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[Mr Skrunts]

I built a mate a computer a few years ago, it's always run like a dream, 3.0Ghz Duel core, 2 GB DDR2 etc, but just onboard graphics as he only surfs the net, does online banking and shopping and a bit of time playing game on Facebook.

Couple of years ago it started to cut out, so quick strip a clean, CPU cooler stripped and de-dusted, new paste applied and all put back to gether and reformatted and installed windows.

Not heard much from him regards the computer till last week, seems it had been getting hot and cutting out, but after the conversation we had regards the dust clogging the CPU Cooler last time I thought he would have understood it was cutting out for a reason, (obviously not - He had a 2GB graphics card installed instead as a game on Facebook was loading properly)

Anyways, nips up, as expected, cooler was chokka with dust, was about to strip it off and clean but decided to boot it first and nip into the bios and check the temp.  Pushed the button and nothing, changed the power lead, nowt.  Took it home and tried 2 power supplies with the Motherboard in place and stripped out of the case, still no joy.

Motherboard knackered?

No sign of life to the PSU or Cooling fan once the board is swiched?

My guess is the CPU is cooked, but would that stop the rest of the motherboard powering up?

Have never had a CPU overheat on me, or even a motherboard die.  Checked all wiring, dirent PSU's and power leads.  Rest the CMOS a few times, tried the board with just 4 and 24pin connectors.

Are there tests, or tell tale signs when a board is stuffed, not really wanting to use and working bits to test with in case they get stuffed as well.

Any thoughts? 

[cem_devecioglu]

did you tried re-installing the CPU and did you checked all sockets properly connected (if not re-connect them) ?
 
ps: a simple test is swapping mobo to another psu and swapping the psu to another mobo..
 
and swapping the monitors also
 
pps: and re-install graphics card and other card(s) 

[dbug]

Does it boot at all - you mentioned getting into bios (cmos?) - if you can get into bios then psu working and mobo/cpu working.
If its not booting at all (nothing on screen) first check is to try a known working psu (must have same connectors as original or likely mobo will not boot)
If still no boot try another cpu (a working mobo will not boot with a duff cpu)
If still no boot suspect mobo.

Any beep codes when switching on?
All connectors still on mobo pins?

[jimbobmccoy]

Did you mean you have tried an alternative PSU?

are there any indicator lights on the PSU to show it has power, if so are these on or off.

What is the max output of the PSU and what does the new graphics card draw?

are there any issues with the wiring to the power switch, i have had machines that appear to have a PSU failure when it is actually the wiring to the power button at fault.

i would expect most PC's to cut out before the CPU had a chance to cook, and if it hadnt cooled sufficiently not turn back on, or boot to bios and then cut out again.

[cem_devecioglu]

today I forgot to say,  all intel cpu's have thermal shutdown.. at least thats the info I have

[TheBoy]

Could be CPU or mobo. Or even ram. Or PSU, if my assumption below is correct.

As its "a few years old", and 3Ghz dual core, I'm guessing its a P4. In which case, TBH, its not really worth messing with, as you could end up finding replcement parts expensive, and still have an underpowered PC that will stress all parts, based on power requirements and heat.

A cheap £300 Dell Core i3 based system will massively outperform it, and if Sandy Bridge or Ivy Bridge (virtually all Core iX will be one of these generations now, except in laptops) will have better-than-expected integrated graphics.

[Mr Skrunts]

Tried another PSU straight away, then a brand new 650watt PSU, with all correct plugs.

No sign of live from mother board at at, no beeps, nothing to video, and no activity, not even a flicker to the CPU cooler fan.

Not done anything with it, need to find a CPU to test  it with.  (Cant you tell I am in a rush to fix it, mind you I went back and lent him a laptop (hopeing he wants to buy it  )

[cem_devecioglu]

seems like cpu is the candidate.. did you try to re-install it ?
 
and as said memory modules can play also..

[Allenm]

Tried another PSU straight away, then a brand new 650watt PSU, with all correct plugs.

No sign of live from mother board at at, no beeps, nothing to video, and no activity, not even a flicker to the CPU cooler fan.

Not done anything with it, need to find a CPU to test  it with.  (Cant you tell I am in a rush to fix it, mind you I went back and lent him a laptop (hopeing he wants to buy it  )

Might be a red herring, but some of the older Motherboards used to have a fuse on them.... not looked lately.