New PC showing Blocks and complete lockup (Pic included)

rtc0523 · 26 Feb 2012

Ok I checked everything. One of the pins on the CPU heatsink/fan felt a little loose so I removed it and reseated it. Ran prime95 again and received those blocks within 30 seconds. So I turned off the system and removed a stick of Ram. This time prime95 lagged the pc really badly but it was able to run through all the tests. After it completed it started to run again and after a min or two the PC just turned off. When it came back up I have no display on the monitor at all right now.

writhziden · 26 Feb 2012

essenbe said:

I have downloaded the version 4.2 that was referred to in that article from www.memtest.org. I'll give it a try and let you guys know. I have the next to the latest bios. The latest bios will not even boot with my Logitech G510 keyboard attached. Tech Support gave be a beta bios to try ad it was worse. I went back to what I had. I'll have to run it for a pretty good while, so it may be tomorrow.

I wouldn't worry about it too much if the system is running well. I'm of the mind that if it ain't broke, don't fix it.

The information was mostly for the OP where I still suspect something hardware related. Could be broken hardware, or just a bad connection.

The issues described seem to be either Graphics card memory, Memory, PSU, or CPU related (in order from most likely to least likely) assuming it is not a connection issue. The steps I recommend are:

Pull all hardware out of the motherboard using the safe ESD steps. Put only the necessary hardware back for the system to be able to run. This will hopefully rule out any loose connections. If the system runs stable, add hardware one at a time to see if the culprit can be identified. These are basically the steps that essenbe recommended in post #12.
Monitor temperatures during the following tests.

Use the following programs to monitor the temperatures.
- Real Temp is a good CPU temperature monitor.
- Speccy - System Information - Free Download will monitor all hardware temperatures.
- HWiNFO, HWiNFO32 & HWiNFO64 - Hardware Information and Analysis Tools can be inaccurate for CPU temperatures, but is a good program for GPU temperature monitoring.
- Use FurMark: VGA Stress Test, Graphics Card and GPU Stability Test, Burn-in Test, OpenGL Benchmark and GPU Temperature | oZone3D.Net as mentioned by essenbe to test the graphics card GPU. Then use the |MG| Video Memory Stress Test 1.7.116 Download to test your graphics card memory.
- Run Hardware - Stress Test With Prime95 to determine any hardware problems. Run all three tests for a few hours each. If you get errors, stop the test and post back here.

rtc0523 said:

Ok I checked everything. One of the pins on the CPU heatsink/fan felt a little loose so I removed it and reseated it. Ran prime95 again and received those blocks within 30 seconds. So I turned off the system and removed a stick of Ram. This time prime95 lagged the pc really badly but it was able to run through all the tests. After it completed it started to run again and after a min or two the PC just turned off. When it came back up I have no display on the monitor at all right now.

Did you receive any beeps during the POST sequence when you turned it on most recently?

rtc0523 · 26 Feb 2012

No I didn't hear any beeps it just sounded like it was running fine but no display. I tried turning it on again to check for POST and I had display and then had this happen.

Had to power down try again and it made it a little further. The windows error recovery screen asking to do safe mode/run normally screen had the same effect occur. So again powered down and now I'm in Windows.

I had run Furmark yesterday I didn't see any problems but it wasn't displaying a Temp so I cut it off after 10+ mins or so. It was only running at 1 FPS though.

rtc0523 · 26 Feb 2012

Ran Video Memory Stress Test. Hit a bunch of errors and the PC locked up. Here's the log.

Code:

Changing video mode to 640x480x16...OK
[2/26/2012 12:59:33 PM] Test started for "Intel(R) HD Graphics Family"...
Trying 16bpp RGB:565 mode...OK
Error at [03E00000]: must be 2000, but found 0000 (bits: 0010000000000000)
Error at [03E00002]: must be 2000, but found 0000 (bits: 0010000000000000)
Error at [03E00004]: must be 2000, but found 0000 (bits: 0010000000000000)
Error at [03E00006]: must be 2000, but found 0000 (bits: 0010000000000000)
Error at [03E00008]: must be 2000, but found 0000 (bits: 0010000000000000)
Error at [03E0000A]: must be 2000, but found 0000 (bits: 0010000000000000)
Error at [03E0000C]: must be 2000, but found 0000 (bits: 0010000000000000)
Error at [03E0000E]: must be 2000, but found 0000 (bits: 0010000000000000)
Error at [03E00010]: must be 2000, but found 0000 (bits: 0010000000000000)
Error at [03E00012]: must be 2000, but found 0000 (bits: 0010000000000000)
Error at [03E00014]: must be 2000, but found 0000 (bits: 0010000000000000)

writhziden · 26 Feb 2012

Do you have another card to test to make sure it is definitely the card and not a motherboard issue? I think it is pretty likely it is the card, but if you can check, it is a good idea.

essenbe · 26 Feb 2012

Mike, I believe he using on board graphics, or more specifically, on chip graphics. BTW, I ran a little of the new memtest, it ran fine but the sensors did not read the ram or to some extent the CPU correctly. I still have a belief that some software monitoring programs have not caught up with sandy Bridge.

writhziden · 26 Feb 2012

essenbe said:

Mike, I believe he using on board graphics, or more specifically, on chip graphics.

You're right, should have noticed what I have now highlighted in red in the following quote...

rtc0523 said:

Ran Video Memory Stress Test. Hit a bunch of errors and the PC locked up. Here's the log.

Code:

Changing video mode to 640x480x16...OK
[2/26/2012 12:59:33 PM] Test started for "Intel(R) HD Graphics Family"...
Trying 16bpp RGB:565 mode...OK
Error at [03E00000]: must be 2000, but found 0000 (bits: 0010000000000000)
Error at [03E00002]: must be 2000, but found 0000 (bits: 0010000000000000)
Error at [03E00004]: must be 2000, but found 0000 (bits: 0010000000000000)
Error at [03E00006]: must be 2000, but found 0000 (bits: 0010000000000000)
Error at [03E00008]: must be 2000, but found 0000 (bits: 0010000000000000)
Error at [03E0000A]: must be 2000, but found 0000 (bits: 0010000000000000)
Error at [03E0000C]: must be 2000, but found 0000 (bits: 0010000000000000)
Error at [03E0000E]: must be 2000, but found 0000 (bits: 0010000000000000)
Error at [03E00010]: must be 2000, but found 0000 (bits: 0010000000000000)
Error at [03E00012]: must be 2000, but found 0000 (bits: 0010000000000000)
Error at [03E00014]: must be 2000, but found 0000 (bits: 0010000000000000)

rtc0523: Testing a dedicated graphics card may still be an option, but at this point, it would probably be safer to replace the board.

essenbe said:

BTW, I ran a little of the new memtest, it ran fine but the sensors did not read the ram or to some extent the CPU correctly. I still have a belief that some software monitoring programs have not caught up with sandy Bridge.

This is probably a valid belief. It usually takes software a little longer to catch up to new technology, especially free software that is not paid as much for support to developers.

rtc0523 · 26 Feb 2012

Thanks a lot for your help guys. I have put in an RMA and will be shipping it back to newegg in the morning.

essenbe · 26 Feb 2012

I'm sorry we couldn't find a solution to your problem. Having said that, I think what you are doing is the best thing. I'm not sure whether the problem is with the board or the CPU, the best bet is RMA them both if you can. Hopefully the new ones won't have any issues. If it is any consolation to you, I sent a board back last week. It does happen. Also, if you will call Customer service at Newegg and explain that you have run every test and that every test has failed, they can give you a return shipping label and authorize a refund if you wish. Just be nice.

rtc0523 · 26 Feb 2012

Yea I had already put in an RMA for both the board and the CPU before I got the PC back. This problem had kept coming back no matter what I tried so I was pretty sure it was a hw problem. I bought it with shoprunner so they cover return shipping so now I just have to wait patiently.