Athlon ii x3 435 dead?

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Josh154

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Jan 27, 2010
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Hello all, i just built myself a rig today. It was my first time building a computer. I am having some difficulties with it right now though. First here is the specs,
-MSI 785GM-E65 mobo
-AMD Athlon ii x3 435 processor
-500gb samsung 7200 rpm 16mb cache hard drive
-2gb super talent 1333mhz ram
-Raidmax 450w psu (came with case and im on a VERY tight budget)
-LG dvd burner
-Windows 7 Ultimate 64 bit

Anyways here is my problems. I can boot into windows and do some basic browsing on the internet. Whenever i go to play a game using a large amount of the CPU the system hard locks up. When it locks up i cannot move the mouse or turn off num lock or any of those options on the keyboard. When it locks up it freezes and sometimes it will go to a black screen with white lines running vertical down it or it will be at whatever task im doing and some red lines start to show up.

The processor is not overclocked in anyway. I have unlocked the 4th core on it and had it 3.5ghz and was still able to boot into windows and browse the internet. Nothing else, it is back at stock configuration now and still having problems.

I have tried running prime 95 and as soon as i start it no matter what test it locks up. Sometimes it will run for a minute or two then lock up. The max temp i have seen while running prime is 49 Celsius. The max on this chip is 73 Celsius i seen on the AMD site.

I have ran memtest 86 and my ram has passed that. Everything in the BIOS is stock configuration. Just as soon as i go to use a large CPU percentage it locks up. Should i try manually adjusting the vCore? CPU-Z shows it at a core voltage of 1.424, doesn't that seem high for a stock chip not OC'd?

I have run out of ideas. Should i just take the thing back? I bought it at a local shop for $85. Is it actually a bad chip or something i need to change?
 
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^^+1. Make sure everything's seated well, and make sure to apply a very fine layer of thermal paste between the CPU and HSF, blah blah blah.

I'm sure you already know this, but it's always best to take precautions.
 
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Yeah i posted that message on the comp. I already had everything installed good.

Unfortunately the mobo is not the problem. 🙁 I tried running prime without flashing the BIOS then after and same thing...
 
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Hmmm... Alright. We isolated the mobo, memory, PSU... How about the CPU?

Did you install standoffs/spacers under the mobo? Try using another HDD (lying around) and do a fresh install. Perhaps there is a bad sector, and that is causing a chain reaction...

I guess the other alternative would be the GPU, but I don't see how that would affect the system. Try putting another GPU in (lying around, know that it works) and see what happens.

It could also be the city power, but I doubt it. Let's leave no stone unturned though.

Cheers, and good luck... This seems like a true (as my IT professor puts it) "stumper".
 
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I don't know how many computer I've built to date, and I've never got a bad CPU.

First thing to test is the memory. Remove 1 stick and try Prime. Then try the other one. If everything is fine with 1 stick, then consider upping up the vdimm a bit.
 
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Yeah i don't currently have it in the case and it is still acting up.

pat, i only have 1 stick of RAM should i try doing a return on the RAM?

Also, i am using integrated graphics and it has done the same on both boards. My only other options would be the cpu and the RAM correct?
 
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Alright, try the RAM. (really sorry for the work to get this poor PC fixed...)

Hmm, integrated graphics. No biggie then. Don't worry about it. If it's integrated into the mobo, then we already checked that.

Did you install standoffs under the motherboard? That might explain a few things...

Good luck, and sorry (on behalf of the responsible part) for having you go through this.. 🙁
 
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Alright i will definitely try the RAM tomorrow. I think it might be the RAM as when i run prime 95 and do the one with lots of ram it locks up right away and when i run the one using less RAM it doesnt lock up. Where and how can i get memtest?

EDIT: I downloaded memtest and running it currently. It says my RAM settings are
-483MHz (DDR966)
-CAS: 2.5-1-0-1
DDR-1 (128bits)

Umm i believe that is all wrong. It should be DDR3 ram 1333MHz at CAS latency's of 9.
 
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Hmmm, I can't help you with memtest, but I do know that it can only recognize one stick at a time.

So take out all of your sticks and put only one inside, run memtest, and repeat.

You should encounter an error on one stick.

...Or you could probably get away with return/exchanging your ram kit. 😛
 
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Well, I don't think it's possible to use more than one module with memtest. (it just won't see it)

DIMM slots can also go bad easily. i've seen it happen before.

Does Everest have some kind of memory-checking utility too? :|
 
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I only have 1 stick of RAM. When i run memtest the RAM passes it. Also i don't think its the DIMM slot as i just replaced the motherboard and have tried different slots on both boards. I am going into town soon and am going to swap the CPU and RAM so either way it should be fixed :) Hopefully anyways. Ive tried a new power supply, swapped motherboards made sure its not grounding out, different DIMM slots, ran memtest passed it fine. I dunno :/
 
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True. Different slots on both boards. Then, it's (hopefully), definitely the CPU.

I agree with RazberyBandit. Don't OC unless you are 110% certain that the machine is fully operational and stable.

Cheers.
 
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WOOO! I just got back with the new processor and have been running prime for 10 minutes so far! Old CPU would have locked up by now! So glad i got this thing working! I will run prime over night before overclocking :)

Thanks for all the help guys! My dream has come true to build my own rig at 15! :)
 
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Congrats!
 
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Haha!! Nice! Well done!

I remember my first build, waay too many problems, about as many as yours.

After that, everything goes smoothly, and after this, you can handle almost any problem.

Good luck in your future rig-building endeavors! :)
 
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Even greater news! Unlocked the 4th core and got L3 cache! 😀 Running prime now and gonna let it run for a while before i even think about upping the clock 😀

omg.png


 
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This is all great news! Congrats man.

Userremoved, I'd guess they're 3-core versions of either the Phenom II X4 925 or 945 Deneb. Did you notice in his CPU-Z pic that the voltage changed from the X3 435's usual 1.425v to the Deneb's 1.325v? Interesting...
 
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