CPU - finding out if it's fried

[Jonathan_142]

Hi, my Ubuntu system was playing up for a while, freezing randomly. The past week it got worse - even running system tests from USB (such as the Ubuntu memory and HDD test or UBCD) or even Bios RAM tests caused it reboot after a short time. No beeps like I used to get on POST.

I opened it up and and it looked like the fan cooling block restraints were loose (I'd bought this second hand). The fan wouldn't start on power on - it'd try to move a fraction and stop.

I stripped the system down to just he 4 pin CPU power and the 24 pin one, stripped out the RAM - no boot, no beeps, no POST. So I bought a new fan and that one spun. However, I still get no boot (again, without RAM plugged in). Unplugged all USBs and internal motherboard connections.

I have another PSU so I checked that that wasn't the problem. With the new fan it's the same as before - when I power on it shuts down after a couple of seconds, waits a few, powers on for about 10s then continues in a cycle of off for 5s, on for 10s, never displaying on the monitor or making POST beeps.

So what should I do now - get another socket 1155 CPU and potentially throw good money (£25/$40) after bad or just get a new motherboard bundle (which would be a fair bit more). Does it sound like it is the CPU? I don't have any spare CPUs or motherboards to be able to check.

The other consideration is that when disconnecting the SATA cables the Sata 3_0 connection almost came out of the motherboard - it loosened a bit and I put it in. This was a 24/7 Plex system so it has been running non-stop, bar daily reboots, for about 8 months.

System: Intel i3 (can't tell which), Gigabyte GA-Z68MA-D2H-B3 motherboard, 2x 4GB DDR3 RAM.

I've changed the CMOS battery and followed the standard Tom's Hardward step-by-step check process.

 

[1LiquidPC]

Did you install the RAM again after swapping the PSU? Tried botting with 1 stick installed in different slots? It's also very rare for a CPU to fail. I'd suspect a motherboard before a CPU. Can you provide full system specs that you have? The i3 shouldn't matter if you don't know the model.

 

[Vadamo]

As mentioned above, a failing CPU is very uncommon. Your CPU wouldn't be able to fry itself if the cooling block was loose, it would shut down if it became too hot to prevent damage.

I think the motherboard is at fault.

 

[Jonathan_142]

Thanks for your help, I tried 1LiquidPC's solution and bingo trying RAM afresh helped - I tried the step-by-step guide but that was with the old fan, so I hadn't tried adjusting RAM with the new fan and PSU. Looks like I did damage the SATA slot but had a spare, and presumably my onboard speaker as no more beeps.