Solved New motherboard Gigabyte 970A-DS3 Now BSOD and freezes

[Spectrum 64K]

Hi all,

This is my first post so please be gentle. I'm not a great computer expert as you'll gather from my post but as I'm absolutely skint at the moment, I can't really afford to take my PC into a shop.

I had built for me about 2 years ago a PC. It has a Phenom ll X3 at 2.8Ghz. It has a 64GB SSD and a 500GD WD blue secondary drive. I have 4 x 2GB Corsair CM3X2048-1333C9DHX installed.

I decided I wanted to OC as I was starting to get lag when running 4 poker sites, 16 tables, over two screens using Holdem Manager 2 and broadcasting via Teamviewer. I therefore bought a 3 pipe cooler with a fan and went about installing this to my CPU. I had to take out the stock clippy thing as this screwed from the back. When doing it I used a screwdriver, slipped and scored ther board across several tracks. I then tried it and of course it didn't work.

I went out and bought a Gigabyte 970A-DS3. :huh:

I installed everything, rebiult windows 7 Pro and it was running OK. Then it would freeze completely and sometimes BSOD.

I have tested all RAM in Memtest 3.5 single CPU (when selecting multi cpu it does nothing) and each on their own in any slot are fine. It's when I pair them I get problems. No matter which two, in which pairing. memtest crashes on test 1 at 57% and reboots.

I had a look on here and got an old thread HERE, However, the settings in this take my RAM to like 3500MHZ! and of course do not work. Some of the points are configured differently too due to different motherboard.

So, how do I proceed? Do I RMA the ram, the board, do soemthing else? All suggestions are welcome.

Many thanks

A novice

Ps - When running Prime 95 it works with any one chip, or two chips but not with 3 or 4. It crashes sporadically with 4 in and sometimes doesn't run at all.

 

[HonorGamer]

If your getting blue screens then: http://www.sevenforums.com/crashes-debugging/96879-blue-screen-death-bsod-posting-instructions.html

An i would suggest to not OC, and put everyting back on default settings.

 

[Spectrum 64K]

HI Honor,

Thank you for your reply. The blue screens were irregular. The more common occurrence was a complete lock up where nothing would work. No key strokes, no mouse movement - nothing. Several times I had to hold the power button down to shut it off.

Sometimes now my PC comes on with the wrong time and date also, or forgets the bios and I load defaults (I always load defaults, no OC at the moment). I have changed the CMOS battery twice in case it was that.

Any further advice?

 

[writhziden]

Software Conflicts:

What you describe is usually a hardware issue. To rule out software first, though:

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorial...ation-conflicts-performing-clean-startup.html​

Hardware Tests:

Run some hardware checks.

• If you are overclocking any hardware, please stop.
  
  
• If you have an SSD, make sure the following are up to date:
  • SSD firmware
  • BIOS Version
  • Chipset Drivers
  • Hard disk controller drivers/SATA drivers
  • If you have a Marvell IDE ATA/ATAPI device, make sure the drivers are up to date from the Intel site or Marvell site and not from your motherboard/vendor support site.
  
  
• Run all but the advanced tests with SeaTools for HDDs.
  SeaTools for Windows
  
  SeaTools for DOS​
  
  
• 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 to test the graphics card GPU. Let it run until the GPU temperatures even out or until the GPU temperatures reach a dangerous level (you can find the max temperature for your card on either the nVidia or AMD sites; if you are not sure, ask us). The goal is to get a steady temperature, find out if the GPU is overheating, or to see if there are any artifacts present in the test itself: look for strange pixelated patterns on the screen or colors that do not look like they belong. Then use the |MG| Video Memory Stress Test 1.7.116 Download to test your graphics card memory. Let the memory test run for at least seven passes; the more the better.
    
    
  • Run http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/100352-hardware-stress-test-prime95.html 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.
    
    
  • Follow the steps for doing CPU stress test using IntelBurnTest
  
  
• Run the boot version of Memtest86+ paying close attention to Parts 2 and 3 of the tutorial. Also, in case Memtest86+ misses anything and comes up with no errors, run the extended version of the Windows Memory Diagnostics Tool for at least five passes. These you may want to run overnight since they take a long time to complete (run them an hour before bed each of the next two nights and check before going to sleep that they are still running).
  
  
     Warning

  Before you proceed with the following, answer these two questions: Are you still under warranty? Does your warranty allow you to open up the machine to check hardware? If you are unsure of the answers to these questions, contact your system manufacturer. :warn:WARNING: The steps that follow can void your warranty!!!
  
  
  For Part 3: If You Have Errors: If you swap any memory components, follow these steps for ESD safety:
  1. Shut down and turn off your computer.
  2. Unplug all power supplies to the computer (AC Power then battery for laptops, AC power for desktops)
  3. Hold down the power button for 30 seconds to close the circuit and ensure all power drains from components.
  4. Make sure you are grounded by using proper grounding techniques, i.e. work on an anti-static workbench, anti-static desk, or an anti-static pad. Hold something metallic while touching it to the anti-static surface, or use an anti-static wristband to attach to the anti-static material while working. If you do not have an anti-static workbench, desk, or pad, you can use your computer tower/case by finding a metal hold in it, such as a drive bay.
  Once these steps have been followed, it is safe to remove and replace components within your computer.

 

[Spectrum 64K]

Thanks for the list of help. I shall start working through it now. and let you know the results.

 

[Spectrum 64K]

Going through the list, I've had Prime95 running large FFT all day and then the hard RAM at one point for 3 hours. All fine. I'm going to start turning stuff on. I shall let you know.

 

[writhziden]

Prime95 is an excellent method for testing the CPU and some of the RAM. It sometimes picks up RAM issues other programs miss. Memtest86+ is more reliable than any other RAM diagnostic out there, but it is also not 100% foolproof. I would still recommend at least 7-10 passes of Memtest86+ to check the RAM if you have any more crashes.


Also, if you have crashes or freezes again, please follow the http://www.sevenforums.com/crashes-debugging/96879-blue-screen-death-bsod-posting-instructions.html. Those reports can help to narrow down software conflicts, hardware issues, etc. even if you are not getting a blue screen.

 

[Spectrum 64K]

Hi there,

Thanks for the help so far. I've copied the file here as I didn't want to make a duplicate thread. If you would like top move my thread to the Crashes forum, please can a MOD do so?

Many thanks for your help so far.

The computer still won't pass Memtest86+. I'm at a loss now I really am.

 

[HonorGamer]

Hello again Spectrum,

Try uninstalling Avast! and installing Microsoft Security Essentials - Free Antivirus for Windows as 2 of your DMP files are blaming avast for being the problem. So for now lets try knocking that out of the way.

Also try updating your ATI drivers here: AMD Support & Drivers

After both are updated please post back if another BSOD occurs.

 

[Solarstarshines]

Hi there,

Thanks for the help so far. I've copied the file here as I didn't want to make a duplicate thread. If you would like top move my thread to the Crashes forum, please can a MOD do so?

Many thanks for your help so far.

The computer still won't pass Memtest86+. I'm at a loss now I really am.

All signs point to ram I mean you tryed different configurations and it crashed

Either you have a bad slot or the ram is simply not good
I would check out the QVL qualified vendors list return that ram grab new one's and seeif it changes most likley you have failing sticks of ram

 

[HonorGamer]

Hi there,

Thanks for the help so far. I've copied the file here as I didn't want to make a duplicate thread. If you would like top move my thread to the Crashes forum, please can a MOD do so?

Many thanks for your help so far.

The computer still won't pass Memtest86+. I'm at a loss now I really am.

All signs point to ram I mean you tryed different configurations and it crashed

Either you have a bad slot or the ram is simply not good
I would check out the QVL qualified vendors list return that ram grab new one's and seeif it changes most likley you have failing sticks of ram

That too! Thanks for the catch!

 

[Spectrum 64K]

Hello all,

It looks like I was misguided in my assumptions. I downloaded and burnt a new copy of Memtest86+ 4.20 and ran that with two DIMMs in the first channel (1st and third actually) slots. These ran for 7 passes with no errors. I moved these two to the other slots and these again ran for 7 passes with no errors.

I put all 4 sticks in and ran them for 7 passes with no errors! I'm now completely confused. I am going back to the beginning of this thread to try the list of things given after un-installing avast.

I may even perform a clean system start with the disc as this will remove any software issues, I hope.

As for the upgrade to the SSD, I can't find driver updates for it anywhere. If anyone can, please help.

 

[Spectrum 64K]

Hi all,

I have followed the step by step guide and have the following news:

I can not find a software conflict. I have updated all drivers, Windows, and I'm now running MSE instead of AVAST. The new Memtest+86 4.20 showed no errors after 7 passes with all 4 x 2gb sticks inserted. When I insert 4 sticks the computer boots, gets to windows and then randomly freezes. Nothing unlocks it until I hold the power button down.

I have attached the latest sevenforum tools diagnostic. I have gone and ordered a 4 x 4GB kit as an upgrade-cum-sort-my-problem-out purchase int he hope this will work. I made sure it was on the manufacturers list. Other than trying this next week, I'm unsure how to proceed.

I may need to tweak the bios but this is where my knowledge becomes non-existent:huh:.

All help appreciated.

 

[Spectrum 64K]

Can anyone take a look at this please?

 

[Dwarf]

One thing that you could do, and I have a bootable USB stick prepared for this purpose, is to see whether a bootable version of Linux, such as Ubuntu, is able to run without having the problems you are currently having. It is a good way to separate hardware and software issues (since Windows is not being invoked). If it turns out that you have no problems with this, and that the problems return when trying to run Windows, then it could be an issue with some aspect of your installation, e.g. a faulty/missing/incorrectly installed driver or a problematic update.

 

[Spectrum 64K]

I have been running with two sticks of RAM, consistently and constantly for a week now. I can only assume that the system doesn't like 4 sticks inserted. I have ordered 4 from the manufacturers list so will give them a whirl.

 

[Golden]

Hi,

One thing that hasn't yet been mentioned, or perhaps I have missed it:

1. Can you confirm that you have installed the latest drivers for the motherboard?
2. What version of the BIOS are you running?

Regards,
Golden

 

[Spectrum 64K]

Hi,

One thing that hasn't yet been mentioned, or perhaps I have missed it:

1. Can you confirm that you have installed the latest drivers for the motherboard?
2. What version of the BIOS are you running?

Regards,
Golden

Thanks for this, Golden.

I updated the BIOS to F3 (the latest version for this motherboard).

I just want to say thank you to all of you for the help. I guess with the RAM passing the test but failing when in as a 4 there must be some BIOS settings that get it to work but I simply could not get it to work.

With the new Corsair Vengence 16GB kit I bought from Amazon for £65 (1600 MHZ) the computer is running faster than ever and has been running flawlessly all today on Prime95.

Now it's a question of whether or not I sell the old RAM as is on eBay or RMA it first. Memtest86+ says it's fine but I don't want to pass on less than perfect RAM.