Source
r/techsupport•
SC2Snow

I may have just murdered my PC with a ram upgrade

I've been upgrading bits of my computer for years, it's my own build. Today I upgraded the ram from 4 gigs to 16, properly seated and compatible, turned it on and it promptly died. Fans and lights came on, then immediately went off. Now, it is totally dead - no lights at all, no fans, nothing. I've tried putting in old modules and no dice. There's no burning smell and no visible scorching.

I have an online mid-term in 2 days, I'm going to over-night some parts if I can't get it working - probably a psu, mb and CPU, as it's likely either the mobo or psu. Advice? I am quite poor, so if anyone knows a way to figure out what it is or how to fix it, I'd be greatful.

Mobo: asus p7h55d Psu: ocz 600w CPU: i5 760 Gpu: Radeon 6970 Ram: gskill ddr3 1333 2x2gb -> gskill ddr3 1600 4x4gb

Thanks!

Posted May 8, 2014, 12:32 AM UTC · edited

026
bdnicho•

Disconnect all peripherals (video card, hard drives, etc) until you're left with PSU, MB, CPU, and RAM. Then try to power it up. If you still get nothing then it's probably PSU or MB. Also, make sure the power button on the case isn't sticking.

As for your midterm, prepare alternate arrangements to take it now so you don't have to scramble at go time when your computer is still not working.

2
SC2SnowOP•

Will do, any realistic way of telling which if this doesn't work? Or a best guess?

1
bdnicho•

Install a replacement and see what happens. Trial and error will be quickest and the most feasible in this case.

1
SC2SnowOP•

Figured, but I was hopeful... Time to spend some money...

1
Oglshrub•

Binary problem solving!

1
youareahomo•

Well, you may have had a shorted ram stick or you didn't properly seat one. It is most likely your mobo is smoked if it doesn't do shit after taking the ram out and putting old ram in.

1
Marksta•

Reset your BIOS (CMOS) first thing.

1
SC2SnowOP•

Already tried it, but thanks

1
poorixTA•

There is a slim chance that you had around 1,75 volt ram before and inserted new 1.5 Volt ram. that could be bad. But actually:

The symptoms you describe do look like a short circuit that trops the psu failsafe. Your psu might be locked.

First: pull the plug on the psu. Wait 5 minutes. Now look VERY CAREFULLY around the PC and try to find out which power connector got loose and touched the motherboard or something like that. You most likely really have a short circuit in there. Removing everything that is not needed helps. It has been suggested. Look very carefully. Then check for what you lost in the computer. A screw? Maybe? Check all power connectors. Now make sure no new ram is in the system. Put in one OLD ram stick into the last bank. This should take at least 5 minutes so that the psu is completely empty. Now put the mains plug into the psu and hope that it starts again. PSU's lock after a short circuit and they miht only start again after complete disconnect for some time.

Turn on the pc. If it doesn't start, unplug psu, move the ram stick to the next bank and try to start again. Repeat. If there is damage on the board, maybe it's only on a few banks.

1
SC2SnowOP•

Was worth a shot, but no dice. I actually yanked everything and cleaned the case while I waited, so not a total loss!

1
poorixTA•

Ok, thanks for the update. Makes me a little sad, i have nver seen a computer go like that.

1
SC2SnowOP•

Neither have I, I've put together at least 6 computers and am usually the person my friends go to for tech support, but this confounded me

1
poorixTA•

Ah well maybe it's the quarter of the dead hardware, i had stuff die on me this month, too. Freak accidents actually, so you're not alone. That actually sounded funnier in my head.

1
SC2SnowOP•

At this point I'm sure it's (at least) the psu, used the paper clip test and psu is not outputting power - hopefully it didn't fry the mobo too, but if it did I'll have a new one.

1
[deleted]•

[deleted]

-1
SC2SnowOP•

Considering I'm taking 19 credits, there is realistically no time where it would be "safe" to do upgrades. I also generally don't think of ram as a terribly risky upgrade.

5
[deleted]•

Don't stress that dude, he has no right to be judging you on what was a run-of-the-mill install, you clearly know what you're doing. That being said, it does sound like you're sorta boned and you may have to cheap out on a mobo/PSU just to get the job done in the interim.

2
SC2SnowOP•

I ended up ordering both with next-day shipping, but I'm going to borrow a friend's laptop as a plan B. Thanks for all of the help guys!

1
poorixTA•

Be nice...

1
zaphodi•

i try, was sort of mean i guess.

1
poorixTA•

Hi zaphodi...i know you... thank you for trying this time. I really appreciate it. But i was nicer too, wasn't i?

1
zaphodi•

do i know you?

1