CPU, Motherboard, or PSU Dead?

koviktir

New Member
A previous build of mine that I'd sold to a friend may have just died, about half an hour ago. Unfortunately, I can't seem to solve the problem, and I need help if possible.

The setup is a Zotac Geforce 6100 Value motherboard, with an AMD Athlon 64 X2 5400, powered by an Orion 585w PSU.

While playing a game, the system suddenly made a whine through the audio card, and shut off completely. While attempting to restart, we discovered that the system will start for less than a second, and immediately power off. This made me quickly jump to the conclusion of the PSU dying, but that doesn't seem to be the case.

Upon fiddling around, I found that the system will start up and STAY that way, as long as the 4-Pin CPU power supply cable is not plugged in. This now leads me to believe that the CPU may have indeed fried, as terrible of news as that is. Unfortunately, I do not have any spare power supplies with the necessary +4 Motherboard power supply cable, and am unable to test if it is the PSU.

Given the circumstances, I now assume that it cannot be the PSU. It doesn't appear to be the motherboard, either, but I could be missing something.

Do I seem to have the problem figured out, or is there an option that I'm completely missing?

Any help, guys? :confused:
 
For starters you used an Orion off brand power supply, in which case it more than likely failed. Chances are pretty good it could have killed something else in the process.


Test it with your zalman psu in your sig, the only 1kw they make is the ZM1000-HP which has a 4+4pin connector.
 
Yes, I'm aware that the Orion PSU is a terrible off brand, but we saved money on not having to buy another. There hadn't been any problems with it previously, and there still doesn't appear to be. As far as I can tell, the PSU is still fine. At least you support the idea that it may have taken the CPU out, though.
 
Yes, I'm aware that the Orion PSU is a terrible off brand, but we saved money on not having to buy another. There hadn't been any problems with it previously, and there still doesn't appear to be. As far as I can tell, the PSU is still fine. At least you support the idea that it may have taken the CPU out, though.
The PSU is never the place to "save money", it costs you in the long run(or short for that matter, ive seen people run less than a day on an off brand. Someone bought an off brand a bit better than Orion but still a horrible unit, on a very low load system, singlecore cpu, low end motherboard, 3 hard drives. It was a Logisys unit that was 500 and some watts and blew within 2 hours, and i had warned him beforehand not to get it). Also, the motherboard not powering up with the 4pin connected makes me think more towards psu, as the cpu 4pin connector is drawing a decent bit of wattage. Test out your power supply would be my recommendation.
 
Hey, i think i have the same stupid problem now... My pc suddently turned off. And it turns on for about a half of second... Don't know what to do...
 
I would say that powering up when removing the 4-pin is an indication that it is the power supply rather than not being. Seems like maybe the power supple can no longer stand the load of the CPU and the other components together.

If you don't have an extra PSU with a 4-pin connector, you could pick up one of these on the cheap:
http://cgi.ebay.com/4-Pin-Molex-to-...emQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item4a9a02c301

And then use whatever PSU you do have to test it.
 
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