Computer Bleg
The desktop computer had died. Was cruising the web, when the case got quiet. Seems the processor fan stopped working. Shortly after, it just shut off without warning. I decided it was the fan and was going to let it cool down then start it again to see if the fan kicked on. I did that and it started right up and the fan worked. Then, it died again and now it will not power back on. Any diagnosis out there? I thought it was the fan but am now wondering if the motherboard died. It’s an AMD 3100.
April 17th, 2006 at 11:34 am
Will not power on? In my experience, that’s either the motherboard or the power supply (or possibly both). You may want to take it in to a computer shop, they can test it and find out for sure, and if you get lucky and they have replacements, replace the parts. A new motherboard and power supply shouldn’t cost too terribly much, and all the rest of the parts ought to be all right, or at least most of them.
My old desktop got zapped by a power surge and it killed the motherboard and powersupply, but everything else was okay. The machine was just so old finding a replacement motherboard would have meant replacing most of the components. I was able to put the hard drive in a new computer and get all my data off. So unless something seriously catastrophic happened inside that box, I’d bet your data is ok.
April 17th, 2006 at 11:48 am
It is probably just a dead CPU cooler. My BIOS, for example, is set to shut my computer off before I burn up the CPU (about 78C.) I would try a new CPU cooler, which you should be able to get for about $20. I’ve used these guys with no problems:
http://www.coolerguys.com/840556058397.html
http://www.xoxide.com/arctic-cooling-silencer-64-ultra.html
Yours would be socket 754.
April 17th, 2006 at 12:27 pm
I have reached the conclusion that I need a new motherboard and processor. Groan.
April 17th, 2006 at 3:04 pm
The last tests I saw written up about the Athlon indicated that if cooling failed the processor would keep running at full speed until it fried due to overtemp. AMD may have corrected this problem as relates to the 3100; a little checking around should tell you (the Intel P4 doesn’t have this problem — if the cooling fails then the processor just runs slower and slower so as not to overheat).
April 17th, 2006 at 3:35 pm
If the motherboard has fan off control it will shutdown before any thermal damage takes place.
April 18th, 2006 at 4:51 am
Check the voltage coming from the power supply, there are inexpensive test kits you can buy. Also, get a UPS that can regulate voltage, that will ensure you have “clean” power coming to your PC.
April 18th, 2006 at 4:28 pm
AMD CPUs are notorious for burning out if the cooler isn’t working. They need only run for a few minutes without the fan, and they’ll fry. Especially the faster ones, like yours. Some mobos may have protections built in to shut the machine down before the Temperature of Death is hit, but many don’t.
If you’re in a bind, I actually have a spare AMD CPU. It’s only an 1800 I think, or maybe even a 1000. But it’s better than a 0 which is what you seem to have right now. E-mail me.
April 18th, 2006 at 4:37 pm
Tom, thanks. But yesterday I ordered a new MB, processor and fan.