I just removed the IHS off my 3200+ Clawhammer and now, when I boot up, it powers up for a few seconds and then shuts off. None of the capacitors were cut off (although I'm quite sure I hit a few of them with the blade). Is it simply dead, or is something else causing it? I notice the heatsink didn't seem to be making much contact with the CPU when I took it off to check, but I doubt it would cause it to shut off like that.

Specs:

A64 3200+ Clawhammer S754
MSI K8N Neo Platinum
2x OCZ EL 512 MB PC3200 (2-3-2-6)
XFX 6800XT 256 MB
Seagate Barracuda 160 GB
Antec SmartPower 450W

A couple of things could be a problem:

1. If the HSF isn't making good contact, as you say, then the CPU could be overheating and the system is shutting down as a failsafe.

2. You damaged the CPU. However, I think if you really did a number on the actual core while removing the IHS, I don't think it would boot at all. You may have damaged something else on the package.

What kind of heat sink are you using? Sometimes you have to do a little modding to make up for the distance lost when you removed the IHS.

When CPU is dead... its dead...

Fans spinn, lights shine... all looks normal... except there is no CPU. Its actually the same thing as not having a CPU in the socket... believe me, its terrible.

If however the system shutdowns like you say it does, I think its like Cuttlefish and Septem have said: overheating, thus turning system off.