Need Help - Motherboard freezes

[Deadlock281]

So I installed a new E8400 in my desktop yesterday and it worked fine. I left my computer running for a few hours until i got home from work and then i got on it and played a little WoW. Then my computer suddenly shut down..... I popped open the case to discover that the crappy Intel heatsink had popped off in one corner (my guess its the CPU overheated). I reattached the heatsink and turned my computer back on, where it proceeded to go no further then halfway through the motherboard post where it lists the components detected. It freeze at the end of the CPU listing and doesn't continue as usually to the hard drives. I then hoped it wasn't the CPU and attempted to reinstall my old Pentium D but I was met with no success. Am I correct to assume that my motherboard was some how damaged in the overheating and that i need to get a new board???? My motherboard is an EVGA nForce 780i SLI if that helps. I want to get the same motherboard so I don't have to reinstall XP again.

Any help is GREATLY appreciated. Thank you in advance.

 

[Lax]

AFAIK If the chip starts to overheat the system will auto shutdown to prevent damage. The best way to find the problem would be to test each component individually if you can (stick the chip in another mobo with same everything else, then start swapping out). Another option would be to get a POST card to see where the exact stop is any find out if it's the mobo or something else. Other than selectively testing each part I don't know a way directly to diagnose if it's a mobo or CPU problem. From the sounds of it though it seems like it would be a board problem.

 

[Deadlock281]

AFAIK If the chip starts to overheat the system will auto shutdown to prevent damage. The best way to find the problem would be to test each component individually if you can (stick the chip in another mobo with same everything else, then start swapping out). Another option would be to get a POST card to see where the exact stop is any find out if it's the mobo or something else. Other than selectively testing each part I don't know a way directly to diagnose if it's a mobo or CPU problem. From the sounds of it though it seems like it would be a board problem.

I'll go ahead and tell you that I am not that advanced in computer usage to use a post card and I also don't have another functional board. Considering today is my birthday my mom has agreed to pay for the board so given your response I think I'll just do it and hope that's the problem. If it isn't then I still have the return policy for a replacement on the CPU and then all i need is a new 8800GT which is A LOT cheaper now then it was when i first got mine. Plus I have my laptop for college that I'm using right now so I'm good with taking my time. Thanks a bunch for you time man.