Help guys, my flight sim system is dead and needs reviving.ABit KT7A mo/boAMD Athlon XP1800Everything was running fine earlier today, no problems and have not had problems since building this rig about 1 year ago.Today I fitted a new Volcano 9 HSF to keep things cool but with reduced noise from my original GlobalWin FOP38.Fitted the HSF without a problem, installed MBM to log temps and ran the system for over 2 hours, including a 1.5 hour flight, without any problems, max temp 54C which is lower than with the FOP38.Switched off system.Came to restart it a few hours later and all I get is 5 beeps and then auto shut-down, doesn't even go through POST :'( The symptoms suggest a fried CPU but I cannot see that considering it ran without any problems for over 2 hours and the inability to boot comes hours after being shut down.I have tried reseating RAM, & graphics card without success.I am not a newbie a PCs, have built many ove the years but this has me stumped.Any suggestions appreciated.

Hi Vulcan,Have you removed the HS and examined the CPU? This is the first thing that I would do. As I read your post, I was reminded of something I read on Tom's Hardware today. The statement was with regard to the spring force used to anchor the rather large and heavy Thermaltake HS. I know that my volcano 7 is like a lead brick. Tom's site recommends actually removing the HS if you transport the computer!! My concern is that as your CPU cooled down, the force of the spring fractured the CPU. I hope that I'm wrong about this, but it's all I can think of. Good luck.

David,Many thanks for your reply.I too was concerned that the CPU may have cracked although the spring force on the Volcano 9 feels less than the old FOP38.I waited until this morning (UK time) to have a fresh look.Checked CPU and looked OK so remounted the HSF, reconnected and hey presto a good boot :-jumpy I am now concerned about switching the rig off in case the same thing happens again:D At least your reply give me that extra push to check the CPU.Many thanks.

Vulcan,I am glad you got it going again. I hesitated answering yesterday since I don't have that fan but the AMD OEM fan that came with the CPU.When you changed fans, did you remove the CPU, then reinstall it? If so it might not have been in the socket just right resulting in a minimum connection of one or more pins. You were able to light it off the first time but when it heated and cooled, the pins were not touching.Hopefully, the reinstall this time, it is a good fit in the socket with the fan attached. You might as well shut it off, because sooner or later, you'll have a power outtage and things won't work. You won't know if the power outtage killed something or whether you have a socket problem again.Lastly, make sure the new fan is running at the proper speed. Some MOBOs test the speed and if not within a tolerance, it will not start or will shutdown the system.

Hi Bill,>I am glad you got it going again:) , controlled by a sensor that fits under the CPU or a manual speed control.I wanted to fit the sensor but the connection between the sensor and lead-out wires seemed to long to 'hide' in the centre of the CPU and too fat to lead out between the CPU pins. It is supposed to sit in the central 'clear' part of the underside of the CPU with the lead-out wire going between the pins.So I ended up using manual control. I have installed MBM to check the CPU temp and just set the fan speed to keep the CPU around 50C under stress; I figure a difference of 40C between indicated temp and die max is more than sufficient.Thanks for the input.