Question CPU or mobo dead... ?

[oceancgi]

[Edit]

Hi everyone.

Syetem specs:

CPU: Threadripper 3970X (non overclocked)
RAM: Corsair Vengeance DDR4 128GB (8x 16gb DIMMS)
MOBO: Gigabyte TRX40 Designare
COOLING: Corsair iCUE H100i PRO XT RGB Liquid CPU Cooler
PSU: Corsair 1200W HXi
DISK DRIVE: Samsung 970 EVO Plus 1 TB PCIe NVMe M.2 (2280) Internal
2x SATA SSD DATA drives
(All drives plenty space - all components new)


Used as a rendering workstation until I got an error:

DRAM modules reinstall recommendation
(DDR4_B1 and B2 were showing as N/A)

Tested all RAM sticks and found they were all good but PC only working on 64gb. PC continued to work for another 2 weeks then stopped posting at all. Codes suggest RAM initilzation errors, so on advice, I bought a new (second hand) mobo.

Still no luck and new mobo codes suggest RAM initialization errors still.

All I'm after here is best guesses on whether I've been unlucky and got two defective mobos, or if it's the CPU that is in fact dead.

Also I do have two other workstations running the same socket, so should I test the CPU in one of those - and what are the risks?

3970X CPUs still going for £800 used on eBay and new Ryzens / Threadrippers just aren't much faster and are even slower unless you spend ££££s.

In a pickle!

Any help much appreciated!

 

[Ralston18]

Update your post to include full system hardware specs and OS information.

PSU: make, model, wattage, age, condition (original to build, new, refurbished, used)?

Disk drive(s): make, model, capacity, how full?

Other attached peripherals?

 

[oceancgi]

Thanks for responding. Updated post!

Update your post to include full system hardware specs and OS information.

PSU: make, model, wattage, age, condition (original to build, new, refurbished, used)?

Disk drive(s): make, model, capacity, how full?

Other attached peripherals?

Thanks for responding - updated post.

 

[Ralston18]

OS?

How old is that 1200 Watt Corsair PSU? A faltering/failing PSU can create all sorts of problems.

What is the basis for "but PC only working on 64gb."

Is it certain that the system/motherboard was indeed using more than 64 GB? How much RAM does the rendering software require and actually use?

This motherboard?

Gigabyte TRX40 Designare

As I understand the circumstances thus far you will need to determine if the problem is the motherboard or CPU by swapping components.

There are always risks with doing such things.

First, as a matter of elimination, try installing a new CMOS battery in the suspect motherboard per the motherboard's User Guide/Manual. Doublecheck the BIOS configuration. Clear (per the User Guide/Manual) and start over.

Failing that, I would proceed by testing the current CPU in another known working motherboard.

General premise being that a motherboard is more likely to kill a CPU than a CPU killing the motherboard.

There may be other ideas and suggestions.