(Sorry for the typo in the topic )

Hi All computer gurus out there, I have been using my pc for about 8 months now, was all fine since 2 days ago, the motherboard started to make ticking sounds (right after i switched it on) after about 6 ~ 8 ticks, it boots up but my graphics card is not responsive~! I had to switch the monitor cable so that it uses the on-board graphic card. Tried rebooting, re-install driver, unplug and replug the card nothing works ~>.<~

p.s i did not overclock, and even though the card is not responsive it is still powered (the card's on board fan is constantly on) btw, not sure if this one of the problem, my graphics card driver suddenly "disappeared" form the os, but after i re-installed the driver everything is well again.

It's urgent please help~

Thx in advance ~^^~

-------Specs--------

AMD Athlon 64 X2 4800+
Gigabyte GA-M61SME-S2
Leadtek WinFast PX8600 GT 512mb
Dorex DDR2 800mhz 1GB *2
Isoic 400W

It is not likely it is the motherboard that is ticking - but rather your hard drive. In any case, if that computer is less than one year old, it is likely still under warranty. I recommend you contact the maker first, but you do anything that might void your warranty.

Thanks for the reply, I 've tracked down the source of the sound, it's from the motherboard speaker(dosnt the number of ticks mean something?), is there any possible reason that may cause this? Maybe the PSU? If it IS the HD then what might be the problem?

p.s If its the HD then why does my graphics card not working?

btw....... not sure if it helps but my room is quite dusty so is the pc...........

Soooo many questions~ Thx in advance ~^^~

If its the HD then why does my graphics card not working?

I only suggested the HD because "ticks" is generally accepted to be a "mechanical" sound used often to describe the sounds a hard drive makes when the drive head is banging around inside. But that sound would not be coming from the speaker, but from inside the hard drive, and you can feel that banging if your place your hand directly on the drive.

The internal speaker typically is used by the motherboard for BIOS "beeps", which as you suggest, come in repeating patterns of long and/or short beeps. Typically, one beep means all is well. More beeps suggest something else, but you must know the BIOS maker, or look in your motherboard manual for the "beep codes" to know what each pattern means. See BIOS Central Post/Beep Codes for more information.

The fact you switched to on-board graphics and it still does not work suggests your graphics card is fine, and this could be a failing motherboard, RAM, or power supply, but again, do not risk voiding your warranty.

btw....... not sure if it helps but my room is quite dusty so is the pc...........

Well, besides the fact "house dust" consists mostly of dead skin from humans and pets, microscopic critters that feed on that dead skin, and all the fecal waste of those microscopic critters (something to think about when you put your head on your pillow tonight. Heat is the bane of all electronics. Therefore, it is a user responsibility to keep their systems clean of heat trapping dust. Damage attributed to heat due to poor preventative maintenance is NOT covered by warranty.

The worrisome part is that it will not boot now, apparently after it has cooled down. If the CPU and critical motherboard components are covered with a layer of heat trapping dust, or the air vents are blocked, something might have fried - instead of just shutting down as a protective measure.

The first thing I would do is make sure it is clean, and ensure all PSU connections are tight and secure. Make sure you eliminate any chance of more damage from static discharge by unplugging the power supply from the wall first, then touching bare metal of the case before reaching in.

If you don't see anything obvious, contact the computer maker's tech support.

Thanks again for the fast reply, I've checked again that all fans are properly working, event the graphics card, sometime (once in 10 tries) it DOES successfully detect it (as you said, only single beep nothing else) but then when i plug the monitor back to the graphics card, it said "no signal"

I'll take a note on the dust issue, is there and safe way to clean the components, because i heard that static electricity may cause damage so i don't really dare to touch them ~>.<~

The RAM seems to be fine since they are always available under Windows, the only problem i could think about is the PSU, cause it seem to give me problems to my dvd-rom as well.

btw, if I have a dvd-rom and a huge fan on the side of the case (not sure about the size) would the PSU still be sufficient? If the PSU IS the problem then will this be caused by inefficient power?

This is being rewritten to focus on preventative maintenance, but may serve you well now: http://www.d-a-l.com/help/general-ha...tml#post142578

btw, if I have a dvd-rom and a huge fan on the side of the case (not sure about the size) would the PSU still be sufficient? If the PSU IS the problem then will this be caused by inefficient power?

I am afraid I don't understand the question. Fans and drives don't consume very much power. RAM, CPUs, motherboards, and especially graphics cards consume the most power. Use the eXtreme PSU Calculator Lite to determine your power supply unit (PSU) requirements. Plug in all the hardware you think you might have in 2 or 3 years (extra drives, bigger or 2nd video card, more RAM, etc.). Be sure to read and heed the notes at the bottom of the page. I recommend setting Capacitor Aging to 30%, and if you participate in distributive computing projects (e.g. BOINC or Folding@Home), I recommend setting TDP to 100%. Research your video card and pay particular attention to the power supply requirements for your card listed on your video card maker's website. If not listed, check a comparable card (same graphics engine and RAM) from a different maker. The key specifications, in order of importance are:

1. Current (amperage or amps) on the +12V rail,
2. Efficiency,
3. Total wattage.

Then look for power supply brands listed under the "Good" column of PC Mechanic's PSU Reference List. Ensure the supplied amperage on the +12V rails of your chosen PSU meets the requirements of your video card. Don't try to save a few dollars by getting a cheap supply. Digital electronics, including CPUs, RAM, and today's advanced graphics cards, need clean, stable power. A good, well chosen supply will provide years of service and upgrade wiggle room. I strongly recommend you pick a supply with an efficiency rating equal to, or greater than 80%. Look for the 80 Plus - EnergyStar Compliant label. And don't forget to budget for a good UPS with AVR (automatic voltage regulation).

Thanks for such a detailed reply , as i did not notice anything obvious that might cause the error, i will be sending in the unit in one or two days, will post the result later.

Sorry I could not be of more help, but please keep us posted.

Sent the pc today, the technician told me it was solely graphics card's fault, but was uncertain what cause it, the card will probably return after a week (hopefully, this is South Africa after all ) will keep you updated once the card returned. Thx~!

Sounds good, but do make sure your PSU is properly rated to support comfortably all your hardware.