Member Avatar for jponebox

Hi all,

Thank for reading and will appreciate any help.
I have been reading and searching for the answer for hours.

About a year ago I built my computer..no bells or whistles. Just a simple gigabyte MB with an AMD Athlon cpu.

About six months ago I needed to restart, but it shut off instead. And it wouldn't start back up till ten minutes had passed. If I ever needed to restart after my computer has been on for hours or just a couple minutes, it does not start back for about ten minutes.

Now it doesn't turn on for more than six seconds. it doesn't even get to a screen. I see the fans kick on and I hear the HD spin and engage but another 2-3 seconds and then it just shuts off.

I switched the power supply, same result
I switched the HD, same result
I thought it might be the power on switch but it doesn't make sense
I took it apart and put it back three times now - LOTS of dust in the cpu heatsink.
I have never overclocked either

I'm thinking it just cooked but what? The MB or the CPU or ???? I don't know what to look for and I get 6-7 seconds of on time, not even to sys check or boot really.

Any ideas?

-Jim

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  • Latest Post Latest Post by Chaky

Dani AI

Generated

Short summary and a practical checklist to isolate the fault (since already covered the cooling angle): a machine that powers for only a few seconds can be caused by a failing CPU, a failing motherboard (bad caps, VRM failure, sensor), a short to the case, or one of the power rails/critical connectors not present or unstable. Work through these steps in order to narrow it down.

  • Bench test with minimum parts: outside the case on a non-conductive surface, plug only the motherboard, CPU with cooler, one stick of RAM, PSU 24-pin plus CPU 4/8-pin, and GPU only if no onboard video. Start the board by shorting the power pins (or using the front-panel header if known-good). Note fans, any POST beeps, and whether the CPU fan spins up and stays spinning.

  • Swap and isolate memory and graphics: try each RAM stick alone in every slot. Remove the video card if the board has integrated video, or try a known-good card. Faulty RAM or GPU can cause immediate failure.

  • Check power connections and rails: make sure the CPU 12V connector is present and fully seated. If comfortable with measurements, verify 12V/5V/3.3V rails under load with a multimeter or have a shop do it.

  • Visual inspection: look for bulging or leaking capacitors, burnt components or scorched MOSFETs/VRM area near the CPU, corrosion, or a blown smell. On AMD boards of this era, inspect the CPU underside for bent pins before reseating.

  • Rule out shorts: missing standoffs or a misplaced screw can short the board; the bench test removes that possibility. Also disconnect all front-panel connectors except the power switch when testing.

  • If you still get the same shutoff with a minimal bench configuration, the likely culprits are the CPU or the motherboard VRMs/sensors. The definitive test is swapping with a known-good CPU or board. If you cannot borrow parts, a shop with spare parts or a POST/debug card can quickly identify the failed component.

Safety notes: unplug PSU before changing parts, use static precautions, and get professional help if unsure. If data is the priority, remove the drive and connect it to another system to copy files before further hardware work.

Member Avatar for Chaky

Obvious reason it didn't turn on (before) was the lack of CPU cooling.
It needed time to cool down before it could be started.
CPU obviously suffered some damage. If anything is fryed there, it's CPU.

Only thing left for you to do is remove the fan and heat-sink, clean both, remove any old thermal paste (bottom of the heat-sink and CPU's surface, apply thin layer of thermal paste and install the heat-sink (must be TIGHT) and fan.


If that doesn't do it, CPU's dead.

If it does, you should think about some serious cooling solutions. (bigger, better quieter)

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