Dead Motherboard - Lightning Storm - Is it the MOBO?

[CedricFP]

Rig Specs:

E6600 ~ 3600MHZ @ 1.4v
Intel 975xBX2 (Bad Axe 2) @ 400 FSB, 1.65vMCH, 1.45 Southbridge.
88GTX
10th Anny D9GMH 1:1 @ 2.0v

There was a lightning storm and my place got struck my lightning - I was even electricuted through an appliance plugged in before the fuse box tripped indicating the severity of the strike.

Some appliances broke, including a fan and apparently my computer.

After the storm, I had a couple of problems with reboots (my PC was on at the time (I was out) but shut off after the first surge.) Trying to load up a game would result in a reboot.

The Motherboard sensors went wacky, and no longer detected the CPU core temps, nor the CPU temp. Only temps detected by speefan were internal temps (ambient) and HDD temps.

Then the trouble started - one reboot, 3 beeps indicating memory error. Tried both sticks in each slot to no avail.

Initially thought it was the ram, went out bought some G.Skill HZ D9 sticks (same as my crucials, GMH) - still 3 beeps.

It seems to me that the motherboard is shot - but I need confirmation on this before new purchase. Tried each G.Skill stick in each slot, same 3 beep error. Reset bios, tried maintenence mode, tried recovery mode to no avail.

88GTX confirmed as working though I don't have another DDR2 board to test my current ram in, though I highly doubt the new ram is broken as well.

So that leaves two options - the motherboard and the CPU. If I recall, the memory controller is on the NB, not the CPU ala AMD K8, so this would indicate a faulty motherboard.

Would the consensus be in agreement?

PS: I also have three choices now for a mobo: 1. DFI965-Dark-S, P5W - Deluxe, P5K - Deluxe | What would be the best to choose for a chip capable of 3.8 (422 FSB) stable at 1.46v?

Thanks for the help. (Rig was only a week old as well Storm was localised over my area. Over 30 households affected with busted appliances and computers. It was one hell of a storm.)

Cliffnotes:

• Lightning storm - house got struck.
• Random reboots.
• Motherboard sensors out of whack - no longer detected CPU temps.
• 3 beep error indicating no memory on reboot.
• New ram - still 3 beep error. Every slot tested with each of the four sticks (10th Anny and G.Skill HZ - both D9GMH)

[OBR]

65% - Dead mobo
35% - Broken PSU i suppose

[Ad1tya]

Id point blame on the PSU.

Then the Motherboard.

Try a different PSU first.

[dnottis]

Mobo first, especially if it's beeping...

[Leeghoofd]

Get ya insurance working on it mate, I had the same issue here, got my money back from the insurance and then RMA'd the board, ram and PSU so I won 2 times

[syncrod]

didn't u have a ups or surge protector??

[irev210]

Originally Posted by Leeghoofd

Get ya insurance working on it mate, I had the same issue here, got my money back from the insurance and then RMA'd the board, ram and PSU so I won 2 times

wow, you are a man of truth.... thats bad, that is insurance fraud.

[Vice]

In the US, sure, but I believe Leeghoofd is somewhere in Europe, no?

[ColonelCain]

What they don't know can't hurt them. lol. But yeah, I'm pretty sure that he is in Europe, so different story there.
I'd just be happy with getting all new parts, especially cause they replace the original value, and not the depreciated one!

[ChaosMinionX]

*hugs his UPS*

[CedricFP]

Well I thought that was what the fuse box was for, with regards to a surge protector, but obviously I was mistaken. I guess I should go out and get one.

It's not the PSU, I just tested it in my 939 rig. It doesn't make sense that it should be the PSU anyways because erratic power supply or not enough power probably wouldn't result in RAM errors.

Looks like it's the MOBO - doubt it's the CPU - different error code. That's a shame.

So I guess the question is now, which motherboard?

The only 975x MOBO I can get is the Asus P5W series and they have terrible vDroop. I am thinking about the P5K.

[Retrolock]

Will the UPS protect the PC if its affected by a lightning bolt? We are talking about a couple of thousand volts here lol.. Its a problem for us here also, we use antennas for our wi-fi signals. Mine is at the top of the roof and it towers up maybe 20ft high, and a direct hit by a lightning will definitely fry my system *shudders*

[CedricFP]

Originally Posted by Retrolock

Will the UPS protect the PC if its affected by a lightning bolt? We are talking about a couple of thousand volts here lol.. Its a problem for us here also, we use antennas for our wi-fi signals. Mine is at the top of the roof and it towers up maybe 20ft high, and a direct hit by a lightning will definitely fry my system *shudders*

We were directly hit. TV is out, fans around the house are broken. Electric kettle is also broken.

However, my laptop seems to have come out without a scratch, and even today (4 days after) I am still experiencing a numb left arm from the shock I got.

Fuse box tripped instantly, but not quite instantly enough

[Retrolock]

damn man, that is harsh.

[Kilyin]

Originally Posted by ChaosMinionX

*hugs his UPS*

a UPS doesn't stop a lightning surge.

MYTH: A surge protector or UPS device will provide sufficient protection against all lightning strikes, including a direct lightning strike.

TRUTH: Unfortunately not. A common surge protector will stop voltage spikes and surges, but not the violent, catastrophic burst of current from a close lightning strike. Direct lightning current is simply too big to protect with a little electronic device inside a power strip, or even a hefty UPS unit. If your UPS or surge protector is in the way of the lightning's path, all or part of the lightning will just flash over or through the device - regardless of the amount of capacitors and battery banks involved.

Even 'disconnects', or devices that physically switch off power to a device by activating a set of contacts, will not guarantee protection. A small air gap will not stop a lightning bolt that has already jumped across miles of air. It won't think twice about jumping a few more inches, or even a few more feet, especially if the 'path of least resistance' to ground is across the contacts of the disconnect switch.

Not only that, but not even a full-fledged lightning protection system with rods, cables and grounds will guarantee against damage to electronics and computers. For any system to provide 100% protection, it must divert almost 100% of the lightning current from a direct strike, which is nearly physically impossible: Ohm's Law states that for a set of resistances connected in parallel, the current will be distributed across ALL resistances, at levels inversely proportional to the different values of resistance. A house or building is nothing more than a set of resistors 'connected' in parallel- the electrical wiring, plumbing, phone lines, steel framework, etc. (Even though plumbing and electrical wiring, for instance, may not be physically connected, lightning will use side flashes across air gaps to effectively connect them). In a direct lightning strike, the current will not follow only one path- it will distribute itself across all paths to ground depending on each path's resistance.

Lightning current often peaks at 100,000 or more Amperes. With that in mind, consider if you have a lightning protection system installed, and your house is hit directly by lightning. If the protection system takes even 99.9% of the current, then your electrical wiring may take the remaining 0.1%. 0.1% of 100,000 Amperes is a 100 Amp surge through your lines- which may be enough to take out your computer.

It is not uncommon for 'side flashes' to occur inside a house or building, where all or a part of the lightning will jump across an entire room to reach ground- such as from the electrical wiring system to well-grounded water pipes. If your computer is in the way, it'll be time to shop for a new one, even if you have the most expensive protection system installed.

A 'side flash' often occurs when lightning branches out into several channels as it tries to bury itself deep into earth. So even if the bulk of the current is flowing to ground through the heavy cables of your protection system, there can be small 'overflow' disharges, even if the lightning hits outside of the structure. Such an event was experienced by my Grandmother, who witnessed a 6-foot long blue spark jump across the room from a wall outlet to the kitchen faucet as lightning struck nearby.

Guarantees on the packaging of UPS/surge protection devices are somewhat misleading when it comes to lightning protection, implying that the devices can stop any effects of a strike. In some cases, they will - as long as they aren't in or near the direct line of fire. But in reality, nothing can guarantee absolute protection from a direct or very close strike.

All this doesn't mean that you shouldn't use a surge protector, UPS, disconnect, or a full-fledged lightning rod system. Any device will provide some degree of protection from everyday power line spikes and distant lightning strikes. But when lightning hits nearby or directly, all bets are off.

The best, and cheapest, way to protect your stereo, television, computer, or any electronic appliance is to unplug all power, telephone (modem), and antenna connections during a thunderstorm.

[ChaosMinionX]

I can still hug it!

[Leeghoofd]

Originally Posted by irev210

wow, you are a man of truth.... thats bad, that is insurance fraud.

You want to know why I did that... We had 4 power outages due to unanouced maintenance works on the electrical circuitry in our street... all electrical apparatus ( fridge, freezer , DVD player, radio ) were dead after Day 3, my Pc was downloading the final nite...in the morning when I came down I saw the lights of the alarm going nuts..., Pc was dead and smelled burned...the electrical company didn't want to aknowledge the power outages, luckily for me some other peeps in the streets where having similar issues... my Insurance bundled with the other insurances of the peeps went to court with it ( not real court sort of a judge judy so quick court or whatever they call it in USA) we won as it was clearly the fault of Electrabel. But every owner was partly responsible he said due to not having UPS or sortlikes to protect their electrical components...okay I have one now for my pc,tv but I don't have it for my fridge and sortlikes.... also we only got 60% of our claims, so the rest had to be rebought with our own money, eg my Pc internal components were valued at 1200 euro's ( they were 2 months old ) I only got 740 euro's for it, same for the other stuff...only way to recuperate some cash, RMA the pieces and sell them... which I did, might be a scam but at least got some money back, but in the long run I'm still on the loosing side, plus I was without a pc for 2 months...

[Railgunner]

re. "I am still experiencing a numb left arm from the shock I got."

Lightening can cause severe internal nerve damage without leaving any visible external burns. You might want to have that checked out.