GA-K8NMF-9: not posting, after several years of perfect operation

[noth]

Hi all.

I hope this hasn't been asked/answered before; I did my best with the forum search function and perusing the relevant subforums. Anyway, here goes.

My old PC, built around a GA-K8NMF-9 motherboard/AMD Athlon 64 3000+ CPU combo, suddenly started acting up on me; I shut it down one night and didn't boot up ever again. I've had this guy work flawlessly for the last 7-8 years (only changing PSUs all this time) and I'd really like to bring him back to life. What it does now is that it doesn't initialize the graphics card, or give any beep codes at all. I removed any and all connectors and devices, including all RAM modules, SATA/PATA cables, VGA card, etc., and left connected just the power cords, power switch, leds, and speaker. Still no go. I had hopes it would be a bad PSU again, but I was not that lucky this time. Even with a brand-new 600W PSU, it just won't budge. Now I'm placing my bet on a fried motherboard or CPU, but wanted to get some feedback from the community before I write the old guy off. Any ideas?

Cheers.

PS: I checked and double checked all capacitors on the motherboard; not one of them is swollen or seems otherwise damaged (e.g., leaking, displaced, etc.)

[absic]

Hi there,

sorry to see that your having problems and, like you, my best guess would be CPU and/or motherboard but without having the parts for testing, pinpointing the exact cause is nigh on impossible.

Did you try powering up with just the CPU and 1 stick of RAM installed when you did your testing? If you did and still no joy, do you have another CPU you can try?
When you removed all of your cables did you also remove the mouse and keyboard and other external devices?

[noth]

Hi there,

sorry to see that your having problems and, like you, my best guess would be CPU and/or motherboard but without having the parts for testing, pinpointing the exact cause is nigh on impossible.

Did you try powering up with just the CPU and 1 stick of RAM installed when you did your testing? If you did and still no joy, do you have another CPU you can try?
When you removed all of your cables did you also remove the mouse and keyboard and other external devices?

Hi there mate. Thanks for the answer.

Yes, I did try both with one and no memory sticks, also moving the stick(s) around in the DIMM slots. It should have beeped in error when no sticks were on, but it didn't. I have also tried with all but keyboard/mouse/vga disconnected; still no go. I also tested the speaker/beeper on its own, hooked up to an external power source, and it works just fine. I guess the mobo is off to the bin...

[absic]

That's a shame but 7/8 years of use is pretty good for a mobo. It is frustrating when they pass away though, as it often means more expense as you find you have to upgrade CPU, RAM and other parts as well.

[noth]

I am afraid that's true. I guess I am spoiled by my other boxen (circa 20 years old Alpha 164SX and Sun IPX)...  They don't make them like they used to...