Heatsinks, Fans spool up, no POST beep, monitor doesnt pick up signal

[The Soup Nazi]

I opened up my case, and the only thing I did was remove the CPU heatsink and reapply a new coat of thermal paste. I then try to start my computer, and the monitor doesn't display anything. I believe it may not be just a display issue as my mouse doesn't light up like it usually does even after I wait the amount it would take for the Windows 7 login screen to display. All fans and heatsinks work, and the CD/DVD drive does open, but will automatically close. I've tried moving my RAM around and clearing the CMOS, no dice.

Any ideas? If I can't figure it out I'm going to have to end up going to Fry's tomorrow and see if they can diagnose the issue.

CPU: AMD Phenom II 3.4 Ghz Black Edition
GPU: XFX Radeon HD 6950
RAM: 8 GB Corsair Vengeance (two sticks)
PSU: Coolmaster GX 750W

[2DoorImpala]

Maybe you put too much paste? Has to be a very thin layer. And before you opened it up did you use some kind of anti static protector?

[The Soup Nazi]

Maybe you put too much paste? Has to be a very thin layer. And before you opened it up did you use some kind of anti static protector?

I always touch the inside of my case to ground myself when working on the insides. It may be that I did apply too much paste, is that something that may interfere with the CPU? If so, did I cause permanent damage or can I simply just remove the heatsink and clean up the surface a little bit and have things return to normal?

[Merc1138]

Maybe you put too much paste? Has to be a very thin layer. And before you opened it up did you use some kind of anti static protector?

Even with a boatload of thermal paste(unless it was conductive and oozed out past the CPU onto the board and shorted something) wouldn't prevent the system from booting(but it would shutdown real quick due to thermal issues, even then you'd at least get a POST beep code and/or video momentarily in the absolute worst overheating scenario).

When you re-applied the thermal-paste, I'm guessing you didn't re-seat the CPU? If so, good. Take the heatsink off and check to see if it's smeared everywhere and shorting something like I mentioned. Ideally when applying thermal paste(there's a half dozen specific methods, it's almost like barrel break in procedur.. tales), you never want to use more than the equivalent of a small grain of rice to as large as a small pea.

Even though you said you re-seated the RAM after the system didn't POST, you didn't mention re-seating the videocard and motherboard(videocard as well if this applies to you) power connectors. The videocard may have shifted while you were moving the case around if it wasn't secured very well, and I've seen instances where a motherboard power connector wasn't fully inserted so it worked up until it got bumped and came loose. I don't just mean the 20/24 pin ATX power connector, the auxiliary one as well.

Worst case scenario, you still had an ESD even after touching the case. By the way, I hope you realize that the power supply need to be installed into the case AND plugged into the wall to be able to use the case as a ground to discharge any static electricity you might have had built up.

[2DoorImpala]

artic silver = conductive

[Merc1138]

artic silver = conductive

Actually, none of the current arctic silver products are conductive. AS5 is capacitive(which is still a problem), ceramique is an electrical insulator, matrix, and alumina are also electrical insulators.

[The Soup Nazi]

Well I did use about the size of a grain of rice of arctic silver, and I left the CPU seated so I want to rule that out as being the issue. Tried reseating the 20+4 and video card connectors. Still no dice.

I'm starting to think it may be either a Mobo or CPU issue (Ruling out PSU because the 8 phase motherboard lights, CPU heatsink, GPU heatsink and CD/DVD drive still run) Peculiarity: I had my external HD hooked up via USB, and it did light up when I turned on the computer.

[Merc1138]

Well I did use about the size of a grain of rice of arctic silver, and I left the CPU seated so I want to rule that out as being the issue. Tried reseating the 20+4 and video card connectors. Still no dice.

I'm starting to think it may be either a Mobo or CPU issue (Ruling out PSU because the motherboard, CPU heatsink, GPU heatsink and CD/DVD drive still run)

What about the other motherboard power connector? 20+4 usually refers to just the main ATX connector, not the auxiliary. Also, was the power supply still plugged in when you touched the case to ground yourself?

[erik_26]

You might have a dead leg in your power supply. I had that happen to me. Find out what power supply you have and google how to test it.

[The Soup Nazi]

What about the other motherboard power connector? 20+4 usually refers to just the main ATX connector, not the auxiliary. Also, was the power supply still plugged in when you touched the case to ground yourself?

Tried reseating the auxiliary as well. I did properly ground myself with the PSU plugged in.

[Merc1138]

Tried reseating the auxiliary as well. I did properly ground myself with the PSU plugged in.

Hmm. It is possible that the PSU failed(could have been one of the many outputs besides +5v and +12v that are commonly used by fans and hard drives) regarding the +3v line or something like erik_26 mentioned. If you have access to a multimeter it's not hard to test, although a PSU tester is a lot quicker.

[The Soup Nazi]

Hmm. It is possible that the PSU failed(could have been one of the many outputs besides +5v and +12v that are commonly used by fans and hard drives) regarding the +3v line or something like erik_26 mentioned. If you have access to a multimeter it's not hard to test, although a PSU tester is a lot quicker.

Might be this, unfortunately I don't have access to a multimeter or PSU tester outside of work. However, I have had issues of the computer cutting out (Motherboard and fans are still on, but all USB peripherals and the monitor lose signal) while playing certain performance intensive games. (Shogun 2, Witcher 2, single player Bad Company 2)

[Merc1138]

Might be this, unfortunately I don't have access to a multimeter or PSU tester outside of work. However, I have had issues of the computer cutting out (Motherboard and fans are still on, but all USB peripherals and the monitor lose signal) while playing certain performance intensive games. (Shogun 2, Witcher 2, single player Bad Company 2)

Sounds like the power supply or motherboard then. Either the PSU couldn't handle the draw at load, or the motherboard was crapping out.

[jgraham7897]

Might be this, unfortunately I don't have access to a multimeter or PSU tester outside of work. However, I have had issues of the computer cutting out (Motherboard and fans are still on, but all USB peripherals and the monitor lose signal) while playing certain performance intensive games. (Shogun 2, Witcher 2, single player Bad Company 2)

I started having issues like this a couple years ago. Started with my SD card reader. In the end the motherboard was starting to crap out.

[KaHuNaZ]

My buddy had the same problem recently. I tried everything except reseating the cpu. I took the processor out and inspected it. I put it back in and the system booted. Its been fine since.