4th install. Progressive increase of BSOD over time

[Elderly Iron]

I hope I'm not starting to wander off topic, but I placed card A into slot A1 this time. (Recommended single card slot) Tried to boot, but it wouldn't, and the board threw a code for no memory, as well as lighting the "HEY! I GOT NO MEMORY HERE!!!" led on the board. Great.... Removed and reinstalled. Got it to boot this time. Started spewing errors on test 5. Placed card B into slot A1/ So far it's made it to test # 8 of the first pass and I'm going to bed!

Jeff

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Jeff not knowing your board but if it is like my Z77 it has a memory buttonon the edge of the board you can reset the RAM with to default speed it might be handy to start the RAM with as I know I had problems early on with my build and pressing this brought the thing back to life see pic

 

[essenbe]

Jeff, I think there is little doubt your ram is defective. You have had errors on different sticks in different slots. If it were me, I would contact Patriot and RMA the ram. All you have to tell them is they failed memtest86+. Unless you have another computer to use, I would ask if they would do an advanced RMA. What that consists of is you give them a credit card, just in case you don't return the ram. They send you the ram and you have usually 30 Days to return the old ram. If they get the old ram, your card is not charged. It's pretty simple. I would RMA both sticks and get a 16GB kit in return. A kit means the ram is tested to work together. If they don't do advanced RMAs, you can either buy new ram or go without using your computer for the month it usually takes. If you have to buy new ram, you could buy 2 2GB sticks of DDR3-1333 ram and your computer will run fine on it, and it won't cost nearly as much as your 16 GB kit.

 

[Elderly Iron]

You're going the right direction, it seems!

I did everything over again. I ended up not having any errors when utilizing slot B1, and B1 only. All others failed. Continued research shows that the ram cards installed are not on the compatibility list for Asus OR Patriot. While I am one to think a card is a card, this seems not to be the case.

Speaking with Asus, they're ready to RMA the board, though I wanted to make sure I'm not just throwing parts at this. The tech recommended contacting Patriot and asking what the best setting would be, after giving me a run-down on how they work with the memory manufacturers, matching up cards to boards.

Further, we reset the CMOS and re-installed the chipset drivers just to make sure everything is where we know it supposed to be. (I say we. He instructed, I pushed buttons ) He also asked if I could get my hands on a card on the compatibility list to run the memtests on again, which I'll try to locate one tomorrow. I'll also have my local computer guy test the cards I have, BUT... I still have to talk to Patriot. It was just before closing time when I called them, so that didn't go very far.

Having been a mechanic for nearly 40 years, I gotta find out just what went wrong. I just GOTTA!!

Oh, and I tried running the editor after the cmos, chipset, windows update. Still crapages... (add that one to your dictionary...)

 

[Elderly Iron]

Oh, and yes it has all them fancy schmancy reset thingys too! I was also able to complete a scannow after the cmos wipe, which it wouldn't do before, and all this with a card in the only good testing slot.

 

[essenbe]

Jeff, the truth is, the QVL list is whatever ram they have around. Most of it you can't even find. They do not test all ram. It is true that some ram is not compatible with some boards, but that is usually an excuse motherboard manufacturers like to use. Most of the better ram manufacturers test their ram with different boards and have their own list of compatible boards. But, if a stick of ram will pass in 1 slot but not in others, how is it not compatible? But, it's good you are making some progress. I'm not sure what you mean about the editor. I'm not sure I would pay someone for doing what you've already done. But, that's your decision.

 

[Elderly Iron]

Having the computer guy check the cards is just a double check, and at no cost. Patriot didn't mention any incompatibility, and recommends the MB swap. Then again, I've played ring-around-the-rosies with these companies before. It's always the other products fault! Hence my wanting to make double sure I have all my ducks in a row.

 

[essenbe]

That's true. If I am an expert at anything it is dealing with Tech Support, if you choose to call it that. Maybe, just RMA both the ram and the board. Take no chances.

 

[Elderly Iron]

Latest update. (I know...It's been a while) After a nice rousing game of blame shifting, I've updated the bios andcshipset drivers and run several test, of which I cannot attain any consistency. Back on the Asus tech line, "Steve" Recommended pulling the processor and checking the socket. What I found was 2 bent pins, several some sort of fibers and a dead mosquito.

Yes, I really did find a dead mosquito, though only a couple legs were in the pins. I very gingerly removed the larger debris with a toothpick and straightened the 2 pins. I am now beginning the test all over again. So far, there are no errors after 8 passes on slot A1, card A.

Jeff

 

[essenbe]

Jeff, I understand the bent pins. I've been there before. I sure hope you were able to straighten the pins correctly. Otherwise you will continue to have problems. The pins control the functions of the board and to the CPU. So, here's hoping you have good luck. I only would like to ask, how the heck did you manage to get a dead mosquito in the socket. I have built more computers than I care to count, but that is a first for me. By the way, my name is Steve too. But I can assure you it was not me you talked to at Asus. I do not, never have and never will work for Asus, although I do like their boards, have one myself, but do not care for their technical support. That being said, I certainly hope you have managed to resolve your problems.

Please keep us posted on your progress. let us know how it turns out for you. Inquiring minds want to know.

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Jeff don't mean to butt in but straightening the pins is done really quite easily by cutting a reasonably new credit card to the length of the pin row and gently sliding the piece of card along the rows of Pins to straighten them - using the slightly curved end of the piece of card to slide along the rows and then easing it down into that row .
Any stubborn pins you can ease away from or towards the card when it is in situ and then again gently push the pin against the piece of credit card to form a straight line.
I find this method works very well with AMD processors and with an extra bit if care with Intel sockets.
John

 

[Layback Bear]

Well I had a spider decide to make a dwelling in my ram slot along with the ram module. I notice my ram would only show 8 gigs of the 12 installed.
So I took the side off to inspected and found the little guy busy remodeling.
Cleaned everything up and install the ram module again and I haven't had a problem in about a year.

 

[Elderly Iron]

Adds to my list of reasons that I hate mosquitoes. Not that it was a long list, mind you.

14 passes on card A, slot A1. No errors.

It was hard to tell that the pins were bent, other than they didn't reflect the light properly when viewed at a certain angle. They were also that distance away that falls between where I can see with my glasses on or off. Short of removing the board, I tried getting my head, a magnifying glass and a flashlight close enough without risking touching the socket. Looking N,S, E or W, it looks fine, but looking diagonally across the socket shows a couple soldiers not standing at attention.

Since they're made to act as springs, all that was required was to place the toothpick under the pin and push toward the bottom of it's mount. (Slowly and carefully, of course) I did this until they no longer stood out with their own reflection.

Borrowed some canned air from the guru, but still couldn't get all the fibers out. I have no idea what they were, because the were too fine to carpet or even cotton fibers. Had to utilize the toothpick yet again to get the two last remaining bundles.

Did a few laps around the socket with the flashlight making sure that the 2 miscoductive message minders were still in proper alignment, and also shined it flat across the pins to look for more fibers. Once I was satisfied with an all clear, then it was lock and load. BTW, shining horizontally across the pins revealed many of the fibers that weren't visible from looking straight down. I'm starting to think possibly spider web. They are, after all, in the king's palaces.

Jeff

 

[essenbe]

Well done Jeff. It's a shame CPUs don't live in King's Palaces isn't it. They would have been right at home, minus the Mosquito. But at least it was dead. That is one time it is OK to like them, I guess. Very well done, so far. Congratulations.

 

[Elderly Iron]

Well, here we go... Having re-seated the chip;

Card A:
A1: Error
A2: Error
B1: Pass (x11)
B2: Error

Card B:
A1: Error
A2: Pass (x14)
B1: No splash screen on first boot. Reboot: Error
B2: Pass (x10)

I think the tests are now conclusive enough to say the motherboard needs swapped out. With Asus, you can do the credit card thing and they'll send you the new board and wait for you to return the old one. What they don't tell you (until you're ready to do it) is that they charge you $10 for the service.

I'm still apprehensive about using these RAM cards, though. I suppose I'll run them in the new board, which leads to the question, should I connect everything as-is and run the memtest before anything else? Obviously, any failure would point at cards or incompatibility between the two. (then I'll have to go through the whole RMA thing with Patriot! :banghead:

You don't know how much of a grueling experience it is for me to deal with this machine.icnic: I'm taking no chances! I will definitely have the hard drive wiped and re-load Windows, but I'm just wanting to know if I'll be able to boot and run the memtest as usual.

I need to get back to making videos!

https://www.youtube.com/user/ElderlyIron

 

[essenbe]

Well, here we go... Having re-seated the chip;

Card A:
A1: Error
A2: Error
B1: Pass (x11)
B2: Error

Card B:
A1: Error
A2: Pass (x14)
B1: No splash screen on first boot. Reboot: Error
B2: Pass (x10)

I think the tests are now conclusive enough to say the motherboard needs swapped out. With Asus, you can do the credit card thing and they'll send you the new board and wait for you to return the old one. What they don't tell you (until you're ready to do it) is that they charge you $10 for the service.
I'm still apprehensive about using these RAM cards, though. I suppose I'll run them in the new board, which leads to the question, should I connect everything as-is and run the memtest before anything else? Obviously, any failure would point at cards or incompatibility between the two. (then I'll have to go through the whole RMA thing with Patriot! :banghead:

You don't know how much of a grueling experience it is for me to deal with this machine.icnic: I'm taking no chances! I will definitely have the hard drive wiped and re-load Windows, but I'm just wanting to know if I'll be able to boot and run the memtest as usual.

I need to get back to making videos!

https://www.youtube.com/user/ElderlyIron

oh yes I do. I've had to do it more times than I care to count. But in the end, you should be very satisfied. If it were me I would RMA the board and the ram at the same time. From looking at your results, it is difficult to tell if it is the board or the ram. There is no consistency there. A bad ram stick should error no matter what slot you put it in and a bad dim slot should error no matter what ram you put in it. In my opinion (which isn't worth much) I think you have some of both. It seems to me that the board and the ram is bad. I would RMA them both at the same time. BTW, I have done the advanced RMA with Asus before and they didn't charge me anything. I'm looking forward to watch your You Tube videos.

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Good grief I am with essenbe those results are shockers again RMA them as suggested. I think it is rotten luck to have been dealt that garbage and I would not be slow in letting them know what I thought of the crappy deal.

 

[Elderly Iron]

A new board is coming, though he says that it looks more like processor errors because of the random way it happens without consistency in either the board or the cards.

Looks like I may be in for more fun after all...

 

[essenbe]

What he is saying is it looks like a bent CPU pin, which is user error and is not covered under warranty. I strongly suggest before sending it in, you check the CPU pins and if none are bent take some excellent pictures that clearly show the pins and if possible, the date and serial number of the board, all in 1 picture if possible. They will be extremely hard to get pictures of though, but with a You Tube channel, I'm sure you have better photo equipment than I do. BTW, I went to your You Tube and saw one episode. I thought you did quite well. I also suggest you do the same when the new board arrives. If it has bent pins, pack it back up and RMA it. But, they will only do 1 advanced RMA.

CPUs are very resilient and are usually the last component of a computer that will have errors.

 

[Elderly Iron]

I'm back! Where have I been? Going 'round and 'round with Asus, of course! I did an advanced return, only to realize they would bill me at MSRP for the new board if the old one had ANY damage whatsoever. I told them I broke a tab off the ram release, and they said to send it in anyway and that it "Shouldn't be that big of a deal". I sent the new one back instead. That's a $350 chance I couldn't afford to take. Finally got a new RMA and sent the old board in. They sent an email stating the serial number was missing, voiding the warranty and I need to send $100 before they begin any work. I clicked "dispute" on the page and explained the situation. Again they persisted that I send in $100. I disputed again stating that I researched to find a 50% failure rate for that model board for the time period in which it was manufactured, it has been bad from day one, Fry's admits they could have returned it to the shelf without checking for a serial number and re-sold it, 3 Asus techs has deemed it defective and I finished with "Do you stand behind your products or not?" 2 days later I get a notice that there's a package en route to me FedEx. I get it back with 2 pins glaringly bent. I called immediately and they did an advanced RMA on the spot. As soon as I had a tracking number for the old board, they were to send a new one. By the start of the 3rd week, I called. They were waiting for parts for my old board. I asked where the new one was I was supposed to have gotten. Well, it got lost in the system somehow, but my old one should be fixed by the end of the week. No, no fellas. You said new board, and I don't want that old board back. After some deliberation, I again received a FedEx notice.

So far, it has performed as one would think it is supposed to. However. Wanting to update the bios, I find a page (As I didn't bookmark the bios update page when I started all this...) saying it is recommended that z-87 Deluxe boards have the updated bios for quad core processors BEFORE the processors are installed! Really? So I look. Sure enough. My board comes new, ready with a quad core socket, but the old, original, non-quad bios.

So, here I sit. No BSOD's, but performance is slowly degrading on the video editor software and will freeze if you edit long enough, making you re-open the program to continue, and IE10 shuts down for no apparent reason whatsoever. It also keeps telling me that my peripherals will run faster if I plug them into a USB3.0 port. Problem there is that everything on here is already in the 3.0 ports. The splash screen runs for 23-26 seconds as well, even though the maximum time is 15 seconds, and I had already set the time out to 3 seconds. Change it as often as you like, it's going to be a minimum of 23 seconds for the splash screen.

I have my doubts that updating the bios will help anything, but I'll give it a go again as soon as I figure out how all over again. So, improved I would say, but not solved.

Jeff