Asus/F3 Incompatibility? Something else? Build Problem...

[JMcCormick]

Hey everyone.

I just tried building my first gaming desktop with the following specs:

Case: Rosewill Challenger
CPU: AMD Athlon II X3 440
RAM: Mushkin Enhanced 2x2GB DDR3 1333
Graphics: ATI Radeon HD 4870 (x1)
Monitor: Haans-G HZ201 20" 5 ms LCD
MoBo: Asus M4A87TD Evo AM3 USB 3.0
HDD: Samsung HD502HJ 500 GB 7200 RPM 3.5"
ODD: Optiarc Lite-On

It started first time, except for some reason it locks up over and over. In the middle of installing any OS (tried Win7, Vista, Ubuntu 9.04) it gets to the "Expanding Files" section (in Windows, specifically) and just freezes. I ran MemTest86 for an hour or two and found no problem with the RAM. I tried booting it with one stick instead of two. I tried plugging the HDD into a friend's, which installed Windows 7 just fine, but then locks up a couple minutes into the desktop when I put it back. I tried reconnecting the hard drive to a different SATA port. It still locks up.

Then I looked up a known issue between F3's and Asus MoBo's, but everyone's complaint is that their BIOS doesn't recognize the HDD. Mine recognizes it fine, knows its model number and specs, but just freezes. They all recommend this Samsung release:

http://www.samsung.com/global/business/hdd/faqView.do?b2b_bbs_msg_id=308

to run from a bootable DOS flash drive/CD-ROM. Not only do I only see F3.exe and F3EG.exe on that site, but when I boot the file for my drive from a DOS drive and type DIR, enter, F3.exe, enter like it says, it gives me this:

"SFlash V5.32 Samsung Electronics Co Ltd. 2000-2009
>>C:/F3.exe @23:06
[1002h/4390h] B=0 D=11h F=00h H=00 C=01018f....ATI SB700 SATA IDE
{0} [Samsung HD502HJ (1AJ10001)]....ATI SB700 SATA IDE Ch:1 DEV:0

This program isn't available for this drive."


..and now I'm back to square one. Does the SB700 mean I shouldn't be having incompatibility issues in the first place? What else could cause this freezing over and over? Where is this ASUS.EXE they keep talking about?

 

[COLGeek]

What PSU (make/model/rating) are you using? You are describing a classic heat/PSU issue, not a HDD issue. BTW, the SB700 is referring to the ATI 700 series Southbridge chipset.

 

[Savag3Vim]

Omg i have the same problem, except my bios doesn't recognize the hdd at all. I will try the remedy on samsung link u posted.

 

[JMcCormick]

What PSU (make/model/rating) are you using? You are describing a classic heat/PSU issue, not a HDD issue. BTW, the SB700 is referring to the ATI 700 series Southbridge chipset.

This is the PSU I'm using:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817341022&Tpk=OCZ%20550W%20Fatal1ty

Newegg calculated my build needing under 500W, and when I posted my new build specs someone recommended that one to me.


When I check the BIOS temp everything looks okay...CPU's at maybe 35 C and MB at 40 C or so.

Thanks. =)

 

[COLGeek]

Are you OCing anything? If so, stop until you figure out the problem. Make sure your BIOS is running default settings for the CPU and memory.

PSU looks okay, as do temps.

Try removing the 4870 and installing with the integrated GPU. See what that does. The 4870 can be very picky when it comes to PSUs. Just a thought to get you installed and to rule that out.

 

[JMcCormick]

Are you OCing anything? If so, stop until you figure out the problem. Make sure your BIOS is running default settings for the CPU and memory.

PSU looks okay, as do temps.

Try removing the 4870 and installing with the integrated GPU. See what that does. The 4870 can be very picky when it comes to PSUs. Just a thought to get you installed and to rule that out.

Haven't overclocked anything (was going to look into that once the whole box was up and running).


My understanding is that my motherboard doesn't have onboard graphics:

https://secure.newegg.com/NewMyAccount/OrderStatus.aspx?SONumber=69476576&RandomID=25432711982491620100831182355#69476576

Would you recommend installing a friend's graphics card and seeing if that works?

Also, on that specs page I noticed under "Chipsets" it says AMD 870 NB / 850 SB, which is the incompatibility people complained about with that patch. Is it odd when I booted the DOS drive it said 700 then?

 

[JMcCormick]

By the way, just swapped GPU for nVidia GeForce 9800T from a friend's desktop, switched boot to CD/DVD rom with Windows 7, froze before language selection screen still =/

 

[Savag3Vim]

There is definitely a problem with your mobo as i had that problem before and had to replaced my mobo which was a m4a89gtd pro. I tried the remedy u posted, does nothing i still cannot detect my hdd.

 

[COLGeek]

Sorry I didn't notice the lack of an integrated GPU on your mobo. I agree with Savag3Vim at this point. I believe you have a defective mobo.

I have several F3 HDDs, including in my 890 rig and have had zero problems with it. The chipset identification info is for the IDE controller portion of the chipset, which I don't think has changed since the 700 series of chipsets were introduced.

 

[JMcCormick]

Hmm....okay. Thanks a lot, guys.

 

[COLGeek]

Are you running your SATA settings as IDE or AHCI mode? If set for AHCI, I suggest you change to IDE mode and see what happens.

 

[JMcCormick]

Are you running your SATA settings as IDE or AHCI mode? If set for AHCI, I suggest you change to IDE mode and see what happens.

Went to change it, and apparently it's been on IDE the whole time. =/

 

[COLGeek]

Understood. I predict a mobo RMA in your future. Good luck!

 

[JMcCormick]

Understood. I predict a mobo RMA in your future. Good luck!

Thanks for your help boggling it down, though!

 

[JMcCormick]

Best answer selected by jmccormick.