This question is not strictly Linux related, but I was hoping that there was someone here who could throw me a hint to help out my hardware problem.

I just recently built my first computer, I really enjoyed it, ran into a few snags, both things I didn't know and stupid mistakes on my part. However, last week the computer finally booted up. I installed Fedora Core 1, Windows XP, and was planning on installing Slackware shortly but I ran into another problem. (see below for system specs)

Just the other day I wasn't doing anything demanding, only surtfing the internet with xmms and a few other applications running when my computer just suddenly turned off. I actually wasn't that alarmed at first. I figured that it was possible that it could have over heated, and I knew my motherboard had a over-heating security feature and it would shut off it got too hot. I waited about a half hour, and tried to turn it on again, and it sounded like it was going to start back up, it gave the familiar "booting" sound, the fans started to spin, but after a short second, it just powered back down again. This went on and on, I would unplug the power supply, so that it would drain, plug it back in, and same thing.

I tried different RAM (PC2100 512MB), tried taking out the memory alltogether, unplugged every IDE device that was attached, took out the video card, every scenario I tried led to the same problem, it would start to boot, spin the fans, then shut off.

I took off the heat sink to examine the processor when i noticed that the thermal grease which came on the bottom of the heat sink had "spread" to the sides where the main part of the processor touches the heat sink causing the processor to touch the heat sink directly. I didn't use a shim between the processor and the heat sink, which I'm wondering could have been a mistake. I was told it was a good idea to use one, but not necessary, althought I'm wondering if I should have. My processor wasn't overclocked or anything, its an Athlon XP 2600+, and that's what I set it as in the BIOS. It appears that the processor "melted" the thermal grease away, and was touching the heat sink direclty. I figured this was probably bad so I added more thermal grease in its place (a very little amount), put it back together, but I still get the same thing.

Now I'm wondering if I killed my brand new processor. Any suggestions would be great, and thanks for helping me out, even though this is not a strictly Linux related problem. If you know of a better site that I should post this on instead, I'm willing to take your advice. Thanks again, and below are my system specs.

Motherboard: KD7A Abit (running @ 333Mhz)
CPU: Athlon XP 2600+
RAM: PC2700 (@ 333Mhz) (Samsung)
Power Supply: RAIDMAX ATX 250W
IDE Devices: DVD ROM, CDRW, and 2 Hard Drives
OS: Fedora Core 1, Windows XP Pro

Sorry about this post not being Linux "related'" but I didn't know where else to go....

I have this problem - though not as bad as you.
I left the thing unplugged for an hour or so in a cool environment with the cover off and that seemed to fix it. It sometimes works if I switch the monitor off for the initial bootstrap. I've put it down to the PSU being pick about overload currents when it's hot. However, I really don't have a clue.

Now the weather is cooler (there was a tropical cyclone on our doorstep for a few weeks there) I've had no trouble.

Simon

If you purchased your AMD 2700 chip new with the heatsink then it should have come with a stick on thermal pad to place on the heatsink so you wouldn't have to mess with the liquid goo. At least this is how mine came. The best thing to do would be to take the processor and heatsink out of the board and clean all the thermal junk off the heatsink (you need to get it all off) and then either re-apply some more thermal compound goo or buy a thermal pad that you can just stick on. If you are using the stock heatsink then the thermal pad will do just fine.

You also might want to check a couple other things:

1) make sure there is no metal touching your motherboard, take out the spacers and re-install it to make sure. This can cause a short where your motherboard will do strange things.

2) If you have temperature sensors that trigger these alarms or software that sets the levels then make sure they aren't set too low.

3) Make sure your powersupply is big enough (voltage wise) to handle everything you've hooked up.

rberry88

I'd try swapping out the power supply first.

Thermal grease is really only used to fill in small pockets of air between the heatsink and CPU. Some compounds even use actual silver (which conducts electricity quite well), so don't worry about them touching. If some of it oozed onto the bridges on the top of your CPU however, could cause a short.

Shims are used to avoid excessive pressure being applied to the core by the retention clips and to prevent rocking which could create a pocket of air. Again, not usually a problem, but depends on how tightly your heatsink is being held on there. Shims need to be non-conductive because they often cover those bridges I mentioned previously.

1.the thermal grease should been an extremely thin coat two much creates the reverse effect put a dab very minuscule amount then spread it around with your fingerer 22 use a clear fingernail remover or clear rubbing alcohol to remove the excess grease as far as i briefly read you made no mention of your power supple and how new it was nor how big it was if it is stock meaning it came with the case or computer and it is under 300 watts and you have several devices more than 1 of everything ide devices this can cause a strain on the power supply look for power supplies that are rated for intel and amd also make sure that your computer is well vented even stock fans may not be enough go and buy ones from a shop that you know what the air flow is also if the case is very small it wouldn't hurt to buy rounded cables don't buy to cheap of ones i have heard that the can separate also get some automotive cable housing from radio shack and place all of the wiring in the housing as best you can this will increase air flow think of your computers power supple like a car engine the smaller the engine the less performance did you ever see the Lucy ball movie where she kept placing rocks inside of the trailer and at some point the car just could move well the more things you add to a power supple if it has no head room the greater the risk of failure if you bought the cpu from a shop ask them to check the cpu and if that works the test your mother board there is a saying usually the simplest explanation is the correct one for computer start with the essayist to replace power supple the parts then the mother board all which are usually cheaper