After four weeks of trials and tribulations, I still do not have a working version of my new PC. After extensive testing (both by myself and a local hardware shop), it is looking very much like the CPU is the source of the problem. The good news is that the local hardware shop charged on a "no fix, no fee" basis, so I did not pay a penny. The bad news is that I was initially given what appears to have been incorrect information, and ended up shelling out for a new motherboard! However, I experienced exactly the same problems with this motherboard installed as I did with the first one. All of the other components (PSU/GPU/RAM/HDD/DVD etc) have been tested, and seem to be OK. Therefore, the finger of blame is starting to point towards the CPU.

That being the case, it looks like I need a new i7 7700k CPU. The problem here is that a new one costs £350, and I really do not have that kind of money at the moment. The only reason that I have even had the chance to build a new PC is because of the extreme generosity of my friends, but things have not quite gone to plan! So, does anyone here know where I could pick up a good second hand i7 7700k CPU in the UK at a cheap price from a reputable source?

 

Sorry to hear that it's not come out as planned. I know all concerned had the best will in the world that it would be good.

When I purchased the second motherboard, the first thing that entered my mind was......"I hope that this works so that I can give those guys the good news". I cannot thank them enough for their amazing generosity, and I want to get it working for them almost as much as I want it working for myself!!

Good Morning Christopher. Sorry to read that. Can the CPU not be sent back as an RTA?

Failing that, check out CEX. There must be a store in Ulverston, or Barrow. They have a great turnover on IT-related stuff. I have bought several 2nd hand components from them that have served me well. Right now there is a 2nd hand Intel Q6600 CPU serving me well in Dubai.

The CPU was one of the "freebies" from my friends, so I am not able to return it for a replacement.

Edited January 16, 20206 yr by Christopher Low

1 hour ago, Christopher Low said:

The CPU was one of the "freebies" from my friends, so I am not able to return it for a replacement.

Here's a link for you to peruse,if you want, Christopher

https://uk.webuy.com/search?stext=Intel%20i7-7700k

 

Spotted an i9-990k for you at CeX £350

That is not compatible with my motherboard. For the record, I am hoping that some kind soul is prepared to sell a second hand one for around £100....

27 minutes ago, Christopher Low said:

That is not compatible with my motherboard. For the record, I am hoping that some kind soul is prepared to sell a second hand one for around £100....

Good Luck, Christopher.

My best option as a starter would be to find someone who can test another i7 7700k in my PC, so that I can confirm that the CPU is the source of the problem. The last thing that I want to do is throw even more money away!

Edited January 16, 20206 yr by Christopher Low

Could you friendly local "hardware shop" not plug in a CPU to test it?

Perhaps on a no work or break, no pay basis?

There seem to lots on E Bay UK but no one there is likely to let you have one

for £100. There does seem to be this one, £90 and guaranteed not to work.

Edited January 16, 20206 yr by Reader

Yes, I saw that one for £90. It makes me wionder whether I can sell the two defective CPUs that I have (one boots, but the other is dead), but it beats me why anyone would want a defective CPU As for the local hardware guy, he seems to have decided that it is not worth any more of his time to be messing about with my system. He does not have another suitable processor to test on my motherboard. To be fair, he only has a small market stall (rather than a full hardware shop), so maybe I should have gone elsewhere in the first place? I am currently trying to find another store within 50 miles of my location that may have more to offer. Decent computer hardware shops seem to be rather scarce in south Cumbria.....

Christopher, as you are not too far away from Barrow, why don't you pop over to PC World and get them too test your CPU/MoBo  combination? They may charge you a small fee, or offset it against a CPU they may have?

Other than that, cannot think of a far more viable option.

 

 

 

 

Edited January 16, 20206 yr by vc10man

The old PC World in Barrow-in-Furness would have been perfect for this. I had my Core i5 2500k PC tested there nearly six years ago, and they revealed the double motherboard/GPU failure that resulted in me buying the i5 4690k powered PC that I use at the moment. Unfortunately, when Currys took over PC World, they moved to a different location, and the "testing department" vanished. Now it is nothing more than a posh department store that sells computer accessories, with zero access to tech equipment

Edited January 16, 20206 yr by Christopher Low

18 minutes ago, Christopher Low said:

The old PC World in Barrow-in-Furness would have been perfect for this. I had my Core i5 2500k PC tested there nearly six years ago, and they revealed the double motherboard/GPU failure that resulted in me buying the i5 4690k powered PC that I use at the moment. Unfortunately, when Currys took over PC World, they moved to a different location, and the "testing department" vanished. Now it is nothing more than a posh department store that sells computer accessories, with zero access to tech equipment

What a pity, as I know it only too well, but there are other computer shops other than a market stall as in Ulverston, in Barrow, or PC World/Currys in Kendal.