Hello,
I sought help from a couple internet friends, and then went to reddit for more in-depth assistance. I got berated for seeking assistance for EOL hardware so I apologize for asking here. I am close to considering purchasing a more up-to-date PC however that is not fiscally possible, at best I could maybe afford a $500-600 price tag total. But if my current issue can be corrected much cheaper, I would prefer that solution as my rig has been efficient for my purposes (casual gamer).
Background:
I have an older PC that had been working great, built probably 12 years ago. Since then, I have added RAM, replaced the GPU, and the cooling unit. These options seemed more fiscally reasonable than getting a new build. Early last week, I came home, and my PC was off (I usually leave it on), and I tried to turn it on with the tower power button and nothing happened. My first hypothesis based on suggestions by others was that the PSU was bad and I was asked if I had smelled burning or anything. When the PC was still running fine, there was a day that I smelled what I would describe as a "wet metal after rain" smell in my apartment but I didn't think anything of it. Once the problem happened, I could smell a similar smell coming from the PSU when I put my nose close to it.
Confident this was the issue; I ordered a used PSU off eBay. In the meantime a friend of mine had an extra PSU that he lent me, however, he was not sure if it worked or not as it was older and he never tested it. I tried this in the unit, and the only difference between this one and my old one was when trying to start the PC the PSU fan would do a quarter rotation, then nothing. This led me to a new hypothesis, that the motherboard may be fried/dead. It is an ASUS P8Z68-V PRO/GEN3 LGA 1155. I ordered a similar used replacement ASUS P8H77-V LE LGA1155.
Last Thursday, both replacements arrived and I assumed things would be working so re-installed everything. I did not know thermal paste should be re-applied any time CPU/cooling unit is moved, so I re-seated it with the used thermal paste, (I have ordered some arriving today). Upon starting up the PC, it turns on for a few seconds then clicks off, and then continues to boot loop.
EDIT: The mobo has only 2 lights I've observed, a green power standby light, and the DRAM red light, that lights up solid whenever I try to boot it up.
Since discovering this problem, I have removed various components with no difference, and last night I breadboarded the motherboard with the bare minimum PSU + CPU + Cooling unit + 1 stick of ram, and the problem remains. I tried my friend’s loaner PSU also and the same problem occurs.
I do not have an additional system that I can use to test individual components, but I may be able to get help from a friend next week if that is the only remaining option.
Things I've tried:
1. Clear CMOS and replaced battery
2. Re-install RAM
3. Tried 4 different sticks that were all functional prior to the original problem
4. Check for visibly damaged CPU pins. (Don't see any.)
5. Reseated CPU + Cooling unit
6. Tested PSUs with green wire test for fan activity
I can test PSUs and BIOS battery with a multimeter. I also read that the cooling unit may be on too tight, but I’m not sure how to assess that vs having it be too loose. I could revert to the previous motherboard with the assumption that it wasn’t dead and it was just a PSU issue at the time. And applying fresh thermal paste but multiple people have said that old paste would not cause a boot loop problem.
I contacted the seller of the replacement motherboard, prior to shipping they included a pic of the unit working. However, in the pic the BIOS is dated 2021 in the picture. I reached out to them about the issue, and they suggested basically everything I have already tried, except that they suggested I make sure the ram slots are clean, to use a brush to clean them.
Case : Corsair Carbide Series 500R
CPU: Intel Core i5-2500K GPU: RX 7900XT
OG power supply: CORSAIR Enthusiast Series TX750 V2 750W ATX12V v2.31
Replacement PSU: Corsair AX860 ATX Power Supply 860 Watt
Cooler: Corsair Hydro Series, iCUE H100i ELITE CAPELLIX
Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.
I sought help from a couple internet friends, and then went to reddit for more in-depth assistance. I got berated for seeking assistance for EOL hardware so I apologize for asking here. I am close to considering purchasing a more up-to-date PC however that is not fiscally possible, at best I could maybe afford a $500-600 price tag total. But if my current issue can be corrected much cheaper, I would prefer that solution as my rig has been efficient for my purposes (casual gamer).
Background:
I have an older PC that had been working great, built probably 12 years ago. Since then, I have added RAM, replaced the GPU, and the cooling unit. These options seemed more fiscally reasonable than getting a new build. Early last week, I came home, and my PC was off (I usually leave it on), and I tried to turn it on with the tower power button and nothing happened. My first hypothesis based on suggestions by others was that the PSU was bad and I was asked if I had smelled burning or anything. When the PC was still running fine, there was a day that I smelled what I would describe as a "wet metal after rain" smell in my apartment but I didn't think anything of it. Once the problem happened, I could smell a similar smell coming from the PSU when I put my nose close to it.
Confident this was the issue; I ordered a used PSU off eBay. In the meantime a friend of mine had an extra PSU that he lent me, however, he was not sure if it worked or not as it was older and he never tested it. I tried this in the unit, and the only difference between this one and my old one was when trying to start the PC the PSU fan would do a quarter rotation, then nothing. This led me to a new hypothesis, that the motherboard may be fried/dead. It is an ASUS P8Z68-V PRO/GEN3 LGA 1155. I ordered a similar used replacement ASUS P8H77-V LE LGA1155.
Last Thursday, both replacements arrived and I assumed things would be working so re-installed everything. I did not know thermal paste should be re-applied any time CPU/cooling unit is moved, so I re-seated it with the used thermal paste, (I have ordered some arriving today). Upon starting up the PC, it turns on for a few seconds then clicks off, and then continues to boot loop.
EDIT: The mobo has only 2 lights I've observed, a green power standby light, and the DRAM red light, that lights up solid whenever I try to boot it up.
Since discovering this problem, I have removed various components with no difference, and last night I breadboarded the motherboard with the bare minimum PSU + CPU + Cooling unit + 1 stick of ram, and the problem remains. I tried my friend’s loaner PSU also and the same problem occurs.
I do not have an additional system that I can use to test individual components, but I may be able to get help from a friend next week if that is the only remaining option.
Things I've tried:
1. Clear CMOS and replaced battery
2. Re-install RAM
3. Tried 4 different sticks that were all functional prior to the original problem
4. Check for visibly damaged CPU pins. (Don't see any.)
5. Reseated CPU + Cooling unit
6. Tested PSUs with green wire test for fan activity
I can test PSUs and BIOS battery with a multimeter. I also read that the cooling unit may be on too tight, but I’m not sure how to assess that vs having it be too loose. I could revert to the previous motherboard with the assumption that it wasn’t dead and it was just a PSU issue at the time. And applying fresh thermal paste but multiple people have said that old paste would not cause a boot loop problem.
I contacted the seller of the replacement motherboard, prior to shipping they included a pic of the unit working. However, in the pic the BIOS is dated 2021 in the picture. I reached out to them about the issue, and they suggested basically everything I have already tried, except that they suggested I make sure the ram slots are clean, to use a brush to clean them.
Case : Corsair Carbide Series 500R
CPU: Intel Core i5-2500K GPU: RX 7900XT
OG power supply: CORSAIR Enthusiast Series TX750 V2 750W ATX12V v2.31
Replacement PSU: Corsair AX860 ATX Power Supply 860 Watt
Cooler: Corsair Hydro Series, iCUE H100i ELITE CAPELLIX
Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.
Last edited:
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