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Questions about GIGABYTE products => Motherboards with AMD processors => Topic started by: taz100 on July 26, 2010, 10:29:06 pm

Title: GA 790XTA-UD4 -> Fail to BOOT 7 times of 10 !
Post by: taz100 on July 26, 2010, 10:29:06 pm
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
Title: Re: GA 790XTA-UD4 -> Fail to BOOT 7 times of 10 !
Post by: Dark Mantis on July 26, 2010, 10:36:56 pm
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.
Title: Re: GA 790XTA-UD4 -> Fail to BOOT 7 times of 10 !
Post by: taz100 on July 27, 2010, 12:50:10 am
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...
Title: Re: GA 790XTA-UD4 -> Fail to BOOT 7 times of 10 !
Post by: absic on July 27, 2010, 07:09:35 am
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.
Title: Re: GA 790XTA-UD4 -> Fail to BOOT 7 times of 10 !
Post by: taz100 on July 27, 2010, 10:00:28 am
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 ?

 ???
Title: Re: GA 790XTA-UD4 -> Fail to BOOT 7 times of 10 !
Post by: absic on July 27, 2010, 10:51:06 am
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.
Title: Re: GA 790XTA-UD4 -> Fail to BOOT 7 times of 10 !
Post by: absic on July 28, 2010, 07:08:37 am
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.
Title: Re: GA 790XTA-UD4 -> Fail to BOOT 7 times of 10 !
Post by: absic on July 28, 2010, 06:53:02 pm
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.
Title: Re: GA 790XTA-UD4 -> Fail to BOOT 7 times of 10 !
Post by: Dark Mantis on July 28, 2010, 07:38:34 pm
I agree with absic it does sound like your are running it as AHCI.
Title: Re: GA 790XTA-UD4 -> Fail to BOOT 7 times of 10 !
Post by: taz100 on July 28, 2010, 07:39:43 pm
Hi thx for helping.

But Im Still NOT using AHCI mode...  :o
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 !?

/ ??? ::) ???
Title: Re: GA 790XTA-UD4 -> Fail to BOOT 7 times of 10 !
Post by: Dark Mantis on July 28, 2010, 07:53:25 pm
Unless I missed it I don't think you said which slots you have the memory modules in?
Title: Re: GA 790XTA-UD4 -> Fail to BOOT 7 times of 10 !
Post by: taz100 on July 28, 2010, 08:02:39 pm
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.


Title: Re: GA 790XTA-UD4 -> Fail to BOOT 7 times of 10 !
Post by: Dark Mantis on July 28, 2010, 08:05:27 pm
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.
Title: Re: GA 790XTA-UD4 -> Fail to BOOT 7 times of 10 !
Post by: absic on July 28, 2010, 08:11:56 pm
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.
Title: Re: GA 790XTA-UD4 -> Fail to BOOT 7 times of 10 !
Post by: taz100 on July 28, 2010, 09:02:38 pm
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!)
Title: Re: GA 790XTA-UD4 -> Fail to BOOT 7 times of 10 !
Post by: Dark Mantis on July 28, 2010, 09:47:48 pm
I am beginning to think that maybe the memory controller on the chip is faulty or you have bent pin.
Title: Re: GA 790XTA-UD4 -> Fail to BOOT 7 times of 10 !
Post by: taz100 on July 28, 2010, 11:20:48 pm
I am beginning to think that maybe the memory controller on the chip is faulty or you have bent pin.

SO you talking about the motherboard is faulty i asume?!
what PIN can be "bent"?   (cant talking about RAM now?)
 :o
Title: Re: GA 790XTA-UD4 -> Fail to BOOT 7 times of 10 !
Post by: Dark Mantis on July 29, 2010, 08:24:52 am
No, sorry, the CPU. The memory controller is part of the processor now. It is possible the the CPU has a bent pin or other damage.
Title: Re: GA 790XTA-UD4 -> Fail to BOOT 7 times of 10 !
Post by: taz100 on July 29, 2010, 10:50:14 am
Easy to see, bought a new cooler anyway, a gigantic mugen rev2 B
 So about the bent pins i will notice (doubt it cause it just dropped down in socket during install).

the stock one sucks ! loud and warm. (heatpipes or not, just lack of cooling material.)
Title: Re: GA 790XTA-UD4 -> Fail to BOOT 7 times of 10 !
Post by: Dark Mantis on July 29, 2010, 11:04:59 am
A good cooler can make all the difference. It can certainly make system more quiet and stable. Only trouble is it doesn't help with booting :-\
Title: Re: GA 790XTA-UD4 -> Fail to BOOT 7 times of 10 !
Post by: taz100 on July 29, 2010, 12:54:32 pm
Yep.

Gonna rip out everything just in "case" and plug it all back with new cooler, then we see if I get Extreamly lucky or most likely Not ;)

 :-\
Title: Re: GA 790XTA-UD4 -> Fail to BOOT 7 times of 10 !
Post by: Dark Mantis on July 29, 2010, 01:06:13 pm
Try rebuilding it ouside the case then at least it is quicker and easier to change and check things.
Title: Re: GA 790XTA-UD4 -> Fail to BOOT 7 times of 10 !
Post by: taz100 on July 29, 2010, 07:36:10 pm
NOW !   

Its getting intresting !

build it all outside on a piece of flat wood.
Only the most urgent stuff on.

MOBO, PSU, Graficcard, RAM, CPU, cable to power button.

So first thing happen was that 9 boot of 10 FAILED !  intresting i think, just because all HDD and USB plugs are missing? naah..?!

So I think wht the heck and Rip off the RAM also!

Now Im without RAM and start well well the first 5 boots trys  are "perfect" the GPU FAN is low and nice.
Then I try some more... And all the sudden with NO RAM the Boot ups Fails again ! GPU FAN screams at 100% and its acting the same as when a Monitor will fail to boot.. and this error occured 6times in a row..

So Maby THIS means that the RAM is Not faulty i Guess !

 :o

A Side note, > I dont know how a GPU should work, but if I Un-plug 1 or 2 of the 6pin power cables the Fan screams at 100% as "an error boot".
Maby this means noghting But maby it does..

Title: Re: GA 790XTA-UD4 -> Fail to BOOT 7 times of 10 !
Post by: Dark Mantis on July 29, 2010, 07:52:05 pm
As you say, interesting but at least we are getting somewhere. Do you have a buzzer attached ? If not I suggest that is your next step. That way you will be able to hear the POST beep codes. Also refresh my memory as to what PSU you are running please?
Title: Re: GA 790XTA-UD4 -> Fail to BOOT 7 times of 10 !
Post by: taz100 on July 30, 2010, 03:33:59 pm
its in the1st Post !    ;)

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


Got a speaker now, and it gives NO warnings at all, not even when monitor Fails to boot up.
Only a short beep when keyboard activates in BIOS as it should.
Speaker beeps i found her, hope they are correct:

http://www.pcmech.com/article/beep-codes/

Title: Re: GA 790XTA-UD4 -> Fail to BOOT 7 times of 10 !
Post by: Dark Mantis on July 30, 2010, 03:51:38 pm
Try removing the graphics card and then booting and see what beeps come out. As absic has just reminded me quite a few of the more modern cards need a firmware update to work properly, so you might want to consider this. If you put your old graphics card back in does the system work ok?
Title: Re: GA 790XTA-UD4 -> Fail to BOOT 7 times of 10 !
Post by: taz100 on July 30, 2010, 06:35:41 pm
beeps without GFC is the same every time and its  : a long beep and then crackle crackle.. sounds more than a broken speaker than short beeps... and I dont get like the page i linked for missing GFC.

You never said What Card nedds a new firmware ?!
My Old x1800XT works and boots Perfectly, need only 1 6pin power too, as I wrote earlier.

have looked for new software to GFC but not seen anywhere, how <do i Even find those. Firmwares ect. that is.

Title: Re: GA 790XTA-UD4 -> Fail to BOOT 7 times of 10 !
Post by: Dark Mantis on July 30, 2010, 06:48:06 pm
Your new graphics card was the one thta i was talking about to update the firmware. You should look on the manufacturer's website usually under "support".
Even though your PSU is a good make and quite powerfull if it is possible try and swap itm out for another one just to try it out. That would have been my first guess but as I said it is a good one.
Title: Re: GA 790XTA-UD4 -> Fail to BOOT 7 times of 10 !
Post by: taz100 on July 30, 2010, 07:24:45 pm
1  Correction ,  the Beep sounds ARE same om NO GFC as when GFC Dont boot up the monitor !
It sounds now more like Beeeep  Bip Bip Bip.'

Maby Gigabyte has own Beep Codes than the one I posted..
tht will say

1 long, 3 short    
Memory test failure. An error has been detected
in the memory over the first 64K. Try replacing the memory, and if
that doesn’t do it, the motherboard.

I looked at XFX page in support but with No info or luck of finding anything with the word Firmware even...
Title: Re: GA 790XTA-UD4 -> Fail to BOOT 7 times of 10 !
Post by: Dark Mantis on July 30, 2010, 07:35:11 pm
I am running a different board to you but on my board the beep codes mean keyboard error. Yes just checked and it is the same on your board. Is your keyboard plugged in?
Title: Re: GA 790XTA-UD4 -> Fail to BOOT 7 times of 10 !
Post by: taz100 on July 31, 2010, 10:31:23 am
USB keyboard, otherwise I cant be in BIOS.

tried underklock cpu and core volt 1.5v and other things, that didnt do any better either.
Title: Re: GA 790XTA-UD4 -> Fail to BOOT 7 times of 10 !
Post by: Dark Mantis on July 31, 2010, 10:49:22 am
Are you sure about the beep codes the machine is producing? It is possible that the keyboard is producing the problem. :-\
Title: Re: GA 790XTA-UD4 -> Fail to BOOT 7 times of 10 !
Post by: taz100 on July 31, 2010, 02:07:09 pm
The beeep code ONLY shows up at same time as GPU goes  100% and monitor Fails to start in boot.....

not the times when Boot up is normal.
Title: Re: GA 790XTA-UD4 -> Fail to BOOT 7 times of 10 !
Post by: Dark Mantis on July 31, 2010, 02:15:11 pm
Just check that your CPU cooler is well seated and firm will you?
Title: Re: GA 790XTA-UD4 -> Fail to BOOT 7 times of 10 !
Post by: taz100 on August 01, 2010, 10:41:20 am
its a new installed mugen 2 , screwed tight...
Title: Re: GA 790XTA-UD4 -> Fail to BOOT 7 times of 10 !
Post by: Dark Mantis on August 01, 2010, 10:51:50 am
Please make sure that it is not screwed too tight because there have been instances of people tightening up the location mounts on some of these bigger HSF combos and either distorting or even cracking the motherboard lanes.
Title: Re: GA 790XTA-UD4 -> Fail to BOOT 7 times of 10 !
Post by: taz100 on August 01, 2010, 11:30:27 am
well,first I did have it kinda loose for 2 days, so it was same as earlier and when I started this Thread I was On STOCK cooling with AMD standard mounting that cant be too tight...

So this change mado nothing better or worse...
Title: Re: GA 790XTA-UD4 -> Fail to BOOT 7 times of 10 !
Post by: Dark Mantis on August 01, 2010, 11:31:45 am
Fair enough! Just best to be aware of the problems that you can face.