GA-EP45-DS4 - Reboot loop

[Noy]

Hello, I just switched cases. I'm using the same components as before the switch.
E8400
4GB DDR2 RAM (2 sticks)
HD6850
Corsair 750TX Power Supply
1 DVD drive
1 Hard drive
1 Fan Controller
It was perfect prior moving case. I've reseated my graphics card and CPU cooler (also reapplied the thermal paste). On pushing the power button the 6 phase LEDs are lit. The computer then cuts out with a red LED labeled S457. It then reboots (about 5 seconds after pressing power button). It repeats this process over n over until either the power button is held or the power supply is switched off. I can't get into the BIOS or anything. I've also tried clearing the CMOS via 3 methods (removing battery, pressing clear CMOS button and shorting the 2 pins.) Also all fans are spinning (CPU fan is slightly delayed compared to others, I think that's normal though). I've also tried 1 memory stick at a time in different slots. Any idea what I can do to fix it? Or will I have to get a new motherboard?

EDIT: It's actually labeled S4/5.

[Dark Mantis]

Hi

Did you observe the static electricity precautions when rebuilding the system?

If so I expect that it is something silly like a short to the case or a power plug that hasn't been inserted so check everything like that.

[Noy]

Thanks for the reply. It was something silly...somehow the cpu cooler push pins were broken during the transfer. I missed this when reseating the cooler  . Stuck the stock Intel cooler and all is fine (but whiny due to the state of the stock cooler). I'd rather the computer whine than myself though.

[Dark Mantis]

Well that's not so bad after all. At least you know what the problem is and can easilly fix it. 

[Noy]

Ok, having a weird issue. Anytime I shut the PC off, it goes back into the reboot loop mode. I've figured a way of fixing it though. The simple act of releasing and placing the CPU cooler fastener caps 1 at a time fixes the problem. On the next boot, I get a message about recovering from a corrupted BIOS. So just now I've tried changing the bBIOS from f10b to f9. The BIOS update was fine. I restarted the PC after the update and bam same issue. Any idea what I should do?

[Dark Mantis]

After removing the CPU copoler last time did you clean off the thermal paster and then re-apply new paste to the heatsink before re-fitting it?

[Noy]

No but when I'm able to get into Windows the temperature isn't bad. Mid 40s degrees Celsius (Idle) and high 60s/low 70s (Load) and that's with the fan running at ~40%. I'm want to get a new cooler but don't want to spend the money if this won't be resolved.

[Dark Mantis]

Buy yourself a small tube or Arctic Silver 5 or similar thermal paste and clean the old stuff off the heatsink and apply an small (about 3 or 4 mm long) blob in the centre of the CPU before refitting the cooler.

[Noy]

I've got some around, so I'll try that after work. Is that likely to solve it? Or is this a rule out measure? Thanks for the quiiiiiick reply

[Dark Mantis]

It could well solve the problem as long as the heatsink is located firmly as well. It could just be a case of the CPU hitting thermal shutdown temperature almost as soon as it is switched on.

Make sure that al the old paste is cleaned off first. If necessary use some Isopropyl Alcohol.

[Noy]

OK, I put on some Arctic MX-2 (a small spot in the middle). When the heatsink is pushed on it spreads to almost the edge of the CPU but not completely covering it. The issue is still present, in fact I haven't been able to turn it on again. I have ordered a new cooler but I don't know if it will fix it or not.

[Dark Mantis]

In that case I would check the CPU socket and make sure that you have no bent pins. Take some macro photos (close ups) with good lighting and post them here for us to check out.

Also look at the lands (pads) on the processor and see if every one of them has a mark in the centre showing where the pin makes contact. You can photograph that and post the pic here also.

[Noy]

http://img375.imageshack.us/img375/1999/cpulk.jpg (Not the best pic, I'll try getting a different camera/fixing the settings of my current one) I edited the pic above to show the area where it's actually grey/has a gel area above the pins. I'll confirm which it is the next time I have to take the CPU cooler off. http://img34.imageshack.us/img34/1200/cpuedit.jpg
http://img844.imageshack.us/img844/8108/mobos.jpg

After taking those pics, I was able to get the computer back on.

[Dark Mantis]

It might have just been dirty connectioons between the pins and the CPU but if you need to remove it and take better pictures (I am afraid they weren't good enough) I will check them again as I was unsure about a couple of them.

[Noy]

Update- For the first time since switching cases I've been able to shutdown the computer and start it without the reboot loop occurring. I'm not sure I'll need to take the pictures now (touch wood). Any recommendation on a camera, just in case? Don't necessarily mean a model, just price wise/feature. Something in the £50-100 bracket should suffice no? I'm currently using a Vivatar 8MP Digital Camera that I received as a gift. It's got a macro mode but I won't be able to produce anything better than what I got with the shot of the mobo.