Help with dead machine

[GR22]

I was playing GTR, a racing sim that's pretty hardware intensive when my machine died. I've had this sim for a few months now and it's been OK before. In the middle of a race, the game shut down, I briefly saw my desktop, then the mahine shut down. I noticed a smell like something burning. My specs are below. I haven't had this graphics card all that long, but the processor and mobo are getting old. Nothing's overclocked.

My thoughts are I smoked either the graphics card or the processor. When I try to reboot, the monitor stays dark. I think I remember this machine would beep at startup and it's not doing that. I tried putting my old graphics card in. I can hear the monitor (relay?) clicking, but nothing appears on the screen other than a whitish flicker.

How can I tell if my problem is processor, graphics card or possibly mobo?

Thanks

 

[imported_michaelpatrick33]

Sounds more like a PSU death to me. Do you have another system to test the video card in? The fact that the bios code isn't beeping tells me the PSU is the culprit. When you power up do you haven any fan action? Case fans, video card fan? If there is nothing but the monitor poweriing up than I would bet the PSU (and overloaded with new graphics card is the problem. What are the amps on the rails (and total wattage of your PSU? Did you upgrade the PSU since the original system was installed (either by you or where you bought it)?

 

[GR22]

All fans are running. This is a 300W power supply, should be adequate?

 

[crizzar]

most likely the PS--usually the only thing that smells funny when it burns.

the other thing you may want to check is opening the case and see if the cpu fan is spinning when you hit the power button...if it does then the cpu may have died; no beeps typically indicate a bad cpu if it looks like the mobo is getting power.

 

[sniperruff]

probably the PSU or the mobo. maybe a fried molex?

 

[vrbaba]

is there any led on the mobo that u use to see if its on? The chipset on the mobo could be fried. The fact that fans, etc are running seems like the psu is fine and should be able to get to the bios...if not load the OS. do you have a video input on the mobo? then u can try plugging in there to see if its the video card...but prolly not, my guess.

 

[GR22]

Is it possible it's the power supply if all the fans are running?

 

[mechBgon]

You're running a 6600GT on a PP303X? That's one OLD power supply (now about 4 generations back in Antec's history). I'm with the PSU-suspecting posse on this one. Also unplug the PSU's 20-pin cable from the mobo and examine it for burning/browning.

 

[mechBgon]

BTW if you need a new PSU, don't skimp, make it a reputable brand and get more wattage than you think you need (today). I'd suggest an ATX 2.0 unit in the 400W+ range so you've got some breathing room for your next upgrade.