We are back! And good news maybe!

[Ziroc]

Well, a few days ago, I woke up, and the server was OFF. I knew something was wrong, as this never happens. I have the system on an UPS backup.

I turned it on, and then after I ran the server for a bit, it went off again. rinse repeat.
So.. I figure its the Power supply unit (PSU), so I swap it. No fix. shit I say. (and other colorful words!)

I do a workup on it--swapping keyboards, mice, removing PCI cards, blah, blah.. nothing.

So we are down to CPU dying or Motherboard. (Hard drive is fine, I did a long check)
I'm now hurting, my back is killing me, I need to shop for people, and holiday stuff was going on, so I halted working
on it, and ordered a CPU just in case its bad.

So today, I feel good finally, everything is over family wise, so tonight I check the CPU--I am thinking bad CPU or
the thermal paste is bad, connection not tight. Well, that was the issue I just discovered--well, it is IF the damn thing stays on. (Knock on pressed wood). So if this fixed it, I'll simply return the CPU.

The issue was that the plastic bracket that the heat sink and fan clamp to was broke on one end (a nib hole) VERY small, and it didn't fall off until I removed the CPU. It LOOKED fine before I took it off.

I was SO VERY LUCKY that I had another older P4 bracket on an old Motherboard, so I swapped it out (Basically removing EVERYTHING from the case, rebuilding it and all) and completely replaced the thermal paste (always using Arctic Silver 5) and all is well--SO FAR!

But in testing, it would have failed WAY long ago. What happened is the bond from the CPU die to the heat sink was not tight, so the heat wasn't being bled to the heat sink. CPU overheats, and says "Uh oh, and shuts the system off, else it would burn up).


*******SIGH********

You have no idea how much stress I've been under worrying about this.
Anyway, I believe we are alright now guys! lol... we didn't hit the donation meter yet though! LOL! I took care of it though. Had enough extra cash to pay it! All's well in the universe now.. er, well, in the server room.

[JrKASperov]

Relax Z. You should know we all have the patience for you to fix these things in your own time.

[Variol (Farseer) Elmwood]

Stress, stress, you don't from stress!!
This and Terry Brooks' forum are my 2 favourite and they were both down. The Terry Brooks one is still down. It's surprising how much I missed it.

Thanks for the scriptural reference JrKASperov, but let's be careful not to have Z get his head too swelled.

[Target]

Well Done big Z

[Dragonshadow]

Very well done to you Z.

[Felix The Assassin]

Where was choc? What was he doing the whole time? Darn fat lazy house cats!

I'm guessing the bracket was broken during installation? Then over time as the thermal paste thinned out, it could no longer hold the weight of the heat sink and fan allowing it to separate? Sounds logical, but wouldn't that cause a cant to the whole apparatus giving a visual appearance that it's off kilter? OR, allow the cooling fan to come into contact with another component?

Anyway, glad things worked out. If that's a Newegg item, hold it for 8 days, then call them for your return code, and get it back to them before the 15 day no restock unopened package time line expires.

[toot033]

Way to go Z.... I guess Choc was giving you some subliminal messages to find out the real problem !

[Ziroc]

Originally Posted by Felix The Assassin Where was choc? What was he doing the whole time? Darn fat lazy house cats! I'm guessing the bracket was broken during installation? Then over time as the thermal paste thinned out, it could no longer hold the weight of the heat sink and fan allowing it to separate? Sounds logical, but wouldn't that cause a cant to the whole apparatus giving a visual appearance that it's off kilter? OR, allow the cooling fan to come into contact with another component? Anyway, glad things worked out. If that's a Newegg item, hold it for 8 days, then call them for your return code, and get it back to them before the 15 day no restock unopened package time line expires.

Yep, its from Newegg, will do that used the emergency CC for it too. Will send back as soon as I get the code.

The plastic bracket was brittle--from heat I guess... so the heatsink wasn't bonding to the die.. Those damn brackets
should be aluminium.. I'm just SO happy I found the cheap option, eh?

And GOOD that there is no restocking fee for non opened items. I was wondering if I'd have to eat a 15% restocking fee.. (Like Bestbuy....grrr)

[Chewbacca]

Good job Ziroc! You've got mad skills and fantastic luck.

I was also very lucky and skilled this December. Although you say you got some extra $, I sent some even more extra to max out this donation meter or start the next one. Happy New Year!

[Felix The Assassin]

Originally Posted by Ziroc Yep, its from Newegg, will do that used the emergency CC for it too. Will send back as soon as I get the code. The plastic bracket was brittle--from heat I guess... so the heatsink wasn't bonding to the die.. Those damn brackets should be aluminium.. I'm just SO happy I found the cheap option, eh? And GOOD that there is no restocking fee for non opened items. I was wondering if I'd have to eat a 15% restocking fee.. (Like Bestbuy....grrr)

All of my experience is with AMD, and they are known not to run cool, but the brackets in my experience have all been PC grade aluminum. It is common knowledge that Intel runs hot, even on what they call a low heat rig, but plastic? Then again, me tinks life expectancy vs fatigue comes into play as well.

Newegg took over my top spot a few years back, good to real good prices, quick service, exceptional after purchase support.