Motherboard gone bad?

[uglyjack]

Hi,
I am having computer problems hoping somebody could point me in the right direction.
Firstly, my computer for 2.5 years has been running normal. I hadn't installed anything new either software or hardware.
I was playing a game of Battlefield 1942 (not network or internet game) when my computer shut off and shut off fast. I first tried pressing the power button on the front of my tower with no luck. Second I flipped the power supply switch off and back on with no luck. I unplugged everything from the tower and only plugged the power cord in and tried again, nothing.
I opened up the tower and inside I could see that when I plug the power cord in and switch it on that the processor, mb chipset, and 2 case fans attempt to spin but stop. Also, the lights on my network interface card flash on and then off, this is without the ethernet cord being plugged into it. When I flip the power switch, the PSU's fan doesn't even attempt to spin. Right now I am between the motherboard and powersupply as being faultly. If anybody can figure out what is wrong please reply, also, if you would like more information I would provide it gladly. It's an AMD Athlon XP 1800+, with ADXP11 FIC motherboard, 512 mb ram, and a 350Watt psu.

 

[Crashman]

I saw a drive short out once as well. I think it's your power supply, but just in case, try unhooking the power to all your drives.

<font color=blue>Only a place as big as the internet could be home to a hero as big as Crashman!</font color=blue>
<font color=red>Only a place as big as the internet could be home to an ego as large as Crashman's!</font color=red>

 

[etp777]

I'll give about 50/50 on PSU vs. motherborad, but crash is right, unhook everything, and try it.

 

[allanon1965]

i just had to rma a mb for the same scenario, although i am not sure if it was bad, my psu would run my PII 450 with no probs but when i tried on my 2200xp, no luck, the fans would spin a couple seconds and then no more....i tried my old trusty fortron 235 watt psu and it ran the 2200xp ok, but the strange thing was the system wouldnt shut down....so my theory was the psu didnt have enough watts to drive the 2200 anymore, for whatever reason....so with a new board and new psu, i was back in business....i truley dont know which failed first, mb or psu, i was initially installing a new cdrw in the tower.....and yes, i was grounded at the time in the kitchen, standing on linoleum with my wrist strap attatched

Fat, Drunk, and Stupid is no way to go through life Son.

 

[uglyjack]

First off thanks for the responses.
Crashman, I unplugged all drives, and there were no changes in computers response.
So, PSU or motherboard..My plan of attack is buy a new PSU, a 400 Watt one (it's cheaper than a new motherboad). If the new one doesn't work then I move on to the problem being the motherboard.
Is there an easier way to test the motherboard other than plugging it into a skeleton system, or was booting with just ram, cpu, and video card enough and no motherboard tests are really necessary?
Is there any damage I should worry about when using my old parts (i.e. cpu, ram, pci cards, et cetera) with a new motherboard? Please let me know your thoughts.
I truly appreciate the help. Enjoy the day.

 

[uglyjack]

Oh, and another thing right now I plan on getting a Soyo KT600 Dragon Plus if it is the motherboard. It's right around my price range ($60) and would be a nice little upgrade with upgrade possibilities in the future. Let me know what you think, or if there is something that would better suit my little upgrade. Onboard LAN, Sound, and video is unecessary. Thanks

 

[DCB_AU]

Some PSU's are fitted with bimetal overloads - open quickly with overcurrent, and then close when they cool down.

Could be a short somewhere inside or outside the PSU. This would account for the fans initially starting to spin, but note other faults can cause this also.

Try isolating other components as suggested in other posts.

<font color=red>DCB</font color=red><font color=white>_</font color=white><font color=blue>AU</font color=blue>

 

[endyen]

I dont know why Crashman hasn't steered you away from the via board? The nforce chipset is better (IMHO) and the Abit NF7-s is not much more $. If you dont have audigy2 or better sound, the onboard on the NF7-S is better.

 

[uglyjack]

I was under the impression that via boards were the way to go..I will certainly check into it more. Right now I am waiting on my new PSU to arrive before I buy a new motherboard.
The NF7-s($90) is something like 35 dollars more on newegg or tigerdirect prices than the Soyo via board.
I have a Sound Blaster Audigy MP3 PCI card, I'm not entirely sure where the audigy2 and onboard sound rates against that. I haven't kept with computer hardware in the last few years since I started school...So I am more than a little out of the loop. Also, from a quick comparison it looks like the Soyo with via has a better looking upgrade future. But again I am rusty. Thanks for the input thus far