Is my CPU DOA?

[golgotha]

-=The Hardware=-
Case: PowMax 3304 then Antec Minuet
PowerSupply: Fortron Source 180w then Antec 220w
Motherboard:Asus K8V-MX then Biostar TForce 6100
CPU: Sempron 2800+
Memory: Corsair ValueSelect 512mb x 2 pc3200
Video: Onboard or PCI GeForce FX5200
IDE drives available but unplugged.
------------------------

Ok. I am trying to put together a budget PC, but I'm having a wierd problem. Namely, there is no video output.

I have tried everything short of replacing the CPU. I will list what I've done.

First, I had an Asus K8V-MX uATX motherboard inside a cheap PowMax case (which was godawful, btw). I was using a Fortron uATX power supply. My monitor is DVI only, and the motherboard was VGA only, so I initially, on the first build, had the pci video card plugged in to use it's DVI port. When I powered it up, there was no video. I tried clearing the CMOS, but that didn't help. I figured maybe the video card was bad? I drove over to Micro Center and picked up a female DVI to male VGA adapter ( for 15 bucks) and plugged the monitor into the onboard video card. Still no live screen. I thought maybe the CPU was not seated properly, so I took off the heatsink/fan and cleaned off the arctic silver I had applied earlier, checked for bent pins, reapplied paste and re-seated the CPU. still no go. i then thought maybe the RAM doesn't work, so I tried one stick of RAM in both slots, two sticks in both arrangements, I even pulled out XMS memory from my desktop. still no video. I then flashed the bios using the ASUS floppy disk flash utility. no go.
At this point I know it's either the motherboard chipset or the CPU. The motherboard seemed more likely, so I RMAed the motherboard back to NewEgg for a refund. I purchased a new motherboard and a new case while i was at it. the new case, Antec Minuet, came with it's own Antec brand power supply, with a slightly higher wattage than the Fortron. I began by admiring the Biostar TForce board. I just feels better than the Asus board. I can't describe that really. Anyway, I set the board into the case. I put paper washers on both sides of the motherboard screws to prevent any possible shorts (another trip to Micro Center, and $2.14). Attached the CPU and HSF, plugged in the RAM. Connected the power cables and fan cable. IDE drives were left unplugged. I again used the adapter to plug the monitor into the onboard video. Powered up, and again...no live video.

Two different motherboards. Two different power supplies. Two different cases. Three different sticks of RAM. A pci video card (verified to work). Same processor.

Is my processor DOA? Newegg won't replace it, so any tips on getting an RMA from AMD?

Know about any good deals on sledge hammers?

edit: Btw, when I press power, the CPU fan spins, the case fan spins, and I don't get any beep codes except for one single beep about five seconds after boot (It's the sound you usually hear after post).
Also, the TForce has four LEDs on the motherboard that are supposed to help with diagnostics. It's a really cool feature, but there is virtually zero documentation about how to interpret the lights. After boot, all four lights are steady-on. Actually, if you watch the during power on, LED_5v and LED_DIMM are on the entire time. LED2 is on and LED1 is off. then the board beeps and LED1 is on and LED2 is off. then LED2 turns back on so that all four are lit. The manual says nothing about the lights blinking.

 

[golgotha]

Well, I just went to microcenter and bought another 2800+ because I don't want to throw my weekend away.

It still doesn't show video. What could it be? The power supply? the motherboard?

 

[golgotha]

I borrowed a vga monitor from my neighbor and guess what. The screen works! Either my monitor is broken or the cable is bad or that adapter is crap.

 

[TrevorRC]

Even though you have the problem fixed, I'd like to point out that the power supply is EXTREMELY weak.
350W is a minimum, nowadays, regardless of the components. Even a FSP PSU.

http://www.extreme.outervision.com/index.jsp

Use that. I just did a quick one based on what you gave us (FX5200, Sempron, etc..)
And it came to 208W.
With no fans.
With 1 HDD.
Etc.

You really might consider upgrading that... =/


Also, on subject... to test whether the cable is bad, use a DMM and test for continuity.

Same thing with the adapter.
-T

 

[golgotha]

Yeah, I knew from the start I would be pushing it with such a low-power PSU. At least if I start having random crashes, I have a good idea what the problem is. I have already pushed the budget for this machine ... beyond the term budget. But whatever, it works and it will do what i need it to do.

 

[golgotha]

Oh, and the Irony of of ironies...my monitor works just fine. the Biostar TForce 6100 does not disable the onboard video by default. Therefore if you want to use a video CARD you have to enter the bios and manually disable the onboard video. However, since the onboard video is vga, you need a vga monitor to even enter the bios to disable that adapter. I tried t o get around this by using a dvi to vga adapter, but my monitor refused to see an analog signal on the digital port. It just registered as no signal.
Once I hooked up a vga adapter and disabled the onboard video, I was able to use my pci video card with it's dvi port to use my monitor. Of course, I had added the pci card and installed it in windows while still using the vga adapter. After I disabled that adapter in the bios, I also had to disable the 6100 adapter in the windows device manager as well, because windows was still defaulting to that adapter.

But all is well now. I am watching Masters of Russian Animation on it as I type this.

Moral of the story...patience and persistence will finish the job.

 

[golgotha]

This thread is old, but I took some pictures of my build and forgot to post them here.
So here they are if you want to take a look:
http://www.arationalmind.com/minuet/2006_03_20

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