CPU problem

[Netguess]

I bought a motherboard/cpu combo (Biostar m7vkq/Duron 1.0ghz with a heatsink/fan) i got home and installed everything into my one week old case. I booted and got no screen (using the mobo's onboard video) so I took everything out and booted outside of the case and finally the bios screen came up. I put everything back into the case again, and it wouldn't boot so i booted outside of the case again and this time, the cpu cooler spinned one time so i quickly shut it off. I removed the cpu from the motherboard leaving the heatsink/fan still connected so that I could know when the system was powered. I booted and the heatsink/fan came on (without the cpu). This tells me that the problem lies with my cpu. I examined the cpu and found no burnt spots or chipped core or anything. The only possible problem is the thermal compound which isn't too neatly spread across the center of the cpu.

Can someone please help me determine what the problem is?
(While the cpu is installed the cpu cooler spins one time upon bootup, and the 250w power supply doesn't start spinning)

[Cricket]

Hi Netguess,

What power supply are you using? Is it a good quality one or is it a DEER or AUSTIN? If it is a DEER or AUSTIN power supply, dump it and get a Antec, Enermax, Sparkle Power, PowerMan, Hi-Power or PC Power & Cooling power supply. Don't use a generic one as the quality may be sketchy at best.

I'd try to get another good quality power supply with at least 300 watts and try the system out of the case again. If it still doesn't work, it's either the CPU or the motherboard.

If you don't have another AMD motherboard you can try that Duron, take it to a local computer shop and ask them to see if it still works okay. Take your motherboard too.

:) Cricket

[Netguess]

Its probably a cheap power supply, it came with my titan case. I doubt its the power supply or motherboard at fault because when i tried to run the system without the cpu, all the fans came on and it powered up.

Is there anything I can do without taking the cpu anywhere? (it has not burnt spots but alot of thermal paste on it)

[Blakhart]

Clean it thoroughly of heatsink grease and re apply some and install. Then I would clear the bios (look for the jumper and follow the mobo directions) and go at it again. Don't let this get you down. Keep at it!

Look for the obvios, say unseated mem or cards, cards can move after you screw them into the backplane.

[Toaster]

Howdy,
This sounds like an underutilized Power supply. You stated the CPU fan spun momentarily then stopped and so the P/S fan. Is all you had connected just the system board/CPU and memory?
Try connecting outside the case again but this time connect a CDROM drive power connector to load the P/S properly.
Most system boards do not use any
+12 volt power except the CPU fan. This is too little a load for the P/S to regulate properly. Apply additional load to the P/S 12 volt lines. These devices can be CD/DVD drives and the like. A typical HDD does not use much 12volt power and may be inadaquate.
The last option is a system board to case floor short of some sort. BE CERTAIN that proper stand-offs are used in the correct places.
Some cases have raised portions where the system board mounts directly to the case. Many times however, the case uses stand-offs to hold the system board about 1/16" off the case floor. These stand-offs can be nylon, clip in metal affairs or brass/steel stand-offs.

[Netguess]

Today I cleaned the CPU and reapplied thermal paste, I tested the system outside of the case again and it still didn't boot up. The fans rotated once halfway as if it was struggling to breathe. The CPU doesn't heat up, but how can the cpu be dead if it looks in perfect condition.
Ive burned a duron in the past and when I booted the system, it still powered with all the fans spinning even though there was an aparent burn mark under it. I want to be sure the CPU is dead or burned before I replace it.