Trials

Building one's own computer
Advantages: Experience, Lower cost (usually), Choice of components
Disadvantages: Having to troubleshoot things oneself

Urgh. Haven't had this big a problem in the past, though. Thing won't even POST. Fans move, there's power getting to drives, the motherboard light comes on... but nothing on screen and no beeps.

I read about similar problems with this particular motherboard and the particular RAM I had, but acquiring a stick of RAM listed in the motherboard's manual didn't help either. I've been able to rule out the graphics card by proving it worked in one of the newer machines at work (the only place I have access to a PCIE slot). This all seems to leave three possibilities:

1) Still the memory: The extra stick I got was randomly bad as is fouling up my diagnosis.
2) Part of the motherboard: Usually when I hear about a 'bad' motherboard, power doesn't get through it to lights and fans, but I can't say for certain that's always the case.
3) Bad CPU: Argh. This seems most likely at this point, leaving me with the distinct possibility of having to ship it back and have it exchanged.

I've been hoping to hear back from Asus (the motherboard manufacturer) tech support, but their 'we should get back to you in 48 hours' is almost up. I don't want to have to wait while parts are shipped, exchanged, and shipped back, but I'm not seeing any other option at this point. It'll frustrate me even more if I go through that process only to have the thing continue to not work.

And, to top it off, my 'old' desktop appears to have given up the ghost. Even bypassing the case switch (which I thought was the problem) didn't get the thing powered up. Oy.

Comments

  1. alynnwellsOctober 16, 2006 at 1:10 PM

    Gah. You're reminding me why I never mess with my own systemboard/processor. Good luck, chico.

    ReplyDelete

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