• Did I Kill My PC?
    8 replies, posted
Being curious I decided to go a open up my PC and take a look at the cooler and CPU. After I finished looking at them I went ahead installed the cooler and CPU back. When I tried to start my PC the PC started but nothing appeared on the screen and the CPU cooler fan started spinning at max throttle. I first thought I did something wrong with the cooler so I removed it and put it back in screwing in all the screws as tight as I could. Started the PC and still same problem. Next I thought something might be wrong with my GPU so I took it out and put in a old one that I knew that worked. The fans on both GPUs were spinning and all LED lights were functioning. The mouse had power but I couldn't use it, the DPI button didn't work so I assumed it was only getting power for the LEDs on it.The keyboard didn't work at all. If it helps I recorded a video of what is going on. [url]https://skydrive.live.com/redir?resid=31C54A0877905420!418&authkey=!ADnFzDWrAZ3TJoo[/url] Did I kill my computer or can I somehow fix it? PC Specs if needed CPU: Intel Core 2 Q9950 (LGA775) Motherboard:Don't know, came from a 2011 Dell Inspiron 540 desktop RAM: 4GB DDR3 @1333mhz HDD: One Seagate 1TB HDD and one WD 500GB HDD SSD: Kingston 64GB PSU: ThermalTake TR2 600W GPU: XFX HD7750/BFG 9800GTX+
It's not really a great idea to remove an Intel heatsink after it's installed and then put it back while the motherboard is still in the case. It's very difficult to get the 4 post clips to sit flush on the motherboard and lock. And I hope you put more thermal paste on the CPU because that stuff burns off and you will no longer have proper contact between the CPU and heatsink after removing it. The reason the machine isn't booting properly is because of the things I outlined above (heatsink not mounted properly) or you unplugged something like the CPU power connector or dislodged some other connector.
What do you mean post clips? As for the thermal paste I'm gonna go out tomorrow and buy some. I'll see if that works.
Intel heatsinks use those garbage plastic 4 posts, unless you have an after market cooler.
Ah ok, so I try to attach the cooler with the motherboard out of the case? Or keep it in the case and just keep trying to install the cooler until they lock?
It's best to do it out of the case. Even if you hear the pegs click, the base of the peg might not be through the motherboard mount hole, resulting in the heatsink not being mounted properly and causing overheating.
Alright, I'll try it tommorow. I seriously need to get some sleep right now. Will update with results
Always do your research before doing something like this, that way you'd know to apply new thermal paste and take other precautions BEFORE doing it. It can leave you in the shit when you don't realise till the last minute.
Well good news. After applying the thermal paste and reinstalling the cooler they way Gigabite told me. I got my computer to work. Everything is working fine now. I feel dumb that I went and removed the cooler like that in the first place since I never actually installed a CPU and cooler before. Thanks for the help!
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