GA 790XTA-UD4 -> Fail to BOOT 7 times of 10 !

[taz100]

Have a New rig:

AMD PhenomII X4 955
Gigabyte 790XTA-UD4   ->F3 BIOS
XFX HD 5830 1GB
 X-Fi Platinum,
2* 2GB Corsair XMS3  1600mhz   -> (CMX4GX3M2A1600C8 = Not in Gigabytes mem list!)
 Samsung 1TB S-ATA 2
Fractal Design Tesla 650W
Win7

So 7 Boots of 10 Fails with result of that the  HD5830 Fan runs 100% and the Screen Dont start at all not even monitor led gets green.
I was sure this was a faulty Graphic card, so I tried it at friends computer with No errors on the boots there, 15 tries all perfect!
I even tried my OLD x1800xt on my new rig with 20 Perfect Boots ! so that worked fine..

I have tried all Memory slots with 1 RAM at time with No improvements
Have changed RAM to lowest possible walues according to what CPU ID program says about the RAM, and tried Default by BIOS and to the settings that the RAM should have 1600 1.65v 8-8-8-24  But NOTHING makes any differense !

still only 3 boots of 10 makes the computer to start with monitor, and When it starts it works Perfect in Games or Apps util I Shut Down the PC ...

What could Possibly be wrong here ? ? ?

PLEASE HELP !   
/TAZ100

[Dark Mantis]

Well the obvious idea to come up with is the memory but that seems to easy so let's look at other options. Clear your CMOS and load BIOS optimised defaults. Just to make sure we start with a clean field. You will then need to change your boot dreive in the BIOS to let it find it. Next there should be a setting (I am not sure where but you can check around) for a hard drive delay. Just set it for a small amount. F10 to exit and save. Try booting.

[taz100]

Did Clear CMOS and loaded Opt.Default  right HDD was first on boot order.      (  Default was IDE mode from install of win7 )

-  Did however Not find Any button for Delaying any harddrives or anything simmilar.

System is stlil as bad at booting as before...

[absic]

Hi there,

Same board, same memory (running 8 Gigs) exactly the same issues when I was running the 965 CPU. Swapped for a 1090T everything is now fine.
Would suggest you re-set BIOS to optimized defaults and leave all the DRAM settings to AUTO. This will back off the RAM to 1333 Mhz but you should stop getting the BSOD's.

I know this is most probably not what you want to do and like a lot of us are thinking why, if I bought 1600 Mhz RAM do I have to downgrade it to 1333 Mhz to get it to run? That is a very fair question and one that has been raised so often recently that I am currently running some CPU/RAM Mobo tests to try and come up with some answers, and guidance in how to solve this. Keep an eye on this thread: http://forum.giga-byte.co.uk/index.php/topic,2379.0.html as I will be updating it as the testing progresses. (over the next 7 - 10 days)

These problems are not only limited to Gigabyte boards and are mainly due to the AM3's structure and the fact that the Memory Controller, that is built into the processor, is actually designed for 1333 Mhz and slower and, from the posts I am seeing here and on other forums regarding this issue, it seems to be the X4's that have the biggest problems.

Another issue could be if you are using AHCI. I have struggled to get my system running with AHCI enabled and eventually gave up and am now running in IDE mode. I don't have an answer for this problem and believe me, I have tried to solve it.

[taz100]

hi

Well from start of installation I only had everyting at DEFAULT optimized and BIOS did have all settings as it wanted  DDR at 1333 1.5v ect.
I didnt tuch anything and from there with new install the problems "started",  so those settings will Not make my Rig boot better than my poorly 3 times of 10 as I have today.
 And I run that settings Y-day too after the CMOS reset Advice , and It was Not more stable still...

Is this a Phenom problem that dosent occur on X6 ?  (didnt even think CPU could be the trouoble here)
Or is it something with Giggabyte MOBO ?

 

[absic]

Are you running your system in AHCI mode? This was the main cause of my early system instability. If you are not running AHCI Mode then ......

Are you running your RAM in ganged mode? This doesn't help system stability with these AM3 CPU's and AMD themselves advise to run in Unganged Mode.

Are you running in Dual Channel configuration? If you are try changing this as it might help.

Not sure if the problem is CPU, Memory or Mobo BIOS that is why I am running some tests. By it's nature the AM3 CPU memory architecture is, I believe from my research, set at 1333 Mhz or lower. Anything above that has to be set in BIOS and it is not clear from any source if this enters the realm of overclocking or not.

Is it limited to certain CPU's? Again I do not know the answer and despite hours of trawling through the net I haven't been able to come up with a proper answer to this question. It does seem to be more noticeable on the Phenom ii X4 but this could just be due to the numbers available and the fact that more users choosing the higher end AMD CPU's are also more likely to be the ones choosing 1600 Mhz RAM and noticing that there is a problem. From my own experience I had issues with my X4 but my X6 is running OK. This could be due to the updated BIOS and is another of the reasons that I am doing this testing.

Is 1600 Mhz actually supported on these Motherboards? Again this seems to be a grey area. If you look in the manual there is no mention of 1600 Mhz RAM it states: Support for DDR3 1866 (O.C.)/1333/1066 Mhz Memory Modules. To get the 1866 Mhz rating you are limited to using slots 3&4 on the motherboard. So, no mention there of 1600 Mhz RAM but, and her's the rub, it clearly shows 1600 Mhz RAM on the QVL for this board so Gigabyte, by implication, are stating that they can get 1600 Mhz RAM to run and I can also get it running but, at the present, that has only been with the X6 CPU.

Sorry I can't give a definite answer but believe me, you are not the only person facing these problems and it is not just on Gigabyte boards. I might be able to offer a further insight later today or tomorrow as I will be testing my system later on with the 965 CPU. That should at least give me a better insight as to where this is all leading.

[absic]

Hi Taz,

Just swapped myX6 1090T CPU for the 965 as part of the memory testing thing I am doing. It's strange but at the moment the system seems to be OK. I haven't run any tests yet just getting ready to do so but, I have to say, I couldn't have got this far before. You might like to try the F4A Beta BIOS that I am running, to see if that helps your problem you can find a link for it in this thread: http://forum.giga-byte.co.uk/index.php/topic,1949.0.html#lastPost

If you do try it and find that your problems are cured could you let us know as all information regarding this problem will really help.

[absic]

OK,

I have finished running memtest on my own system and was able to run 8 Gig of 1600 Mhz RAM without any issues for over 4 hours on F4a BIOS.
I then repeated the test using the F3 BIOS and ran for 2 hours without errors.

For full details and pictures check the link I posted earlier.

I really think you should check in BIOS under Integrated Peripherals, just to see if you are actually running in AHCI Mode.

[Dark Mantis]

I agree with absic it does sound like your are running it as AHCI.

[taz100]

Hi thx for helping.

But Im Still NOT using AHCI mode...  
Installed averyting in Default, BUT I did try turn on AHCI mode later but it failed to find the drives, so i Turned back to IDE mode.
And after CMOS reset it worked again in IDE !

Did change to F4a BIO,S and the boot errors of a Monitor that Fails to start, got even Worse, that meant that it occured more frequent with F4a than with F3 & F2.

Anoying to actually hear the windows do a Full boot with the login sound but Monitor Dont boot up in that case. And same time the GPU fan goes 100% screaming.
That is what happens in my 7 times of 10 Boots. And the 3 times of 10 works perfect, no matter what I done in BIOS (exept the AHCI swap in IDe mode, wich shuldnt even work)

The support from where I bought the stuff told me to try my old PSU wich Only has 1 4pin CPU cord, he said it wont matter, so I tried that and I dont know What the result can Tell because of the 4pin instead of a 8pin cable that is needed.
 Anyhow 20 Boot ups of 20 got the FAIL of monitor (100% fail).  Dont even know What It ment ...
 Maby someone here Know Why the support told me to even try this test !?

/

[Dark Mantis]

Unless I missed it I don't think you said which slots you have the memory modules in?

[taz100]

I tried SLOT 1 and 2  (Blue)   and  3 and 4 got No Difference in 1600mode anyway, tried all memory modes accordingly to CPU ID in slot 1 and 2, even down to 400mhz and still no better booting.

---->  To absic115  
I looked at your screen in your test, and wondering if YOU have SATA3 drives in  IDE 1 Master ?

I only use the Blue ones that is IDE 2 Master for Win7   and the next salve, master, slave for 2 drives and dvd player. (cause all my drives are SATA 2 or SATA 1)  Should tht make any difference ?

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Still have to point out that I never got any IN Windows Crashes !!! only Boot errors with No Monitor !  

And Memtest 4.1 Passed 1 round perfect,  50min it took.

[Dark Mantis]

Your memory would need to be in slots 3 and 4  if they are 1333 or above. I am not saying that will cure it but it might help.

[absic]

From what you are saying here, I don't think this is a memory problem at all.

There might be a motherboard BIOS issue with this Graphics Card and, I believe there have been similar problems with other motherboard/higher end graphics card combinations that have only been resolved with a new BIOS.

It might be worth contacting Gigabyte Tech Support, just to see if this is the case with your situation.

[taz100]

Your memory would need to be in slots 3 and 4  if they are 1333 or above. I am not saying that will cure it but it might help.

My Manual says :  To reach DD3 1866mhz or above then use DDR 3 & DDR 4  slot (white ones)   

I swap to those 2 and my system hardly booted 1 try of 8 maby !
Now they are back @ 1600 at DDR 1 & 2 slots again...
Must go back to F3 also..F4a made less frequent boots to work.


Well What BIOS should be new?  the HD5830? havent seen any BIOS to that one!
Gigabyte support ONLY tells me to try different memories even I told then the same story You have read. ( And I cant lend any other DDR3 to try even!)