MA78LMT-S2 Problems Please Help

[Aussie Allan]

  Does it really show that I'm Intel.....pins in CPUs!......Never assume Allan....smack,smack.......between panic attacks, good bad memory, beeps and no beeps..........this one right up your alley Absic   hee heee heeee

 my interpretation Absic:  he tried the memory in another working machine ...... passed......tried it back in his machine.....failed

 Your mention of PSU.....mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm   over to you!

 Aussie Allan........I'll monitor, might just learn something else besides size 10 in ear 

[absic]

Don't beat yourself up Allan, you can't help being drawn into the Dark side of computing. It is very tempting over there!

The main problem with trying to solve these kind of issuess is really in trying to understand what is going on and what troubleshooting steps have already been taken. The more clear information that you can get/give the easier it is to offer practical help. Full system information is really essential in these circumstances as the problems can be caused by so many things, even the make of HDD, if it is a "green" drive can be the cause of BSOD's and OS install failures.

When trying different steps, such as swapping RAM modules, knowing what works where can help but isn't always a concise or true reflection of the underlying problem. RAM that works well on one PC may not exhibit the same behaviour in another system, as is so often proved in these forums. A new PSU doesn't automatically mean that it is working OK and I have had many cases where a new PSU has been the root cause of the issues. If components are working in a PC with a 650 Watt PSU but not in one using a 500 Watt PSU that could be the reason and is another part that needs to be tested and eliminated as the cause.

Troubleshooting has to be undertaken in a clear and logical manner to find the problem correctly. Swapping things around, willy nilly can get very confusing, hence my usual admonishment to step back, have a cup of tea and a break then start over again.

[Aussie Allan]

  Thanks for that Absic...............Ummmmmmmmmmm!....where's over there ?......only joking!

  AA

[Dark Mantis]

Take no notice Allan you are on the right side! Some people just can't handle the power that's all!

[stildawn]

Ok prepared for an epic post

The problem computer is a computer Im building for a mate... Sitting right next to it on my desk is my computer which is fine and has been for sometime... From now on "The Problem" computer will refer to the new machine Im building for a mate with all these issues and "My Computer" is the fine working one...

Here are the two systems:
Problem PC
AMD 955 x4
Gigabyte MA78LMT-S2
A-Ram Ice 2x2gb DDR3 1600 CL9
Wester Digital Blue 500gb HDD
Sapphire HD5770 which at the moment Im not using, just using onboard until I can get it going
500w PSU

My Working PC
AMD 955 x4
Asus M4A79T Deluxe
Gskill 2x2gb DDR3 1600 CL9
Corsair F120 SSD
Wester Digital Green 1tb HDD
Gigabyte HD6850 x2 Crossfire
Corsair TX650 PSU

The only clear steps I have taken so far would be what I did last night:

1) Removed the RAM from the Problem Computer
2) Removed the RAM from my computer
3) Put the Problem RAM into my computer
4) Put my RAM into the Problem computer
5) Tested the Problem RAM in My computer, passed Prime blend for half n hour, also passed Memtest86
6) Tested my RAM in the Problem computer, failed Prime in a matter of minutes

So basically the problem ram works fine in my working computer, and my working ram does not work in the problem computer.

Whats next?

[Dark Mantis]

Hi

I would suspect that the memory controller on the AMD chip has gone or at least been damaged. What speed were you trying to run it at ?

[stildawn]

The speed of the chip?

3.2ghz Im running everything at stock, Ive even been running the ram (in the Problem PC) at 1066 instead of 1333 or 1600 just incase.

The Problem PC will never be used to OC since my mate is rather computer illiterate so it will be running at stock at all times...

On another forum Ive been told to increase the ram voltage and the cpu voltage by one notch... Would this be advisable...

How would I test the memory controller on the chip?

[absic]

Hi again,

the easiest way to see if it is a motherboard or CPU issue would actually be to try the processor from the "problem" PC in your "good" PC. If the CPU runs OK on the Asus board then you will know that the CPU is fine and the problem is more than likely an issue with the Gigabyte board. The reason for this is the memory controllers are actually built in to the CPU's and it is possible, as DM has said, that the memory controller is faulty.

If you try this test and the "problem" CPU works in your good machine then  check what default settings are being shown in BIOS on the Gigabyte board. You may find that you manually need to set the voltage for the RAM a little higher or loosen the timings a little.

[stildawn]

Update of the nights work...

- First tried upping the volts a notch, no change still crashed almost immediately in Prime.
- Plugged in my other mates Corsair 400w PSU into the Problem PC... No change still crashed in Prime.
- Took the CPU out of the Problem PC and put it into my working PC... Prime tested for half n hour on blend. No problems all passed.
- Put the ram from the Problem PC into my working CPU (with the Problem PC CPU still in it) Prime tested for an hour, no problems, also memtest86 tested for an hour no problems.
- Tested the Problem PC's HDD in my working computer, using Wester Digitals HDD Diagnositc program (boot cd) did an extended test (1 hour long) passed with no errors...

So from the above I think we have narrowed it to the board... Your thoughts?

[absic]

Don't you just love troubleshooting PC hardware?
Yes, I would agree, especially as everything works OK on your other motherboard. Time for an RMA I think.

[stildawn]

Hi All

Update. On saturday I went to a local computer shop and picked up an identical board...

Got home and put it altogether again...

Worked mint, first pop, no issues... Passed Prime for over 4 hours, and Memtest for a good few hours...

On sunday when also gamed for about 4 hours with te graphics card in (5770)

So I think problem solve... Thats heaps for all your guys help... It is greatly appreciated...

Cheers

[Dark Mantis]

Glad to hear that it has been sorted at last. Have you RMAed your original board ?

[stildawn]

Excuse me while I go rage.................................. *&*^*$*&%*#&$*&^*&(@#*^*(&*#@*&(*&#@$%(*&#*($@(#^*@*!*&@!*&%*^*!@&#$(*&*(!#*&#*(&!#@$!@%#^#*(&!#(*&!#$(*!%*&^(*!#@#%!

:mad: :mad:

Ok... Now thats over and done with I shall explain...

Same computer installed at my mates place... Going fine... We gamed on it on sunday like I said above... He gamed extensively on it yesterday... But... Its crashing now today... Im done literally... This has pissed me off no end...

I guess I was wrong in taking the manufacturers at their word... I knew that this board was on the limit for the CPU etc... But they said it would work... In black n white on their website... I quadruple checked...

So Im sick of it... Recommend me a board... Im going to get a complete new one... I just want something that will 100% work...

Sigh... Thanks in advance...

[Aussie Allan]

 mmmmmmm!....A recommendation Huh!..........Well let me see,....there's MAC,  ... Nahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! I'm not rich or gay!

 Then there's AMD........Mmmmmmmmmmm, ... tried that but it's turned into the Fukushima number three going off the smoking hole in the living room........Now what's left .......mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

   Ooh, Ooh  I know!.......What about a "Intel" based rig.......I've heard some good story's about them lasting longer then the warranty  ..... WHAT! no pins on the CPU!.....That's gotta be a good idea!

 All fun aside......I have a philosophy of buying when a platform settles down....I only went over to an X58,... 8 months ago and It's paid dividends yet again .... all the bugs have been sorted out when I purchased a version 2 board and a processor version that was tried and tested by that time....probably a fair bit cheaper to boot .....I am looking forward to a Z68 board........but not this year.

 Aussie Allan

[Dark Mantis]

Excuse me while I go rage.................................. *&*^*$*&%*#&$*&^*&(@#*^*(&*#@*&(*&#@$%(*&#*($@(#^*@*!*&@!*&%*^*!@&#$(*&*(!#*&#*(&!#@$!@%#^#*(&!#(*&!#$(*!%*&^(*!#@#%!

:mad: :mad:

Ok... Now thats over and done with I shall explain...

Same computer installed at my mates place... Going fine... We gamed on it on sunday like I said above... He gamed extensively on it yesterday... But... Its crashing now today... Im done literally... This has pissed me off no end...

I guess I was wrong in taking the manufacturers at their word... I knew that this board was on the limit for the CPU etc... But they said it would work... In black n white on their website... I quadruple checked...

So Im sick of it... Recommend me a board... Im going to get a complete new one... I just want something that will 100% work...

Sigh... Thanks in advance...

So, if i were to precis your post would I be correct in saying you weren't happy ?

Good advice from Allan if you can hold out against not buying the newest, fastest, greatest....