Gigabyte EP45-UD3R problem

[CosmicDust]

Hello !

I just bought a Gigabyte EP45-UD3R (ver 1.0) , along with 4gb of kingston hyperx ddr2 @ 1066 , Intel E7600 CPU , and a AMD RADEON 3870x2 Graphic's card. !
My PSU is a 400W chieftec.

Now when i try to put both sticks of memory pc starts , i get the beep but then then the fans spin roughly.Nothing on the monitor !
I tested both of the sticks , with one boots all the time , but with the other one sometimes boots , sometimes doesn't ! The guy from which i got them said that he used them both on his PC without a problem ! I also read that this board might have some memory issues  /

And one thing was strange, PC shuts down and starts by it's on , sometimes.

Any ideas are welcomed ! Thank you

Also noticed that when both sticks are in ..there a bit of lag when i power the PC on ! and when only 2 GB is installed , things work ! What could possibly reject that second stick ?

[Dark Mantis]

Hi

Well it certainly sounds like a memory problem doesn't it ?

The first thing you need to do is run Memtest on your RAM one stick at a time. Follow these instructions exactly:

I would suggest that you download and run the latest version of  Memtest86+ to check your RAM first.

Memtest86+        http://www.memtest.org/

Insert one stick of memory in slot 1 and run Memtest on it for at least 10 complete loops/cycles and if there are no errors then swap it over with the next one and continue untill you have checked all  modules.
 
If you have any errors the module is faulty.

If you have any faulty modules you will have to return the whole kit as they are matched.

Post back when you have done that with the results.

I would also be suspicious of your power supply. The only reason it is still going is because it is a good make. Purchase a good make like Seasonic, CWT, Corsair, Thermaltake, Enermax, Gigabyte, Coolermaster, Antec, etc and try and get one with a single 12V rail if possible. I would advise you to get one of about 650W minimum.

[CosmicDust]

Hello once again Dark Mantis !

I am currently on 2 Gb with the setup running smoothly , not even s single problem ! The second module i can't test because if i insert it it won't boot at all!
Another strange thing i noticed is that it did started once or twice m with both sticks installed !

[Dark Mantis]

It might be worth checking the CPU socket pins for damage then as it sounds as if there is the possiblity of the slot or memory controller(or anything in between) being damaged.


Take all the usual anti-static precautions.

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.

[CosmicDust]

CPU is ok ! I've double checked it. The pins are also in good condition .
I do think that is a memory module problem , since with one of them is working good on all 4 slots , but with the other one it won't even boot (also tested on all 4 slots). Basically the 2 sticks are identical right ? So why with one of then works , but with the other one won't ?

Any other thoughts are welcomed !

Thanks

[Dark Mantis]

Did you puirchase them as an identical kit (matched) ?

If not that could be why. If yopu did then I guess one is just duff - technical term!

[CosmicDust]

These are modules that i got from a friend ! And he bought them as kit .

Must i do any settings in BIOS , change with voltages or other settings there !?

The voltage on the kits says 2.2V and it BIOS was 1.8 !.
The only thing that bothers me is why one of those 2 works and one doesn't.

[CosmicDust]

Did a test on another PC and with that "faulty" module , things happen the same way ! I think it's the stick.

[Dark Mantis]

Yes it certainly would seem to be down to the one module. You will need to RMA both modules as they came as a matched kit and have them replaced.

[CosmicDust]

Using 2gb at the moment ! Installed windows 7 32 bit , and i noticed 2 issues !

1. In CPU-Z the Core speed of the CPU is @ 1.6GHZ  http://img17.imageshack.us/img17/603/unledkyr.png
Currently monitoring CPUZ and from 1600 suddenly changes to 3070 MHZ , also the multiplier to 11.5

2. Sometimes i get a blue screen with the message "Attempt to reset the display driver and recover from timeout failed" . This after i installed the video driver. Without the drivers installed ...it's ok . No freeze , no blue screen.

[Dark Mantis]

Well number one is normal and will change depending on the load.

Number two sounds like you might have a corrupt/crap graphics driver. See if there is a newer one to install. If you get a BSOD again please note down the Stop code.

[CosmicDust]

Hello Dark Mantis !
I did installed the latest graphic's driver (ver 11.8 ) . I will try to install an earlier version and see what happends and let you know . Thanks

[Dark Mantis]

Yes good idea as some of the latest drivers have been a bit buggy.

[CosmicDust]

This is the exact error that i get ! I only tried to do a WEI and colapses there !
http://img855.imageshack.us/img855/5411/img248v.jpg

Installed ver 11.1 and i still get BS ..as i try to open a simple app like firefox !

I also think the PSU might also have a problem ! 400w is not enough for that dual gpu card !
I also added other 2 sticks of ram 2x1gb and i still get the BSOD

[Dark Mantis]

I would also be suspicious of your power supply. The only reason it is still going is because it is a good make. Purchase a good make like Seasonic, CWT, Corsair, Thermaltake, Enermax, Gigabyte, Coolermaster, Antec, etc and try and get one with a single 12V rail if possible. I would advise you to get one of about 650W minimum.

As I said in the first post the PSU is far too small.

Don't go adding more memory as that will just make things even more complicated and more likely to have problems. Either stick with the original RAM or just a single stick for testing purposes in the first slot.