready spread onto it. Plus it lasts about a minutes and then I did it again and it lasted about 30 seonds. So I think that it might be too hot. So how exactly would I fix this problem?
     
  4. Big B

    Big B HWF Godfather

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    Definitely sounds like a cooling issue to me as well. For LGA775 stock coolers, press down on the retention pins in a cross pattern.
    For Socket's coolers, make sure the metal bracket of the heatsink is fully over the claws on the heatsink bracket.
     
  5. Dwarfer

    Dwarfer Guest

    well the first thing to do before you do anything else is check the cpu and mb temperature in bios, this will save you messin around in the pc. if the temps are overheating then check the heatsink to see if its firmly installed, it shouldnt wiggle and all clamps should be locked into the mb.

    if it seems ok remove the heatsink, use a flat-head screwdriver to carefully unlock the clamps and lift them with your finger one by one

    look at the cpu there should be leftovers of the heat paste on the top of the cpu, if the cpu is clean or if there is very little paste then try again to re-install the heatsink, make sure to reset the clamps to the LOCK position ready to be locked into the mb


    if your CPU was covered with grease and there is sure evidence the paste was contacted correctly there may have been a point where the heatsink came off, just follow the above instructions

    MAKE SURE THERE ARE NO WIRES TRAPPED UNDER THE HEATSINK
     
  6. zxivate

    zxivate Geek Trainee

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    Alright, I will try to just re-install the heatsink/fan. I will repost with the results.
     
  7. zxivate

    zxivate Geek Trainee

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    Alright, I opened it up and found the the heatsink was loose, very loose. So when I tried to take it out, two of the screw in things are stuck on the motherboard while the other two are out and can be easily moved. Any suggestions on how to get the two remaining ones out? They are right next to each other.
     
  8. Dwarfer

    Dwarfer Guest

    are you trying to take off the heatsink then? you should just be able to reseat the heatsink onto the board just fine, you need concerntration on this if you have little experience .....

    heres how to put the heatsink back on...

    BE VERY CAREFULL WHEN MOVING THE HS (HEATSINK) AS ITS ONLY HALF-CONNECTED SO YOU MAY BRAKE THE CLAMPS IF YOUR NOT CAREFULL

    get a flat-head screwdriver and a flashlight or very good light to see down into the dark space, look down at the clamps and observe the arrows, using the screwdriver turn the clamps the opposet way the arrow is pointing, this puts the clamps into lock mode

    next, firm the heatsink onto the cpu and press down slightly with your thumb, with your other hand press down the clamps firmly untill you hear TWO clicks (one click for each bracket lock)

    do this for both clamps, remember there should be TWO clicks, if not then its not seated properly and you need to take it off

    get back to us if you need help on that
     
  9. zxivate

    zxivate Geek Trainee

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    Well doing that made another one come undone. Now I have three loose clamps and one that won't budge. I tried pushing the one opposite the locked clamp but it won't even go down. What should I do now?
     
  10. Dwarfer

    Dwarfer Guest

    ok i should have told you to push down on all 4 clamps as more were loose.


    ok time to take the heatsink off.

    follow my above steps on unlocking the clamps with the screwdriver (turning in the direction of the arrow this time), this will unlock the clamps so you can push them up.

    when all clamps are released inspect the thermal paste, if theres adequet paste still on it and little or no paste on the cpu then its ok to put the heatsink back on


    BEFORE YOU DO ANYTHING ELSE

    your having trouble mounting the clamp locks because there seems to be a damaged point on the bottom of the clamp (the small bit that goes through the motherboard) inspect them all and fix all the bent points by bending them back as close as each other as possible (see image)


    then reset the clamps ready for installation >
    1) pull UP the clamps (they should raise outward about 1cm)
    2) prime the clamps by turning them in the opposet direction from the arrows
    3) check the points to make sure they're as close as possible, all 8 points need to go straight through the mobo like an arrow
    4) finally, push down the clamps in a cross rotation and NOT square, this will ensure the paste is evenly spreaded out, push down untill you hear two clicks, if you only hear one and your pressing firmly then take it back out and make sure you fix the points are as close as possible

    AGAIN, MAKE SURE YOU HEAR 2 CLICKS WHEN PUSHING DOWN EACH CLAMP
     
  11. zxivate

    zxivate Geek Trainee

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    Alright guys I ended up taking my computer apart again and having to force that heatsink into the motherboard. It works though and I am now installing Crysis. Thanks. I will probably end up buying a better cooling heatsink and fan in the near future.
     

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