Re: Troubleshooting MB and CPU

On Aug 16, 5:06 pm, "Samantha" <none> wrote:
Is there a way to troubleshoot a motherboard or cpu without using
another motherboard or cpu? (Concern about frying something)

I have another P4800-E Deluxe MB with a P43.0 chip. After about 10
minutes it keeps rebooting like it's overheating. I changed out the
power supply but that didn't fix the problem. Had someone test the
RAM and it's good. The BIOS shows that the cpu fan is running as
expected so the only thing left I can think of is either the board
or chip. Is there something I can do to find out which one? I'm
concerned about putting the chip in another board if that's the
problem or taking a chance on frying another chip if the board is
the problem. Is there a way to test one of them?

Step back a minute. Due to shotgunning, then integrity of the power
supply 'system' is still unkonwn. For example, a swapped in power
supply in one sysetm can appear to be defective in another - because
it was actually marginal in both systems. Another problem. Assumed
is an entire power supply 'system' is only a power supply. Also
wrong. A power supply is only one component of a power supply
'system'.

Without numbers and other data, then better informed posters cannot
answer with a useful reply. That means using a 3.5 digit mulitmeter
(and two minutes) to obtain numbers and establish integrity of the
entire power supply 'system'. In your case, the relevant part of this
procedure is to have computer access all peripherals simultaneously
(multitask) and then take voltage measurements on any one of orange,
purple, red, and yellow wires. Entire procedure (including part
important to you) is "When your computer dies without warning....."
starting 6 Feb 2007 in the newsgroup alt.windows-xp at:
http://tinyurl.com/yvf9vh

If the power 'system' is not confirmed good, then it may cause
everything else to appear defective. That only creates even more
confusion. A computer can work just fine for ten minutes when the
power supply 'system' always has numbers that are defective. Those
numbers are most relevant when load is maximum. Therefore watch a
movie, while reading (or writing to) a CD-Rom, while downloading from
the internet, while reading the disk drive, etc ... all
simultaneously. When doing all this, only then will some defective
power supplies be detected by numbers. Notice all those things are
running, but the power supply is defective - and would cause crashes
later. Post those numbers here (even if good) because numbers may
also contain further useful information.

Ram is tested good. Then the same test is performed again when
computer is in a room of 100 degree F - a perfectly good computer
temperature. Or RAM is heated with a hairdryer on highest heat. Any
Ram that fails a diagnostic test in the computer (must be in your
computer - not elsewhere) is defective or motherboard semiconductors
talking to that memory is defective. If it also passes at elevated
temperatures, then move on to other suspects.

Very few items can shutdown a computer. That short list is memory,
power supply, CPU, video card, sound card, and some motherboard
functions. Everything else including disk drive, keyboard, monitor,
and mouse are not on a usual suspect list. Anything can appear
defective if numbers from a loaded power supply are not obtained using
that multimeter. Not having a meter is not even an option since
meters are sold even to K-mart shoppers.

Swapping parts tells us nothing useful and sometimes makes the
problem exponentially complex. Temperatures from the motherboard
temperature monitor may be useful. But again, to solve a problem, get
numbers and other diagnostic facts. Do not speculate. First identify
a suspect long before trying to fix anything.

Heat is a diagnostic tool. If heat creates problems, then fix the
defective part. Don't cure symptoms by adding fans. Problem is solved
first by breaking the problem down into parts. Then establish each
part as 'known good' or 'known bad'. Currently you don't know of
anything in either state. Everything is still questionable -
unknown. Start by first confirming entire power supply 'system'
integrity. Don't shotgun - swapping parts as if that proves
anything. Demonstrated - a defective (marginal) power supply can
still make computer appear to be working.


.

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