GA-Z68X-UD3H-B3 Rev 1.3 Corsair Vengeance 16GB problems (4x4GB set)

[Dark Mantis]

Hi

Just make sure that it is the board and not a memory module or some other cause as it is easy to look at the symtoms and jump to the conclusion that it must be the same cause. Don't forget that the memory controller is now on the CPU so it could just as easilly be that causing the problem.

[chunkd]

Hi

Just make sure that it is the board and not a memory module or some other cause as it is easy to look at the symtoms and jump to the conclusion that it must be the same cause. Don't forget that the memory controller is now on the CPU so it could just as easilly be that causing the problem.

Tried different memory modules and same thing, so like you said the memory controller is in the CPU so it's either the mb or the CPU. So with out having another CPU to try how do you test if it is the CPU and not the mb? 

[metalmike]

What Dark Mantis had me do was test each stick in slot 1 (3_1, Channel B) for minimum 10 passes of Memtest86 which is at V4.20. I grabbed the file that has the installer and put it onto a USB device and set it as first boot device. I ran each stick anywhere from 11-17 passes with zero errors. Did you inspect the CPU socket to look for any damaged pins? Get a good magnifying glass and flashlight and look them over very carefully. I didn't notice it till I did that for my socket. I was able to run 2 sticks in Chan. B (3_1/3_2 slots) only, it wouldn't post (continuous reset) with sticks in Channel A (3_3/3_4) or as dual channel (3_1/3_3 or 3_2/3_4) which I thought was strange which lead me down this path.

But definitely test the memory, it's going to take you 2 days to do this if you have 4 sticks, it takes ~6-7 hrs to get 10+ passes completed per stick. And inspect the socket for any damaged pins as it's probably 1 of those 3 things with the third being CPU (2500 or 2600?).

[metalmike]

Just an update Dark. My board/package passed their RMA inbound inspection so now have to wait another couple of days to get the item shipped back to me. So perhaps middle of next week I could see the board arrive. If I am lucky it could arrive before wed. of next week. We'll see!

Thanks!

Mike

[metalmike]

Ok, CPU socket looks great and I installed 8GB dual channel and system came right up. I populated the other 2 slots and am running 16GB now @ 1333 speed. I had to do a little massaging on the cooler paste between CPU and fan and now temps are running around mid 30c while in windows right now per CoreTemp.

VID showing 1.2460v fluctuating and bouncing between 3.4 and 3.7Ghz for CPU speed. Memory shows channel A and B 9-9-9-24 as expected and profile not loaded yet. What's next now? Run Prime95 for a bit? I have to figure out why audio isn't working atm (no errors in device manager) and I am still using my old PSU, Corsair will be installed perhaps tomorrow once I get things settled on the system.

[metalmike]

Ok, I loaded teh XMP profile1 for the memory and it is running @ 1600Mhz. Temps on the cores running low to mid 30c range which is good compared to initial check after cooler installed and first boot.

I can hear audio using my front port input for headphone/mic but still getting no audio out of rear connections. I know it isn't my speakers because I have M-Audio Studio monitors BX8a's connected between my 2 desktops (other is using Motu 828Mk II Firewire interface) and this was working previously. I am hoping to god this is NOT the motherboard but what else can it be? If I can get this working (audio) then we can get to tweaking memory/cpu/voltages to get the system running crisper/perkier. Then the PSU replacement.

Again, I have loaded latest realtek drivers from Gigabyte 6.0.1.6449 8/30/2011. The troubleshooter detects no issues, there are no exclamations anywhere in device manager, Azalia is enabled in BIOS and that's what I have connected to the header and can hear/record from top inputs on my case. Other board audio worked fine with no difference in regards to connections (1/8" to male XLR cable). I will try the mic input to see if it records anything. I don't have anything else to connect to the inputs on the rear other than the headset (which I will do right now to see if it works, be right back...)I get nothing with headset plugged into rear speaker out connection (nor mic input)...So start a new thread for audio issue or contact Gigabyte? I think I am going to do the latter for time being.

[Dark Mantis]

I had to do a little massaging on the cooler paste between CPU and fan and now temps are running around mid 30c while in windows right now per CoreTemp.

I am not quite sure that I understyand what you are saying there but it sounds like you reused the TIM that was already on the heatsink. If correct that is not a good idea. You must always apply new fresh paste and only about the same size as a large grain of rice roughly.

As for the audio, I would recommend double checking all your settings as it is almost certainly where the problem lies.

[metalmike]

I cleaned off all the prior paste on CPU and heatsink so it's a new layer of paste and running low to mid 30's w/o load. Prime95 64 bit pushed it to around 82/83 on core 3 (the only one that peaked red).

The audio issue is making me think it's the mobo since it worked on last one and top audio works so I know the cable is still good. I don't know where else to look for no audio AT ALL out of rear ports (and NO MIC input either). The case top in/out ports work fine. I am going to run Prime95 while I get some sleep on it for 4-6hrs and see how things look. Memory is set to Profile1 XMP/1600Mhz speed and no issues on boot or when system is up in Win7.

Any other ideas on no audio OUT on rear panel? Anything in BIOS? I don't think so, Azalia is enabled but that's for the front/top ports and is working.

[Dark Mantis]

If you have something plugged into the front ports it will kill the sound from the rear ports though. There is a setting in the Audio section of Control Panel to stop this from happening.

[metalmike]

I saw that and there was nothing plugged into the front/top panel plugs when anything was plugged into the rear panel. So this seems to be a defective board?

[Dark Mantis]

It could be. Without being able to test it physically it's hard to say for sure.

[metalmike]

I am waiting on a 2nd reply from Gigabyte as well. My speakers are shared between my desktops. I have a Motu FW 828Mk II using 1/4" inputs to the speakers from my DAW desktop and 1/8" to XLR Male cable from other desktop. I know it is not the cable since I can hear audio using the Azalia top connection for speaker/mic input (headset with mic or just the speakers only plugged into top OR rear, not same time and I have it set to do nothing in configuration).  So this is seeming to be yet another hardware issue with this particular board....unless you have suggestion(s) that I have not already tried (drivers, trying different inputs in rear to see if I hear anything, etc...next is inspect the board as best I can).

Mike

[metalmike]

Ok. In device manager I see Intel Display Audio and Realtek High Definition Audio.

Intel driver: 6.14.0.3074  (latest per trying to update the driver)

Realtek driver: 6.0.1.6449  (latest one I downloaded from gigabyte site)

No audio out side or rear plugs on back of motherboard. I can't see anything blatantly wrong with it via a visual inspection. Plugs click into place so it isn't a seating issue.

My video card (and had no issues with prior motherboard) is an XFX GTS 250 PCI-e 1GB card  (nVidia chipset). Again, this seems that the mobo is defective in that I get no audio. I also noticed I am not hearing any beep code from a cold power up or a reset of the system. I ran prime95 64bit for about 6 hrs or so yesterday with no issues other than seeing CPU cores get to a max of 82c for temps which I figured it would get to (or close to that) as I've run it on my systems in the past as I rebuilt/built them for stability and was overclocking them a tad.

[Dark Mantis]

Hi

Don't forget that the POST beep codes aren't produced by the audio system. They are made by a piezo electric (normally nowadays) buzzer that connects directly to the pins on the motherboard in the area marked F_PANEL. The buzzer isn't supplied by default so unless you have added one yourself then you will get no POST codes at all. You can purchase a buzzer from most PC stores for about a pound. They are polarity concious though so ensure that it is connected the correct way around.

[metalmike]

Ok, beep codes should be heard from pc speaker should it be connected and polarity proper. I need to double-check that. But that has nothing to do with the audio issue at hand. Waiting on gigabyte to respond today but at this point unless you have anything else in your bag of tricks I am going to have to waste more cash and RMA this back to NewEgg (18 days leeway for this return....) for yet another replacement. I know third times supposed to be the charm, but this isn't helping get my system up and rolling along. I want all things working for one, second would be stabilize things a tad so performance doesn't seem a bit wonky (slow loads of webpage on initial IE loading, device manager not snappy when clicking on link, this all has to be related to voltages since we know memory is good and CPU stable after 6+ hrs of Prime95 64 bit sunday and system is NOT overclocked). I am running memory at XMP Profile1 only with ACHI settings for SATA, USB 3.0 Turbo enabled, nothing else off top of my head that could cause any strangeness, just basic stuff to enable features on the mobo. I did change the graphics thing to PCI-e but set it back to PCI but saw no difference on system boot/load/running.

One question. The Azalia in BIOS for onboard sound (I saw you post that in another thread just now). Is that *just* for the top/front audio connections and not related to the rear connections for surround sound/etc? I only use the rear speaker out and possibly Mic input on the rear connections. Azalia is enabled and top connections work with my current speaker cable (1/8" to male XLR) or logitech headset w/mic).