Dead MB or PSU

e v o · Jul 17, 2009, 07:16 PM

So my HTPC bit the dust yesterday. I was watching a movie and the TV suddenly displayed the "no signal" message. I tried all the usual stuff, switching the graphics card (GFX card was still good), switching ram, clearing CMOS, unplugging components etc., but I still couldn't get it to display anything. Another thing is that the CDRom drive does not power up. Usually at boot, the activity light will light up and I'll be able to open/close the drive, but no response.

Anyone have any ideas? The boot code is FF which on the EPoX 9NPA+ Ultra should mean everythings ok. My PSU is an Antec Phantom 500. I'm leaning towards the MB as it's the oldest and has been through a lot. I will be able to get another PSU to test with this weekend, but any advice is appreciated.

EDIT: Pretty sure it's the MB, when the cable is connected to the CDrom drive, the drive won't respond, but if it's just connected via power, it does.

**kris23** · Jul 17, 2009, 08:42 PM

so the RAM, GPU and CD Rom check out fine? it most likely can be the mobo...

e v o · Jul 17, 2009, 10:05 PM

Yeah, guess it's an excuse to upgrade.

**kris23** · Jul 17, 2009, 10:38 PM

you plan to stay with your current hardware or do you want to run new stuff?

e v o · Jul 17, 2009, 11:27 PM

The HTPC I had was an old AMD 3000+, and I think I'm just going to upgrade the MB and CPU to an E5200 and P5QL (I have some extra DDR2 ram laying around). I want to keep it was cheap as possible if I'm going this route as I don't need much for the HTPC. It will be nice to play 1080P as the AMD 3000+ just couldn't make it (did 720p fine). I was considering upgrading my E6600 to a Q9550 and a more expensive P45 MB, but that would be $200 more and I really don't need the upgrade.

Kris, if you have an suggestions, esp for the MB I'd like to hear them. Again, I don't need a fancy MB, just a solid P43/P45, for around 100.

**kris23** · Jul 17, 2009, 11:54 PM

Newegg.com - Computer Parts, PC Components, Laptop Computers, Digital Cameras and more!

Newegg.com - Computer Parts, PC Components, Laptop Computers, Digital Cameras and more!

these are my recommendations....

x2 550 runs like a E8400

and the 250 is a tiny notch down

e v o · Jul 18, 2009, 02:21 AM

Wow, am I out of it. Those are impressive. The only thing that bothers me right now is that this is going to be about the same if not faster than my E6600, :P

**kris23** · Jul 18, 2009, 07:41 PM

haha thats pretty possible... y not buy em for yourself and put ur e6600 in the HTPC? thats what id do

CDsDontBurn · Jul 21, 2009, 08:02 AM

personally, i have an itching feeling that it's not the MoBo but rather the PSU. my reasoning for this is because you mentioned that the CD-ROM drive doesn't power up/initialize during boot.

it also sounds like you have another PSU from another machine available? why not take your PSU from this machine and just jimmy-rig it to the other machine (or vice-versa)? That way you can find out if it's a PSU or MoBo issue.

**kris23** · Jul 23, 2009, 05:28 AM

CDs he said that if the drives were plugged into the mobo they dont work, but if they were just powered from the PSU, they work fine.... so it sounds like the mobo to me

Jul 17, 2009, 07:16 PM	#1
e v o HardwareHeaven Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,037 Rep Power: 0 System Specs	Dead MB or PSU So my HTPC bit the dust yesterday. I was watching a movie and the TV suddenly displayed the "no signal" message. I tried all the usual stuff, switching the graphics card (GFX card was still good), switching ram, clearing CMOS, unplugging components etc., but I still couldn't get it to display anything. Another thing is that the CDRom drive does not power up. Usually at boot, the activity light will light up and I'll be able to open/close the drive, but no response. Anyone have any ideas? The boot code is FF which on the EPoX 9NPA+ Ultra should mean everythings ok. My PSU is an Antec Phantom 500. I'm leaning towards the MB as it's the oldest and has been through a lot. I will be able to get another PSU to test with this weekend, but any advice is appreciated. EDIT: Pretty sure it's the MB, when the cable is connected to the CDrom drive, the drive won't respond, but if it's just connected via power, it does. __________________ Last edited by e v o; Jul 17, 2009 at 07:34 PM.

Jul 17, 2009, 08:42 PM	#2
kris23 Going Insane..... Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 6,017 Rep Power: 131 System Specs	Re: Dead MB or PSU so the RAM, GPU and CD Rom check out fine? it most likely can be the mobo... __________________ Hardwareheaven Super-Moderator Building a new computer system and not sure where to start? Click Here! last updated (5/18/11) Rosewill FUTURE case replaces CM 690 II with its greater interior length. Building a PC: Step by Step Guide Written by Kristopher Pedemonte and Nathan Marks-Forder Edited by Allan Campbell Questions or Comments? feel free to post them in the forums!

Jul 17, 2009, 10:05 PM	Thread Starter #3
e v o HardwareHeaven Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,037 Rep Power: 0 System Specs	Re: Dead MB or PSU Yeah, guess it's an excuse to upgrade. __________________

Jul 17, 2009, 10:38 PM	#4
kris23 Going Insane..... Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 6,017 Rep Power: 131 System Specs	Re: Dead MB or PSU you plan to stay with your current hardware or do you want to run new stuff? __________________ Hardwareheaven Super-Moderator Building a new computer system and not sure where to start? Click Here! last updated (5/18/11) Rosewill FUTURE case replaces CM 690 II with its greater interior length. Building a PC: Step by Step Guide Written by Kristopher Pedemonte and Nathan Marks-Forder Edited by Allan Campbell Questions or Comments? feel free to post them in the forums!

Jul 17, 2009, 11:27 PM	Thread Starter #5
e v o HardwareHeaven Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,037 Rep Power: 0 System Specs	Re: Dead MB or PSU The HTPC I had was an old AMD 3000+, and I think I'm just going to upgrade the MB and CPU to an E5200 and P5QL (I have some extra DDR2 ram laying around). I want to keep it was cheap as possible if I'm going this route as I don't need much for the HTPC. It will be nice to play 1080P as the AMD 3000+ just couldn't make it (did 720p fine). I was considering upgrading my E6600 to a Q9550 and a more expensive P45 MB, but that would be $200 more and I really don't need the upgrade. Kris, if you have an suggestions, esp for the MB I'd like to hear them. Again, I don't need a fancy MB, just a solid P43/P45, for around 100. __________________

Jul 17, 2009, 11:54 PM	#6
kris23 Going Insane..... Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 6,017 Rep Power: 131 System Specs	Re: Dead MB or PSU Newegg.com - Computer Parts, PC Components, Laptop Computers, Digital Cameras and more! Newegg.com - Computer Parts, PC Components, Laptop Computers, Digital Cameras and more! these are my recommendations.... x2 550 runs like a E8400 and the 250 is a tiny notch down __________________ Hardwareheaven Super-Moderator Building a new computer system and not sure where to start? Click Here! last updated (5/18/11) Rosewill FUTURE case replaces CM 690 II with its greater interior length. Building a PC: Step by Step Guide Written by Kristopher Pedemonte and Nathan Marks-Forder Edited by Allan Campbell Questions or Comments? feel free to post them in the forums!

Jul 18, 2009, 02:21 AM	Thread Starter #7
e v o HardwareHeaven Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,037 Rep Power: 0 System Specs	Re: Dead MB or PSU Wow, am I out of it. Those are impressive. The only thing that bothers me right now is that this is going to be about the same if not faster than my E6600, :P __________________

Jul 18, 2009, 07:41 PM	#8
kris23 Going Insane..... Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 6,017 Rep Power: 131 System Specs	Re: Dead MB or PSU haha thats pretty possible... y not buy em for yourself and put ur e6600 in the HTPC? thats what id do __________________ Hardwareheaven Super-Moderator Building a new computer system and not sure where to start? Click Here! last updated (5/18/11) Rosewill FUTURE case replaces CM 690 II with its greater interior length. Building a PC: Step by Step Guide Written by Kristopher Pedemonte and Nathan Marks-Forder Edited by Allan Campbell Questions or Comments? feel free to post them in the forums!

Jul 21, 2009, 08:02 AM	#9
CDsDontBurn Lurking DriverHeaven Join Date: May 2003 Location: Southern California Posts: 22,779 Rep Power: 235 System Specs	Re: Dead MB or PSU personally, i have an itching feeling that it's not the MoBo but rather the PSU. my reasoning for this is because you mentioned that the CD-ROM drive doesn't power up/initialize during boot. it also sounds like you have another PSU from another machine available? why not take your PSU from this machine and just jimmy-rig it to the other machine (or vice-versa)? That way you can find out if it's a PSU or MoBo issue. __________________ Her First Day \| A year later

Jul 23, 2009, 05:28 AM	#10
kris23 Going Insane..... Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 6,017 Rep Power: 131 System Specs	Re: Dead MB or PSU CDs he said that if the drives were plugged into the mobo they dont work, but if they were just powered from the PSU, they work fine.... so it sounds like the mobo to me __________________ Hardwareheaven Super-Moderator Building a new computer system and not sure where to start? Click Here! last updated (5/18/11) Rosewill FUTURE case replaces CM 690 II with its greater interior length. Building a PC: Step by Step Guide Written by Kristopher Pedemonte and Nathan Marks-Forder Edited by Allan Campbell Questions or Comments? feel free to post them in the forums!