X58A-UD3R (Rev 2.0) - Cold Boot BSODs

[maspast]

Hi all,

I have the following system:

CPU: i7 950 (Bloodfield D0)
Motherboard: GIGABYTE X58A-UD3R (Rev 2.0)
Ram: Corsair XMS3 6GB (3x2GB) DDR3 PC3-12800C9 1600MHz Triple Channel Kiit
Hard Drives: Crucial C300 64gb & Seagate Hybrid 500gb
Graphics Card: 2x PowerColour 6870 for CrossFire
PSU: Corsair TX950w
HS/Fan: Noctua NH-D14

OS: Windows 7 Professional 64

Problem:
I am having cold boot issues which I have seen a couple of posts here about, I basically boot from after leaving the pc off for the night and it would boot into Windows and shortly after I recieve BSOD, after about 20-30minutes the pc would be completely fine.
The BSOD can occur whilst booting into Windows, browsing the web, playing a game etc usually within couple of mins after Cold Boot.

I can run Memtest, Prime95, IntelBurn Test for hours without any errors.

I have sent the motherboard back to www.novatech.co.uk, they have confirmed the problem from their technicians and sent the motherboard back to GIGABYTE.

I received a new motherboard from Novatech, however the problem still persists on stock settings and even with 1 graphics card this has happened, I bought another graphics card along with my new PSU recently.

Things I have tried to fix the problem:

• I upgraded to a Corsair TX950w PSU, I used to have a Corsair TX650w PSU
• Reseated HS/Fan
• Updated BIOS with all recommended versions (I currently have FF2 from Tweaktown)
• All motherboard, graphics card drivers are up to date
• Disabled unused things like firewire, some SATA ports etc

I have read on here that some other people have the same issues that I am having and have tried the troubleshooting that was recommended to them all to no avail, I am running out on what else to do here.

Some have suggested this may be a BIOS issue, but I have no idea what it could be.. I have tried pretty much all the BIOS updates and the problem is still there ONLY on Cold Booting after hours the computer being off and BSODs for a while after it seems the computer has 'warmed up', it then runs flawlessly.

Its driving me nuts!!!

Any help would be appreciated!

[Dark Mantis]

Hi and welcome to the Gigabyte Forum.

Did you take the serial number of theb original board before sending it back to Novatech ?

If so is it different from the one you have now ? (Call me cynical if you like but I have seen this happen before)

[maspast]

Hi Dark Mantis and thanx!

I didn't take the S/N no, I was thinking they may have sent me my one back or something.

When I loaded up windows after I got the motherboard back it looked new (anti static bag looked untouched, taped up etc), windows 7 was saying Hardware change or something and I have to reactivate windows 7.. dunno if that helps.

I wish I had taken the s/n now

[Dark Mantis]

Well I may be wrong and this could be a new motherboard. I would just have liked to have been sure as it would have given us a more solid start point. Have you got an old receipt with it on ?

It's just that it sounds like a couple of problem boards that I've had before where it is a loose connection/component that worked alright once it had warmed up and made a better connection.

It is only that if the rest of the components are ok(memory etc) then it would mean the problem was on the motherboard and there is not much chance of that happening twice on the trot.

When you said you've run Memtest did you do it for ten loops on each module singularly ?

Is your memory running on auto settings or have you inputted them manually ?

[maspast]

I have run MemTest for approximately a couple of hours with all sticks in, the technician in Novatech ran memtest all night he said also (though im not sure if he did 1 stick at a time).

The ram timings I have set manually to:
1600freq
1.660v (cant select 1.650v)
9-9-9-24

I don't use X.M.P.

As for the receipt, yes I still have it.. and it only mentions:
GIGABYTE GA-X58A-UD3R INTEL X58
and the order code for novatech.

[Dark Mantis]

Regarding the receipt it should really tell you the serial number as well but if it doesn't then there is nothing we  can do about it then.

Memetest should be run as I described really.

Your memory timings look to be fine for your RAM.

What is the QPI/Vtt and Uncore set to ?

[maspast]

Optimized Defaults:
Uncore 2x of Ram
QPI VTT I think is 1.1 or 1.2 (not at my pc)


Overclocked Settings
200 x 20
Uncore 3200
Ram Spd & Timings: 1600 & 9-9-9-24

CPU Vcore: 1.4v LLC2
QPI VTT: 1.335v (used to have it around 1.45v)
CPU VTT: 1.880v

QPI PLL: 1.3v
IOC Core: 1.24v

DDR V: 1.660v

Auto on the rest of the settings

EDIT:
I booted PC Recently and constant BSODs at start (starts happening faster than previous board I had) and 1 time it crashed on loading Windows 7 then comp just restarted, think its 'warmed up' now..

I don't know what else to do really, no idea if its BIOS or w/e.

I used Core Temp and it states my Processor as an Intel Core i7 920 (Bloomfield)
Could this issue be CPU related? never heard of a CPU taking a while to warm up then works perfectly..

pretty much all i get is BSOD: Memory Management etc etc, then all is fine an dandy after like 20minutes to 30mins or more.

[Dark Mantis]

Try increasing the Memory timing to 9-9-9-27

[maspast]

I booted PC Recently and constant BSODs at start (starts happening faster than previous board I had) and 1 time it crashed on loading Windows 7 then comp just restarted, think its 'warmed up' now..

I don't know what else to do really, no idea if its BIOS or w/e.

I used Core Temp and it states my Processor as an Intel Core i7 920 (Bloomfield)
Could this issue be CPU related? never heard of a CPU taking a while to warm up then works perfectly..

pretty much all i get is BSOD: Memory Management etc etc, then all is fine an dandy after like 20minutes to 30mins or more.

Just quoting my earlier edit and when i refreshed page you already replied xD dam ur fast.

Im worried about the above, not sure if it means anything..

I have changed the memory timings to 9-9-9-27

Guess ill have to wait till next cold boot

EDIT again xD
Also would like to add that I get alot of application errors, and then eventually a BSOD.
for example in google chrome I would get alot of "This program has stopped working" or google chrome just saying "oh snap, cannot load page" etc
When I cold booted, and loaded up steam to play battlefield bad company 2 yday whole comp crashed and app wouldnt luanch and was corrupted so had to redownload it again.

basically it seems using the pc before it fully warms up causes huge problems for me, google chrome resets everything to defaults, having to redownload gamse on steam.

After the comp warms up no errors whatsoever.

This is happening after the change you have suggested to memory timings, right in the middle of cold boot crashes/bsods etc

I HATE THIS PROBLEM!!! GRR!

[Dark Mantis]

I must admit to not being sure why it is not recognising your CPU correctly. I would be tempted to check the pins on the CPU socket and see if there are any bent/damaged ones.

Very carefully remove the heatsink and fan. Probably a slight twisting motion is best to release the two as the thermal paste can act like a glue.

Once off remove the CPU taking extreme care both physically and electrically(static) and place somewhere safe.

Make sure that the lighting is very good and even.

Now scrutinise the socket for any pins that are out of alignment, even slightly.
If in any doubt whatsoever take a couple of macro (close up) photos of the socket and post them on here for us to check.

Also look at the bottom of the CPU at the lands (little copper circles) and make sure that there is a mark in each somewhere near the centre.
If there are any missing marks or any of the pins are obviously bent then that is your problem.

Before refitting the CPU clean off all residue of the old thermal paste and the same on the heatsink and then apply a small amount (about the size of a grain of rice) to the centre of the CPU once it is inserted in the socket.

[maspast]

When I sent back my previous Motherboard, the guys at novatech checked the pins and they were fine.

I checked also the pins on the replacement motherboard and they are fine also

And ye! I just came back from another BSOD.

I have used all my hard drives, graphics cards in other pc's and they work fine no BSODs (hopefully to eliminate those out of the potential causes )

[Dark Mantis]

Did you purchase the motherboard and CPU at Novatech ?

If so I would return both to them and let them sort out the problem.

[maspast]

Yeah, pretty much all my hardware is from them apart from my Hybrid drive.

Im gonner contact them to see what they can do.

Thanks Dark Mantis for your time!

[Dark Mantis]

You are welcome and please come back and let us know how it all turns out in the end.

[maspast]

Hi again, just posting here to let you know how it all turned out at the end!

novatech has refunded my purchase on the faulty Motherboard and also the cpu & ram too!!

I was taken away by the excellent customer service that novatech provided, I am looking to building a new machine with them as soon as the p67s come back in stock in April.

Thanks for your time and efforts Dark Mantis, if I get a p67 gigabyte motherboard I may be back here if any issue arises