Test to see if my CPU works

[Mammoth]

My PC is broke and it's either the CPU or the motherboard. I know its possible to test a CPU by its pins.

Where can I get my CPU tested to see if it is broken and how much will it cost?

[system7]

CPU failure is extremely rare. Odds on it's something else.

Care to elaborate on model and circumstances and symptoms? :?

[Mammoth]

It is a PC that I bought in parts and my IT manager of my old job put together for me. It has a AMD 64 Athlon X2 6000 processor and a ASUS M2N-SLI Deluxe motherboard.

The night before the problem the PC shut down perfectly fine. But the following afternoon, I pushed the on button, the lights and fans started but after 2 seconds it turned off again. There were no beeps and no output to the monitors. The motherboard still had power since the motherboard light and network ports were on. The on button did not work following that. To recreate the problem I have to remove the power cable and plug it in. When I do this it instantly tries to start up again and failed again, and the on button still doesn't work.

It occurs to me that since the on button worked first time the problem was caused by something that happened when I first tried to turn it on.

To fix the problem I have tried:
-removing as many other components as possible - DVD, Graphics, Hard Drives
-disconnecting the on button - just incase it was stuck pushed in

I also now have a brand new Seasonic M12-600W PSU, to replace the old one that came with the case. This one has sufficient wattage for my system according to the ASUS website and more than my old one. However this hasn't worked.

Thus I am down to the two worst case components. The motherboard and the processor. Since these are £80-£120 each, I would really like to know which is broke before I try and fix it. I was about to inquire about sending my motherboard back to ASUS for testing, but then someone told me that he had recreated my description of my problem by not having his processor inserted correctly. Thus I'm back to wondering if its the processor.

Simply put I need someway of testing the parts cheaper than buying two new parts.

[system7]

Here's Danno's troubleshooting guide:
http://forum.novatech.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=26

Best things to try are removing all but one stick of memory and all drives disconnected, and clearing the CMOS settings with the jumper or taking the battery out for 2 minutes. Just a display and keyboard. Power UNPLUGGED, either way. Reseat any graphic cards and the processor if you can.

If you have a drum shaped motherboard speaker fitted, that can help. You often get it supplied separately with Asus boards, and I cannot find a clear enough picture of that mobo to know if it is there. But for instance, you should get beeps with NO MEMORY at all.

Like I said, it's not likely the processor has failed, and the only surefire test is to run it in another board.

On the plus side, not many power supplies are so badly made as to overvolt a motherboard, but mains surges are unpredictable. Modem cards often fry too.

[Mammoth]

Okay, I've tried all the things that you have suggested:
-Resetting the CMOS did not help.
-When all the RAM is removed it beeps.
-Using indivitual strips does not help the problem (tried both strips).
-I have tried with as few components as possible.
-I have even removed the CPU and reinstalled it, which also did not work.

I am still concluding that either the motherboard or the processor is bust. Where would you start to test which? I do not know anyone that would let me remove their CPU and test my own.

I am currently in talks with ASUS about returning my motherboard to them so that they can test it and replace it if necessary, but it would be much easier to get my CPU tested (especially as I now have experience at removing it).

So:
-What tests would you do next?
-Which component do you think it is most likely to be?

[system7]

Odds on your motherboard has failed. :(

Without spares or a post diagnostic card, you can't investigate furthur.

[kieren]

i have the exact same issue, with the same cpu and motherboard, however when i take all the ram out i still get no beeps.

mine happened when i plugged in an extrernal hardrive into my computer, it immediatly shut down. now it does not post or show any beeps at all.

[djpc]

sounds almost like a virus but that would not stop it from turning on it would try to boot into windows then shutdown

[Jonny2Bad]

I'd start by testing the psu on this 1.