Computer Problem: Turns off 5 secs. after power up

Neon Dingo · Post by **Neon Dingo** » Wed Oct 22, 2003 3:31 am

I just recently purchased a new motherboard, CPU, RAM, 420w Radimax power supply and a case.

I bought an Epox 8RDA+3 motherboard, AMD Athlon XP 3000+, and 512 RAM. I've assembled it all and I'm pretty sure I haven't put anything on incorrectly. When I press power with the CPU in it stays on for 5 seconds and then shuts itself off. When I turn the computer on without the CPU in it will stay on continuously with no problem.

I've tried even disconnecting all things like CD-ROMs, hard drives, video cards, and even RAM and it still does the 5 second shut-off with the CPU in.

I originally had thought that it might have something to do with Athlon XP's overheat prevention feature, but I doubt a CPU heats up to 110Ãƒâ€šÃ‚ÂºF the instant you turn it on. I am completely clueless as to what is wrong and I want to avoid saying that the parts I ordered are faulty because I seriously doubt that is the problem.

Is it necessary to have a heatsink and fan for a computer to boot?

Also, the computer only seems to want to turn on once after this 5 second thing and then I have to unplug the power and plug it back in. When the CPU is out it can be turned on and off with no problem, however, as we all know, a computer requires a CPU to function.

I need help, god damn it. Thanks in advance.

Edit: I've read somewhere that it could possibly be a CPU/motherboard conflict (e.g. my board doesn't support it) but I remember when I bought it it said "AMD Socket A" and it supported 400MHz FSB.

ExtremeDrinker · Post by **ExtremeDrinker** » Wed Oct 22, 2003 3:44 am

Faulty power supply, maybe? CPU could require more power than the ps is pumping in, too...

Never had this problem, so these are uneducated guesses.

Neon Dingo · Post by **Neon Dingo** » Wed Oct 22, 2003 3:54 am

No, the power supply is 420w so there's never going to be any shortage of power. Power supply works.

I've been reading up on heatsinks and fans. I think I might try and buy a really nice one tommorrow and see if that doesn't fix the problem.

iohkus · Post by **iohkus** » Wed Oct 22, 2003 4:46 am

lewl that sux

i don't know if it's safe turning on a mobo without a cpu?

but um, make sure the bus settings on your mobo match that of your cpu, say your mobo might be set to 400 fsb but your cpu is 333 fsb, then the shit won't operate if you mis match, there's all sorts of shit that could be going wrong

i could probably tell u what's wrong if i looked at it but i'm behind teh interweb wall of terror?

check the pins on your cpu, if one is not perfectly straight then it's dead, check cpu for any burn marks or anything, make sure you've got heasink compound but not too much, make sure u hear teh click etc... lotta shit can go wrong nigga...

InvisibleMonkey · Post by **InvisibleMonkey** » Wed Oct 22, 2003 6:34 am

God damn, you saved up for a such a long time and now you ar faced with even more problems, uber gay. Maybe there is something wrong with the CPU? I don't know enough about it to give a straight answer, but it seems that if the computer works when you remove the CPU then maybe there is something worng with it.

iohkus · Post by **iohkus** » Wed Oct 22, 2003 6:55 am

lol a computer can't work without a cpu SILLY BILLY WING WANG WILLY

InvisibleMonkey · Post by **InvisibleMonkey** » Wed Oct 22, 2003 7:39 am

yeah, I misread what he said, well anyway thre is something wrong with it

Franz Schubert · Post by **Franz Schubert** » Wed Oct 22, 2003 11:53 am

If you think it's a problem with heat detectors, when your computer is starting up, try entering setup and turning off the hardware moniter. Then proceed to load windows. Before you go buy anything though, make sure it's going to fix the problem.

Jimmyjay86 · Post by **Jimmyjay86** » Wed Oct 22, 2003 1:31 pm

With the case open do you notice if the CPU fan is operating? Did you make sure to plug it in to the motherboard?

MurPHy · Post by **MurPHy** » Wed Oct 22, 2003 3:39 pm

Is it necessary to have a heatsink and fan for a computer to boot?

If you don't want to fry your new CPU, then yes.

I've tried even disconnecting all things like CD-ROMs, hard drives, video cards, and even RAM and it still does the 5 second shut-off with the CPU in.

Have you plugged in all of the mobo power connections? That board might require the ATX12V connector (it's a 4-wire plug with 2 12V wires and 2 ground wires) besides the standard 20-pin mobo power plug. If that's the case, and your new PSU doesn't have the plug, you can buy an adapter cable from www.pcpowerandcooling.com.

Franz Schubert · Post by **Franz Schubert** » Wed Oct 22, 2003 9:26 pm

MurPHy wrote:
Is it necessary to have a heatsink and fan for a computer to boot?
If you don't want to fry your new CPU, then yes.

Though it's not quite necessary if you happen to be in Vermont in the heart of Winter.

Nuclear Gandhi · Post by **Nuclear Gandhi** » Wed Oct 22, 2003 11:25 pm

He's going to CompUSA to get the fan now.

Nuclear Gandhi · Post by **Nuclear Gandhi** » Thu Oct 23, 2003 3:33 am

OK, his computer is fixed.

Jeff · Post by **Jeff** » Thu Oct 23, 2003 12:18 pm

What was the problem then ? my computer turned off automatically if the fan was running too slowly, and it ran too slowly because the cooler's pretty big.... had to change BIOS settings, thats it :OS

Jimmyjay86 · Post by **Jimmyjay86** » Thu Oct 23, 2003 1:48 pm

I guess the most important thing is to know definitely if the chip is supported by the motherboard. Then it will have bios controls for your chip. Also you should install the latest version of the bios if the motherboard isn't right off the production line. That would be weird if the chip didn't have a fan? My P4 chip had the biggest mf'ing fan that would cool your dick if ten playboy models were standing next to you.

MurPHy · Post by **MurPHy** » Thu Oct 23, 2003 4:01 pm

It might be a BIOS/CMOS RAM compatibility problem. Go to your mobo's manufacturer's website and look for BIOS updates/upgrades.
WARNING: If you don't follow the instructions on how to reflash your BIOS chip to the letter, a corrupt BIOS may result, which will pretty much kill your mobo. The only way to revive it would be to replace the chip with a new, working one.

Neon Dingo · Post by **Neon Dingo** » Fri Oct 24, 2003 2:40 am

Fixed the problem...

...My god, it was so fucking simple to fix it's not even funny.

I *refused* to believe that the CPU fan was the problem. Back "in the day" when I used to have a 50MHz Celeron I never used a fan because they just didn't overheat.

Well, it turns out that there's an actual plug in for a fan on the motherboard and that if the board doesn't detect any RPM on a fan it will auto shut off.

Well shit.

Anyway, I pretty much knew how to fix the problem but I was afraid that I might have an incorrect combination.

However, I still have a problem. The CPU initially read as a 1GHz AMD Athlon. When I changed it in the BIOS I finally got it to recognize as a 3000+ (I even got it overclocked to a 3500+ accidentally at one point). The thing is, the Front Side Bus is still at 200MHz. How the fuck do I set the FSB to 400? Any help? Is there any good application I could download for windows for tweaking that kind of thing outside of the BIOS?

Thanks in advance.

Insane Koolaid Man · Post by **Insane Koolaid Man** » Fri Oct 24, 2003 4:12 am

Neon Dingo wrote:Fixed the problem...

...My god, it was so fucking simple to fix it's not even funny.

I *refused* to believe that the CPU fan was the problem. Back "in the day" when I used to have a 50MHz Celeron I never used a fan because they just didn't overheat.

Well, it turns out that there's an actual plug in for a fan on the motherboard and that if the board doesn't detect any RPM on a fan it will auto shut off.

Well shit.

Anyway, I pretty much knew how to fix the problem but I was afraid that I might have an incorrect combination.

However, I still have a problem. The CPU initially read as a 1GHz AMD Athlon. When I changed it in the BIOS I finally got it to recognize as a 3000+ (I even got it overclocked to a 3500+ accidentally at one point). The thing is, the Front Side Bus is still at 200MHz. How the fuck do I set the FSB to 400? Any help? Is there any good application I could download for windows for tweaking that kind of thing outside of the BIOS?

Thanks in advance.

It's supposed to be 200 MHz. The way it works is that it's 200 MHz double pumped to the 400 MHz effective FSB. Hence the Double in DDR RAM.

iohkus · Post by **iohkus** » Fri Oct 24, 2003 5:20 am

lol 50 mhz celeron doesn't heat up as much as an AMD XP3000

newb3!!11 it could have been worse, you could have perma fucked everything and burned down your house and gone to nihilist heaven!!!

POOPERSCOOPER · Post by **POOPERSCOOPER** » Fri Oct 24, 2003 6:35 am

I seriously hate computers, if mac had all the games I wanted then I would buy one in a flash. I can't even install a graphic driver without my computer turning to trash.