unfortunately, i've already tried that too...to no avail

I read somewhere that if thermal compound isn't applied correctly, the cpu will heat up too fast and the system won't POST at all. I applied arctic silver 5 the same way it says to do so on the arctic silver website, which says to squeeze some out on the middle of the cpu and place the heatsink directly on top. Is it better to have the compound spread evenly over the entire cpu?

I'm all out of ideas...i didn't know just changing a cpu cooler could cause so much trouble.

No offense... but you were really careful when straightening those CPU pins, right?? There was NO resistance when you re-inserted the chip?
It is very unlikey that your cooler is causing this issue-- unless there is:
a) no/insufficient fan RPM's
b) Thermal grease oozing out from under the heatsink.
Arctic Silver is pretty easy to use.

I'm wondering about a bad RAM stick or the Mobo itself.

Garhar?? what do you think?

ih8bills may be right...
what did you use to straighten the pins back with?


If the thermal grease is oozing out from the under the heatsink - this could be a very bad thing, if you get that between the cpu chip itself, and the PCB board that its attached to, many bad things can happen. This is another reason why too much is a bad thing.

I'm leaning towards CPU & Motherboard, but could very well be the memory...although you would be hearing quite a few beeps when turning the computer on if the memory was faulty....actually - try turning the computer on without the memory installed, and see if you get beeps...if you do, then it's almost definatly the memory.

none taken ih8bills. I used one of those key-chain vons club cards(detached from the key chain of course) to straighten the pins. The thermal grease is only on the upper side of the cpu. Finally, when I turn on the computer without memory, i get the same result...no beeps.
I guess i didn't bend the pins back exactly perfectly because I had to push the cpu a little to get it in, but i didn't have to force it and there are no signs of bent pins.
Thanks for the input.

Then i'd say replace the motherboard, and if it still doesn't work the CPU.

But i'm more inclined to believe the board is faulty, as there were no beeps when the memory was uninstalled.

ok, i'll try replacing the motherboard then...while we're on that subject, have you used or know of anyone who has used the motherboard with both agp and pci-e? its from asrock and I think its called the dual 939, and I'm seriously considering getting it because it would allow me to use my 9800 pro and then get a pci-e card later. I just wanted to know what your opinion of that board was. thanks