Now what????

[DarrenE]

I'm at a loss - Here's what I'm working with:

Mach Speed P4MST-890 Socket 775 Motherboard

Intel Pentium D 925 3Ghz DT 800FSB Socket

ZEROtherm CPU Cooler CF800 775 --
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicati...?Sku=M333-3004


I built the system - nothing. Took it all apart and followed the trouble shooting guide. Nothing. Sent the motherboard back - it tested fine. Sent the cpu back, they sent out a new one.

Built it out of case on my bench - it posted just fine.

Then built it in the box...no go. Took it back out...nothing. Fans run - cpu and heat sink heat up, then it shuts down. No beeps, no screen.

A few questions for the experts.

1. The Zerotherm Cooler is supposed to be mounted in a specific direction, but because I'm using a micro board, I had to mount it facing another direction. Is a fan such as this directional, and could it be interfering with the cpu?

2. The Pentium D came out of box, OEM style, with no fan or heatsink. Could I be looking at bad CPUs out of the box?

3. Earlier advice from this board said stay away from machspeed - but I already had the board on the way - anyone have similar problems with a MachSpeed board?

Thanks for your help!

[shadowpr]

So you can't get it to post out of case with just the cpu, mother board, ram, video card and power supply?

List the make and model of ram, video card, and power supply please.

[pam123]

You could also be looking at a heat problem with an incorrectly attached heatsink fan (and no thermal paste?).
The heatsink fan must use the specific connector on the board, are you doing so ?

[amdalex]

Also do you have motherboard standoffs installed in your case? Id doesn't matter which way your fan is facing as long as it make good contact with the CPU and that your correctly applied the thermal paste.

[DarrenE]

Originally Posted by shadowpr So you can't get it to post out of case with just the cpu, mother board, ram, video card and power supply? List the make and model of ram, video card, and power supply please.

Exactly right.

RAM: US Modular 1024MB PC4200 DDR2 533MHz
MB:Mach Speed P4MST-890 Socket 775 Motherboard
Power: Power Up Standard 550w ATX Power Supply

Referencing a few comments above: would a heatsink that is not completely clamped down (I did use thermal paste BTW) as solid as possible cause this? As I look at the build, I notice that the heat pipes are touching a component on one side of the board - it seemed to clamp down well, but I could be missing a turn or two on the screws on that side due to the conflict.

Could a heat problem allow the cpu to function briefly once, and then refuse to launch due to heat? I had no idea heat built that fast on a cpu!

[doubledragon5]

To much thermal grease will cause problems, you only need a very thin layer of the stuff.. If you put to much on, then remove the heatsink, remove the grease and start fresh with a thin layer a pin head size bead..

[TechGaloot]

Originally Posted by DarrenE Could a heat problem allow the cpu to function briefly once, and then refuse to launch due to heat? I had no idea heat built that fast on a cpu!

Yes. I had a tech buddy a couple years ago said that he went to a training class where they started up the CPU without a heatsink. Within 2.5 seconds it was smoking, within 5 seconds the board near the CPU was bubbling from the heat! Instant FRY BABY!!!

[amdalex]

It sounds like something shorted in the case. You got it to post once on the bench right?

[DarrenE]

Yes, but now it won't do a thing outside the case either.

[TechGaloot]

Originally Posted by DarrenE Yes, but now it won't do a thing outside the case either.

You are trying that on a non-conductive surface, correct?

[DarrenE]

Originally Posted by TechGaloot You are trying that on a non-conductive surface, correct?

yes

[shadowpr]

Do you have a different power supply you could try?