POST failure after upgrading to i5! Any solutions?

[TheGhostMan]

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel - Core i5-4440 3.1GHz Quad-Core Processor ($150.00)
Motherboard: Asus - H81M-A Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard (Purchased For $0.00)
Memory: Crucial - 4GB (1 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory (Purchased For $0.00)
Memory: Crucial - 4GB (1 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory
Storage: SanDisk - SSD PLUS 120GB 2.5" Solid State Drive (Purchased For $53.00)
Storage: Western Digital - Caviar Blue 1TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive (Purchased For $0.00)
Video Card: Asus - Radeon R9 270 2GB DirectCU II Video Card (Purchased For $121.54)
Power Supply: Antec - 450W ATX Power Supply (Purchased For $0.00)
Wireless Network Adapter: TP-Link - TL-WN721N USB 2.0 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi Adapter (Purchased For $0.00)
Case Fan: Rosewill - RFA-80-K 33.2 CFM 80mm Fan (Purchased For $0.00)
Keyboard: Cooler Master - CM Storm Devastator - OEM Wired Gaming Keyboard w/Optical Mouse (Purchased For $0.00)
Other: HP Pavillion Old MicroATX Case (Purchased)
Total: $324.54
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2017-08-09 21:36 EDT-0400

Recently I have sucessfully upgraded to an i5 4440 at last. However I ran into a problem. The PC turns on fine with all the light indicators working as expected plus all the fans running just fine without any issues. However the system doesn't POST at all despite having the latest bios version. I've also readjusted the RAM, checked to see if I've improperly installed the processor, and also have removed the GPU to ensure that it wasn't the main cause of the boot failure.

As I re-installed the i3-4170 properly, then when the PC finally booted after POST I've realized what has happened. Either the CPU is no good (despite the CPU being tested and in working condition before being sold) or that it got damaged in shipping.

However before I should ask for a refund, what should I do first to fix this issue and how to fix it? I'm kinda stuck at the moment.

 

[geofelt]

You may have incompatible ram.
Ram is sold in kits for a reason.
A motherboard must manage all the ram using the same specs of voltage, cas and speed.
Ram from the same vendor and part number can be made up of differing manufacturing components over time.
Some motherboards can be very sensitive to this.
Use memtest to test both sticks together.
If that does not work, try testing each stick individually.

Since you were able to successfully reinstall the I3-4170, the likely cause is a bad processor that needs to be returned.

But first, look carefully at the pins in the motherboard cpu socket.
One common cause for apparent cpu failure is bent pins in the cpu socket.
It is unpredictable as to how errors might occur.

 

[TheGhostMan]

You may have incompatible ram.
Ram is sold in kits for a reason.
A motherboard must manage all the ram using the same specs of voltage, cas and speed.
Ram from the same vendor and part number can be made up of differing manufacturing components over time.
Some motherboards can be very sensitive to this.
Use memtest to test both sticks together.
If that does not work, try testing each stick individually.

Since you were able to successfully reinstall the I3-4170, the likely cause is a bad processor that needs to be returned.

But first, look carefully at the pins in the motherboard cpu socket.
One common cause for apparent cpu failure is bent pins in the cpu socket.
It is unpredictable as to how errors might occur.

The RAM is fine. However like you said, the new CPU might have been DOA during shipping. Unfortunately the seller from ebay doesn't accept returns and have insisted that he has tested the processor prior to shipping saying that it's confirmed working. I don't think I'll be able to get a refund at this point however I do have to an idea. What if I could "clean" the new processor (without delidding of course)?

 

[geofelt]

Request a return from the seller claiming that the cpu was not as advertised. (confirmed working)
Had the seller said "as is" or not working that would be different.
Ebay will side with you and refund the paypal payment.
Do all of your communications via email and keep a copy.

 

[TheGhostMan]

Request a return from the seller claiming that the cpu was not as advertised. (confirmed working)
Had the seller said "as is" or not working that would be different.
Ebay will side with you and refund the paypal payment.
Do all of your communications via email and keep a copy.

I have opened a refund request on ebay about the DOA processor. So far it's not working out too well. The seller kept insisting that the processor has been tested and confirmed working. Plus he doesn't accept returns mainly due preventing the CPU from being "stolen" and then the CPU returned back as broken.

Either tomorrow or on Saturday I should be take to ask Ebay for assistance on helping out with this issue.

 

[TheGhostMan]

Update: Ebay has refunded me the money so I'm very glad that things have worked out. Maybe next year I could try to upgrade my main gaming rig to a Haswell i5 again though I might have to be careful of which seller to purchase from next time. ^^