DIY Hardware Failure, Lessons Learned

One of the computers I built a year ago stopped working the other day. The monitor went blank and the Network - 'computers near me' folder would not show an icon for it. So I began the swapping process... monitor, video card, other items. But the problem was not corrected. Then I got out the manual for my MSI brand mother board and realized that it has self diagnostics on it... COOL. I found the problem was a bad CPU that is under warantee.


The lessons learned here are:

• Know your PC, read the manuals. They usually have a trouble shooting guide.


• Don't bother with manufacturer warranties, they have so many exclusion clauses that you will never get a replacement without pain and cost.


• Buy a good motherboard with self diagnostics. I have become a big fan of MSI boards, I have experienced problems with Gigabyte, and Soyo mother boards.
  

So I will be ordering an AMD Athlon™ XP for the board that I have... in fact, the AMD site has a recommended list of mother boards and other components that work well together. Nice.