GA-890GPA-UD3H instability problems

[Skinfaxe]

Hi!
I have the same problem. Random BSODs just when the OS has finished loading. If I shut down the pc and wait 10-20 seconds and then restart, everything works just fine. Did you ever find out whet was causing this? Was it a faulty motherboard? Bad power supply? Bad drivers?

After many many tests and os re-insallations I know that my hard drive is ok, my memory is ok, my video card is ok, it was not (norton) anti-virus, it was not a bad windows installation, it was not a corrupted swap file, it was not old drivers or old BIOS and it was not C1E.

I will try to RMA the mother-board or try a different power supply in case the one I got is bad.

Please reply if you have any advice to give.

BR,
Skinfaxe

[Dark Mantis]

The first thing I would have thought of is the PSU. Have you tried to see if it is woirking ok disconnected from the motherboard etc? There is a compatibility issue between certain boards and PSUs. What make and model is it?

[Skinfaxe]

Hi!
Thank you for your reply.

PC Specs:

PSU: OCZ ModXStream Pro 700W
MB: GA890-GPA-UD3H
CPU: Phenom II X6 1055T CPU (with stock cooler)
Graphics: XFX Radeon HD 5830
RAM: 4GB PNY Optima PC3-10666 (1333MHZ)
HD: WD Caviar Black 500GB (WD5001AALS)
Case: CoolerMaster HAF 922
OS: Windows 7 Professional 64-bit

Do you know if there is a compability issue between the  ModXStream PSU and the mobo?

BR,
Skinfaxe

[Dark Mantis]

Do you know if there is a compability issue between the  ModXStream PSU and the mobo?

Not that I know of but to be honest in general I have noticed that a lot of problems seem to involve OCZ products. That is not to say that they are not of good quality but a general observation.

[Skinfaxe]

Hi!
Interesting comment about OCZ.
When I first build the PC I was using OCZ memory. Had a lot of problems no matter how I twealked voltage and timing. In the end I got PNY memory from another PC that I knew was working well. Less problems now but still get the random BSODs at startup relatively often. Maybe whatever problem I have was made worse by the OCZ memory? I tried 3 different sets of OCZ memory. I could never get the 1600 MHz to run at that speed (tried 2 sets). The 1333 MHz worked better but randomly faild memtest86 using manufacturer recommended settings.

The only components I still have not tried changing are the PSU and mother board. Have not really considered the PSU to be faulty. Never had that happen to me before. I have had bad mobos though.

BR,
Skinfaxe

[Dark Mantis]

The best solution would be to borrow a PSU from a friend or something and try swapping it out for a short while. You don't want to invest in a new PSU if the OCZ one is ok. Personally I swear by Corsair. They make brilliant quality products and I am running a HX850 PSU and Dominator 1600 memory and all without a problem.

[Skinfaxe]

Just got back from the store, got a Corsair HX850 (pure coincidence that you recommeded the same one). So far so good. Will see how this pans out. 30 day return policy in case I change my mind. Should be enough time to find out if it actually was the OCZ PSU.

Will keep you posted. And again, thanks for taking the time to help. I do really appreciate it.

BR,
Skinfaxe

[Dark Mantis]

Yes in my experience you made a good choice and the 7 years warranty just goes to show the confidence Corsair have in the PSU.

[Skinfaxe]

I just had another BSOD a few minutes ago (just after booting up the PC). This was the first one since Saturday morning. The OCZ PSU was not the problem. So it has the be the MB. Well, well... Will probably replace the 890GPA board later today or tomorrow. Got an Asus M4A89GTD PRO/USB3 waiting for some action.

Almost got enough parts to build another PC now. Just need another working motherboard I guess...

About to BSOD, got to go!
 

[Dark Mantis]

You do seem to have swapped out most of the components so maybe it is down to the motherboard. Get it RMAd.

[Skinfaxe]

Just wanted to update this thread since I think I found the reason for my BSODs:

After just seeing how how memtest86 suddenly reported problems with the memory I knew was working well on a different PC I recalled reading something about stability problems when in unganged memory mode. Hence I verified the memory sticks one by one in different slots. The memory passed the test as expected. I installed both sticks again and changed the memory mode to ganged. Have not had a BSOD in 3 days now.

Talked with AMD support since I suspected a faulty secondary memory controller no the CPU. They said it was a possibility and provided me with an RMA. Now I am a bit reluctant to send back the CPU since my system seems to be working OK. Will however do that this evening after work.

The AMD guys still said it could be memory compatibility issues. Don't know if I understood him correctly but he said that unganged mode was more intended for single-sided memory while I was running dual-sided memory. Have not been able to find any concrete information that supports his claim though. If anyone reading this has some information to share regarding single-sided vs. double-sided, please do so.

So in short:
Problem: BSOD.
Workaround: Run memory in Ganged mode.
Possible Cause 1: Faulty secondary memory controller on CPU.
Possible Cause 2: Memory incompatibly issue.

BR,
Skinfaxe

[absic]

Hi there,

I had a Phenom ii 965BE C2 140W CPU and, when I was using it, I could run 8 Gig of Double Sided Corsair Dominator RAM in unganged mode.

I've been doing a lot of digging with regard to the many issues with the AM3 CPU's and the way they work with RAM and, in fact have just finished reading this article: http://www.ilsistemista.net/index.php/hardware-analysis/3-the-phenom-phenomii-memory-controller-and-the-ganged-vs-unganged-question.html?start=1

Check out page 2 as it says there:
3. AMD officially suggest to enable unganged mode to benefit from increased parallelism
This seems to contradict what you are being told by AMD support and, if you haven't already come across this article it is worth a read.

Still, thanks for the update and I hope that your RMA goes smoothly and everything works OK when you get the CPU back. Please let us know how you get on.

[Skinfaxe]

Hi again!
One last update on this topic:
I had my old CPU RMA'd and got a new one back from AMD. That fixed it!
Now I am running 8GB RAM (4*2GB) in 1600 MHz unganged mode without any problems at all.

PSU: OCZ ModXStream Pro 700W
MB: GA890-GPA-UD3H [FD]
CPU: Phenom II X6 1055T [stock cooler]
Graphics: XFX Radeon HD 5830
RAM: 8GB Corsair Dominator CMD4GX3M2B1600C8 (4*2GB) [8-8-8-24-2T, 1.625V]
HD: WD Caviar Black 500GB (WD5001AALS)
Case: CoolerMaster HAF 922
OS: Windows 7 Professional 64-bit

So it was a faulty memory controller on the CPU.

Also,
AMD customer care - best support experience in a very long long time.

BR,
Fredrik

[absic]

Hi and thanks for the update.

Interesting to note that it was a problem with the Memory controller on the CPU.

[Dark Mantis]

Hi and thanks for the update.

Interesting to note that it was a problem with the Memory controller on the CPU.

I seem to remember that this isn't the first time that you have had that recently absic?