A load of problems in my PC

onlymee0

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Mar 22, 2014
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I've been setting patiently a new computer from scratch, from 3 years now.
Initially I've acquired an Asus Gene II x58 mboard for my i7 929 processor, with a 2x2gb ddr3 mushkin blackascent @ 1600mhz kit and a nvidia geforge 260 gtx graphics card to go along with a corsair 650w power supply.
Right from the beginning, the system wasn't recognising the full amount of memory, setting only half of it. If that wasn't a surprise in win7 32bits, with the 64 bit version, that just wasn't acceptable.
I've decided to to switch the motherboard to my actual one, a gigabyte ex58-UD3R.
Even so, the memory detection kept going on so, after an exhaustive search for a solution, I've noticed that in the board manual, due to intel specifications, the dual channel system wouldn't work and only 1 dimm would be used with memory with above speeds of 1333mhz (weird). Thus I've decided to get a new memory kit, a 2x4gb ddr3 gskill ripjaws @1333mhz.
Surprisingly, the problem remained.
The system / OS detected the 8gb, but kept only 4gb available. The bios detected the dimms, but was using only 1. In a computer store I was told that could be so and that the PC would probably get the remaining 4gb only if needed.
My next step was to check the bios version, so I've decided to update it (from FI to FK).
Big mistake...
Now I wasn't getting even the PC to load the OS, as it was rebooting every time it get to the memory detection part.
I've decided to roll back the bios and, voila, got the OS to run as usual.
The memory problem remained.

In the bios menu, I've checked the timings and it was assuming those of my old kit. I've tried to set them manually, but it didn't solved a thing.
Mushkin told me that my kit was discontinued, and it was made for a different chipset (an AMD775, if I recall).
As my pc was idealized for gaming, according to my possessions, I was running Fifa 13 and NBA 2K14 perfectly, but when I've finally got and installed Hitman absolution, as I started playing the game, the PC just shut down and rebooted, as if there was a unexpected power down situation. It happened only with this game.
I then had to swith my power suply to a LCpower arkangel 850w modular, as my corsair one fried up due to an isolate power surge.
I've bought a plug set with a power surge protection.
But he problems remained, this being the memory detection and now the rebooting situation with Hitman.
Oddly, after installing the latest Thief - Master thief, it happened the same rebooting problem!
After installing CPU-Z, I was surprised to see that my system was working on a single channel memory situation!! (what the......??).
I've contacted gigabyte and thy told me to update the bios. Worse!
So I did using @bios, and got the same problem as before, but now I'm not getting it to rollback again as, though detecting my usb pen in the bios menu, the Qflash is not detecting it and I've tried everything!!!
I'm going nuts HERE!!!!!
HELPPPPPPP!!!


New update...
As I can't get win7 to boot with the latest bios version, is there a way to clean the CMOS?
Because if I try to rollback the bios using Qflash, I'm given the "Incorrect file size" error, as this version of the bios only supports files above 1mb.
So now the shots are: I can get the board to recognise / fix the memory problem, remaining with the latest bios version (I've checked and it still assumes the old memory kit timings'), or I rollback the bios-I-dont't-know-how, as the only way I've been seeing is with @bios (only work in windows environment, which I can't boot, thus a constant looping situation).
AAAARRRRGHHHHHH!!!
WTF
 

Hi there!
I don't know if that's so, because I've switched the psu and the pc went working like before, although keeping the memory problem and crashing with those 2 games.
The problems started before the first psu burned out.
Gigabyte takes to long to say something and what they suggest doesn't help at all!
By the way, thank you for the quick reply...
 


Hi there.
The problem remained, even after switching the kit. The mushkin kit was set for AMD 775 socket and, by the board's manual, didn't worked in dual channel mode due to it's speed.
As to this new gskill kit, I really don't know...
In me ignorant opinion, if with 2 different kits the problem remains, I feel that it's up to the board... What do you think?
Nevertheless, thank you for the reply.
 
Hi there.
Thank you 4 the link.
As I'm not a pro, it got a little to confusing.
His experience comes with an asus board and a 3-channel kit.
Following his indications as using a 3-channel kit regarding incorrect cpu VTT voltage set, or QPI/VTT, or QPI/DRAM to VDIMM relationship, it gets a little to specific for me with, my knowledge, to risk it in my gigabyte board and in a 2-channel situation. Even more, I understand zero of those specifications therms.
To make things worse, I still have to rollback my bios, witch has been more difficult then I've expected.
I'm giving another try today to see if I can rollback the bios and get win7 to boot and then I'll try to sort out the memory trouble.
Thanks anyway.
 

Have you ever considered having your PC checked by a knowledgeable tech?
 


Hi there.
My first PC had a msi board. That was 10 years ago... So, for the paste, let's say 7 years, I've been trying to build a new one but money was always postponing it.
So I've been setting these one for the past 3 years and I already had to change the board (asus gene II) the memory kit (mushkin blackascent) and the PSU (corsair).
I really need to try all other options because things are really tough back here.
And if it helps anyone, gigabyte does take too long to answer and the the quality of the help... Well, I haven't got anything useful yet. Looks like they're staling because they simply don't have an answer...
But thanks for the tip.
 
Have you ever considered having your PC checked by a knowledgeable tech?
[/quotemsg]

Hi there.
As I've said before, I'll try all other possibilities at my reach before going there.
An even so, from my experience here, I don't know who to trust to take my machine to.
In one place they say one thing, in another place they say something different and call the other ones stupids...
It's a jungle... Wouldn't you be reluctant to?
Thanks anyway.
 


Hi there.
As I've said before, I'll try all other possibilities at my reach before going there.
An even so, from my experience here, I don't know who to trust to take my machine to.
In one place they say one thing, in another place they say something different and call the other ones stupids...
It's a jungle... Wouldn't you be reluctant to?
Thanks anyway.
[/quotemsg]I don't know where you live, but there are competent shops in my area and I would use them if I was unable to fix my computers myself. People having little knowledge of hardware should certainly consider buying pre-assembled computers with a long warranty.

 


Thanks, man, but if it is in the USA, I would have to cross an Ocean... No can do on that!
Thanks, anyway
 


I first had an Asus board and was also giving a memory problem detection with the mushkin kit. I took it to a store where they've tried with a 3-channel kit and only half of the full amount of memory was available... So the problem remained with a different board and even with a different memory kit.
I don't know, but in my ignorant opinion, looks like there's a problem with this chipset regarding the memory situation, as it was happening with a different board.
When I've recently flashed the bios by gigabyte's suggestion, I did it to the latest one, using @bios.
I don't know why is the bios still assuming the 2-channel mushkin kit's timings, making available only 4 gb of the 8gb's 2-channel gskill kit, thus working in a single channel mode (readings from cpu-z, before updating the bios). Worse, I can't seem to be able to change those "readings" / detection, so the PC reboots constantly everytime it comes to the memory check and doesn't load win7.
So you see, I feel like I'm stuck between 2 dead-ends!
 


Yeah, so you're getting to where I am, right...? Is it the chipset in general (I've read reports of the same and similar reports), or just my own?
 
You already tried 2 motherboards and different memory kits (it doesn't matter if the kits are double or triple channel; all installed memory should be detected); that doesn't leave much else other than the CPU. I don't understand why you've been having that issue for so long and haven't yet tried another CPU. The shop where you brought the system should have tried another CPU to make sure that isn't the issue (and if it isn't, then I wouldn't know what else to replace).
 
What the............? @BIOS?!?! You run a MAJOR risk of having your BIOS corrupted when you use @BIOS!!! The BEST thing you should use is Q-Flash OR the MS-DOS flash tool! Never use @BIOS! What if a random OS glitch left you with a corrupted BIOS? Internet failure? Crash? Freeze? PSU overload? All of them would leave you with a CORRUPTED BIOS! So, PLEASE NEVER USE @BIOS!
 


Well, you know what they say, live and learn.
Although I think these problems haven't so much to do with that...
As it has been said, it could be so many things and I'm loosing it trying to eliminate causes...
But I'll follow your tip to see If I can fix bios version problem with a MS-DOS flash tool, because all the other ones got me nowhere (@bios needs windows that doesn't load, qflash doesn't recognise the previous bios version file due to size issues). I hope that I understood right that there are 3 different ways of flashing bios.
I have until Thursday to try this last shot or go to a specialized tech store.
Fingers crossed but not high hopes...

 


Thanks, man.
I've runned out my options yesterday regarding the bios/windows not loading problem as I couldn't rollback the bios in a DOS environment, as gigabyte suggested.
So today I'll be taking my system to a tech store...
Probably in 2 weeks they can have an answer for me....
Thanks everyone.
 


Hi there...
I just got back from the store...
It was diagnosed a couple of damaged pins in the chipset socket, so the board off for good. Unfortunately the guy couldn't see if the intell chipset had a problem to, so I'll either keep the i7 and get a new 1366 board, taking the risk of a faulty chipset witch could mean I would have then to get a new i7 1366. Or I get both things new and more updated and probably more expensive...
In the end, the machine is dead, with no fixing possibility.
Any opinions on my options? To be conversant or new board + processor to work in a gamer dual channel PC?