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I just replaced a P4 2.4Ghz 533mhz bus CPU with a 3.06Ghz CPU, both Socket 478. After installation, the computer only has a blank screen on startup. What could be the problem, and what do I need to do to solve it?

Did you remember to plug the heatsink fan back in?

Does it beep at all? (Make sure the internal speaker is plugged in for that.)

The heatsink was reinstalled properly from what I can see, the only beeps that I heard was when the computer was turned on. Mobo is an Intel 850e for reference.

Perhaps you need a BIOS update? You could try popping the old CPU back in and flashing your BIOS to the latest version. I've heard of motherboards not POSTing when upgraded to a CPU not supported by the current BIOS.

montypython wrote:The heatsink was reinstalled properly from what I can see, the only beeps that I heard was when the computer was turned on. Mobo is an Intel 850e for reference.

The beeping that it makes when you turn it on - is it a single beep or is it a series of beeps? If the latter, it's trying to tell you something - either look up the POST code in your motherboard's manual, or find out what BIOS your motherboard uses and look up what POST codes that BIOS uses on the internet.

There's only one beep, I think it may be a BIOS issue. The mobo is a Intel manufactured board, so I don't know where to get a BIOS update.

One short beep almost always means the BIOS thinks everything is alright. You might well need an update.

The Intel website would probably be a good place to start looking.

Intel's website has BIOS updates for all of their boards.

Added: Bah... beaten to the punch by U235.

Added pt.2: If it is a D850e board, according to Intel's compatible CPU chart, your upgrade simply won't work as a 2.8 is the highest one listed.

Unless you can get a refund on the CPU, you'll have to buy a new S478 board and PC3200 RAM, as your Rambus won't work on a newer board.

The designation inscribed on the motherboard is Intel D850EMV2, which according to the compatibility list can use the 3.06 cpu, so I think the problem is BIOS related. I will flash the BIOS first and go from there. Thanks for the help.

montypython wrote:The designation inscribed on the motherboard is Intel D850EMV2, which according to the compatibility list can use the 3.06 cpu, so I think the problem is BIOS related. I will flash the BIOS first and go from there. Thanks for the help.

Check the revision number on the board as well, because your model specific chart says only C18361-601 or later and C18369-601 or later revisions support that CPU.

The chart I looked at for another 850 board only went up to 2.8.
Count yourself lucky if it works.

After the BIOS was updated, the CPU worked, but then something burnt out in the computer. I think it may be either the mobo or the power supply, so I had it taken to the shop for inspection. This will probably take a while to sort out...

montypython wrote:After the BIOS was updated, the CPU worked, but then something burnt out in the computer. I think it may be either the mobo or the power supply, so I had it taken to the shop for inspection. This will probably take a while to sort out...

Good luck. And you should pray it's JUST the mobo or JUST the power supply. When I worked at a computer repair shop, we had a couple of cases where people brought their machines in "to fix a burned out power supply" where itturned out that the power supply had taken everything but the CD and floppy drives with it. Mobo, memory modules, processor, hard drive, fuck, even the cooler fan for the processor was a write-off. You'd better hope this isn't one of those times.

Edi

According to the shop, the mobo and power supply are toast, so those need to be replaced. Memory needs to be replaced also because the new mobo doesn't use RDRAM. What a pain...