Random blue screens

[patseguin]

I built my latest rig with an Asus RampageIII Black Edition and the new Kingston HyperX SSD 240gb. I'm getting random blue screens in Windows 7. It may not happen for a week and it may happen twice in one day. When it happens, the bios won't even recognize the ssd. I have to turn off the computer and then it sees the ssd. Does this sound like an issue with the ssd or the mobo? Kingston said they would replace the SSD but they need the serial so I have to pull it out which is a pain. The mobo is a replacement for a defective one so I'm not sure where to start.

 

[ncc74656]

start with diags, system stress tests. boot into dos and start with memtest86+ run that for 7 passes, if no errors then your ram is good. boot into windows and run prime95 for 24 hours, if it passes then your CPU is good. grab a diag program such as pc check or pc doctor and test your MB out as well as HD controllers. if they pass then your good. run a full liner verify on your HD to make sure all the memory transistors can be read/written. replace your sata cable going to your SSD.

disable all HD power saving features as they *** with SSD's and cause strange things to happen.

 

[ko888]

I built my latest rig with an Asus RampageIII Black Edition and the new Kingston HyperX SSD 240gb. I'm getting random blue screens in Windows 7. It may not happen for a week and it may happen twice in one day. When it happens, the bios won't even recognize the ssd. I have to turn off the computer and then it sees the ssd. Does this sound like an issue with the ssd or the mobo? Kingston said they would replace the SSD but they need the serial so I have to pull it out which is a pain. The mobo is a replacement for a defective one so I'm not sure where to start.

What are the brand and model numbers of the other components in your system?

i.e. memory modules, power supply unit, graphics card(s), ...

 

[patseguin]

start with diags, system stress tests. boot into dos and start with memtest86+ run that for 7 passes, if no errors then your ram is good. boot into windows and run prime95 for 24 hours, if it passes then your CPU is good. grab a diag program such as pc check or pc doctor and test your MB out as well as HD controllers. if they pass then your good. run a full liner verify on your HD to make sure all the memory transistors can be read/written. replace your sata cable going to your SSD.

disable all HD power saving features as they *** with SSD's and cause strange things to happen.

Oh really? I have the windows power saving to put the computer to sleep after an hour and every night I put the computer to sleep. I can't be wrong in doing that...

Memory is G. Skill tri-channel memory for intel Core i7 CPU's (I have the core i7 extreme). DDR3-1600 PC3-12800, for which I have all the proper timings set in the bios.

Power supply is a Corsair AX1200.

Graphics card is nVidia 580GTX.

I don't think it's any components because after the blue screen I reboot with the reset switch and the SSD is not seen by BIOS. Once I turn off the computer and turn it back on, the SSD is recognized. I'm thinking the SSD is the culprit and if not that, the motherboard. My previous rig had an Intel 80 GB SSD and perfect. I just wanted to see if anyone else had problems like this with SSD. I did some Googling and I've seen some mention of the same issue, but not with my specific SSD. I guess I should bite the bullet and pull it out and get the serial number and let Kingston replace it as a first start. Is there any way to get the serial number of the SSD without physically looking at it?

This last time the issue happened, the system rebooted and I went into BIOS to disable my overclocking and revert to default 3.46 GHz. I inadvertently forgot to set the IDE mode to raid for my 2GB hard drives and lost everything and had to rebuild the array, luckily I backup nightly.

 

[apache_lives]

update the SSD firmware - should fix it

The Intel SSD is far superior in terms of quality and reliability, even if its old now

Also test your hardware (general just incase) - memtest, prime, furmark etc

 

[patseguin]

There is no firmware update available. This is the Kingston HyperX SSD which is supposed to be the best SSD on the market, or so I thought.

 

[ncc74656]

putting the computer to sleep is not the power saving i was speaking of. as for the ssd's... i have heard many people talk about issues with there ssd's perhaps your combo of mb/ssd is having an issue. both bios and ssd firmware could fix such things. ive only ever used intel ssd's but i have never had any kind of a problem with them; raid or otherwise.

 

[pseguin]

I might replace it with a Samsung 830 and see what happens.

 

[ncc74656]

i stand by my intel X25's they have never failed me in any way.

 

[toolman6872]

I built my latest rig with an Asus RampageIII Black Edition and the new Kingston HyperX SSD 240gb. I'm getting random blue screens in Windows 7. It may not happen for a week and it may happen twice in one day. When it happens, the bios won't even recognize the ssd. I have to turn off the computer and then it sees the ssd. Does this sound like an issue with the ssd or the mobo? Kingston said they would replace the SSD but they need the serial so I have to pull it out which is a pain. The mobo is a replacement for a defective one so I'm not sure where to start.

I have a Kingston HyperX 120gb rev 3.0 I recently installed and have the same issue. Randomly it locks up and I have to completely shut down the cpu and restart for it to recognize the drive. The SSD is the only new component in the computer and I am using the same sata slots I have been using. I normally leave my computer on all the times as it doubles as my dvr and have not had an issue with my WD caviar black drives.

 

[ko888]

I have a Kingston HyperX 120gb rev 3.0 I recently installed and have the same issue. Randomly it locks up and I have to completely shut down the cpu and restart for it to recognize the drive. The SSD is the only new component in the computer and I am using the same sata slots I have been using. I normally leave my computer on all the times as it doubles as my dvr and have not had an issue with my WD caviar black drives.

You're not the only one suffering from the problem. There are several (many?) users that have reported the same symptoms to Kingston.

Kingston is aware of the problem with the SH100S3/120G and are in the process of working on releasing a firmware update. I haven't heard of any firm date when this will be made available.

I'm not sure if there's anything firmware-wise in the works for the SH100S3/240G version though.

 

[toolman6872]

Thanks for the info! I like the stats on the HyperX SSD. Ranks up there with the fastest but this problem is a pita.

Now to decide if I return the drive or keep it and hope for a firmware update. It will be sitting there collecting dust till then. Nothing worse than coming home to find my computer not running when it should have been recording the newest Big Bang Theory!

Forgot to mention I currently use a Gigabyte GA-P35-DS3L for the time being. I know I am not taking advantage of the SSD as much as I could using this board but its the best I have atm

 

[ttrucks]

Got the same issue... BSOD and have to turn machine off before the HDD is recognized again. Hyper X 120... this is really a bummer!! Guess I will call Kingston.

 

[Eggheart]

I'm having exactly the same problems (with the 120gb). I've contacted Kingston and they sent me new beta firmware and asked to to also install the Intel Rapid Storage Technology F6 Driver from http://downloadcenter.intel.com/

I couldn't figure out how to install the F6 driver yet, but I did install the beta SSD firmware... and got a BSOD a few hours later.

The full firmware should be released soon, and I'll have to figure out how to get the F6 driver installed - hopefully the combo fixes the problem (although I'm running my SSD off a Marvel SATA3 controller - do the Intel F6 drivers still work with that? It's all a bit above my level of knowledge, so I'm learning these terms as I go).

 

[toolman6872]

I also got the beta firmware from kingston but it didnt actually install on mine at all.

 

[bob_83]

Kingston just released a Firmware update to address the drive faulting when awakening from Sleep and occasional BSOD screen.....old firmware rev 330 new rev 332

 

[fjellsboe]

This update did not solve anything for me. I get random blue screens every 10-20 minutes. Running with an asus p8z68-v. Reverted back to my old Intel x25 ssd

 

[Deeks]

I have not contacted Kingston as of yet but i am having the same problem as well. it happens usually only once every 24 hours or so but still is quite annoying! Specially if your in the middle of a game and it crashes!! lol Thanks for the info ill try these new drivers and hope for the best im running a asus p8p67Evo R3

 

[fjellsboe]

I solved my problem. Turns out the very old VIA Sata II controller-card i had installed in my pc was causing these blue screens when the harddrive connected to it (not an ssd) was in use. After removing that card, the kingston is running fine on my marvel controller. No blue screens so far.

 

[pseguin]

Great man! It's always awesome when you isolate a problem. My problem has not come back since I did 2 things: updated the firmware on the drives and moved them from the Marvel 6g to the Intel 3g controller.

 

[thestephan]

This update did not solve anything for me. I get random blue screens every 10-20 minutes. Running with an asus p8z68-v. Reverted back to my old Intel x25 ssd

I got the same setup and have the same problem. So frustrating to be bsod for every little thing.
I only bought the kingston for the $55 mail in rebate. I guess I will go back to my intel ssd for now too.