x58a-ud3r continual restarts every 3 seconds

[philomachus]

I'm having a problem and haven't been able to isolate the issue.  I've recently put together a new computer which was working fine for 2 days.  Then - after I went for a 10 minute walk, I came back to find the computer was 'frozen up'.  Initially, I thought it was an issue with the wireless keyboard/mouse but after shutting the computer down, it continuously restarts every 3 seconds.

System Specs:
GA-x58a-udr3 rev 2.0 motherboard
i7-950 3.06 GHz intel Processor
3x2Gb Crucial Memory PC3 12800
1 Gb GTX 560 Ti Video Card
850W Thermaltake PSU

I've tried removing all the memory chips and rearranging just 1 chip in each of the slots with no luck.  I've tried re-seating the processor/heat-sink.  And I've tried my old video card, none of which changed anything.  I've also tried a different power supply to no avail.  Both power supplies and video cards work fine on my old Giga-byte motherboard.  I've noticed that the SB Voltage LED briefly lights up red right before the reboot.  I've also unplugged the reset switch in case that was shorted.

Oh - I've also reset the CMOS by pressing the reset button and removing the battery.  I guess that brings up another issue as to whether my RAID0 configured hard drives will loose everything that I've installed in the last couple days...

Thanks

[Dark Mantis]

Hi and welcome to the Gigabyte forum.

Firstly your RAID should be safe unless there is something wrong with it that is causing the issue. Although what ports have you got it on ?

I would say that there are several possible causes. You say you have removed the CPU to check. Did you clean off the thremal paste and reapply fresh when you reassembled ?

The memory should be in the DDR3_1, DDR3_3 and DDR3_5 slots.

I think the first thing to do would be an extended CMOS clear. Please follow these instructions exactly.

Remove the power cable from the mains supply and then press the power switch on the case for a few seconds just to drain any residual energy in the PSU capacitors.

Once done remove the motherboard battery for at least one hour before replacing it.
 
Next plug back into the mains supply and boot.
 
You will now need to enter the BIOS by pressing DEL and load Opimised BIOS Defaults.

Make any other changes to the BIOS settings to suit your self like disabling the floppy drive, disabling the full screen logo and making the HDD the primary boot device and then press F10 to save and exit.

[philomachus]

Thanks for the reply.

The RAID drives are configured on the Marvell chipset - ports GSATA3_6 and GSATA3_7.

Initially I troubleshooted with everything connected, but eventually resorted to just hooking up the power supply, video card, CPU and memory.  I did try an extended CMOS clear but that did not resolve the issue.  I also tried each of the memory sticks in each of ports 1,3 and 5.

I did not clear the paste and reapply new thermal paste to the CPU.  I will try that now and see if that resolves anything.  I will post an update afterwards.

[Dark Mantis]

You must always replace the thermal compound if you break the joint.

Your RAID is on the Marvell 9128 controller ports and that can cause problems as the chip just can't handle the throughput of RAID0. A l;ot of people myself included have fallen foul of this controller and trying to use RAID on it. You are safer using the Intel ICH10R controller even though it is SATA2 it is actually faster than the Marvell SATA3 ports.

Put your optical drive on to the other GSATA ports as it wont tax them so much. You cna set them to IDE mode to be safest and the Intel controller to RAID mode.

[philomachus]

I've cleaned off the old thermal paste and reapplied some new paste to the CPU and heatsink.  I've also removed the battery for an hour or so while the power supply is disconnected and the system is still rebooting every 2-3 seconds with no output to the monitor.  I can't see any physical issues with the CPU - it still looks new.

As soon as I can get past this issue, I will set up the RAID drives on the Intel controller.

The LED descriptions in the manual are not terribly precise but there are 2 sets of LEDs that light up for the entire 3 seconds followed by the SB_LED3 which blinks red right before the restart.  The 2 sets of LEDs that come on for the duration are as follows:

Set 1 - right below the DDR3_5 slot - above the ATX power cable.  From left to right, these are Green - Yellow - Green - Yellow with three lights next to them that do not come on.  I'm not sure if these are the NB Phase LEDs or the DDR Phase LEDs.  The same lights come on regardless of the number of memory chips that are installed - even none so I'm inclined to think they are the NB Phase LEDs.

Set 2 - near the 'bottom right' corner (below the DDR3 slots and to the right of the ATX connection).  I believe these are the Phase LEDs.  There are 6 lights that come on from left to right: 2 Green 2 Yellow and 2 Red.

Again - right before the restart the SB_LED3 light blinks red.  I'm guessing there must be an issue with either the motherboard or CPU.  Unfortunately I don't have another socket 1366 CPU to test or 1366 motherboard...  I'm hoping there is a resolution short of returning a part since that will take some time and my work is based around my computer.  (My old hard drive crashed leading me to build this system so I've been down a week already.)

Let me know if there are any thoughts on anything else to try.

Thanks

[Dark Mantis]

The thing is that all the LEDs are supposed to illuminate to start with. It is part of the POST procedure and they should extinguish as POST progresses.

I think it is possible the you have a short on the motherboard probably to the chassis.

The next thing is to remove the motherboard form the case and test it on the workbench.

Make sure that you observe anti-static precautions.

Lay some cardboard or use the motherboard box that is non-conductive on the worktop and remove the motherboard/CPU/heatsink/fan/buzzer/one stick of memory and PSU from the case and put it on the cardboard.

Add the keyboard and now I know you haven't got any graphics but try and boot.

The system should try and then fail emitting a series of beeps. Please post what sounds it makes.

[philomachus]

I actually have been working right on a wooden workbench and have been taking anti-static precautions.  I have been trying with the video card attached.  I tried without the video card and it's still doing the same thing - restarting every 3 seconds.  There are no beeps.  The crucial memory has some red LEDs on the top and bottom and I can see the lights turn on below the stick.  I've also tried each of the sticks in slot 1 but it is still restarting with no beeps.

[Dark Mantis]

Have you even got a buzzer installed ? You would, be surprised by the number of people who say it doesn't beep and then I find they haven't installed a buzzer!

If you have a buzzer installed make sure it is the correct way round as they are polarity concious.

Right then remove everything form the motherboard apart from the processor/heatsink/fan, buzzer and PSU and then try and POST.

[philomachus]

Yeah ... I would be one of those people  .  For some reason I thought there was a speaker embedded on the motherboard.

My new case does not have a speaker wire, but my old one does.  I just tried connecting that and booting up.  I hear a click when it turns on - then a click as it shuts down.  But no beeps

[Dark Mantis]

That is probably because it never reahes the point at which it would emit the beep code.

Right then remove everything from the motherboard apart from the processor/heatsink/fan, buzzer and PSU and then try and POST.

[philomachus]

Connecting just the CPU/heatsink/fan, buzzer and PSU is producing the same results.  Restarts - with a click as it comes on and a click as it shuts down.

[Dark Mantis]

It is possible that the PSU has gone faulty. I think that is the most likely scenario. I would advise trying to borrow one from a friend just to try before purchasing a replacement because you want to get a good one if it is duff.

You could try watching this video and then try it on your PSU.

How to jump start a PSU video   http://www.corsair.com/cinema/movie.aspx?id=1358543

[philomachus]

I'll take a look at the video.  I'm pretty sure the power supply is good.  I've tried 2 different PSUs - my old 700W Thermaltake and an 850W Thermaltake.  They both work on my old Gigabyte board with no problems - but this motherboard is giving me problems.  Yesterday, while I was troubleshooting I decided it might be my power supply so I went out and got a new one (the 850 W supply) and when that didn't work, that's when I started a post here.

I'll get my multimeter out and check the voltages - but since I've tried both supplies, both which work fine on my other board, I'm guessing the PSU is OK.

And thanks for your quick and patient replies!

[Dark Mantis]

Well if we elliminate the PSU that only leaves the motherboard or processor. CPUs do go wrong but it is more unusual. I would say that the chances are it is the motherboard for RMA then.

[Diablito]

If you're not getting to POST and see nothing on the screen then you have the same issue I've had several times. My case was when I was trying to configure my 1600Mhz memory to run at 1600Mhz. CyberPowerPC sold me this Corsair memory (CM3X2G1600C9NX) that supposedly runs at 1600Mhz but I can only get it to run sort of stable at 1066. Try removing all SIMMs and insert just one. Then power on. It may not come on. Then power off. Insert a second SIMM. It should come on.