My Duron died a strange death

[pcgirl]

So I was building a system for a friend of mine using an ECS K7S5A and an XP 1600. I tried for hours to get the thing to post. The fans would spin up but I didn't get any video or beeps. I suspected the CPU or mobo, so I brought my Duron 1.2 ghz from home over and tried it in the ECS mobo. When I turned it on, I got a beep, and then the system went dead. I tried to turn it back on, and nothing. No lights, no fans, nothing.

I told my friend to pack up that ECS K7S5A and send it back to Newegg. I went home, put the Duron back in my system, hit the power button, and nothing. No lights, no fans, no life.

I took it back out and looked at it carefully and I didn't notice any cracks or scratches on the core, and no bent pins, but I did notice some brown spots around some of the bridges.....

I'm going after work to get another Duron. Is it possible that the ECS board fried my CPU? It worked flawlessly before then.

[xMephistoNx]

Well, even though ECS is the worst MB manufacturer on the planet, i find it hard to believe that it fried a chip. But anything is possible, it must have had some serious defects and gave the chip way to much voltage or something.

You should have you friend send back your chip to newegg as well, outlining the problem.

If they sold you a MB that is frying chips, surely they should be held accountable.

Just for the record though, my mom has a ECS mb in her system (its a pure internet system) and there has been no problems.

[packratbob]

i think dfi are even worst i mean there kt133 boards it kill 3 durons on two different board. that was the last time i strayed away from epox lol

[Yodums]

It is possible that a mobo can kill chips. Did you make sure the heatsink was on tight? Those brown spots on the corner maybe burn spots. Next time, put on the heatsink take it off and see if it's making contact, that's very important. What heatsink is it using? Make sure nothing is making it rise!

Also did you try clearing the CMOS just to be sure?

[pcgirl]

I was using a Thermaltake Volcano II on the Duron. Not the best HSF, but it's been keeping that CPU between 38 and 40 degrees celsius at idle and 44-45 degrees celsius at load, and I made sure it was on tight (those things go on reallllly tight and are hard to take off!), so I doubt heat was a problem.

I did clear the CMOS when I brought it back home and put it in my system, but to no avail. :(