Broken pc - tech advise needed

SPC M. Koch

SPC M. Koch

68W Health Care Specialist
Combat Element
Yesterday I noticed that my pc has frozen so I pressed the reset button. At restart I noticed the screen go into powersave (no post screen) and no OK beep from bios. After resetting again the issue persisted but lights and fans are turning on normal.

I removed the gpu still no post code. I removed all 4 memory dimms now I get 3 beeps (long). As soon as I populate any of the dimm slots with any of the 4 dimms the post code is missing again. It's hard to believe that all of the dimms failed simultaneously. But this means the board is broken?

The board is a Asrock 970 Pro3 R2.0

Thanks for any ideas in advance
 
Sounds like this is a problem related to memory. And I assume it's not that your memory cards are broken but your motherboard. Have you tried it with other memory card(s)?
 
Without any POST beeps/messages, and with all extra hardware removed (eg. GPU, etc.), it could be any of the 3 main components (motherboard, CPU, RAM) at fault. Process of elimination is the only thing that works here.

What do you have on hand (or can borrow/obtain cheaply) in terms of:
  1. Additional sticks of DDR3 RAM?
  2. Additional AM3/AM3+ motherboards?
  3. Additional AM3/AM3+ CPUs?
They don't have to be expensive hardware so long as they're compatible with what you're testing.

As SSG Salvatore suggested, trying your current RAM in another motherboard and/or other DDR3 RAM in your current motherboard could help you find some sticks of RAM that you know work (to be used for subsequent tests).

There could be faulty CPU contact with the motherboard. Try re-seating it (have some thermal paste on hand). Re-try using the working RAM (per above). If that works, problem solved; but I'd keep an eye on it.

If that doesn't work, you still won't know if it's the motherboard or CPU. For that, you'll need to slot the CPU in a different (working) motherboard along with RAM you know works (per above). If it boots up, then you're probably dealing with a faulty motherboard. If it fails to boot, then it's likely the CPU.

Hope that helps.
 
Well I think the problem got worse.

Unfortunately I had no additional dimms. But I took my gpu and two of the dimms to a friend to check if it's running. To cut long story short while attached via dvi-to-vga to the monitor the gpu or the cable caused a shortage burning the gpu and the mainboard of my friend. Never saw this before, sparkles out of the case and his main power went black. At this point I can assume that almost everything in my rig is also toast but at least untrustworthy. Maybe the cpu survived.

Thanks for helping but I guess I need a whole new pc

P.S. not tried the dimms test ended early
 
SPC Lechner said:
Well I think the problem got worse.

Unfortunately I had no additional dimms. But I took my gpu and two of the dimms to a friend to check if it's running. To cut long story short while attached via dvi-to-vga to the monitor the gpu or the cable caused a shortage burning the gpu and the mainboard of my friend. Never saw this before, sparkles out of the case and his main power went black. At this point I can assume that almost everything in my rig is also toast but at least untrustworthy. Maybe the cpu survived.

Thanks for helping but I guess I need a whole new pc

P.S. not tried the dimms test ended early
Click to expand...

Holy shit that's fucking NSA level of creepy. What shit did you store on there? Did they blow up your computer for child porn? :))

In all seriousness what you have there can only be described as a severe case of faulty hardware that leads to chain reactions in the form of short circuiting (at best). I'd avoid any more "tests" without proper supervision by professionals. They might be able to salvage your good hardware.
 
Yeah that's the first time I saw something like this. And I used to work as support. There where things like half side still working memory dimms, failing hdds causing unexpected behaviour, smoked psu or connectors but this was something new.
 
PFC Price said:
Holy shit that's fucking NSA level of creepy. What shit did you store on there? Did they blow up your computer for child porn?
Click to expand...

A little advice, think before you write and keep comments like that of this forum page at all times.
 
Picture, if you will, hearing a distinct pop, a light scream, then a dazzling light show filling up the hallway. What comes into view as you round the corner, is your roommate's girlfriend back lit by the CRT monitor that's in the midst of its spectacular electric death throws. She was fine; but so stunned, I think, that she dared not move. That was 20 years ago. I've never seen anything quite like that before (or since).
 
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