Motherboard or Power supply ?

[InFerect]

Hi all,

it's been really long time since last i've been here, but so i've to come back, cause i've some problems with my PC again=/ but this time some serious ones... So lets get to point.

OK.. so firstly i've downloaded one song, and while it was downloading and when it finished it( downloading i mean) my anti-virus(NOD32) didn't give me any alert or something like that. And so after 2weeks my pc started to restart, usualy about 1-3 time i turn it on.. And then i made 3scanes for my pc with different anti-viruses, and they found virus(that song) and so i've deleted it and everything associated with it, but still problem remains the same restarting and restarting and amount of time after it's getting restarted it's getting smaller and smaller (not by much but i've noticed it) so re-installed windows and it got even worse started to restart after 5mins and when i tried to install drivers it just shutted down and now when i try to turn off pc, it doesn't even load, don't even make some noise nothing...

So i've tried to run pc without main parts of pc (rams/video card/HDD), but it's same thing and also i've talked to few of my friends who are more advanced in PC issues and stuff.. And 1of them told me that it's something wrong with my Motherboard and other told me that i've problem with my Power supply, but i dunno which it is =/

So i need your help, from as far what you see can you help to figure out what should i change ? (motherboard or power supply )

:( :confused:

P.S. thx in advance

P.P.S. srr for bad english

[snow]

Hi InFerect,

 

When you press the power button on the computer, does the power light come on?

 

Turn the PC off at the wall, remove the plug if you can. Then, closely watching one of the fans, turn it back on, or plug it back in. Does the fan twitch at all, even a little bit?

 

When you look inside the case, does the motherboard look different anywhere, are there any leaking or damaged capacitors (big cylinders)? Are there any unusual smells, like burning?

[InFerect]

Power light, what do you mean ? IF about monitor - no it doesn't work. If about case - it's just goes on for 30s-45s and then turns down, without any sound(usualy i hear some pip)

Nop fans work good.

Everything looks ok, but it doesn't work, no burning smell

[snow]

If the fans work Ok, and the power light comes on, then it could be either the motherboard or a component that is causing all of this.

 

Have you tried disconnecting everything from the motherboard, except the power lead? Does your motherboard have onboard graphics, or do you have to use a graphics card?

 

Take everything out of the motherboard except the graphics and the power cable, then try to boot the machine. You should be able to press either 'Delete' or 'F2' to enter the BIOS on startup. See if you can get there.

[InFerect]

I've tried it, it doesn't work =/ I left only power supply and video card on mother board and that's all and still it was same thing.

[snow]

You said the monitor doesn't come on? Do you have another graphics card you could try, or does the motherboard have a connector on it where you can plug your monitor in?

 

What happens if you take the graphics card out, and try to start the machine? Does it stay on?

[InFerect]

Yeah, monitor doesn't come on. Yeah i did try it, it stayed on for a bit longer, but still it didn't start. Nop i don't have any other video card or motherboard. And personally i don't think it's about graphic card

[snow]

Ok, it's starting to sound like a faulty motherboard to me. Are there any beeping sounds when you turn it on? That might give you an error code to look up. Do you still have the manual that came with the motherboard/computer?

[InFerect]

Nop - no sounds at all. No i don't have any manuals at all =/

[InFerect]

so, now i'm thinking to buy some new part of pc in this case motherboard, because i need to fix my pc asap, so should i risk to buy new motherboard?

[snow]

It's not sounding very good for the motherboard, I'm afraid. I think there is a chance that it could be a fried graphics card, but normally the motherboard should beep to tell you it has no display output.

 

It's definately looking like you'll have to replace something. If you could get your hands on another graphics card then I'd try that first. If you have another computer, then try the graphics card in that to see if it works. If not, then replacing the motherboard would the next step.

 

Other members might have some further insight.

[Tootech]

Try this as confirmmation of where you have got to with Snow.

 

Make sure mains is switched off.

 

Disconnect all drives, remove the main power connectors from the motherboard - the large one and the 4 pin one (if fitted). Then re plug in those two connectors.

 

Now you should have a motherboard, power connectors, video card only.

 

Make sure all USB devices are also disconnected.

 

Take out ALL memory modules.

 

Power on mains and press the power button.

 

Does the board beep at you - it should do to tell you it cannot find the memory.

 

No beeps = motherboard failure OR PSU partial failure.

 

If it beeps, refit the memory and try again.

 

The only way to check the PSU is to swap it for a known good unit, or use a PSU tester.

 

The only way to check board failure is to swap it.

 

If spare parts are not available I'd say swap both - or take your PSU to a shop and ask them nicely to check it for you.

 

Do you go along with all that guys?

 

Next step would be to arrange replacements. There are some issues with Windows licensing and swopped motherboards, and also with swapping to alternative chipsets.

 

Can you let us know what board you have - make and model number, or make and model of computer and we can look up the full spec.

 

Also, do you have any recovery disks or Windows install disks that came with the PC? if you which do you have?

[InFerect]

I tried to turn it on like you said with only motherboard, power supply and video card only, but still doesn't load and don't even make peep.

My motherboard : Abit Fatal1ty F-I90HD.

I think that i've recovery disks, but btw i've already re-installed my windows

[snow]

Good post Tootech, will have to remember it for future reference :)

 

Is this a pic of your motherboard:

http://www.dosv.jp/mb_bb/img/2007/06/universalabit_01_01.jpg

 

(Didn't want to post directly because of image size)

 

If so then it has both onboard VGA and HDMI output. Try removing the graphics card, and connecting your monitor to the VGA plug (blue one). You might have been using a DVI connector on your graphics card, but it should have come with a VGA to DVI adapter that you can use with a VGA cable.

 

Another thing is, do you have the PC speaker connected? Down at the bottom right of the image is the front panel connector. I think there is bit that says

 

+ SPKR -

 

Make sure the PC speaker is connected to this the right way around, with the black cable going to the - side.