- Aug 20, 2014
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- 4,510
So that’s basically the problem I have - or had as I seem to have fixed it but I’m worried it might be indicative of a deeper underlying problem so I’m hoping someone on here can tell me if I need to do anything about it.
(System specs and TLDR at the bottom of the post)
A few days ago I was playing Dishonored 2. Great game, demanding on the hardware but it’s running fine with most settings turned up to High. I’m very rarely getting any slowdown at all usually only in combat with several antagonists and sometimes not even then.
After a couple of hours I was done playing so I turned off my PC and went to do things. A few hours later I come back to jump back into Dishonored but my computer won’t boot. It powers up but the CPU fan gets really loud and nothing comes up on screen. This doesn’t worry me much as my computer has done this once every couple of months for about two years. Normally I turn it off by holding down the power switch then turn it back after a minute and it runs fine. This time it didn’t despite turning it on and off a few times.
I read around the problem and end up using the CMOS jumper reset method – and it works so I seal my case back up and start playing Dishonored 2 again. No change in performance, no slowdown no signs of overheating, normal fan noise.
After a while I turn it off and hit the sack. Next day I try to turn my PC on and it won’t boot – loud fan noise and power again but nothing else. I try the cmos jumper method again figuring I might as well get it working before investigating further but it doesn’t work. Even worse now my computer won’t power on at all. There’s power in the board, the motherboard lights are on as is the graphics card light but it won’t start up.
I do some more reading and start unplugging parts of my system bit by bit, graphics card, DVD drive, hard drive until it’s down to the CPU and one stick of RAM. I switch that out for the other stick but no luck there either. I try a different extension cord and the sockets in another room – no change there either. All the while there is power in the board but it just won’t turn on. I try to get at the CMOS battery to take it out and plug it back in again but it’s underneath my motherboard’s thermal armour. I can get most of the screws holding it on off but 3 are stupidly stubborn and I don’t have a screwdriver that fits them perfectly so I give up on that and screw them all back in.
I looked over the Capacitors whilst I had the motherboard out of the case too – I couldn’t smell anything or see any signs of bloating.
Finally I resort to reseating the CPU and applying fresh thermal paste to the CPU cooler. Shove in a stick of RAM and finally it works. I start adding parts back in and powering it up each time as a test. None causes any problems. Seal it back up and hey it works again.
I do some more reading but can’t identify the problem. I run Dishonored 2 again as it’s a demanding program – and again it works fine, no slowdown or unusual noise.
When I’m done I turn it off give it a minute and try to turn it on again as I want to see if the problem recurs – and it goes back to the loud fan noise and black screen.
On a hunch I leave it about 40 minutes and try again – and it boots up fine. I turn it off for the night then go to bed.
I booted it up today with no problems – I haven’t played Dishonored 2 today either for fear that it might be causing some problems. Not the game itself but perhaps it demanding nature is bringing out a hidden hardware problem?
Two things strike me.
First I’d expect to be suffering some slowdown or performance loss with this kind of problem but I haven’t had any. I’m using Coretemp right now to monitor my CPU temperature and when idle it’s sitting comfortably at about 36-42 degrees Celsius. Underload it goes up to about 58.
Second it seems almost like it’s running on a battery. I realise this is ridiculous – it’s a desktop running off the mains but it feels like it needs downtime to charge back up and then runs fine. Again I know this isn’t the case but perhaps the analogy will help someone figure something out.
Needless to say I’m currently updating the back ups of all my important files onto a couple of flash drives.
TLDR – computer wouldn’t boot after playing Dishonored 2, just a black screen and a loud fan noise. Used CMOS jumper switch, it worked as a temporary fix, same problem recurs. Breadboard it, no change, reseat the CPU – it works again. Problem briefly recurs but then seems to be ok again. Currently worried that while it’s working now it may be indicative of a deeper problem.
I'd greatly appreciate any advice you guys can give.
Specs:
CPU: Intel i5 4690k 3.50GHz (4 CPUs) ~ 3.5GHz
GPU: Asus Nvidia Geforce 970 4GB DDR 5 – using latest drivers
HDD: 1TB Seagate 7200rpm
RAM: 8GB – 2x 4GB Corsair Dominator DDR 3
Motherboard: Asus Maxiumus VII Formula (don’t think I’ve ever updated the drivers for this, could that be a cause?)
PSU: Corsair RM1000 Watt modular PSU
OS: Windows 10 64 bit (free upgrade from windows 7. After initial trouble with the upgrade I clean installed windows 10).
(System specs and TLDR at the bottom of the post)
A few days ago I was playing Dishonored 2. Great game, demanding on the hardware but it’s running fine with most settings turned up to High. I’m very rarely getting any slowdown at all usually only in combat with several antagonists and sometimes not even then.
After a couple of hours I was done playing so I turned off my PC and went to do things. A few hours later I come back to jump back into Dishonored but my computer won’t boot. It powers up but the CPU fan gets really loud and nothing comes up on screen. This doesn’t worry me much as my computer has done this once every couple of months for about two years. Normally I turn it off by holding down the power switch then turn it back after a minute and it runs fine. This time it didn’t despite turning it on and off a few times.
I read around the problem and end up using the CMOS jumper reset method – and it works so I seal my case back up and start playing Dishonored 2 again. No change in performance, no slowdown no signs of overheating, normal fan noise.
After a while I turn it off and hit the sack. Next day I try to turn my PC on and it won’t boot – loud fan noise and power again but nothing else. I try the cmos jumper method again figuring I might as well get it working before investigating further but it doesn’t work. Even worse now my computer won’t power on at all. There’s power in the board, the motherboard lights are on as is the graphics card light but it won’t start up.
I do some more reading and start unplugging parts of my system bit by bit, graphics card, DVD drive, hard drive until it’s down to the CPU and one stick of RAM. I switch that out for the other stick but no luck there either. I try a different extension cord and the sockets in another room – no change there either. All the while there is power in the board but it just won’t turn on. I try to get at the CMOS battery to take it out and plug it back in again but it’s underneath my motherboard’s thermal armour. I can get most of the screws holding it on off but 3 are stupidly stubborn and I don’t have a screwdriver that fits them perfectly so I give up on that and screw them all back in.
I looked over the Capacitors whilst I had the motherboard out of the case too – I couldn’t smell anything or see any signs of bloating.
Finally I resort to reseating the CPU and applying fresh thermal paste to the CPU cooler. Shove in a stick of RAM and finally it works. I start adding parts back in and powering it up each time as a test. None causes any problems. Seal it back up and hey it works again.
I do some more reading but can’t identify the problem. I run Dishonored 2 again as it’s a demanding program – and again it works fine, no slowdown or unusual noise.
When I’m done I turn it off give it a minute and try to turn it on again as I want to see if the problem recurs – and it goes back to the loud fan noise and black screen.
On a hunch I leave it about 40 minutes and try again – and it boots up fine. I turn it off for the night then go to bed.
I booted it up today with no problems – I haven’t played Dishonored 2 today either for fear that it might be causing some problems. Not the game itself but perhaps it demanding nature is bringing out a hidden hardware problem?
Two things strike me.
First I’d expect to be suffering some slowdown or performance loss with this kind of problem but I haven’t had any. I’m using Coretemp right now to monitor my CPU temperature and when idle it’s sitting comfortably at about 36-42 degrees Celsius. Underload it goes up to about 58.
Second it seems almost like it’s running on a battery. I realise this is ridiculous – it’s a desktop running off the mains but it feels like it needs downtime to charge back up and then runs fine. Again I know this isn’t the case but perhaps the analogy will help someone figure something out.
Needless to say I’m currently updating the back ups of all my important files onto a couple of flash drives.
TLDR – computer wouldn’t boot after playing Dishonored 2, just a black screen and a loud fan noise. Used CMOS jumper switch, it worked as a temporary fix, same problem recurs. Breadboard it, no change, reseat the CPU – it works again. Problem briefly recurs but then seems to be ok again. Currently worried that while it’s working now it may be indicative of a deeper problem.
I'd greatly appreciate any advice you guys can give.
Specs:
CPU: Intel i5 4690k 3.50GHz (4 CPUs) ~ 3.5GHz
GPU: Asus Nvidia Geforce 970 4GB DDR 5 – using latest drivers
HDD: 1TB Seagate 7200rpm
RAM: 8GB – 2x 4GB Corsair Dominator DDR 3
Motherboard: Asus Maxiumus VII Formula (don’t think I’ve ever updated the drivers for this, could that be a cause?)
PSU: Corsair RM1000 Watt modular PSU
OS: Windows 10 64 bit (free upgrade from windows 7. After initial trouble with the upgrade I clean installed windows 10).
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