Mark_767

I have now fried 3 motherboards, possibly 4, and have decided to write this since there is none to show signs of motherboard destruction. I will also give a few examples which are sure fire ways to fry your motherboard (I have experiance with the examples ;)

No signal on monitor has been shown in many threads to usually be something missing, or PSU broken, or video card broken, and sometimes motherboard. If fans run or LEDs turn on, and it says no signal, it probably isn't power supply. First rule of thumb is to always test things if you can. Video card usually isn't the problem, I have only fried one video card and it was a bad one. A helpful hint I got from the DUKE is to take your motherboard out put it on a non conductive surface, put in the bare minimum for turning on (one stick of ram, on board graphics instead of video card if you got em, no hard drives or cd rom.) This will ensure basic to rule out other things. If you still have no signal on monitor after checking all connectors, could be video card or motherboard. Hopefully you can find someone to let you test your stuff on. If your computer jsut turns on then restarts instantly. It could be an overclock if you hadn't figured it out already. In which case clear the cmos jumper. In your motherboard book it should say where it is, it is usually near the battery though. If your motherboard doesn't have a cmos jumper, take out the batter for a few hours and when you put it back in it should be fine.

Some ways to fry your motherboard...

1. Don't use the supporting screws that go on the case that the motherboard screws screw into, just screw the motherboard into the case, this will fry your motherboard.

2. Don't plug in the 4 pin molex extra plug in your video card (if you have one), then turn on computer and wait for small strand of smoke to come up from video card. This will fry both your motherboard and video card surprizingly.

3. When cooling your northbridge, don't put AS5 on just the core part, put it all around the core, even on the little rubber circles to keep the heatsink off plugs, this will fry your motherboard.

I admit reading this isn't a very detailed guide and I apologize for that. Hopefully this will give some help though, if anyone has anything to add I will.

cokker

Not bad, this may help a lot of noobs out, well done.

Oknilp

it is usually near the battery though. If your motherboard doesn't have a cmos jumper, take out the batter for a few hours and when you put it back in it should be fine.
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I recently had an issue on my Asus P5AD2-E Primium mainboard and my manual does not show the cmos, I used a magnifier etc... could not find it. I remember from old PC's to take the battery out, but wasn't sure on my asus board? I am going to give it a try. I would like to know if anyone can PM me to let me know about the cmos issue I face.
Thanks for the Guide, great work.
Oknilp.

pablo420

2. Don't plug in the 4 pin molex extra plug in your video card (if you have one), then turn on computer and wait for small strand of smoke to come up from video card. This will fry both your motherboard and video card surprizingly.

but I have a 6800 that uses that! Confused I am.

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lessthanjake1241

for some noobs,this has to be the most confusing faq ever created

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Mediocre sound setup :
Chaintech AV710 (Wolfson DAC) --> Sony Reciever/Amp --> HD555 or Altec Lansing 2.1
iPod 5.5 --> JVC Marshmallows/HD435/HD215

rippon

Well, the noobs should just pay attention to the numbers, I don't think it is confusing at all. It has some very good information and will save someone from making a mistake. I wish I had read this before I fried my motherboard.

yuandrew

If you're talking about this, I made the same mistake when I first built my P4 rig. I had everything put together except that and powered the system up. Wondering why it won't POST, I glanced at my opened case and noticed I had forgotten that. Instead of shutting it down then correcting my wireing, I took it and plugged it right in while the PSU was still running. There was a small spark and everything turned off and it wouldn't work for like 30 seconds (the PSU has a timed auto-reset after that incase it is tripped off from a short or overload)

I thought I had fried it but it started right up as if nothing had happened (whew, close)

Nevaziah

holy cow buddy, you are so lucky....

Dann

Wierd ive knocked the Molex out of my Vid Card and booted up fine didnt realise till i looked in the case ........

gonX

You're number two here. Same with me, turned on the computer with very high music playing, my mobos speaker were screaming and it said (Not the speaker, the monitor) "Your Video Card needs a 4-Pin Molex connector plugged in" and i was like "OH F***" and quickly turned off the rig.
Good advice, always double-check your wiring before turning on your computer.