computer problem: is my CPU toast?
 

okay the other day i was sitting in the living room watchign TV and drinking a beer as i normally do when i get off work. i look over at my computer and it is fine, doing what it normally does. sitting there with the fans runnign and screen on showing the desktop. i wal into the kitchen and go back to the living room and notice that the monitor off. i wen tand tried to turn it on and it came on but the monitor stayed blank but then the computer shut off a few seconds later. i had to reset it by the power supply to get it to turn on again. from the side window i noticed that the CPU fan wasn't spinning. so i opened it up and seen that the heatsinc is hella dirty and clogged with dust. i clean everythign out and vacum the ---- out of everythign but it still doesn't boot up. does the same as before.

cliff notes: cpu fan stopped and now the computer won't boot up.

so did i fry the cpu for that quick time the fan was off or is it the mother board?

if it matters it is an AMD athalon (i think) +2400

Re: computer problem: is my CPU toast?
 

In most newer PC's, there is a feature in the BIOS for thermal shutdown... meaning if the CPU gets too hot it will shut itself down to prevent damage.

It depends on if your PC shut down because of that or if it's fried. Find out by letting it cool down, replacing the fan (or fixing the clog in the old one), and trying to boot. If it's obviously cooled down enough and your still getting no response it may be fried... good luck.

Re: computer problem: is my CPU toast?
 

lol, ok it's cooled for a few days now and still nothign so i guess it didn't have the thermal shutdown.

Re: computer problem: is my CPU toast?
 

It could be both the processor and the motherboard.

Re: computer problem: is my CPU toast?
 

oh come on now, don't say that. :-[

Re: computer problem: is my CPU toast?
 

easy way to rule out MB... find a compatible processor (socket A, I believe) and pop it in there... if it works, it's just your proc... if it doesn't, most likely something else is f'd.

Re: computer problem: is my CPU toast?
 

The processor will heat up in seconds if there is no heatsink/fan on it. I would remove the heat sink, re-apply thermal paste and be sure the sink is seated flush with the processor. Also be sure the fan is working. Some boards will shut down if there is no fan going.

Re: computer problem: is my CPU toast?
 

Fo realz yo, unless my car's running dat ---- don't werk O0

Re: computer problem: is my CPU toast?
 

when you turn on the PC it should make some beeps telling you whats wrong.

do you turn it on and it does nothing? do the fans even spin up? hard drive spin up? any lights?

remove the CPU and turn it on, does it do anything different?

Re: computer problem: is my CPU toast?
 

yeah i don't hear the POST but the fans do turn on, HD turns on, and also the red light turns on. when i get home i will check to see if it does anythign differant if i remove it.