Q: I was installing a wireless PCI card in my computer (Antec True Power 380W PS, Athlon 64 3200 +, Athlon 64 3200 +, ASUS K8V Deluxe, 2 x 512MB PC3200 OCZ Platinum EL) with the power cable when all the sudden the fans turned on for about half a second. I immediately got the dreaded electrical burning smell smoke. Now, I was not even touching anything but the screwdriver at the time – turning the screw – and I myself on the first floor. So I doubt if it was me.
Some fundamental research has shown that online is probably a fault with the early version of the advice I had: http://www.theinquirer.net/?article=13674. I have checked and my board had the capacitors in question, and it sounds like it might have been the problem. Then I booted the computer – everything seems to work fine except for the AGP (and PCI perhaps – could not test). My video card is not putting out a signal or whatever. So I replace my GF4 brother, and did the same. So at this point I was sure that the AGP / PCI bus is somehow damaged by the small surge.
So I went to the local shop to buy a replacement, they are not exactly the same board, so this time ASUS K8V Deluxe was an SE, which is almost identical with the exception of the Ethernet chip capacitors and stuff like that. But now, it does exactly the same thing.
Ill turn on the computer, the fans and hard drive will power up and running, all the lights back on, but the video never had a signal.
Anyone have any ideas . how bizarre? Im so lost.
Thanks!
Re:Yep. i torched my mobo, had exact same symptoms. Bought a new mobo, and destroyed the processor while cleaning off old thermal gunk.
Re:$400 and a new CPU later, it wasn't the CPU.
Going to try the PS…
Re:I've tried RAM from another computer, and the video card from another computer, on the new mobo and it doesn't fix it. The fans turn on on the video card, though, but still no signal.
And I do not hear ANY beeps when posting, even when I remove the CPU. That means the PS or the CPU is fried…but I don't know of any way to check if the CPU is fried or not, since I have nothing else in Socket 754. I also don't think it's the PS, since nothing smells "burnt" around it, and it seems to be powering the fans and harddrives and CD-ROM and AGP and all that without fail…
Is it the CPU?
Re:When you got the "burned" odor significant damage was done. It could be something in any pci slot, or on the motherboard itself with a blown capacitor. Video cards are extremely fragile and sensitive to any voltage variation. Try any different video card, AGP or PCI to see if it works with the change. Then go back to fundamentals… First, odor check every component to see if you can tell where it came from. Power supply, motherboard, one memory module, floppy disk. Do you get any image on the screen? Does the CPU fan run? Remove the memory module. Do you get a series of beeps when you try to reboot? CPU's seldom fail, but you could have shorted out the motherboard, which then ruined the CPU. If you don't get anything useful with the other attempts mentioned, pull the CPU to see if there is any discoloration on either side. Write all this down in a little book about how you took a fairly inexpensive course in installing motherboards and learned that you always ALWAYS unplug the power before you open the case. Some really great technicians do not learn this until later on when they are working on a customers computer they later have to buy.
Re:Did you try the GF4 in the new board?
Re:Are you not getting a POST OK beep?
If not, then you may have:
Damaged power supply (the P1 rail).
Damaged RAM.
Damaged CPU.
You can also try a different monitor.
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