BSOD at startup

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  1. Posts : 26,863
    Windows 11 Pro
       #31

    Tranquil Hegemo, it is people like you who are the reason I have little hair left. Just joking. But, the last part of your post sounds like the PSU. But, in theory, it could affect the ram, although that is theory. I've never seen it happen. But, don't go out and buy one. Find a friend who has an extra for you to try or who would swap with you. What Manufacturer and model PSU do you have? Just thinking out loud, but the Memory controller is in the CPU. If the PSU put out insufficient voltage to the CPU, I guess it could undervolt the memory controller and cause the ram errors. I have never seen that happen though.

    I don't know how comfortable you are doing this, but if it were mine, I would take it out of the case and place it on the cardboard box it came in (non conductive) hook up the PSU and run it from there. I do that with every system I build before installing it in the case. It takes the case, the wiring you tidied up, the fans you connected out of the equation. Plus, it makes everything much easier to work on and change parts out if needed. I would then test the living crap out of the components for as long as it took until I found out the problem.

    I think I would find out about the PSU first. But, I am a stickler on quality brands of PSUs. A cheap PSU can not deliver the power they say they do and do not have the safeguards built into them to protect your components. Without those safeguards a PSU can go out and take your Graphics card, motherboard and most anything else with it.

    If you decide to take it out of the case, you can leave the CPU, CPU cooler and ram installed when you do.
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 76
    Windows 7 64bit
    Thread Starter
       #32

    If it is any consolation Essenbe it is people like you that are the only reason I still have any hair left and am not a permanent fixture in my local bar. I think I could get a lot of free beer telling the tale of this rig...

    The PSU is a Corsair CX600M. Like you I have a dislike of cheap PSU's and while it is not the best out there it is more than enough to deal with what I want to do with it and have something held in reserve.

    With regards to testing out of the case - I guess that you are referring to the motherboard here? Assuming that to be correct I will take it out tonight and test it again and update accordingly.
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 26,863
    Windows 11 Pro
       #33

    Yes, I was talking about bench testing the Motherboard. I just use a table and put it to where everything is exposed and I can see and hear anything going on, and everything is easy to get to. Just sit a cardboard box down (I usually use the motherboard box) and put the board on top of it.
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 76
    Windows 7 64bit
    Thread Starter
       #34

    Took the board out of the case last night and ran the same tests again - the same results as outlined in my post of a couple of days ago - memory errors on Pass 0 Test 3 & 4 which then suddenly stopped. Also did the same with the original Gigabyte board and got pretty much the same results re: when the errors occurred. The actual number of errors may have been different but I was less interested in that than if I got any errors or not. Pics available if you really wish but I suspect not necessary.

    Currently trying to find another PSU to test against and will update from there.
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 26,863
    Windows 11 Pro
       #35

    Sounds like bad ram. Corsair has a lifetime warranty on their Ram and you should have no problems with an RMA. You will just be without a computer for several weeks until you get it back. Just look on the side of the ram and find a sticker which will tell you the frequency, timings and voltage for the rem. Make sure your bios is set to that.
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  6. Posts : 76
    Windows 7 64bit
    Thread Starter
       #36

    Essenbe,

    Have you replied by mistake to this one? Memory was RMA'ed a while back and made no difference to the issues that I am experiencing.
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 26,863
    Windows 11 Pro
       #37

    I think I did. I guess I forgot that part. 2 sets of memory and 2 boards. I'll have to think about that one at the local bar. Just Joking. Check the BIOS and make sure everything is set correctly. The frequency, timings and Voltage. You can find that info on a sticker on the side of the ram sticks. I would guess it should be 1333 9-9-9-24 @ 1.5V, but check to be sure. Then find another known good PSU. If that makes no difference, you would have to have 2 bad sets of ram or 2 bad Motherboards, which is highly unlikely, or it's the memory controller on the CPU. You do have the 8 pin CPU cable from the PSU plugged in don't you, and it is fully seated?
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 76
    Windows 7 64bit
    Thread Starter
       #38

    The mystery deepens though I may finally have identified what the issue is though I am no closer to solving it...

    Borrowed a PSU, processor and memory from a friend. Tried the new processor first to eliminate that and tried out the usual tests and still got errors on the initial pass on tests 3+4. Not entirely unexpected as I have been erring towards the PSU being the issue anyway so I swapped the PSU over and much to my surprise I got exactly the same issue! Not what I was expecting to say the least!

    Deciding that I had nothing to lose I then swapped out the 2 x 8Gb Corsair XMS3 memory out for 2 x 4Gb Corsair Vengeance memory and that seems to have resolved the issue though I want to do a bit more testing just to make sure.
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 26,863
    Windows 11 Pro
       #39

    I wonder if it is the XMS3 that your boards don't like or if it is just faulty memory. Some boards are very picky about the memory they use, some aren't. Just a thought because it's very uncommon to get 2 sets of bad memory in a row. Corsair is a very respected memory manufacturer. But, whatever it is, good job. Congratulations. Good job on troubleshooting. That's the way to do it.
      My Computer


  10. Posts : 76
    Windows 7 64bit
    Thread Starter
       #40

    It is very odd that both boards by different manufacturers show the same faults and while I think it is the XMS memory that is the issue I don't think it is faulty in the normal sense if you get what I mean as the errors only show up for a brief duration when booting from cold and then disappear and also no errors are seen when warm booting.

    Just tried hard setting the memory voltages and timings to that on the RAM (1333mhz - 9-9-9-24 - 1.5v) and that has made no difference.

    Think the next step is to drop a tech support question to both Corsair and Gigabyte and see what they can tell me if anything and suggest any further actions to take on this.
      My Computer


 
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