Second opinion please anyone ?

Discussion in 'PC Hardware' started by logicwatch, Jul 17, 2015.

  1. logicwatch

    logicwatch MDL Senior Member

    Jan 26, 2011
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    good evening all

    I am just looking for a 2nd opinion on a hardware fault on a PC I am looking at.
    The PC boots then after just a few mins ( can vary its random ) it just switches itself off again.
    I have swapped out PSU = same fault ( thought this was going to be the issue )
    swapped out Ram = same fault
    reseated & re thermal pasted CPU = same fault

    so that leaves me with a faulty processor or faulty motherboard ?

    but this leaves me with the problem of which one to order first as there is no way really of knowing which one is the faulty item ?

    the processor is amd A4-3300 dual core
    the motherboard is a asus F1A55 - M LE

    thanks in advance
     
  2. s1ave77

    s1ave77 Has left at his own request

    Aug 15, 2012
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    Since it's mostly the mainboard that dies, i would vote for this :g:. The only dead CPUs i met so far died together with the board or due to incorrect seat of heatspreader (ages ago).
     
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  3. MrMagic

    MrMagic MDL Guru

    Feb 13, 2012
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    Reinstalled Windows before writing off your hardware?
     
  4. logicwatch

    logicwatch MDL Senior Member

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    #4 logicwatch, Jul 17, 2015
    Last edited: Jul 17, 2015
    (OP)
    Thanks for the reply but it can do this even when you are in the bios screen so I don't think a windows reinstall is going to make a lot of difference.
     
  5. Muerto

    Muerto MDL Debugger

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    #5 Muerto, Jul 17, 2015
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  6. logicwatch

    logicwatch MDL Senior Member

    Jan 26, 2011
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    Asus motherboard printed on it states F1A55 - M LE
    have tested with everything unplugged = same error after a few mins

    interestingly after a shutdown / power loss
    the power on will not respond for 2 or 3 pushes of the button then it powers up again and repeats the shutdown after a few more mins ( random sometimes nearly straight away other times after 2 / 3 mins )

    I guess the motherboard is looking most likely ?
     
  7. s1ave77

    s1ave77 Has left at his own request

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    Check the capacitors, maybe this gives a hint.
     
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  8. logicwatch

    logicwatch MDL Senior Member

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    am I looking for bulging tops ?
     
  9. s1ave77

    s1ave77 Has left at his own request

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    Yep and other signs that may indicate they are dying.
     
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  10. Muerto

    Muerto MDL Debugger

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  11. Michaela Joy

    Michaela Joy MDL Crazy Lady

    Jul 26, 2012
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    Also, check the power supply. If the +12V isn't up or faulty, the MoBo won't start correctly.

    :MJ
     
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  12. logicwatch

    logicwatch MDL Senior Member

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    I have swapped out the PSU
     
  13. Muerto

    Muerto MDL Debugger

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  14. logicwatch

    logicwatch MDL Senior Member

    Jan 26, 2011
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    Well mega strange ?
    today its all running fine ??????????? what the ............. ??
    no switching off at all
    dam intermittent faults make it so very difficult to fix !!
    you can put money on the fact that as soon as I give it back it to the owner it will start playing up again.
    I will stress test it for a couple of days and see how things go but so far its been running for several hours with no fault whatsoever ??
    Previously I would not have got more than a few minutes without a complete shutdown!!
    Grrrrrrr !!!!! :confused:
     
  15. Muerto

    Muerto MDL Debugger

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  16. Michaela Joy

    Michaela Joy MDL Crazy Lady

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    @The Dev: I had a similar problem with CPU overheating. What I did was redo the heatsink with Arctic Silver.

    @logicwatch: Definitely worth looking at.

    :MJ
     
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  17. Muerto

    Muerto MDL Debugger

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    #17 Muerto, Jul 18, 2015
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  18. logicwatch

    logicwatch MDL Senior Member

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    #18 logicwatch, Jul 18, 2015
    Last edited: Jul 18, 2015
    (OP)
    Hi guys thanks for the comments
    This is a desktop PC not a laptop
    I have re thermal pasted the CPU
    Temperatures are around 40c
    I am currently stress testing it and its been running for several hours no issues
    I cannot replicate yesterdays fault ?
    ;)
     
  19. LatinMcG

    LatinMcG Bios Borker

    Feb 27, 2011
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    it was likely power supply or caps.
     
  20. logicwatch

    logicwatch MDL Senior Member

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    Well this morning after working on stress testing software all day yesterday perfectly today it now keeps switches off after just 5 secs. !!
    I must admit it does look like a PSU fault with these symptoms but I have swapped out the PSU with the same fault.
    I can therefore only conclude it is a power related issue with the Motherboard and will order one asap.