System reboots after CPU upgrade

[mpicco]

First of all, Im sorry if Im posting in the wrong section. It's hard to classify this problem of mine, so if it needs moving, please mods just make it so.

I have a desktop PC with an abit AW9D-Max mobo, 6 gigs of ram, and a couple of hard drives.
I was running a Core2Duo (e4400 I think?), and decided that I'd see what else fitted the mobo's socket (LGA 775), headed to eBay with my results and found a used QX6700 there, got it and it arrived here two days ago.

Installation went fairly smoothly, but when I booted into Windows 7, it restarted after showing me the desktop.
Further attempts to get things working spiraled downwards, safe mode worked, but no way to get normal mode to boot up.

Steps as follows:
- Tried to use a windows USB stick to repair start up, several times
- Updated the BIOS firmware from version 16 to 17
- Checked for temperature being an issue, doesn't seem that way (I even placed one of those portable A/Cs blasting cold air straight into the computer's open case).
*by this point, all of my USB devices except a mouse have been disconnected from the computer*
- Disabled the BIOS's safety features as far as temperature and voltage (re-enabled them after this was obviously not the problem)
- Reinstalled windows freshly: Installation went okay, but after the first reboot (before the prompts for Username and computer name, etc), it rebooted on its own again. Started fresh.
- Second attempt at clean install, went better, even got to Windows desktop. Opened IE8 to get Hardware Monitor to check my temperatures, as soon as IE opened up, automatic reboot (no BSOD or anything)
- Boot into safe mode. Safe mode works absolutely fine. Which makes me think there can't be something wrong with the new processor, otherwise Safe mode shouldn't work?
- Restart back into normal mode, random reboot again after getting to desktop.

So even a fresh install is not "holding up" before it automatically reboots

I have troubleshot this to the best of my knowledge, and now I need help.
My next few steps would be to remove the new processor and replace it with the (100% tested working) old one, and check if Windows works. I will be doing that soon. In the meantime, I'm leaving this thread up hoping for some more ideas.

Thanks

*update
Went into IE8 in Safe mode and got a random reboot. Safe mode is not working 100% either.

 

[mpicco]

Could this be a power issue? I have a 600W power supply, it sounds far fetched but I've tried everything so far...

 

[rvcjew]

Could this be a power issue? I have a 600W power supply, it sounds far fetched but I've tried everything so far...

your for sure using an 8pin power for cpu and not a four, also what power supply model is it. What happens if you boot into a live distro of ubuntu, is it stable?

 

[mpicco]

The motherboard only has a 4 pin connector... That's what I plugged in to it. The manufacturer lists the CPU as compatible.
It did boot into an Ubuntu live USB, and it seemed to work alright, and then I tried installing it to the hard drive. Half way through the process got another random reboot.

I took the machine to a local repair shop, they have some stuff to test the mobo a little better than I do, so we'll see how it goes.

 

[rvcjew]

If this is indeed your motherboard then it is a 8pin cpu power http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Abit/AW9D-MAX/images/board.jpg ABIT AW9D-MAX Review | techPowerUp I await what they find. A e4400 is 65w TDP and a QX6700 is 130w TDP therefore it is probably a power draw issue.

 

[mpicco]

Yeah in that case I plugged the 8 pin power into it, I was replying based only on my memory since the computer is gone to the shop. Will update when I get it back.

 

[rvcjew]

Ok then.

 

[mpicco]

Keeping in mind I have that QX6700 in there, 6 gigs of ram occupying all of the slots, a Radeon HD4890, an SSD and a regular 1 TB SATA HDD... would that setup be too much for those 600 W?

 

[rvcjew]

Depends what PSU it is. You know the model? But no I think you would be good.

 

[mpicco]

Guy at the shop says it's most likely a faulty CPU. He's gonna test it on another motherboard today and see if it still fails. He thinks for some reason it's cutting its own power when it reaches some (rather low like 70º) temp

 

[rvcjew]

70c for instance would be hot you mean Fahrenheit right?

 

[mpicco]

No, C...
Processor runs at 50 something while idle on the BIOS. That is with a funny-size passive heatsink, with a fan turned on it. It runs cool as a cucumber even to touch. So it has to be something internal with the CPU, it's not the mobo rebooting the system for safety reasons (specially since I disabled those options on BIOS)

 

[Digerati]

Did you ensure that CPU is on the motherboard's list of supported CPUs?

 

[rvcjew]

Did you ensure that CPU is on the motherboard's list of supported CPUs?

Abit site says he should be golden as of bios version 16.

 

[mpicco]

Well the final verdict is that the PSU is at fault. The guy ran it with a 500 something Watt unit and it held up okay, so it's time for a new PSU.
Is Nox to be trusted? I see an 850w unit for 72 €, which seems kinda in the ballpark. It's 72€ more than I wanted to spend, though.

 

[Digerati]

Never heard of them. I like Corsair, Antec, and Seasonic PSUs. But really, brand name is less important than being 80 PLUS certified to ensure at least an 82% "flat" efficiency rating across "all" realistic loads. Achieving a high, flat efficiency requires quality design, quality parts, and quality construction - regardless the brand name stamped on the case. So if 80 PLUS certified, the right connectors, enough power to support your current and future needs, and a decent warranty, you should be good to go.

 

[rvcjew]

What site are you wanting to buy it from, and the psu is most important part of the whole system so you don't want to cheap out on it as it will come back to bite you and usually with a hefty price tag.

 

[mpicco]

I'm from Portugal so I'm limited in my options. No big bulk retailers here like newegg or best buy, gotta work with the prices we get...

 

[rvcjew]

I'm from Portugal so I'm limited in my options. No big bulk retailers here like newegg or best buy, gotta work with the prices we get...

So then what's a retailer you will use? Maybe we can look through it and recommend something.

 

[mpicco]

Well some of the websites I usually shop from are MHR or .: Novo Atalho Informática :.
Since they're in portuguese here are some direct links for the psu categories
http://*******/1C1zIgX
http://*******/1sl4RLj

*edit
Ok so bit ly addresses are not allowed?
http://www.mhr.pt/615-fontes-de-alimentacao?orderby=price&orderway=asc&id_category=615&n=24

http://novoatalho.pt/MixedProducts....7,502,562,600,602,645,703,728,733,759,763,982