Will my computer post with a bad processor?

jsmith18

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May 10, 2008
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Hello I just built my first ever computer! When I plugged everything in and hit that power switch all the fans went on, but nothing shows up on the screen and the monitor isn't getting any input, also my computer isn't posting. I just want to know if I have a bad processor will it post, because it might be a possibility that my processor is bad. Also if you have any idea why my computer is doing this PLEASE TELL ME!

Specs:
Case: Antec 900
Mobo: ASUS P5N-D 750i
CPU:Q6600
Heatsink: Zalman 9500A
Video Card:xfx 8800 gts G92
HDD: Segat 7200.11 500gb (32 mb cache )
RAM: 4 gb (2gb x 2) corsair xms2
 
If you have a bad cpu, it will not post, but a bad cpu is rare.
Most likely you have a short, or have a bad or missed connection.

Assemble the minimum pieces needed outside of the case to eliminate the possibility of a case short..
CPU, 1 sick of memory in the first slot, PSU and vga card only. No cd or hard drive. Put the mobo on top of the wrap that it came in. Make certain that all power connections are secure, and that you have both the big main mobo cable, and the smaller cpu cable connected. Make certain that the cpu is in properly, and that the heat sink is secure.

On the mobo, are there some lights/sounds or indicators which indicate how far the post process has gone?
 

Use cardboard or something non-conductive instead of the wrap the MB came in. Some wraps are electrically conductive to prevent static.

Also, first try clearing your CMOS.

Finally, when you list your specs, don't forget to include the model number of the power supply and of the CPU cooler.
 
Definately try geofelt's suggestion first. If that doesn't work:
Did you buy the motherboard new, or off ebay?

I'm not sure what the original shipping BIOS version was, but according to ASUS you need version 0107 or greater to support a quad. If you got an older board, it may need flashed. Unfortunately, you need to be able to POST in order to check/update the BIOS.
 
I just bought a e8400 processor a few weeks ago and when i built it it would not post. Turned out my motherboard was just able to handle up to the 6000 series processor, so i bought new Mb and alls good.
 

It's Intel, so it's probably fine. 😛


Here is your problem. "XMS" series typically uses higher than DDR2 spec for voltage (usually around 2.1-2.2 instead of good old 1.8 volt). Motherboards have a hard time booting this ram, as the BIOS usually defaults to 1.8 volts. Essentially your ram has "failed", b/c the mobo is not giving it the 2+ volts it desires. Try booting with some more normal ram....like out of your friend's Dell or something. If it boots, go directly into the BIOS, and set the ram voltage to 2.1 or 2.2 volts (whatever your XMS memory states), then save and exit the BIOS. When it reboots, shut the PC off, swap in your Corsair ram, and power the PC back on. You should now be able to boot successfully. This is why I hate "hi-performance" ram. I hate Corsair brand specifically for other reasons. It's so common, I thought you would catch it mondoman.
 
when it comes to troubleshooting your microprocessor on your system,it take time to detect it.
first,check if the cooling fan on the CPU is spinning.if not, you will have to change it.because the fan has to blow the heat off.
And if fan is spinning,feel the microprocessor with the back of your hand to check if hot and if not than the microprocessor is bad...........
 

 
mybe is ur video card because if u get no input maybe ur video card is not working the way it shuld be, start from there. the video card is resposible for the OS's gui to be visible on ur monitor.
 
Work systematically through our standard checklist and troubleshooting thread:
http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/261145-31-read-posting-boot-problems
I mean work through, not just read over it. We spent a lot of time on this. It should find most of the problems.

If not, continue.
The following is an expansion of my troubleshooting tips in the breadboarding link in the "Cannot boot" thread.

I have tested the following beep patterns on Gigabyte, eVGA, and ECS motherboards. Other BIOS' may be different, but they all use a single short beep for a successful POST.

Breadboard - that will help isolate any kind of case problem you might have.
http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/262730-31-breadboarding

Breadboard with just motherboard, CPU & HSF, case speaker, and PSU.

Make sure you plug the CPU power cable in. The system will not boot without it.

I always breadboard a new build. It takes only a few minutes, and you know you are putting good parts in the case once you are finished.

You can turn on the PC by momentarily shorting the two pins that the case power switch goes to. You should hear a series of long, single beeps indicating memory problems. Silence indicates a problem with (in most likely order) the PSU, motherboard, or CPU. Remember, at this time, you do not have a graphics card installed so the load on your PSU will be reduced.

If no beeps:
Running fans and drives and motherboard LED's do not necessarily indicate a good PSU. In the absence of a single short beep, they also do not indicate that the system is booting.

At this point, you can sort of check the PSU. Try to borrow a known good PSU of around 550 - 600 watts. That will power just about any system with a single GPU. If you cannot do that, use a DMM to measure the voltages. Measure between the colored wires and either chassis ground or the black wires. Yellow wires should be 12 volts. Red wires: +5 volts, orange wires: +3.3 volts, blue wire : -12 volts, violet wire: 5 volts always on. Tolerances are +/- 5% except for the -12 volts which is +/- 10%. If you have a white wire (many modern PSU's do not), it should be -5 volts.

The gray wire is really important. It should go from 0 to +5 volts when you turn the PSU on with the case switch. CPU needs this signal to boot.

You can turn on the PSU by completely disconnecting the PSU and using a paperclip or jumper wire to short the green wire to one of the neighboring black wires.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5FWXgQSokF4&feature=youtube_gdata

A way that might be easier is to use the main power plug. Working from the back of the plug where the wires come out, use a bare paperclip to short between the green wire and one of the neighboring black wires. That will do the same thing with an installed PSU. It is also an easy way to bypass a questionable case power switch.

This checks the PSU under no load conditions, so it is not completely reliable. But if it can not pass this, it is dead. Then repeat the checks with the PSU plugged into the computer to put a load on the PSU.

If the system beeps:
If it looks like the PSU is good, install a memory stick. Boot. Beep pattern should change to one long and several short beeps indicating a missing graphics card.

Silence, long single beeps, or series of short beeps indicate a problem with the memory. If you get short beeps verify that the memory is in the appropriate motherboard slots.

Insert the video card and connect any necessary PCIe power connectors. Boot. At this point, the system should POST successfully (a single short beep). Notice that you do not need keyboard, mouse, monitor, or drives to successfully POST.
At this point, if the system doesn't work, it's either the video card or an inadequate PSU. Or rarely - the motherboard's PCIe interface.

Now start connecting the rest of the devices starting with the monitor, then keyboard and mouse, then the rest of the devices, testing after each step. It's possible that you can pass the POST with a defective video card. The POST routines can only check the video interface. It cannot check the internal parts of the video card.