Motherboard dead?

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Discussion

AlexC1981

Original Poster:

5,227 posts

229 months

Saturday 22nd February
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Before I chuck a load of money into a new motherboard, CPU, heatsink and RAM, has anyone come across this symptom of motherboard failure?

Pressing the start button turns the PC on for a fraction of a second. The lights come on, fans spin and it goes off instantly. It doesn't even have time to show a POST code on the motherboard. Nothing on screen.

I've tried disconnecting everything, tried a different power supply and power cables, CMOS reset, tried different RAM sticks in different slots, tried running it outside of the case in case there was a short circuit. Disconnecting the case cables and starting it with the motherboard button. I've even tried a different CPU.

Exactly the same thing happens regardless of what I try. It's an old X-99 board (2016?), so well overdue for full upgrade anyway, but I've never had a motherboard fail before.

It's not a PC I use very regularly and the last time it worked it had lost the CMOS settings so I assumed it was the battery going, but perhaps this was a symptom of something failing in the motherboard itself?

(steven)

476 posts

226 months

Sunday 23rd February
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AlexC1981 said:
I've tried disconnecting everything, tried a different power supply and power cables, CMOS reset, tried different RAM sticks in different slots, tried running it outside of the case in case there was a short circuit. Disconnecting the case cables and starting it with the motherboard button. I've even tried a different CPU.
It's been a long time since I have built PC's but that list is pretty much everything I would try. You can try looking for physical degradation (I once had a motherboard where a load of the capacitors burst). Only thing you haven't mentioned is replacing the CMOS battery itself.

Vsix and Vtec

897 posts

30 months

Sunday 23rd February
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Silly question, but you ARE connecting the CPU power connector as well as the ATX 28 way connector aren't you?

Pachydermus

1,040 posts

124 months

Sunday 23rd February
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Had the same happen to me a few weeks ago. Switched off at night and then wouldn't power-up the next morning.
Tried swapping power and ram with no success. Due to an amazon screw-up I happened to have a spare motherboard so moved everything over and all working perfectly again.

AlexC1981

Original Poster:

5,227 posts

229 months

Monday 24th February
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Thanks for the replies. It all looks ok, no bulging capacitors, motherboard cables both connected. It was running fine up to the point that it wasn't.

Annoying as I only rebuilt this PC a few months ago using parts left over from from my brother's recent upgrade and I bought a used better CPU for it.

Maybe it's time to bite the bullet and do a proper upgrade rather than throw money at 9 year old components!


Gary29

4,449 posts

111 months

Monday 24th February
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Clutching at straws, but dead CMOS battery? Got to be worth a try for the sake of a few quid before you bin it.

Jinx

11,685 posts

272 months

Monday 24th February
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Similar experience when the MB was shorting against the case in a friend's pc. Bit of electrical tape along the edge of the MB solved it. I'd take it out the case and try to get it to post if you are keen to keep the machine going.

AlexC1981

Original Poster:

5,227 posts

229 months

Monday 24th February
quotequote all
I tried both of those, but no joy I'm afraid.

Spendy time I think smile