I'm assembling a HTPC from scratch. Here are the relevant specs to my problem: MB: MSI 915GM Speedster-FA4 CPU: Pentium M 740 RAM: 1GB Kingston Value RAM Vid. Card: Biostar 6600GT HDD: WD 250GB x 2 Problems started from the beginning.. Monitor would only get a signal occassionally when powering up. I started troubleshooting. Never really found problem. Another problem... too loud. Tried an aftermarket fan. Started, checked CPU temp... 100C!... Shut off immediately. Tried to restart.. Nada. No lights, power, nothing. I cleared the CMOS via Jumper and "may have" left it in clear mode when restarting. I read an article about another MSI model that had the Clear Cmos jumpers backwards, so I switched to "clear" mode and tried to start... it powers on but nothing else. Is the board screwed or are there stones I'm not looking under yet. It's kind of a spendy board (especially in singapore) and I'd hate to toss it. I know I totally fubar'd this thing. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.
right, first of all the reset BIOS or clear CMOS jumper needs to be set to "normal" NOT "clear" for the pc to boot, by any chance where you trying to overclock the pc (not that thats a problem, but it would explain the overheat, try just putting the settings back where they should be, at least for now)
To start off, try and test the PSU either in another rig or with a proper tester. If the power supply is dead then there's your problem. If PSU is good you will need to try the barebones approach, either in the case or out of it. See if the system POSTs without the RAM and any expansion cards. If It does POST or you are abel to get into the BIOS, then your mobo should be ok and one of the components attached is the buggered part.
BANG! hah: Someone correct me if I am wrong, but your CPU is only able to with stand a maximum temp of 80c Better get out the sun tan lotion
Thanks for the replies! My PSU should be fine... brand new Seasonic 430W. Besides, it powered on when I had the CMOS CLEAR jumpers set to clear and probably would again, but I don't want to try that too many times. I wasn't trying to overclock. When it went to 100c (actually only 98c)it was only on for 3-4 minutes... does it surprise anyone that a Pentium M chip (supposedly cool running) went that hot that fast? I'm trying a complete tear down, BIOS reset, jumper reconfig, and reassemble. How can I tell if the CPU is fried? I removed and examined it... looks fine. Additional tips very welcome.
You said that you switched out your CPU coolers? Did you clean off and reapply some thermal paste (a paper thin layer, btw)? If not, that might explain a few things.
you won't usuall be able to tell by looking at your CPU, but if you under clock your CPU (just for testing purposes, then gradually up the clock speed until you reach your desired speed, if it is dead then it won't work at any clock speed (usually) you will be more likely to get it working at a lower clock speed) and yes i think you probably did put on too much thermal paste
Someone in another forum (yes, I'm a forum whore) suggested that bad RAM could be the culprit. But wouldn't I at least see a sign of life from the PSU if this was the issue. I'm leaning towards the problem being a short in the Motherboard. Anyone agree?
That's certainly possible. Early on, the nForce 2 motherboards had major RAM issues, and I had a couple different ones that simply refused to work reliably with the RAM I had. In both cases, booting the systems proved very difficult. I'd check what RAM MSI is recommending and see about getting ahold something that they recommend.
