The motherboard won't even POST now and I'm sure I'll have to replace either the motherboard or the CPU. I'm hoping someone here will be able to help me figure out which it is I need to replace as I don't have any spare CPUs/mobos I can use for testing. Now I'll run through what I have done. Mobo: DFI KM400-MLV CPU: AMD Athlon XP 3000+ 333MHz FSB RAM: 512 MB Crucial PC2700 I decided to upgrade my heatsink and fan after getting fed up with the noise of the one I put in when I built it. I got myself a Zalman Super Flower CNPS7000B-AlCu heatsink and installed it as per instructions except I forgot to put the cardboard washers on the topside of the mounting brackets for the heatsink (I didn't realise this until after it wasn't working and I took everything apart to look at it), now I'm guessing that this mistake caused a short circuit on the mobo and some damage. I also think I may have spread the thermal paste a little too thin, my last heatsink had a thermal pad on it, so it was my first time applying thermal paste, but I think it was my other mistake which caused the problem. Now I tried putting the old heatsink back on and it still didn't work. I have also reset the BIOS countless times hoping that might get it to boot, but still no joy. When I do turn the computer on the fans come on and the heatsink does start to get warm, but there are no other signs of life, the monitor does not comeout of power save or anything else. Here are a couple a photos of the CPU, if anyone can tell from them any obvious signs of it being broken, it doesn't look like it to me, but I didn't look at it closely beforehand. http://retsaw.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/P1300006.JPG http://retsaw.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/P1300028.JPG If I just need to replace my CPU, then I'll probably want to go for something like a Sempron 2400+ to save money, would that be okay with my mobo? It doesn't explicitly mention supporting Semprons, but since it is the same socket as the Durons and Athlons I would have thought it would work. If I need to replace my mobo I could use some good suggestions as I can't find the same model available in the UK (though I haven't done an exhaustive search). My Requirements: * Support for my original processor (if it still works) * Micro ATX form factor (to fit my case) * Sound * SATA * AGP 8x (for future graphics card puchase) * Works with linux (This is essential as I use linux exclusively on this machine, however if you don't know about compatability make a suggestion anyway and I'll research it myself) Also preferred, but not essential: * Onboard Graphics (If it doesn't have this I would consider buying a cheap PCI card from ebay which could later be moved into my old box when I buy an upgrade) * 10/100 Ethernet Any help with what to do next will be greatly appreciated. TIA
Yeah, I wasn't sure about that. It doesn't look burnt on the surface, but is slightly raised up around the core and I wasn't sure if it was normal or not. I can try to get better pictures if it would be helpful, but I was struggling to get the camera to focus close up when I took those.
Looks like your CPU may be fried if the silicon is raised up around the CPU Die beyond the little streaks of glue around it. If you can focused pics, not even that close just in focus, that would be a great help.
Here are a couple more pics: http://retsaw.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/P2130004.JPG http://retsaw.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/P2130019.JPG not that they are much better, but I took it out and had a closer look and it has what looks like a burn mark underneath, right below where it it raised on the topside. So I guess I definately need a new CPU. Would a Sempron work in my mobo even though it doesn't mention supporting it in the specs?
Thanks. I've now gone and checked for BIOS updates and there is one adding support for Semprons. The question now is if I put a Sempron in the mobo, is it likely to boot to perform the BIOS update?
yes. Likely. The processor just won't be recognized to it's full capacity. I would check around to see if it will boot though.
