CPU Overheating

[stiltman]

So, I ended up buying the Zalman CNPS 7700 for $30 on sale. Sweet deal.

I applied the grease as recommended (admittedly, I have only done it once before) but Im pretty sure I did it correctly. In any event, the computer wont boot. On the diagnostics (the 4 lights), it shows the error as being "Early Chipset Initialization" and hangs there. I cant even do the delete key to get into the bios.

Any ideas?

I hate the screw down models. Too many chances to short things out.
That would be my first guess, or over tightening

[SCDVD]

How many pieces is your processor in now?

[Lucifers_Ghost]

Well I took it all out and did an inspection. Everything "looks" fine. All the contacts look straight. No scratches or marks on the bottom of the cpu. No cracks. Nadda.

Sooo I put it all back in aaaand the same thing.

Did she go kerplooey?

[SingSing]

Did you lined up pin one of the chip and socket correctly ?

[Lucifers_Ghost]

Yep. Got no choice. 3 corners of the chip have two pins and one corner has 3 pins and an arrow (which matches the cpu seat on the MB). If I dont sit it correctly, it sits lopsided. So yes, its sitting correctly.

[Video Head]

That problem can be caused by any number of issues including loose cables or a motherboard that is shorting on the case. You may have knocked something loose while installing the CPU cooler. Go to the lowest common denominator for testing...disconnect and remove everything but your master boot drive and memory. If you can, go to a single memory stick. Remove any PCI expansion cards (sound, network, etc), disconnect optical drives. Try booting with the bare minimum system. Look at your motherboard. Does it look like the bottom of the motherboard may be making contact with the case? It cannot touch the case or it will short. Did you have to remove the motherboard to install your new cooler? Is there a backing plate for the cooler? How hard did you have to press on the motherboard to install the cooler?

Sorry to ask so many questions, but this error can be caused by so many different things. It usually turns out to be something very simple, but difficult to pinpoint except through a process of elimination.

[jagabo]

Did you try the BIOS reset jumper? Tried sticking your old CPU back in?

[Lucifers_Ghost]

Hello again,

Life is mysterious.

So, I got it to work. I took it all off again, reapplied the grease, and put it all back in and now it magically works. Oye.

In a cruel twist of fate, a friend of mine is upgrading has a spare Athlon X2 4400+ cpu and offered it to me for $50. What I am not sure about it whether or not my board (MSI 6702) can support it. Strangely, on the MSI site, its listed (either the E4 or E6 model) in the Supported CPU's. However, from I know of, those are socket 939's and the board only supports socket 754.

Qu'est que c'est?

[jagabo]

I don't think there were any A64 X2 CPUs in socket 754. Obviously, you can use a Socket 939 or AM2 CPU in a socket 754 motherboard.

So how are your CPU temps with the new cooler compared to before?

[Lucifers_Ghost]

I don't think there were any A64 X2 CPUs in socket 754. Obviously, you can use a Socket 939 or AM2 CPU in a socket 754 motherboard.

So how are your CPU temps with the new cooler compared to before?

Obviously I CAN use a socket 939 on a 754 board? Or obviously I CANT.

The temps are about 10 - 12 degrees lower, which is a fantabulous gain.

[jagabo]

Sorry, typo. You CAN NOT use a 939 CPU on a 754 board.

[Lucifers_Ghost]

Right. Thats what I thought. You completely threw me for a loop there :P

Ah well.