Not to disagree with Paul either, because anything could be possible, but
this is the same case and standoff's that were used with the previous mobo
which ran fine for the last year.  I don't know exactly what caused it, but
something shorted out the board.  As far as the thermal compound already on
the processor.  It was brand new in an unopened box. I too worried about
what appeared to be thermal compound already on the heat sink, so I read the
manual which says, "The heat sink/fan provided with your retail AMD
processor has pre-applied thermal interface material." Well, here I go back
to the drawing board to try some of everyone's suggestions. I'll let you all
know how it works out.

Thanks again,
Vanessa H.

-----Original Message-----
From: Personal Computer Hardware discussion List
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Dean Kukral
Sent: Saturday, May 02, 2009 5:22 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [PCBUILD] Newly Rebuilt PC turns off.

"I did not put any thermal compound on the processor because it came with
some already on it."

This does not sound correct, but, of course, I haven't seen everything!  Are
you sure that there wasn't a piece of tape or something to peel off of what
was on what you thought was the thermal compound?  I have never seen actual
thermal compound on a processor - is there any chance that you bought a bad
one that had been returned and resold?  What I have seen is a processor/fan
combo with a square piece of stuff on it, and I think that I had to peel off
the top to expose the sticky, wet thermal compound.  This was on an AMD
processor about three years ago and I don't remember the details.  (Others
would.)

I disagree with Paul's comment about brass standoffs.  There is usually a
bit of exposed conductor around the hole that the screw and standoff touches
with no problem.  I always assumed that it grounded the motherboard to the
case, but that doesn't have to be so.  

Dean Kukral




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