Computer not booting with cold weather, freeze during the night

[MyraGe]

For the last 2 weeks, I experienced really weird issues I have not seen in my 20 years of experiences with computers... During the night, I drop the temperature to 16-18 C degrees to sleep better(insomnia issues) and sleep well at cold temperatures... and next morning when I try to open the computer... computer wont post, no beeps, no display, all fans running except CPU fan. Seems there is something that need a little warm up first inside the computer to make it work... Can usually succeed to boot it, after few restart / cold boots. If it doesn't freeze during the first 5 minutes, I can usually use it all day long, without any other issues, can play games and heavy load... everything normal... Only my mouse give me small issues, releasing long clicks by moments... All I can noticed with normal boots. If I succeed to boot up, it happen it also freeze when I'm in the BIOS. I did flashed the latest BIOS version available to F3, and it did not fixed the issue. My memory should be timed to 9-9-9-24, but the board doesn't always like it and lately, they are running on 11-11-11-28. I have seen windows freezing more often when booting up and timing of memory was at 9-9-9-24. An other thing I have noted, when computer is running, temperature of my CPU is extremely cold. Without load, it run at about 5 C / 40 F degrees, and with full load, about 35 C / 95 F degrees. All hard disks runs between 20-35 degrees.

If I keep the computer opened during the night, when the temperate is dropping again, most of the time it totally freeze the computer and when I wake up, it is still opened, but frozen. If I unplug mouse/keyboard, LEDs on it won't come back when re plugging... system is totally unresponsive.

If I look at the main board, capacitors look fine at first look.

Components:
- Windows 7 x64 Ultimate
- CPU: AMD FX-8350 Eight-Core Processor 4.0GHz (1 year old)
- Heat sink: Cooler Master Hyper 212 Plus - CPU Cooler
- Motherboard: Gigabyte 990FXA-UD3 rev 4.0 (1 year old)
- RAM: G.Skill 8GB DDR3 1600 (2 x 4) in DUAL channel (1 year old)
- GPU: AMD ATI Radeon HD6950 (5 years old)
- SSD: 2 x SAMSUNG 840 EVO MZ-7TE120BW 120GB SATA III in RAID0 (1 year old)
- 6 x HDD different sizes and brands
- PSU: CORSAIR TX Series CMPSU-650TX 650W (5 years old)
- UPS: CyberPower Intelligent LCD Series CP825LCD 825 VA 450 Watts (6 months old)

What I tried so far:
- I tried a different GPU => same issue
- I tried a different PSU => same issue
- I tried different memory, taken from an other computer... same brand, same model. I tried the 4 sticks I'm having one by one, testing all of them with the different memory slots => did not fixed the issue.

As I am running out of option, my next move will be to try booting up without the UPS backup battery. If it doesn't fix the issue,I'll try to boot up with all hard disks unplugged, just thinking HDD issues should not prevent CPU fan to be running at first boot... After that, seems I will have no choice then to try a different CPU, luckily my other computer is having a AM3 CPU compatible into my motherboard... If not fixing issue, I'll be running out of option and will probably RMA the motherboard.

I would like to hear any other opinion of experts here, this problem is driving me crazy hehe and wasting a lot of time.

thanks

 

[Epsilon_0EVP]

I think the temperature sensors are misleading you. AMD temperature sensors are known to give false readings with most of the temperature monitors available. It is very unlikely your CPU is actually running at 5C.

I'd suspect a RAM issue, and since you say you tested the sticks themselves I'd suspect the motherboard RAM slots are faulty. It might not be a bad idea to try to get a replacement, specially if you are still within warranty.

 

[MyraGe]

You are right, when I can boot up and look at the health status in the BIOS, temperatures are more like between 20-25 degrees. The reading I get from softwares in windows are like 20 degrees under what it should really be.

Update:
- I now unplugged ALL the Hard disks including SSD and the problem still persist...
- I also tried without the UPS battery back up, same problem again...

I also think it's the motherboard... Tomorrow, I'm going to cold boot with a different CPU, just hate having to unbuild 2 computers and huge heatskinks to switch the component (CPU)... I would like to be sure before returning the motherboard and having to wait for a RMA.

thanks for your reply, will update the thread until I clearly find a solution... if this ever happen to someone else...

 

[Epsilon_0EVP]

I also hate having to switch motherboards; it's such a chore. Sadly, that's the only component I've had fail on me so far, which is quite annoying 😛

It's good that you have another CPU to be able to troubleshoot. If you have a friend with a similar computer, you could also try using their motherboard to rule that out before having to RMA it.

Do post any updates; we're here to answer any questions you may have.

 

[MyraGe]

I just switched the CPU from my office's computer and now using :
QuadCore AMD AM3 Athlon II X4 640, 3000 MHz

Computer booted up on first try and memory is also correctly set to 9-9-9-24. I'm gonna have to test it out for few days before being totally sure... like if it freeze if I keep the computer opened during the night... and also if I close it, how it will handle the next cold boot in the morning... Sadly, I can't test the main CPU on the other computer because it's a AM3+ CPU not compatible to the AM3 socket...

ooO yes, I definatly agree 😉 motherboard issues are the worst one, it's like building up a brand new computer... without the excitement coming whit it... At least, it's always fun and exciting to build a new and stronger computer for our self. I enjoy it actually.

Will update again the thread with more details when I'll consider it solved.

thanks

EDIT: still unstable... froze after 5 minutes in windows... same problem again at the reboot... Will definitely RMA the motherboard... will update this thread once the new board arrive and make it solved if it's the case.

 

[Epsilon_0EVP]

I agree with your conclusion: I do think we've exhausted all other possibilities, since we know good RAM doesn't work on it, and a good CPU also freezes. Hopefully that will resolve the issue.

 

[Paperdoc]

I can suggest a different cause and cure. The key I see is that, when you go to start up on a cold morning, the CPU cooling fan does not start. Now, MANY mobo's monitor that fan closely and, IF it sees NO fan running, it believes the fan has failed entirely and will refuse to start up, to prevent the CPU from overheating resulting in damage. Although your CPU fan is not bad, the mobo thinks it is!

I suggest the cure is to ensure that the CPU fan WILL start up on a cold morning. Go into BIOS Setup where your CPU cooling fan system is configured. Look closely at the low temperature at which that fan is set to simply turn itself off because no cooling is needed. Change that to a very low temperature like 5C, so that it WILL turn on no matter how cold the morning is. See if that solves the problem.

 

[MyraGe]

Go into BIOS Setup where your CPU cooling fan system is configured. Look closely at the low temperature at which that fan is set to simply turn itself off because no cooling is needed. Change that to a very low temperature like 5C, so that it WILL turn on no matter how cold the morning is. See if that solves the problem.

Thanks a lot for your suggestion, unfortunately this BIOS version do not have such option. I can only choose between 3 different modes: Auto, Voltage or PWM. PWM is a sloping model 0.75PWM / C, like the attached images. I can't configure any temperature threshold. I'm also thinking when Windows freeze, if CPU fan fail, it should logically instantly close the computer else then freezing it. I just enabled also the warning if the fan fail... by default, this was disabled.

 

[Paperdoc]

Maybe the controls I mention are in a different place. For starters, I suggest you set the items you show above this way:

CPU Fan Control Mode to Auto (lets it use automatic control based on CPU temperature, and will employ PWM Mode with your 4-pin fan)

CPU Fan Speed Control set to Normal so that it will do automatic speed control.

CPU Fan Fail Warning Enabled as you have done

Now, according to your manual on p.42, from there you can customize some fan settings using the EasyTune utility included on your mobo's CD of software. If you have not installed and used that yet, use the CD to install it. It is an application that runs under Windows to give you control of the details of many items. See your manual p. 87 for a BRIEF outline. The tab you need is HWMonitor. See if you can adjust a low-temp limit there.

If that does not appear to be available, then maybe you have to fall back on the PWM Slope setting. My guess is that, if you alter that to some higher value like 1.50 PWM/C, it will make the CPU cooling fan operate at a higher speed for any given temperature. That may force the fan to get a higher speed signal at 15C so that it does start up.

One other thing you might consider. Proper function of all this depends in part on the condition of the fan itself. IF an older fan has worn bearings that make it harder to start up at low speed settings, it could fail to start under the same settings that would be OK for a new fan in good condition. So, is it possible your fan is old enough to have developed worn bearings and difficult operation? I can suggest one way to test this thought. Open your case so that you have easy access to that fan. Get a small stick or pencil and practice this first. Use that to give the fan blades a little push to spin it. As you do that, observe what happens AFTER the push: does the fan slow down and stop quickly, or does it coast gently down to a stop? Now, turn on your system and IMMEDIATELY push the fan to get it to start. If it starts right away with this push and keeps going, (but will not start without the push) then you can suspect the fan is getting hard to start. On the other hand, if it stops right away, then either the fan is getting a poor signal, or its bearings are so bad it needs a very high signal to get it to run at all.

 

[MyraGe]

Thanks again,

I have installed easyTune and adjusted the fan to run at higher RPM at a lowest temperature, just thinking it's a Windows software so it won't have any effects when booting up, until being into Windows. I have checked everything in the BIOS to find the option, and I surely can't with this BIOS. Today, I used a heater for 5 minutes before booting and it worked. I'm still waiting for Gigabyte to send the RMA number, the notification when asking for RMA number mentioned 2 business days. What I like about the heat sink Cooler Master Hyper 212 is we can easily change the fan and I'm pretty sure I changed it last year, at the same time I bought the motherboard + CPU. The fan itself is running fine, CPU never get higher then 40 degrees with full load (stress test), running up to 2000 RPM. I also tried giving a little push to help spinning at the boot time... I have the original heat sink with the retail CPU I can test tomorrow morning to be totally sure about the CPU fan. I also noted today in the BIOS health status that memory was again running at 11-11-11-28 and it should be 9-9-9-24. Motherboard is not taking my configuration, I believe when it freeze in the BIOS, it's when the memory is set to 9-9-9-24 and the motherboard is resetting to the default values.

I'm really thinking like Epsilon_0EVP that it must be something related to the memory slot on board. I will try with a different heat sink/fan tomorrow since I'm really open to all suggestions/ideas and will update the thread.

thanks again for your time and help, much appreciated.

 

[Paperdoc]

Still an unsolved mystery, then. We await further developments.

 

[MyraGe]

Still an unsolved mystery, then. We await further developments.

Today, I tried booting up with a different CPU fan and I was surprise to see it worked at first... Went back to the BIOS to set correctly my memory's timing to 9-9-9-24 and the computer booted up normally for a second time in arrow. I thought it might have been the solution. I decided to shut down the system, shopping for new CPU fan in my office's computer, excited it could be the solution and when I tried for the third time, same issue again. No post, no beep, system refusing to boot up normally... I switched back the CPU Fan and changed the control mode in BIOS to manual. By default it is set to 0.75 PWM / C and I'm now using 1.50 PWM / C. Since I already used the heater to boot it up, will be hard to run new test until tomorrow's morning... I really doubt here the fan is the cause'... Still waiting for RMA number to be issued, really slow with Gigabyte support. I already seen far better support.

 

[MyraGe]

A really long waiting time for this RMA. They were about to send me back the same motherboard, seems in California, they can't test it below 20 degrees haha After talking with the customer services... I finally got a different 'refurbished' motherboard... 3 days in arrows now without issues... Problem solved...

 

[Paperdoc]

Glad to hear that, and thanks for updating us. It's frustrating when the problem is something obscure in the mobo that you cannot diagnose yourself completely.