Computer experts have we any on the forum?

[ukracer]

I sued to be well up on whats quick whats expensive and whats new etc BUT years have taken their toll and I have a motherboard that will not boot. (just loops) so I need to replace it but do I get a 2nd hand replacement. (expensive in comparison) or go for a new mobo/cpu/ram package and try and offset my losses by selling my Ram and CPU etc.

Any suggestions appreciated.

 

[DanielW]

Does it loop without any hardware attached? hows the bios battery?

 

[Kayos]

Depends how old it is, my current pc is an Athlon 6000 x2 that's been upgraded to the point it can't be upgraded further, I wouldn't bother replacing your mobo if it's a similar age, I will bin mine when I build a new one next year

 

[skotl]

I doubt you'll get much more quids than you can count on your fingers for a second hand RAM and CPU. Plus, I presume that you don't know whether it's the motherboard, RAM or CPU that's faulty.

Do you know anyone nearby who has a similar family (CPU) that you can swap bits around with? Reason I ask is that if it's the RAM, then £30 will likely get you up and running again.
On that note, if you have more than one DIMM (RAM card) then try swapping them round and running it with one at a time.

If you're set on replacing the whole lot then have a look at www.scan.co.uk for motherboard, ram and cpu.

 

[DanielW]

I forgot to say.......

Usually if the temp on the CPU heatsink fins is clogged the MOBO will loop frequently as is its going over the designated temp the bios is set for.

 

[skotl]

mrfuzzy posted while I was typing

We agree on the RAM/DIMM swapping, but he raised a point that I had ignored re video cards. Do you have a separate video card? If you do, and it's PCI Express, then you'll be able to use it with your new system.
If it's not PCI Express, then it's going in the bin too.

If you don't have a separate graphics card (aka "Integrated Graphics") then you'll probably want to pick a motherboard that also has integrated graphics - should be at least as powerful as your old mobo.

 

[mike 109444]

What ever happened to the checking of the POST Power On Self Test. DO you get a series of beeps when it fails ? There is a list of theses beep that may tell you where to look fr the fault

 

[DanielW]

depends on the CPU....Q6600's were still commanding strong money last time I looked...DDR2 was also holding reasonable value due to the proliferation of DDR3

Remember when 10meg of mem was a £100,the old Amiga. laughs.

 

[ukracer]

Ok guys thank for the quick replies. sadly my diabetes has taken its toll and I can hardly see just now. But a few quick points I have two PCI express graphics cards as I thought it was a graphics card problem. Purchased an extra one as i use two monitors anyway.

I have 8 meg of ram in 2 meg sticks plus another 4 meg in single sticks. Its all been changed around and run on its on etc.

I did this before and I purchased a new powersupply.....it was still flaky BUT after a bit of persuading ran for a month in my motorhome.

SO I seriously think its mobo...or CPU. I have about 6 boards in the house but cant remember what any of the specs are etc.

Anyway enugh for tonight my eeyes are streaming so speak in the morning I am on baby sitting duties so might get a bit of time to play in between naps lol

 

[ukracer]

What ever happened to the checking of the POST Power On Self Test. DO you get a series of beeps when it fails ? There is a list of theses beep that may tell you where to look fr the fault

Nope lol

 

[DanielW]

WHAT!

8meg or ram,hell it must take a decade to load the page. I've got 2gig of mem.

Check the heatsink for clogged finns,blow the dust out with an airline,last time I did mine if dust was a commodity I'd have a few bob.

 

[normspanners]

Is it giving any beep codes ? or if dell for instant has code lights on front panel .

 

[mike 109444]

Try it with out the keyboard, mouse and hd. It should try to boot to the bios screen then.
A duff kb could cause looping.

 

[Wedg1e]

thermal paste may also have went hard and not be conducting heat properly any longer.

I had this on a mobo earlier this year at silly o'clock in the morning; my Dow Corning heatsink paste was nowhere to be found so in desperation I used some Coppaslip, it's still in the PC and running fine

 

[skotl]

Anyone else close to kidderminster that could pop round to ukracer's with any spare kit to help diagnose the problem?

 

[ukracer]

def defuzz the heatsink, and contact cleaner on the contacts of the cpu and the cpu socket, thermal paste may also have went hard and not be conducting heat properly any longer.

How old is it?

Not sure I have had it for a year.
The guy I had it off thought the mother board had gone so purchased a new Bundle. Then found the new board was doing the same . He changed the powersupply and both boards worked fine. I purchased the old board ram and cpu off him.

About 9 months afer I had it I thought the Graphics card had failed I got a new one. But that did not solve the problem. I then purchased a new power supply and then it all came to life.

now 3 months later the same issue has arisen.

would thermal paste be an issue as it does not boot up when cold either...

 

[ukracer]

Try it with out the keyboard, mouse and hd. It should try to boot to the bios screen then.
A duff kb could cause looping.

interesting. i will try that later. At my age i forgot they boot to bios without anything plugged in lol

 

[Rig Pig]

I got my last motherboard bundle from the Scan computers 'today only' bargain page, cheapest upgrade I could find at the time.

 

[mike os]

what are the system spec's... mobo, cpu etc... if it is more than a couple of years old new parts are not always easy to fins, and as there is no clear problem you may end up buying a whole load of " new" parts and end up with a new "old" machine for similar cost of a new one anyway.... depending on what you are using it for a new low spec machine can cost less than a couple of hundred notes, comes working and sith guarentee

 

[ukracer]

what are the system spec's... mobo, cpu etc... if it is more than a couple of years old new parts are not always easy to fins, and as there is no clear problem you may end up buying a whole load of " new" parts and end up with a new "old" machine for similar cost of a new one anyway.... depending on what you are using it for a new low spec machine can cost less than a couple of hundred notes, comes working and sith guarentee

Thats my thoughts exactly. but i need the pc up and running quickly. no cash till tuesday then xmas is on us.

http://www.gigabyte.us/products/product-page.aspx?pid=2746#ov

8 gig of crucial ram

SSD 250 gig drive

going to strip it down again when i get back in so i can see the spec of cpu