how to tell if the processor is dead?

Question

Hi!
My PC won't start and I suspect my CPU is dead...
I removed the fan and the cooler, but I can't tell if it's burned out or not (the thermal paste is a bit dirty, but I cleaned the copper side of the cooler with alcohol and reapplied it on the CPU, which also looks fine...

Actually, my PC does start, all the fans come on, but I have NO beep and no display, which is why I'm wondering if this might be the issue... unless it's the motherboard... or the power supply... or...

HeLp!

jmp59 · Accepted Answer

Indeed, a ClearCMOS should sort things out. But removing the battery for 20 seconds is not enough. Some say 5 minutes, others 10!

The quick solution is to reverse the jumper next to the battery for 2 seconds... if you can find it.
On some recent boards (Gigabyte), there is no jumper but 2 pins that you just need to short with a screwdriver.

Excerpt from the manual
".... use a metal object like a screwdriver to touch the 2 pins for a few seconds"

--
Errare humanum est, perseverare diabolicum.

-=\®/=- · Answer

Hi

Well, the power supply works since you started it!
After the burned processor, you can see it very well; it's charred in some places... I would consider an option for your motherboard, maybe!
But that's just my opinion.... You will have a hard time finding the solution online; ask your friends to come and take a look!!!

Good luck.

Shido007 · Answer

A person from the forum has the same problem as you, and I advised them to clear the CMOS memory and reboot.  Did you modify the BIOS before rebooting your PC?

chrischris83 · Answer

a memory problem, a stick that went haywire chris

spikemann · Answer

Hello,

I have the same problem as well, the motherboard works because I tried it with another CPU, and it displayed, so there's no issue there.
But when I use the CPU in question, the fan runs but there’s no display, and there are no black marks or burns on the CPU.
If you could please help me because I need this CPU; the other one that works is very old and weaker.
Thank you very much.

seb · Answer

Hello!

I think it's your motherboard that took a hit.

I had exactly the same thing happen after making a bad connection with a new power supply.

I plugged it in, it smelled burnt, and then nothing.

I took the CPU out, cleaned it well, and there was no sign of burning...

I still ordered a new motherboard and a new CPU to check it out.

I'm going to try the old CPU on the new motherboard to see.

Good luck!

Seb.

Titi6724 · Answer

Hi, I wanted to play smart and I changed the frequency in the BIOS. After saving the BIOS settings, the computer didn’t restart. The fans are running, the LEDs are lit, the hard drive is spinning, even the CD drives activate like in a normal startup, but I have a black screen and the PC does not beep. I took out the processor and it’s in perfect condition. I also removed the battery, but it didn’t change anything (maybe I didn’t wait long enough, I waited 20 seconds). What do you think the problem is?

Titi6724 · Answer

En fait, finalement je pense que c'est le processeur qui est mort parce qu'en regardant de plus près, il est noir comme fondu légèrement près du cœur.

Titi6724 · Answer

After looking at a bunch of photos of dead processors and working ones, I've concluded that my processor might be in good condition. I did a CMOS clear by removing the battery for over an hour and putting the processor back, but I'm still facing the same problem; however, the power supply fan was making a huge noise. I did a second CMOS clear, and after that, the PC turns on for 2 seconds then shuts down (the processor fan spins for 2 to 3 turns). I'm going to try with another power supply and will keep you updated. Do you think it's possible to have damaged a power supply while trying to overclock the processor by changing the FSB frequency? Thanks in advance for your replies.

jmp59 · Answer

The power supply "produces" 3 different voltages: 3.3 V, 5 V, and 12 V.
The processor is powered by the 3.3 volts. Overclocking the processor increases its demand.
It is therefore not impossible that the 3.3 V part of the power supply takes a hit and fails, but I don't believe it too much.

--
To err is human, to persist is diabolical.

Titi6724 · Answer

Ok, je vais tester tout ça et je vous dirai.

greg14000 · Answer

Hello everyone, I have the same issue!!! I checked my CPU and there are no signs of burning on the pins, just a tiny bit of thermal paste... I think that's where it's coming from, right???
--
Knowledge is power...

tay4 · Answer

I have exactly the same issue as most people here. (The PC turns on, the power button LED does not light up, and there are no beeps!)
I took my PC to a professional who told me it was the motherboard and he was sure of it after noticing that the capacitors on the motherboard were swollen. I ordered a motherboard that should arrive soon. I'll keep you updated.
Good luck to everyone!!!

bichou85 · Answer

Hello to you.

So I just read all the messages, some dating back several years already. I thought it would help me to come here and not do something stupid, but I believe bad luck keeps striking my poor computer.

Let me explain:

Last week, my PC crashed. So I opened it, cleaned it thoroughly, and used compressed air in the hard-to-reach spots. It restarted perfectly. However, yesterday, my boyfriend was using it and it crashed again. Impossible to restart it. I pressed the button, the LED in front lights up but there is no "BEEP." So I checked my processor, which looks fine. I tested all the motherboard components and everything was functioning perfectly. So I did a ClearCMOS, thinking it might be an issue unrelated to a specific part. The process is easy, no problem. But.... My motherboard has never turned back on after that.

When I press the button to turn the PC back on, the CPU fan goes wild and spins very fast without stopping.

So I say this procedure involves a risk; I knew that beforehand, it was noted somewhere, I can't remember where. But it was also mentioned that it's super rare to break the motherboard with this procedure.

The "super rare" thing bothers me a bit because mine didn't survive.

But I have a question. My PC is just a year and a half old... In your opinion, which part was faulty? And is there any possibility of repairing it?

Thank you....

jmp59 · Answer

Hello bichou85,

Possible explanation: during the thorough cleaning you did, you may have accidentally removed a clip securing the heatsink. At the moment, nothing happened.

But over time, the heatsink and processor have very slightly separated. As a result, there is no more cooling for the processor, which, despite the fan speeding up, goes into safety mode because it doesn't want to burn out.

So check the heatsink's attachment to your processor.

--

To err is human, to persist is diabolical.

Mecano · Answer

Have you checked if the FSB frequency and Vcore were good for running the CPU?

Crisss · Answer

Hello, so my problem is that I’m a gamer and I play FIFA, Call of Duty... on my PC. For some time now, I open a game, I play for 5 minutes, and then my PC shuts down by itself. Please, does anyone have a solution for this? Is it the processor? What should I do?

Hikaru · Answer

Hello, I have exactly the same issue, this morning I took the PC out of sleep mode and I got a black screen but the PC is running, I reset it, no beeping, after disassembling I didn't notice any signs of overheating on the CPU, just 2 of the holes for the CPU pins on the socket are slightly darker than the others, I hope it's not the motherboard because it's AM2 and it's getting annoying to find one.
I will try a clear CMOS and we'll see, otherwise it will go to the local technician for diagnosis ^^
I'll keep you updated.

grepolis2909xlx · Answer

Hi, I have an i3 380m that used to have 2 cores and 4 threads, and now I only have 1 core and 2 threads. It's been a month since I've had it and it was working well before, but now it’s really slow. Actually, before this happened, I saw a video on YouTube saying to create a .txt document and write
"FreeMem=(1000000000)"
I did that and when I restarted my PC, it kept rebooting every time it reached the Windows 7 loading screen. Then I followed the instructions that were suggested to me and finally, I managed to boot up; retrospectively, I realized it was slower (the PC) and I checked my processor info on Speccy (the Piriform software that I recommend to everyone) and I was stunned! I then downloaded CPU-Z thinking Speccy might have been wrong, and I got the same results.

So what to do?

I’m quite pessimistic, but I hope you can help me.

Thanks in advance to those who will respond.

Ciao!

How to tell if the processor is dead?

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