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- Seen Sep 18, 2020
Hi. I'll explain my problem then leave my system specs in a spoiler below.
I was using my PC normally when it shut off like the power was cut. Tried pressing the power button again and nothing happened. Slight burning smell. Unplugged for a while, then perhaps unwisely plugged back in and turned it on, and this time it spooled up for a few seconds then I believe something around the area of the CPU sparked and it cut out again. The burning smell increased. After looking over and dusting the inside I found no visible signs of damage. I did remove the PSU and CPU to look them over individually, but didn't notice anything except how shiny and wet the thermal paste seemed to be, though I did apply it within the year so I don't expect that's unusual.
While the system is receiving power the normal LEDs on the mainboard and GPU light up; these, the manuals tell me, only indicate that the parts are receiving power.
Now, when the power button is pressed after the system hasn't received power (unplugged or turned off the PSU's switch for a while), the red CPU LED lights up briefly and the fan begins to turn, not even for a second before cutting out. No burning smell now. The mainboard's manual says the CPU LED is supposed to remain on if there is a problem with the CPU, and it notes nothing about any form of flashing. I did try turning on the system after cleaning but before replacing the CPU, and the same thing happened with the LED (thought maybe a bad CPU could've been preventing it from POSTing and that after removal it might at least reach POST then complain that there's no CPU installed). I've not made any changes to the hardware lately (not even months ago). I figured clearing the CMOS wouldn't hurt, so I did try that, though to no avail. Not much else I can think to do.
I'd guess I've damaged the mainboard by overheating, due to the old case and since I did leave it running overnight a few times recently. Well, I'll be sure to replace that before anything else. Heh. If anyone can point me toward what is most likely to be wrong, so I know which parts to have repaired or replaced, I'd appreciate your assistance.
I was using my PC normally when it shut off like the power was cut. Tried pressing the power button again and nothing happened. Slight burning smell. Unplugged for a while, then perhaps unwisely plugged back in and turned it on, and this time it spooled up for a few seconds then I believe something around the area of the CPU sparked and it cut out again. The burning smell increased. After looking over and dusting the inside I found no visible signs of damage. I did remove the PSU and CPU to look them over individually, but didn't notice anything except how shiny and wet the thermal paste seemed to be, though I did apply it within the year so I don't expect that's unusual.
While the system is receiving power the normal LEDs on the mainboard and GPU light up; these, the manuals tell me, only indicate that the parts are receiving power.
Now, when the power button is pressed after the system hasn't received power (unplugged or turned off the PSU's switch for a while), the red CPU LED lights up briefly and the fan begins to turn, not even for a second before cutting out. No burning smell now. The mainboard's manual says the CPU LED is supposed to remain on if there is a problem with the CPU, and it notes nothing about any form of flashing. I did try turning on the system after cleaning but before replacing the CPU, and the same thing happened with the LED (thought maybe a bad CPU could've been preventing it from POSTing and that after removal it might at least reach POST then complain that there's no CPU installed). I've not made any changes to the hardware lately (not even months ago). I figured clearing the CMOS wouldn't hurt, so I did try that, though to no avail. Not much else I can think to do.
I'd guess I've damaged the mainboard by overheating, due to the old case and since I did leave it running overnight a few times recently. Well, I'll be sure to replace that before anything else. Heh. If anyone can point me toward what is most likely to be wrong, so I know which parts to have repaired or replaced, I'd appreciate your assistance.
Spoiler:
