Overheating at POST

[MrBouchez]

I just started my first P4 build. I've been an avid AMD user for years but my backup machine took a dive and I wanted to salvage as much from the old system as possible and get her running again.

I got a decent deal on a P4i65G Mobo combo kit with a 3gig P4 processor. I had a 512DDR PC3200 and purchased another 1G DDR for it (just to give it some pep and upgrade a bit) and I am still using a AGP vid card, NVIDIA 5700. I also had to buy a 430w PSU for the new board.

I got everything installed in the case except the power switch LED because the case had a 3 prong connector and the mobo only had 2 prongs to hook it up. Aside form that I am certain that its all connected correctly.

When I boot it up it begins to post but then crashes suddenly. It was stopping at NVRAM but now im getting an BOOT I/O ERROR. The crashes apear to be heat related, if I let it sit long enough I can get it to post a message but if I reboot right after the crash it just beeps once and crashes again. If I let it set a minute or two I can get another message from it but it still crashes before finishing post.

I've tried removing the HD, using one piece of RAM at a time for both sticks and tried with both in the case but I get the same effect. All of the fans power ip when I start the machine.

Any clues to what I may have missed?

[TwoRails]

Hi MrBouchez,

Welcome to PC Mechanic !!

If it actually is overheating that fast, then your HS/fan is not installed correctly. Can you get into the BIOS at all?

TwoRails

[Cricket]

Try this troubleshooter and let us know what happens. You must remove the motherboard from the case when doing this. Don't connect drives or expansion cards and use only 1 stick of RAM.

Cricket

[MrBouchez]

I just tried to boot it again and I recieved the "Start Windows Normaly" safe mode screen...then it crashed again. I plan to reformat when I can get it to boot all the way. The monitor powers up too slowly for me to enter BIOS, I only have a few seconds to make out the error message before it powers down.

[TwoRails]

If you can get to the Windows screen, you've gone way past BIOS options. Typically it's the Del key to get in (check your owner's manual to confirm) that you start tapping right after you start the system. If it will stay on long enough you can 1) confirm temps in the BIOS section and 2) if it will stay on in BIOS will help in diagnosing.

[MrBouchez]

OK, time to fess up...

I went back to the root of the problem, the heat. I took the heatsink off to make sure the artic silver i applied was covering a good portion of the processor. It seems I should have looked closer at the heatsink because it was sold with paste on it covered by a plastic sheet. I removed the plastic, reinstalled the heatsink and put it all back together.

Everything is running fine now =)

This little episode should qualify me for the dumbass of week award. (when you go to vote remember my name)

[TwoRails]

Glad it worked out OK for you. Ya, something like that was my first idea...