EX58-UD5 - No POST screen and error 88 on LED readout

[will_m]

Hey guys, just to update this (apologies for the wait, I was moving house). I RMA'd the board but it came back as no fault found, however when it did come back it was no longer displaying the 88 error code. I've run it o.k now for about a week but the 88 code has just happened again and now it wont POST at all after about 15 attempts, even after disconnecting everything. It first gave the error code when I accidentally pushed the power button and it went into shutdown, then it wouldn't POST when I tried turning it back on. This is driving me crazy now as I feel that whatever I return will just come back as o.k seeing as the problem is intermittent. Is there anyone else out there that has had this problem and found a solution?

I've made a video of the problem that hopefully shows what is happening:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ExgqrhL7PYQ

[Dark Mantis]

Well as Lsdmeasap has already stated 88 is dead CPU, but can also be dead/incompatible PSU or dead motherboard. So let's assume your motherboard is ok as it has been tested so that leaves PSU or CPU. The easiest way would be to swap one of them out but it has to be for a decent unit. I would advise the PSU personally because I have always had my doubts about the one you are running. If you do decide to change it make sure you get one of at least 700W plus and with a 12V single rail of good quality.

[will_m]

Unfortunately I don't have access to another PSU or the funds to buy one at the moment. The PSU I have now is the earlier revision of this one:

http://www.be-quiet.net/be-quiet.net/index.php?StoryID=17&ProductID=201&websiteLang=en

I was under the impression that this was a decent enough PSU for my system? Does the fact that the problem is intermittent make it more a PSU problem? I'm trying to figure out why it POSTS fine for most of the time.  

Would this PSU tester be a good way of letting me know if its a PSU issue?

http://www.scan.co.uk/products/xclio-psu-and-port-tester-with-led-a-must-for-all-resellers-and-technical-people

[Dark Mantis]

Unfortunately I don't have access to another PSU or the funds to buy one at the moment. The PSU I have now is the earlier revision of this one:

http://www.be-quiet.net/be-quiet.net/index.php?StoryID=17&ProductID=201&websiteLang=en

How long have you had the PSU?

Would this PSU tester be a good way of letting me know if its a PSU issue?

http://www.scan.co.uk/products/xclio-psu-and-port-tester-with-led-a-must-for-all-resellers-and-technical-people

No I don't really think it would help as it will only tell you if the PSU is giving the right output at the particular time you test  it. So unless it's totally dead (and there are easy cheaper tests for that) then it's not going to help.

[will_m]

I've had it for about 14 months.

[Dark Mantis]

Not too long then it won't have degraded that much over that period. It's probably still around 600W or so output.

[will_m]

Does that rule out the PSU then?

[Dark Mantis]

No it doesn't rule out the PSU but just makes it less likely as the culprit. If it had been older I would have thought it much more likely to be that.

[will_m]

Ok, not sure if this is important but when it does produce the error code the restart button doesn't work at all I have to hold down the power button to turn it off and then on again. Also it just booted fine then failed again straight after. I then reseated I updated the BIOS (F11), then it failed again twice so I've left it off. I also tried reseating the cpu and checking for bent pins, they look ok to me but I'm not sure what I'm looking for, they definitely don't look like these:

http://www.overclock.net/attachments/intel-motherboards/120070d1250525395-bent-pins-pins1.jpg 

It did POST after reseating the cpu but only once, then it failed again.

[Dark Mantis]

I would say that the chances are then that it is a CPU problem. I can't be 100% sure in this instance but it would seem to be likely. You will have to RMA it.

[will_m]

Here's some pics of the cpu pins and the cpu:

http://img812.imageshack.us/img812/6397/0311100096.jpg

http://img443.imageshack.us/img443/9743/0311100101.jpg

[Dark Mantis]

Right that was much more useful. It's a shame that you used flash on the socket one as it is ver bright in places and dark in others so I couldn't check the pins properly. Can you take another using macro but with good lighting and without the flash please. I found the CPU picture of most use though and there are at least 7 lands with no marks on so that would  support the theory that the socket pins are bent or not high enough.

[will_m]

http://img829.imageshack.us/gal.php?g=0311100100.jpg

There's some better pictures in there, it's so overcast today I just cant get enough light though. I've looked over the pins as much as I can and they look pretty uniform to me but I'll try and get a magnifying glass and give them a more thorough look.

I'm not sure what you mean about the lands? Are they the dots on the bottom and are they meant to all have a mark from the pins in them? I can see in the picture that a few of the dots on the right have only very faint marks.

[Dark Mantis]

I'm not sure what you mean about the lands? Are they the dots on the bottom and are they meant to all have a mark from the pins in them? I can see in the picture that a few of the dots on the right have only very faint marks.

Yes the lands are the little copper pads on the bottom of the CPU. Ideally each one should have a mark in the centre.

I have looked at your photos but they are mainly taken from an angle which means that whilst some of the socket is in focus there are other parts that are not. The best thing is to have a desktop light giving good lighting without actually reflecting off the socket and try and take some photos directly above the socket. There are several pins that are suspect but without a good picture it is impossible to be sure.

[will_m]

Ah o.k thanks, what about the CPU socket? Any of the new pics showing anything not right?