Archived from groups: alt.comp.periphs.mainboard.asus (
More info?)
In article <c2bd2622.0407060004.391e278d@posting.google.com>,
atreyus@gmail.com (M.V.) wrote:
> nospam@needed.com (Paul) wrote in message
news:<nospam-0507042202540001@192.168.1.177>...
> > In article <c2bd2622.0407051641.37049135@posting.google.com>,
> > atreyus@gmail.com (M.V.) wrote:
> >
> > > Thanks for your replies.
> > >
> > > I bought a new PS (I needed one anyway) and still have the same issue.
> > > I followed your advice about listening to the voice message when
> > > removing everything and I got the "NO CPU INSTALLED" message.
> > > Next I installed the CPU with the heatsink and got no message.
> > > I tried both CPUs, the old one and the new one and both had the same
> > > issue... no voice message.
> > >
> > > Could it be that my old motherboard screwed the new CPU? or maybe the
> > > new CPU wasn't good to begin with... this is too weird.
> > >
> > > Any other ideas?
> > >
> > >
> > > Thanks
> >
> > Does the new motherboard work with the new CPU ? It would be good
> > to salvage something from this mess.
> >
> > If the old motherboard failed, say, producing too high a Vcore
> > voltage, then any CPU plugged in would be killed. The real question
> > then is, if moving either of the CPUs to the new board, could
> > kill the new board as well. I suppose there is no way to know
> > without trying the test. You can always return the new motherboard,
> > but I don't know what warranty comes with AMD CPUs. Presumably
> > there is a difference between an OEM and a retail unit.
> >
> > The "No CPU Installed", I believe, is detected by the motherboard
> > checking to see if a single pin on the ZIF socket is grounded or
> > not. Some of the other messages, require the CPU to be minimally
> > operational. I'm afraid the facilities on the motherboard
> > don't allow for fine grained resolution of what the problem is.
> > It helps in cases like this, if there is some visible damage,
> > because then at least, you have a small extra bit of info to
> > go on.
> >
> > Paul
> >
> Thanks for your reply Paul.
>
> I ended up going back to the store to return the MB and CPU but the
> guy tested it and it worked!
> It was so weird. He did exactly what I did, testing the MB outside the
> case and all that, and he got the voice asking for memory and then for
> video.
>
> I came back with the board and CPU again (at least I knew they were
> Ok) and I was able to make the system work!
>
> As for the old CPU and MB.... I didn't even try to mix stuff this
> time.
>
> I still have a small annoyance. When I add the screw next to the wifi
> slot, the computer won't start, same issues as before.. no sound,
> post, nothing.
> I must have some ground issue going on but I can't figure out what
> exactly. If I don't put a screw in that area, everything works fine.
>
> Maybe I need to change the case..... hmmmm
> How do you normally solve the grounding issues?
>
> thx
>
> Marcelo
The mounting holes are plated and are connected to ground. They are
meant to touch the brass standoffs on your motherboard tray. Having
multiple ground contacts is supposed to help suppress EMI (interference
with your TV set etc). If the screw you use to hold down the board,
has a big head, and if the screw is not centered in the hole, then
sometimes the screw can touch something it is not supposed to.
If you really think it is the standoff underneath the motherboard
that is making contact, then try placing a piece of paper between the
motherboard and the standoff. Push the screw through the paper,
until it engages the standoff. See if that stops the problem.
Normally, you don't want to add anything thick between the standoff
and the motherboard. If you think about the PCI and AGP cards for
a moment, the datum they start at is such, that the PCI and AGP
cards should line up nicely with the holes on the back of the
computer for the faceplates to poke out. If the motherboard is
elevated above the tray a bit more, this forces the PCI and AGP
cards to be installed on a slant, and this tends to make them
jam up, hard to insert and remove. So, while some people would
suggest the use of fiber washers, you run the risk of spoiling
the mechanical alignment. You should try to use the standoffs
that came with your computer case, as different manufacturers use
different length standoffs, and they aren't interchangable.
A second way for the printed circuit board to become intermittent
(works some times, not others), is if the board gets bent or
torqued while being handled or installed. The large BGA packages
cannot take too much deviation from planarity, before one of the
balls might crack. Then, as the board gets a slight twist, the
contact can open, and later close again, if there is say a slight
vibration. On the motherboards I have here, I sometimes wish they
had been designed with more support in the DIMM area, because
it deflects quite a bit when inserting a DIMM. So, while that kind
of fault isn't likely, it is another way that boards can get damaged.
Even a cold solder joint can do this, but the manufacturing quality
of motherboards seems to be excellent, so again that isn't something
to worry about too much.
So, try a scrap of paper, and see if it stops.
Glad to hear you've got a working system again. I guess you won't be
using compressed air for cleaning again
🙂 We were warned at work,
by our ESD (electrostatic discharge) Nazis, not to use compressed
air for cleaning assemblies, and now I see their point.
HTH,
Paul
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