[SOLVED] PC Resurrection from ~15 years

[aapkaBaap]

New here, so here's what I am up to. I have an old PC, which I am looking forward to bringing back to life.
I hooked up everything and the PC kept power cycling. So I unplugged everything, leaving only the connection from PSU to Mobo and Mobo to display (also reseated the RAM). This took the PC to POST, in which I get a beep, a gap of ~3 seconds, then 2 short beeps. I checked online and this means an issue with graphics - but graphics is built into the chipset I have (or so I think ?). The motherboard has a Q35 chipset which has Intel GMA 3100.

Here is what I'm working with :
CPU: Intel E6300
Motherboard: Acer Q35T-AM
RAM: 2 x 1GB DDR2
PSU: Liteon PS-5022-5F 200W

Any help would be appreciated.

 

[MrLitschel]

I would put a video card in. With older motherboards, the BIIOS might be set to use a PCI video card with the onboard video "Disabled".

 

[logainofhades]

First thing I would do is get a better PSU, if said system is using a standard ATX unit. Doesn't need to be a high end unit, but pretty much any bronze rated Evga, Seasonic, Corsair, or Antec unit is going to be far superior, than what you have now.

 

[geofelt]

What did you unplug?
You are going to need a keyboard to enter the bios.
Otherwise, the motherboard is going to try to boot some device.
Download memtest to a usb stick and have that available as a boot device.

What is the monitor you are using?
I understand that the connection is only VGA.
Is the vga cable secure at both ends?
Is there a monitor input selection option?

After 15 years, the cmos battery is likely dead and should be replaced.
It is used to preserve bios settings across power off cycles.

 

[Zerk2012]

I would first replace the motherboard battery like 4 bucks.

 

[aapkaBaap]

Aight, apologies for the late reply. Thank you all for the amazing tips and suggestions. I managed to get a system from a friend for troubleshooting and debugging. These are the changes I made :

• Got a new CMOS battery
• Added his GPU (1060 6GB) to my system
• Used his PSU to power up my system (Corsair 550W)

Doing this resulted in the system giving display on the GPU's HDMI and as @MrLitschel pointed out, the default display out was PCI/PEG (Pci Express Graphics). I changed this back to IDG (IntegrateD Graphics ?), took out the GPU, connected the display to motherboard VGA, and rebooted. And I was back to square one, same beeps and no video output 🙁
I have to return the GPU I have back to him but that's the only way I get a display. Is there a way to check whether the integrated graphics is dead or alive? Or some other extension/option which needs to be updated in BIOS to enable this?

There might be an issue with the VGA cable, as the GPU has HDMI, and that works well with all my other devices. I will check this possibility of VGA cable being bad and report back as well. @geofelt the monitor is a generic DELL one, it connects with my laptop just fine. I still have to do the memtest you suggested, not sure if it's needed now.

Thanks in advance

 

[punkncat]

I couldn't recommend following up with any manner of further troubleshooting or repair of that PC. It is terribly outdated, will underperform for anything, aside from possible issues with current OS type and security.

Would recommend going to eBay (etc.) and locating something like a 4th gen + Intel business class PC that should be readily available for the neighborhood of $100-150. I just looked and saw a nice 4790 system for a buck fifty shipped. FAR better situation to (re) start from than an obsolete system that is giving trouble.

 

[Krotow]

I couldn't recommend following up with any manner of further troubleshooting or repair of that PC. It is terribly outdated, will underperform for anything, aside from possible issues with current OS type and security.

He didn't said why he is trying to resurrect that tin grandpa. Maybe he is building retrogaming PC. Or custom rig for some very ancient software which someone desperately need for work. There are still a plenty of fancy hardware around like CNC mills who even have "brains" with software on 8" floppies.

 

[punkncat]

He didn't said why he is trying to resurrect that tin grandpa. Maybe he is building retrogaming PC. Or custom rig for some very ancient software which someone desperately need for work. There are still a plenty of fancy hardware around like CNC mills who even have "brains" with software on 8" floppies.

I agree with the premise, but even if that is the case it would be FAR better to start the process from a working computer than to try and hunt down an issue that may or may not be 'fatal' to the system. Unknown issue like this quickly goes into rabbit hole territory.

 

[Krotow]

would be FAR better to start the process from a working computer than to try and hunt down an issue that may or may not be 'fatal' to the system. Unknown issue like this quickly goes into rabbit hole territory.

It is better except real hardware which he want to return into life with grandpa, have some fancy control software which need direct access to ports or simply is not compatible with Windows above XP or haven't drivers for something above it.

 

[punkncat]

It is better except real hardware which he want to return into life with grandpa, have some fancy control software which need direct access to ports or simply is not compatible with Windows above XP or haven't drivers for something above it.

"better" in this case is certainly objective. A non working 15 year old computer isn't something that the second hand market just has cheap spares laying around for. This has passed the point of obsolescence into increasing value based on rarity and need. I mean, we can speculate any use case since OP hasn't stated your case, or any other to be true. So far as the details of their post goes is that they are trying to find use for an old box and nothing more.

 

[Krotow]

Agree about that we should wait OP back to explain the situation Except some very specific needs such PCs are already long obsolete. Have 4 such dead laptops under table waiting for next drive to electronic junk yard.

 

[aapkaBaap]

Woah woah lemme explain.
So last year I entered the EVGA queue expecting absolutely nothing. BUT I got my spot last week and got my hands on a 3060 XC. I plan to put this GPU in my old system with a new PSU (>=550 W at least bronze). My primary workload would be gaming. I hear y'all screaming at me for this torture and textbook example of bottlenecking, but hear me out. I am saving to get new a processor (Ryzen 5 3600 or i5 11/12th gen), new motherboard. While I save for that I'd like to start with what I have. Also this is the first time I'll be building a system so I want to get my hands dirty on an old system. The only issue right now is the integrated graphics not working. And if I can't get it to work in a day or two, I'll forget about it and plug in the 3060.
Thanks

 

[Krotow]

Geez, then you are more desperate than I was 3 years ago. You know... I totally understand you 😀 Welcome to land of pain.

Technically Acer Q35T-AM motherboard should support any decent GPU with PCI-E interface. You still must use proper PSU which match to CPU/GPU power demand + some overhead. Gaming on this contraption though will be a torture. At least add next 2 GB RAM to existing two.

 

[aapkaBaap]

Alrighty then, update time

Went to the local second hand market and got upgraded CPU and RAM for the current mobo (to lessen the CPU/RAM bottlenecking), this costed ~$20 lmao

• CPU upgraded from E6300 (Core 2 Duo 1.86 GHz) to Q9650 (Core 2 Quad 3.0 GHz)
• RAM upgraded from 2 Gb 667 MHz to 4 Gb 800 MHz. Will get 4 Gb more next weekend cuz its dirt cheap at ~$3/2Gb stick
• 1 TB Seagate BarraCuda 7200 rpm (~$35)

After this upgrade, using friend's PSU and 1060 I was able to install windows 10 (albeit with some tinkering in the BIOS and disabling a few things). All things were working, installed HWINFO etc and stuff looked okay except for the CPU temps (hitting ~75 max in Valorant and idling at ~60). I have some very generic CPU cooler, maybe its the stock one and it rattles like crazy. So I'll either have to fix it or get a very good one (and make sure it's also compatible w/ LGA1700/AM3/4, not final yet).

Also got a new PSU (XPG Pylon 650W 80+ Bronze) as I will be adding my 3060 XC to the build next week.

FRANKENSTEIN is coming to life.

 

[Satan-IR]

Mixing RAM that didn't come as a 'kit' is always a gamble. Not saying it doesn't work all the time but it causes minor to big issues.

Although if you have a working one and add one and that causes issues you can use the working one.