Is it possible for a CPU to screw up a board? - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

silver26 · 10-30-2003, 07:05 PM

It all started when I bought a system at a computer store (which went out of business within a month or so). The system would be fine for months, then it wouldnt boot, then it would ok for a while. Anyways, last week I was formatting a friends computer, and took mine apart to put in her hard drive (her computer wouldnt boot off cd-rom or disk.... but thats a whole different story altogether haha). Anyways after putting mine back together it would do nothing. Obviously it has nothing to do with her hard drive, but I hardly ever turn off my computer because Im afraid it wouldnt start back up. Once the thing was on, it was always fine, but it would have problems starting up.

After playing with it all last week to no avail, I bought a new board. Brought it home, hooked it up... nothing, was the board DOA? or did one of my parts screw it over?

Then, I brought my partsto a friends house. We tried my RAM, Video, chip and powersupply in his. And all worked fine. We put his chip in my board, and nothing, until we tipped it on its side slightly, and it would boot. How crazy is that? We put his system back together, and nothing. Now HIS system wont boot. We noticed a capacitator on his board was swollen, extreme coincidence? I have no idea.

Anyways I got so frustrated with the whole thing, and I finally went out and bought a new board and chip.

The thing is... my Girlfriend wants to upgrade her computer, and Im thinking about putting my old chip in her board... but I cant afford to blow up her board.

Does anyone think that the problem is the chip?

Thanx in advance.

poof · 10-30-2003, 07:43 PM

Wow! That is a great story! I am not being a wise ass, that truly is a cool story.

You gotta tell me, at what point in the troubleshooting process did you come about the tipping sideways thing?

I had a washing machine that I had to stick a book of matches behind the timer to make it work.

Seriously though. I am sure someone here can help you out. I think I see too many variables here. Different boards, power supplys, memory, angle of the desk here or there.

Your chip is not going to "blow up" her board. But, you bought a new board and chip, is everything cool for you now?

Tell us more about the old "chip". What board? What OS? Read the memo at the top of the first page about info to be supplied.

Great story though.

charliex · 10-31-2003, 12:08 AM

its possible that the chip could have a short and cause a problem, hard to tell really. check the pins carefully and any odd looking marks or such on the chip itself.

billege · 10-31-2003, 02:30 AM

Chips are cheap. Crazy cheap. If you're sure it's the problem, buy a new chip.

No more problem.

Moobie · 10-31-2003, 12:55 PM

I would guess that there's a physical flaw in your chip. Like charliex said check the pins on it and see if one's bent or too big or something. If it's communicable to other machines don't risk putting in anything else until you figure out the problem. But it sounds like there's something wrong with the chip and when you put it in another machine it's scratching, warping, forcing open some connection to the processor.

Do like billege says and get a new processor and use the old one as jewelry, probably the safest application for it.

MSD · 10-31-2003, 11:40 PM

Would you put an old engine computer in another car if you weren't sure if that was what blew up your old engine?

Be safe, get a new processor, make yourself a keychain out of hte old one.

silver26 · 11-01-2003, 09:10 AM

Thanks for all of the replies

The reason I tipped the board on its side was that when I first got this system a year and a half ago, it wouldnt work at all. For whatever reason (I think I kicked it or something) it was leaning against my desk once when I turned it on and it worked without a hitch. We laughed at it a lot, and this time when we were trying to get it to work my buddy suggested to tip the board on its side and it would fix all the problems (for a joke)... and it worked.

Ive had sooo many problems with this computer it aint fit.

The board was an MSI k7t266a Pro RU. The performance and features of the board was great (8 USB, RAID, Diagnostic LEDs...) but for the life of me I havent seen anything so unpredictable!

The chip was an Athlon XP 1600+. It looks totally fine physically, as do the board.

I went out and bought a ASUS board and a retail Athlon XP 2400+. And no problems so far.

10-30-2003, 07:05 PM	#1 (permalink)
silver26 Insane	Is it possible for a CPU to screw up a board? It all started when I bought a system at a computer store (which went out of business within a month or so). The system would be fine for months, then it wouldnt boot, then it would ok for a while. Anyways, last week I was formatting a friends computer, and took mine apart to put in her hard drive (her computer wouldnt boot off cd-rom or disk.... but thats a whole different story altogether haha). Anyways after putting mine back together it would do nothing. Obviously it has nothing to do with her hard drive, but I hardly ever turn off my computer because Im afraid it wouldnt start back up. Once the thing was on, it was always fine, but it would have problems starting up. After playing with it all last week to no avail, I bought a new board. Brought it home, hooked it up... nothing, was the board DOA? or did one of my parts screw it over? Then, I brought my partsto a friends house. We tried my RAM, Video, chip and powersupply in his. And all worked fine. We put his chip in my board, and nothing, until we tipped it on its side slightly, and it would boot. How crazy is that? We put his system back together, and nothing. Now HIS system wont boot. We noticed a capacitator on his board was swollen, extreme coincidence? I have no idea. Anyways I got so frustrated with the whole thing, and I finally went out and bought a new board and chip. The thing is... my Girlfriend wants to upgrade her computer, and Im thinking about putting my old chip in her board... but I cant afford to blow up her board. Does anyone think that the problem is the chip? Thanx in advance. __________________ I know I was born and I know that I'll die, the inbetween is mine.

10-31-2003, 02:30 AM	#4 (permalink)
billege Watcher Location: Ohio	Chips are cheap. Crazy cheap. If you're sure it's the problem, buy a new chip. No more problem. __________________ I can sum up the clash of religion in one sentence: "My Invisible Friend is better than your Invisible Friend."

10-31-2003, 12:55 PM	#5 (permalink)
Moobie Insane Location: baked beans	I would guess that there's a physical flaw in your chip. Like charliex said check the pins on it and see if one's bent or too big or something. If it's communicable to other machines don't risk putting in anything else until you figure out the problem. But it sounds like there's something wrong with the chip and when you put it in another machine it's scratching, warping, forcing open some connection to the processor. Do like billege says and get a new processor and use the old one as jewelry, probably the safest application for it. __________________ Obscenity is the crutch of inarticulate motherfuckers. We like money. Give us your money you stupid consumer whore.

11-01-2003, 09:10 AM	#7 (permalink)
silver26 Insane	Thanks for all of the replies The reason I tipped the board on its side was that when I first got this system a year and a half ago, it wouldnt work at all. For whatever reason (I think I kicked it or something) it was leaning against my desk once when I turned it on and it worked without a hitch. We laughed at it a lot, and this time when we were trying to get it to work my buddy suggested to tip the board on its side and it would fix all the problems (for a joke)... and it worked. Ive had sooo many problems with this computer it aint fit. The board was an MSI k7t266a Pro RU. The performance and features of the board was great (8 USB, RAID, Diagnostic LEDs...) but for the life of me I havent seen anything so unpredictable! The chip was an Athlon XP 1600+. It looks totally fine physically, as do the board. I went out and bought a ASUS board and a retail Athlon XP 2400+. And no problems so far. __________________ I know I was born and I know that I'll die, the inbetween is mine.

10-30-2003, 07:43 PM	#2 (permalink)
poof Psycho	Wow! That is a great story! I am not being a wise ass, that truly is a cool story. You gotta tell me, at what point in the troubleshooting process did you come about the tipping sideways thing? I had a washing machine that I had to stick a book of matches behind the timer to make it work. Seriously though. I am sure someone here can help you out. I think I see too many variables here. Different boards, power supplys, memory, angle of the desk here or there. Your chip is not going to "blow up" her board. But, you bought a new board and chip, is everything cool for you now? Tell us more about the old "chip". What board? What OS? Read the memo at the top of the first page about info to be supplied. Great story though.

10-31-2003, 12:08 AM	#3 (permalink)
charliex Junkie Location: North Hollywood	its possible that the chip could have a short and cause a problem, hard to tell really. check the pins carefully and any odd looking marks or such on the chip itself.

10-31-2003, 11:40 PM	#6 (permalink)
MSD The sky calls to us ... Super Moderator Location: CT	Would you put an old engine computer in another car if you weren't sure if that was what blew up your old engine? Be safe, get a new processor, make yourself a keychain out of hte old one.