Is my CPU dead?

[HWConnors]

Hi everyone,

I recently cleaned the cpu fan and heatsink in my old desktop. I was told that is was not necessary to reapply thermal paste, so I didn't (big mistake?). When I turned the computer on, everything ran normally, except I noticed the cpu fan did not run at all when before, it ran on and off quite frequently. I knew I had plugged it back in correctly because I heard it run for a few seconds at startup (like it usually did). I thought it probably didn't need to run since the cpu must have been much cooler as there was a lot of dust buildup before. I downloaded CoreTemp and the cpu temp was 38°C idle, around 45°C with light use and never went over 53°C. I used it all day without trouble, when suddenly, the computer just completely shut off. The On/Off button was still lit. I wasn't doing anything heavy, just watching a 480p video with VLC. I read somewhere that Intel processors shut themselves down when they overheat to prevent damage. I didn't bother trying to turn it on again, I just took out the cpu fan and heatsink again and applied some thermal paste. Now, after carefully reconnecting everything, the computer does not turn on at all. When I press the On/Off switch absolutely nothing happens. I was extremely careful when I cleaned it by making sure I didn't have any static and by not touching anything else inside the computer. Do you think it overheated and died?

 

[GnarledAilanth]

Not reapplying the thermal paste was definitely a huge mistake. It's hard to say if the cpu is dead without moving it into another compatible machine, thus removing any confounding factors from your machine. Especially after opening up a computer for cleaning, a number of things could have gone wrong. We also need more information. Like what is the model of the processor? What else did you clean/touch when you opened up the machine? Is there a dust problem elsewhere in the machine, like for instance in the psu? It's just so hard to say without being there. But the most likely answer, especially because of the missing thermal paste, is that the cpu is fried.

Heres hoping that something else is wrong, and that it can be fixed for free

 

[HWConnors]

Not reapplying the thermal paste was definitely a huge mistake. It's hard to say if the cpu is dead without moving it into another compatible machine, thus removing any confounding factors from your machine. Especially after opening up a computer for cleaning, a number of things could have gone wrong. We also need more information. Like what is the model of the processor? What else did you clean/touch when you opened up the machine? Is there a dust problem elsewhere in the machine, like for instance in the psu? It's just so hard to say without being there. But the most likely answer, especially because of the missing thermal paste, is that the cpu is fried.

Heres hoping that something else is wrong, and that it can be fixed for free

 

[HWConnors]

You're right, it's fried. It's P4 519 3.06GHz. There is very little dust in the computer and I was extremely careful to not touch anything else. I've had it for 10 and a half years, I think it was living on borrowed time!

PS: Sorry if I messed up this post, I'm having a hard time using this site on an iPod Touch (now that my old desktop is down!)