Can this just be bad luck, or what?

[Shiboopi]

So I built a computer about a year ago consisting of:

i5 750 CPU

Gigabyte P55A-UD3 MOBO

GeForce GTX470 1.2Gb GPU

4 GB Razor Skill DDR3 RAM

With the normal peripherals. The Gigabyte mobo was sent back and replaced and the new one works fine now, but this was about a year ago.

Here's the problem: My buddy mirrored my build and is having all sorts of problems. His Gigabyte mobo was also sent back, but not replaced, they said it was his fault. We took great care in building his comp, as we did mine taking all precautions. His CPU was also messed up, intel replaced it. He gets an ASUS motherboard, things seem to look OK upon testing outside the case, we wire it all up, and it doesn't work. Sends ASUS mobo back, they say it's been damage during shipping, he has to buy a new one. Possibly the CPU is messed up also, we can only assume.

What in the world can cause this many problems? Is it just bad luck or where should we start the troubleshooting? I've tested his GPU in my comp, and his RAM, they work fine, no problems. Could his PSU be frying his mobo and/or CPU? I find it unlikely it would do that, but I could be wrong.

Please help diagnose, thanks.

 

[FragTek]

Are you taking proper anti-static precautions when building your computer?

You're not building it on the carpet, or bed, or anywhere that builds static easily?

Are you discharging your bodies built up static by touching the case or a piece of metal before handling the parts, or better yet using a wrist grounding strap while building to be extra certain you aren't burning out the parts?

 

[Shiboopi]

Are you taking proper anti-static precautions when building your computer?

You're not building it on the carpet, or bed, or anywhere that builds static easily?

Are you discharging your bodies built up static by touching the case or a piece of metal before handling the parts, or better yet using a wrist grounding strap while building to be extra certain you aren't burning out the parts?

No wrist guard, but every other precaution is being taken. Discharging; definitely not on carpet, not even our feet; He has even taken it to a shop before to be put together to make sure it's even more safely put together.

Does this mean it's a human issue, not mechanical?

 

[FragTek]

Well computer parts are finnicky and sometimes you just get a bad run of parts and it's just dumb luck when that happens which could be your case.

Just trying to rule out human error here though.

Have you made sure that the motherboard isn't grounding out on the case when it's being mounted, sometimes the metal case standoffs can be touching traces or something that they shouldn't be. That's a telltale sign when everything works outside of the case but doesn't when it's in the case.

 

[Shiboopi]

Well computer parts are finnicky and sometimes you just get a bad run of parts and it's just dumb luck when that happens which could be your case.

Just trying to rule out human error here though.

Have you made sure that the motherboard isn't grounding out on the case when it's being mounted, sometimes the metal case standoffs can be touching traces or something that they shouldn't be. That's a telltale sign when everything works outside of the case but doesn't when it's in the case.

Yeah we pretty much triple checked everything after the first time we returned everything. It's getting frustrating, lol. a 1,500 dollar computer turning into a 2,000 dollar one all because of bad luck at this point.

A couple specific questions:

1) Could the PSU be causing these problems?

2) Could the CPU fry the mobo, or vice-versa?

 

[FragTek]

Yes, the PSU could be causing the problems. You can check each individual rail on the PSU with a DMM to verify that each rail is only putting out it's specified voltage. If any of the voltages are abnormally high you definitely found your problem.

The mobo could fry your CPU, yes. Vice versa I have not heard of that happening before.

 

[Shiboopi]

Yes, the PSU could be causing the problems. You can check each individual rail on the PSU with a DMM to verify that each rail is only putting out it's specified voltage. If any of the voltages are abnormally high you definitely found your problem.

The mobo could fry your CPU, yes. Vice versa I have not heard of that happening before.

Alright, gotta find someone with a multi-meter. Maybe we could take it back to the shop and have them do it. I know they have one.

 

[FragTek]

Yup a shop could definitely do it (if they can't I'd stay far far away from that shop, lol). I believe they even make PSU testers now that you just plug in and it has an LED that lights up to tell you if any of the rails are out of spec either high or low.

 

[Shiboopi]

Yup a shop could definitely do it (if they can't I'd stay far far away from that shop, lol). I believe they even make PSU testers now that you just plug in and it has an LED that lights up to tell you if any of the rails are out of spec either high or low.

Ah ok.

I guess if the PSU is faulty it would explain the mobo and CPU frying problems. That would mean that the CPU is probably out too, and that would mean my buddy would end up paying another 400-500 dollars just to get a new mobo, PSU, and CPU. Man, that sucks.

 

[tinytomlogan]

does sound like a busted PSU to me tbh

 

[Shiboopi]

does sound like a busted PSU to me tbh

So just 1 rail could be causing problems? Sending too much power to a certain area on the mobo and frying both CPU and mobo?

 

[tinytomlogan]

So just 1 rail could be causing problems? Sending too much power to a certain area on the mobo and frying both CPU and mobo?

A faulty psu can kill everything it touches

 

[Shiboopi]

A faulty psu can kill everything it touches

OK. The Graphics card doesn't have any problems, so I was just curious if it could be a central problem rather than general.

 

[FragTek]

I would get the PSU checked out for sure.

 

[Shiboopi]

I would get the PSU checked out for sure.

Thanks guys, I appreciate the diagnostics!