Member Avatar for valcansa

Ok, I have an ASUS m4a7bt-e motherboard that had been working fine. One day it powered on but didn't boot.

The configuration of my pc is as follows:

8 gb ram
AMD six core cpu
blue-ray burner/player
1 tb HD
I'm using the onboard video

All cables are connected properly, the green led comes on when I press the power button, the fans come on, I can hear the hard drive spin up and I can press the open button on the blue ray player with no problem. The only piece of hardware that doesn't do anything is the cpu.

Here is what I did to troubleshoot:

  1. I unplugged all the unnecesary cables from the motherboard and the devices.
  2. I made sure that memory was properly inserted.
  3. I then powered up the pc and still no cpu activity.
  4. I cleared the cmos, no change.
  5. I then inserted a pci-e video card in and connected the monitor to it, no change (the monitor says no video regardless I use the onboard or pci-e card).
  6. I then let it run for a minute or two, powered off, unplugged the power cord, removed the heat sink and found that the cpu was not hot or warm.
  7. I then inserted the cpu into another motherboard (a gigabyte), no change. I then followed all the steps previously listed and still no change.

That doesn't sound like a bad motherboard. What are the chances that I have two motherboards that are bad?

Give me your thoughts as to if my assumption is correct or was my troubleshooting process not correct?

Thanks for you help

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  • Latest Post Latest Post by hatchiebird

Dani AI

Generated

Useful context from the thread: ’s follow-up (swapping in a different CPU and getting a successful POST) strongly supports a processor fault in at least one of these cases. That makes two dead motherboards less likely, but it doesn’t close the book — there are a few silent failure modes that mimic a dead CPU and a few easy checks that were not described in the original post by .

Quick checklist to isolate CPU vs. board vs. PSU (do these before buying parts):

  • Confirm the separate CPU-power connector (4/8-pin near the socket) is present and firmly attached; a missing CPU 12V feed often yields exactly this symptom.
  • Attach a small system speaker to the front-panel header and listen for beep codes; if none are present try a POST diagnostic card to read codes.
  • Visually inspect the socket/CPU pins for damage (AMD AM3 CPUs use pins on the CPU) and check the motherboard around the VRM area for bulging caps, scorch marks or blown components.
  • Swap in a known-good PSU or measure the PSU rails (+12V, +5VSB) with a meter — some failures leave enough standby power for fans but no CPU Vcore.
  • Test “bench” style on a non-conductive surface with minimal components and a known-good stick of RAM and GPU (if needed for video).

If the board only posts with a different CPU, the original processor is almost certainly bad. If a working CPU still fails on the original board, focus on VRM/CPU-power and physical damage; those are common silent failures. When compatibility is a possible concern, check the motherboard CPU support list and consider a BIOS update only via a supported recovery method (or with a donor CPU) — flashing blindly can brick a board.

Safety note: measuring voltages at the CPU socket or probing VRMs can be risky without experience. If uncertain, document the observations (photos of pins/caps, beep behavior, PSU voltages) and consult a repair shop or the board/CPU vendor for RMA guidance.

Member Avatar for gk1993

Try removing all USB sticks, CD's and hard drives and booting it up. If shows something like no OS to boot, hard disk may be damaged.

Member Avatar for hatchiebird

i have the same situation. I'm at the point of tring a different cpu in my mobo as I am not getting the system to post. I think it has to be the mobo, cpu or psu. I eliminated the psu last night as the issue. This is my second mobo with the exact same problem. I think it has to be the cpu as the likely hood of having to bad new mobos in a row is slim. I will follow-up after I check the cpu.

Edited by hatchiebird because: spell
Member Avatar for hatchiebird

UPDATE: I installed a different cpu in the board that was not working and the system posted and is working. My processor was bad. I bet my other mobo works as well with a processor that works.

You should try another CPU or make sure the CPU that you are using is compatibale with the board. Is you system posting at all? Does anything show on the screen? If you remove ram and the mobo does not beep it could be another sign of bad cpu.

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