Prime95 Meltdown Need Help!

[fc1636]

I recently upgraded my CPU cooling to a CM Nepton 240m. After installation I booted up my PC and ran a stress test using Prime95 for about ten minutes. During the stress test all my temps seemed fine (CPU was at 41 °C). Then all of a sudden my PC shut off. I smelled something burning at that time. I waited about 15 minutes and wasn't able to turn my PC back on.

I tested my PSU with a paperclip and it seemed fine. I figured since my CPU wasn't running too hot and wasn't overclocked it was probably my motherboard. So I replaced my motherboard with a new Crosshair V Formula-Z. After setting everything up and going through the No POST checklist and all I got was lights on the motherboard. No case fans. No PSU fans.

I tried reseating the RAM and unplugging HDD and still got nothing. At this point I checked the CPU and it seemed like I put too much thermal paste on it as it was spilling over onto the motherboard. So I cleaned that all up, checked the CPU for bent pins, reseated everything...

This time the PC started up (fans and everything) but no video. So I shut it down, plugged in my monitors. Tried to start it up again and this time NOTHING. No case fans, no beeps, just a light on the motherboard was green.

I checked for something that might be shorting the motherboard and there was nothing.

I'm not sure what to do next. Is it the CPU? Please help this is driving me crazy!

Thanks!

 

[geofelt]

My guess would be a bad psu.
What make/model do you have?

 

[gilbadon]

I had a problem when my computer would not boot. The issue was one of two things.

1: The CPU not touching a socket pin somehow. As you probably know, prior to clamping the CPU into the motherboard with the clamp lever, there is about 2mm of wiggle room on all sides. When I placed the CPU more to one side then the other the system booted and the fans turned on.

2: The other thing that stopped my system from booting was that my cpu cooler was shorting out my motherboard. With a little readjustment this was fixed as well.

My tip:
Remove the cooler completely and see if the computer will boot with the back plate and cooler removed. Remember you do not have a CPU cooler on. Turn the computer off asap when you realize you can boot and carefully replace the components one step at a time making sure you can boot. If it does not boot at first, try moving the CPU a little in each direction to see if it will boot then.

Good luck!

 

[fc1636]

My guess would be a bad psu.
What make/model do you have?

It's an Antec HCG-900. But like I said I tested it with a paperclip and it was fine. PC also booted once after the inital problem occurred.

 

[sizzling]

To smell burning would make me think PSU. The paperclip test does not tell you if the PSU can deliver any current, just that it can produce a voltage with no load.

 

[melonhead]

if there is a smell of somethign burning, that is hint number 1. at this time, it is going to be up to you to find out what the burning smell came from. this will probably tell you what the problem is, or at least narrow it down.
i dont foresee it pinpointing the issue, because the damage could be to multiple parts. if it was the CPU, it could have damaged the motherboard too, but hard to say without knowing what was causing the smell.
everything in the case may smell, but whatever it is that caused the smell, you should be able to tell a noticable difference in the smell of it.

 

[fc1636]

I had a problem when my computer would not boot. The issue was one of two things.

1: The CPU not touching a socket pin somehow. As you probably know, prior to clamping the CPU into the motherboard with the clamp lever, there is about 2mm of wiggle room on all sides. When I placed the CPU more to one side then the other the system booted and the fans turned on.

2: The other thing that stopped my system from booting was that my cpu cooler was shorting out my motherboard. With a little readjustment this was fixed as well.

My tip:
Remove the cooler completely and see if the computer will boot with the back plate and cooler removed. Remember you do not have a CPU cooler on. Turn the computer off asap when you realize you can boot and carefully replace the components one step at a time making sure you can boot. If it does not boot at first, try moving the CPU a little in each direction to see if it will boot then.

Good luck!

To smell burning would make me think PSU. The paperclip test does not tell you if the PSU can deliver any current, just that it can produce a voltage with no load.

if there is a smell of somethign burning, that is hint number 1. at this time, it is going to be up to you to find out what the burning smell came from. this will probably tell you what the problem is, or at least narrow it down.
i dont foresee it pinpointing the issue, because the damage could be to multiple parts. if it was the CPU, it could have damaged the motherboard too, but hard to say without knowing what was causing the smell.
everything in the case may smell, but whatever it is that caused the smell, you should be able to tell a noticable difference in the smell of it.

Ok so I replaced the PSU with a new one. Now I get case fans, CPU fans and lights. Still no video though. I tried repositioning the CPU and still nothing.

 

[melonhead]

hmm. seems that it may have been the psu. did you check power connections to the GPU, if there is any? if there is a GPU, and are sure everythign is connected, its possible that it killed the GPU too. ?

 

[gilbadon]

Have you tried both onboard and GPU video?

 

[fc1636]

Have you tried both onboard and GPU video?

There is no onboard graphics card. My GPU fans spin up fine though.

 

[gilbadon]

Have you reset the bios (and done a hard reset)?

 

[fc1636]

Have you reset the bios (and done a hard reset)?

Yes I tried reseting the bios. How do I do a hard reset?

 

[gilbadon]

Remove the battery for over a half hour. I have heard people having their computers fixed leaving it out for 24 hours. I do not have that kind of patience lol. Also, do you have dual bios?

 

[fc1636]

Ok so I replaced the CPU and everything worked after that. Wow what a week. Never running Prime95 again. lol. Thanks for all your help guys!

 

[gilbadon]

Haha glad you got it fixed. Best of luck!

 

[A_Used_Username]

Why do ppl even run Prime95 if it can burn/destory CPU's?

is Prime95 a software tool that tests how much your CPU can take b4 it blows up?so many threads I read about how Prime95 wipes out computers yet ppl still use it.


I'am glad i avoid using that CPU killing bloatware.

 

[fc1636]

Why do ppl even run Prime95 if it can burn/destory CPU's?

is Prime95 a software tool that tests how much your CPU can take b4 it blows up?so many threads I read about how Prime95 wipes out computers yet ppl still use it.


I'am glad i avoid using that CPU killing bloatware.

Yeah I can't say I disagree with you. I learned my lesson. Though I'm sure some will argue that it is useful to them.

 

[gilbadon]

It is a good tool. If you run your CPU @ 100%, technically nothing should happen to the hardware so long as you do not set any wrong settings in bios and have good cooling. I used AIDA64 though because I have heard people are migrating to it.

 

[A_Used_Username]

''It is a good tool''

Ya its a good tool if your trying to burn your house down to collect insurance


Seriously though i've heard of people running stock CPU's they just bought not even overclocking no bios edit,And BOOM there goes the neighborhood RIP new mobo/CPU.....I had friends tell me to download prime95 to test my new gaming pc at max load,I SAID: NOT TODAY 😀 .,I won't be tricked into killing my 800$ computer.

 

[gilbadon]

''It is a good tool''

Ya its a good tool if your trying to burn your house down to collect insurance


Seriously though i've heard of people running stock CPU's they just bought not even overclocking no bios edit,And BOOM there goes the neighborhood RIP new mobo/CPU.....I had friends tell me to download prime95 to test my new gaming pc at max load,I SAID: NOT TODAY 😀 .,I won't be tricked into killing my 800$ computer.

I have heard horror stories as well. I have just been lucky with the PC's that I have built I guess. My experiences just tell me to continue to use it though. Saves me frustrating time of testing my settings while in game.