So I'm trying to build myself a PVR and have run into some problems in the earliest stages. I had an Abit IS-10 along with a Celeron D. The machine wasn't very stable, often restarting within the first 5 min. Sometimes, before it restarted, I would get an error stating that there was some sort of problem with the CPU, and RAM Tests would sometimes fail if Started to run one while the machine was up. Replaced the old thermal compound on the CPU and checked the ram in another machine, which turned out fine. Then one day the machine just stopped givening me any POST beeps. I figured I had gotten a crappy board and got a new one (Biostar P4M80 this time around). However, now I've never gotten a POST beep from this setup. In both setups, HDs and optical drives both spun up, and all other power seems to be normal.

So do I have a bad CPU? Or what? I haven't had much experience with bad CPUs, but i thought it would atleast give you a post beep. Any ideas on how to confirm that my CPU is the problem without buying another one (unfortunately my other system is AMD-based so there is no hope of swapping the cpu onto a working board or new cpu on this board). Thanks for your intrest.

Try replacing the RAM.

Incidentally, Biostar are terrible.

Ok switched in some ram from my main computer which i know is working, and still no POST.... and thanks for the quick response.