It's only guesswork unless I know your procedures. I need to diagnose through you.
1) Did you plug the 4-pin ATX +12 Volt power cable into the motherboard?
(Right by the orange PCI-Express x16 slot)
2) How did you test the CPU? Use it on a compatible motherboard?
3) Same with the Ram Memory. Or did you use a ram memory test?
Everything tested out so far, I would have to take a look at the Electrolytic Capacitors on the motherboard.
The Gateway GT5220 desktop computer uses a Gateway 4006136R motherboard, with an Nvidia GeForce 6150 motherboard chipset, and AM2 processor socket.
http://support.gateway.com/s/MOTHERBD/Shared/4006136R/4006136Rnv.shtmlThe motherboard photo isn't very large, and the detail is poor.
Look at the silver dots. Looking closer they look to have a black circle around them.
This is a top view of the Electrolytic Capacitors on the motherboard.
Radial Aluminum Electrolytic Capacitors, to be more specific.
Here is a better view of Radial Aluminum Electrolytic Capacitors, not mounted,
http://www.capacitorlab.com/index.htm(The ones that have a plastic wrap around them. Black and Gold plastic wrap, or Silver and Purple)
This gives you information on visually identifying bad capacitors, (Electrolytic Capacitors),
http://www.capacitorlab.com/visible-failures/index.htmWhat brings me to the possible conclusion that there may be bad capacitors on the motherboard, is that an Electrolytic Capacitor can operate at a weakened state for quite a while, then one day fail.
How?
The inherent characteristics of a Electrolytic Capacitor.
Basic construction of a Radial Aluminum Electrolytic Capacitor is;
A 'tin can' case with a seal at the top, and bottom. Inside the case are three strips rolled up tightly.
1) The outer 'tin can' case is like an aluminum can with no top, or bottom.
2) The seal at the top is a Vent Cover. It is a flat round disk of aluminum, with a shape etched partway into it.
The shape is usually a K or X.
3) The bottom seal is a Bung. It is a flat round disk composed of a synthetic rubber.
4) The three strips are;
A) Conducting Strip. Thin 'tinfoil' strip of metal. At one end there is a lead attached. (Think wire)
This is the Positive strip, and the lead is the Positive connection.
B) Non-Conducting Strip. Thin 'tinfoil' also, but with a non-conducting medium applied to it.
There is a lead attached to it also. This lead is for the Negative connection.
C) Paper-like strip soaked with Electrolytic Paste.
The Electrolytic Paste strip is placed in-between the two metal strips, and all three are rolled up tightly.
The two leads, Positive and negative, are inserted down through the Bung at the bottom of the case.
When an Electrolytic Capacitor goes bad the paste develops a gas. Hydrogen Gas.
The gas expands inside the case, and compromises the seal, or seals.
(Vent Cover, or Bung, or both)
Electrolytic Paste is then pushed out. It oozes out.
The Vent Cover's etched shape will break open, and paste may ooze out.
One side of the Bung may push out, and paste will ooze out.
Or paste may come out of both seals.
So much paste loss, and the capacitor operates at a weakened state.
Too much paste loss, and the capacitor (Electrolytic) fails.
I suspect the capacitors especially that surround the Processor socket.
These are used as Voltage Regulators. They regulate the voltage for the Processor.
These, and others on the motherboard, make up the Motherboard Voltage Regulator Circuit.
http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/article/616I may be throwing a lot of information at you all at once. It is not my intent to try to confuse.
Trouble with Electrolytic Capacitors going bad, or have failed, is that they do not always show outward visual signs of failing, or failure.
Sometimes the paste inside dries up.
Past this point the problem could be the motherboard chipset.
The Northbridge chip, and Southbridge chip.
(For your motherboard. Does not apply to motherboards that support the Intel Core i3, Core i5, Core i7, or Core i9 processors)
Very RARE for a motherboard chipset to fail though.
A lightning strike, or power company outage, could cause it though.
Replace failed Electrolytic Capacitors?
Sure. It can be done. I've guided a few people in doing this procedure. You have to have good soldering and de-soldering skills, though.
Is it a sure fire cure?
No
The failed capacitors could have let damage, be done to other major motherboard electronic components.
So what's next?
An economical motherboard replacement.
Post in a Comment as to your findings. (Believe upper right of your page - Comment)
Regards,
joecoolvette
[ Also;
http://support.gateway.com/s/MOTHERBD/Shared/4006136R/4006136Rsp2.shtml
