Computer building blues...

[Zanz L. Barre The 3rd]

Warning: Kind-of long? Maybe a tear-jerker? Who knows!

I tried constructing my first computer, and of course I anticipated running into a few bumps, but I've come to realize it was more then I had bargained for.

1. Build computer. Wouldn't read discs! Connected IDE to both drives before establishing slave/master, so disconnected IDE from one of the drives and discs were reading fine! No biggie.

2. After fixing the IDE, I came to realize my processor had absolutely no thermal gel. Run out to buy some, remove the heatsink, and apply gel. I place the heatsink over the processor, but didn't exactly secure it properly. Every time I had booted my computer while trying to install XP, it would shut down automatically within 2-3 minutes. After 5 or so of these automatic shut downs, I inspect the PC health menu via BIOS and notice I'm burning out at 107 degrees celcius; not so swell! Came to the realization I need a new heat sink.

3. My computer sits idle in my room for about a month. Purchase the new heat sink, apply it over the processor and activate the power button! Fuck yeah! My power light indicator is on! ...for 2 seconds. By now, I'd begin to realize it could be anything. I put on the older heatsink properly this time, and still, only 2 seconds of power.

4. Completely demoralized, I begin to think about how I'm going to get this thing off the ground.
a.) I check the power supply on my other PC. Works fine.

5. It wasn't the power supply... So I was left to either my mobo or processor. I figure that maybe since my processor burnt out at 107 degrees celcius 5+ times, that was the contender. I remove the 2.66 GHz Dual Core Intel processor and place a functioning 1.6GHz Dual Core Intel processor. Heat sink was then placed properly, but to my avail, the PC wouldn't stay on longer then 2 seconds. I checked how the 2.66 GHz would perform in the PC where the 1.6 GHz processor was... The fan was going batshit, the power indicator wasn't lit, and the monitor wasn't responding. What could this mean for the 2.66? Is it broken or was the 1.66 Ghz heat sink not enough support for even a minimal amount of time?

That's about it. I'm assuming the PC would stay on beyond 2 seconds and atleast reach BIOS if it's the RAM. I'm also assuming the GFX card has no dominion on any of this. So BG, what's the deal? Do you think it's my processor or mobo? Or perhaps something else I've overlooked?

[Cephius]

First of all, slave/master configurations are outdated for IDE devices, you should be using CS (Cable Select) for hooking them up.

Second, its likely you fried something in or around your mobo socket if you continually tried to run a processer at that temperature. You realize it was running like that (over 260 Fahrenheit) for more than a little while will fry pretty much anything. I'd be surprised if your processor is still in usable condition, always always use thermal paste and a good heatsink and triple check that everything is securely fastened before attempting to POST or turn the comp on at all...

Dunno what else to tell you, try testing the processor in something else, but I'm relatively sure its fried along with something in your mobo.

[Shuemue]

Dunno what else to tell you, try testing the processor in something else, but I'm relatively sure its fried along with something in your mobo.

Unfortunately I'd draw the same conclusion after hearing that.

[Rags]

Dunno what else to tell you, try testing the processor in something else, but I'm relatively sure its fried along with something in your mobo.

Unfortunately I'd draw the same conclusion after hearing that.

Id have to agree with those guys, Then again you might have fried the CPU as well.

[Avanarius]

Do you have the supplementary power plugged in located near the cpu?