PC keeps locking up, new build, Windows 7 x64 please help

jbdred · 15 Oct 2010

The memory controllers are on the cpu die for p55 as well as x58

I am game to see if we can aquire some some memory that is on the qvl list... at this point we have nothing to lose other than time...

TVeblen · 15 Oct 2010

One other thing that occurred to me, maybe you have tried this already, is to run the RAM at reduced speed.

Say you bought 1600 sticks and you set the frequency and timings accordingly. Try knocking that down to 1333 or 1066, keeping voltage at RAM spec (but not above MB spec) and test.

jbdred · 15 Oct 2010

I dont recall trying that yet...

Ill give it a whirl...and keep everyone posted.

Thanks

spyknee · 15 Oct 2010

Well I was incorrect assuming you had a FSB. I looked up the board and you are indeed a QPI mobo.
You will find that you need to set cpu and ram manually. Enter bios at default values. Is the cpu MHz where its advertised? Is the ram seen at its predetermined specs? MHz, timings, voltage. You'll have to adjust the base clck. The ram and cpu are interlinked in settings. You need to find the balance between ram and cpu that gives you cpu at correct GHz and ram at correct MHz. Correct being, Manufacturers specs. CPU/ GHz and voltage, RAM/ MHz, voltage and timings

IMO under clocking your ram could cause instability?????? You should get things at required spec and system stable.
QVL is not necessarily required, but getting correct specs is a must, even for QVL ram..

jbdred · 16 Oct 2010

I have double and triple checked mobo settings they are all set manually to proper manufacturers specifications.

I have ruled out the power supply as i switched it to my own known good.

I have tuned off intel auto overclock and still have the same results.

Not sure if this is going to help at all but i did get 1 bsod...it was a stop code: 0x000000F4, a crash dump was not created though so i do not have a lot more information...I took a pic with my phone and attached it to the post.

I think we have approached the time to buy QVL memory or RMA the mobo...any last thoughts before moving forward with this?

Thanks,
jbdred

TVeblen · 16 Oct 2010

Nope. I think you are on the (unfortunately) right track.

jbdred · 01 Nov 2010

holy crap does gigabyte suck...no sense of urgency at all.

Still waiting on a RMA mobo

jbdred · 16 Nov 2010

Well...I got the mobo back...gigabyte stated they updated the bios and shipped it back...WTF is that, it already had the most recent bios on it. For giggles i put everything back together and low and behold locked up after 3 minutes...

ARGGG!
This all stinks to holy heaven...

TVeblen · 16 Nov 2010

Ouch! Well you didn't need those 4 weeks of your life anyway, right?

So back in the lab.....

You need to try and zero in on what component or driver is responsible for the freezes. I suggest a methodical approach.
The computer only needs the case (switches), power supply, motherboard, CPU, RAM, Video Card, and HDD to run. I would remove or unplug everything else. During the diagnostics I would leave the side(s) off the case.

Use proper static precautions.

Power Supply: A prime suspect in any freezing/crashing computer. We never got to see what brand and model. You need to have a PS that produces enough amperage to run all the stuff. Do you have another power supply you could switch out to test?

Motherboard: You don't want to go about and make custom BIOS settings changes while doing diagnostics. The computer should run normally at normal (default) settings. Obviously, things like AHCI must be changed, but everything else should remain on BIOS defaults during diagnostics. If and when everything seems to be running well, then start to make custom BIOS changes, one at a time, testing after each change. If the BIOS default sets your RAM to 1066MHz - leave it!

In general, during diagnostics, only make one change at a time. Doing two things at once just muddies the water.

RAM: Try running with just one stick. Then try the other stick alone. You might bite the bullet and try new RAM - It's a good idea to buy something right off the QVL list when you suspect motherboard/RAM issues.

Video Card: Try it in another slot if you have one (you must removing it from Device Manager first before doing this).

HDD: Check all your connections, try another SATA cable, use a different SATA power connector.

I would also completely remove and clean (DriverSweeper) the drivers for the video card and let it run on the generic W7 WDDM1.1 video driver for a while. Then afterward install the newest nVidia drivers fresh.

Make sure you are running the chipset drivers and AHCI drivers from Gigabyte. Make sure all the other drivers are the most current drivers from the vendors website, not from the Windows install or from Windows Update.

Good luck!

spyknee · 16 Nov 2010

I would agree with 98% of TV's post.

1 stick of ram yes, but get it at 1333MHz, set initial timings, and it get its voltage right. I have 2 Gigabyte boards in service, both were ram finicky. But, once I found the sweet spot...............
You are using QPI now so cpu MHz and ram MHz are linked, find the balance that gets you right cpu MHz and ram MHz
You should be using the Intel chipset drivers which is at the Gigabyte website.
Remove all drives but the OS boot drive.
Leave uncore multi at default.
standard enabled not turbo
disable any green functions in bios and OS
disable speedstep, ciest,

I basically reduced my system to a 1 gear bike, no derailer, no gears shifting, no auto control.