In the summer of 2017 I bought a Zotac CI327 mini pc with Win10 and since then I had the problem that every 1 to 3 days the system crashed. I've tried several months to find the problem: and I think I found it. So this threat is for those who might experience the same problem.
Symptoms:
1. Every one to three days the system freezes
2. Sometimes ending with a BSOD, telling about a storage problem
3. After the automatic reboot the BIOS message 'No bootable device available' appeared on the screen.
4. Sometimes the system gave 5 long beeps (according to manual indicating a CPU/Memory issue)
5. After turning off power and rebooting the system dit start up normally
System:
- Zotac CI327 mini pc
- 2x 4GB 1866 HyperX memory
- Intel 540s SSD 180GB harddrive (with SM2258 controller)
Solution:
Replace the Intel 540s (or maybe: other harddrive with Sandforce 2258 controller) with a completely different SSD (in my successful case: Kingston A400 with Phision S11 controller)
Steps to find the problem
1. Applied a BIOS update
2. Imaged the system and placed a new SSD of the same model: Intel 540s (no fix)
3. Reinstall Windows 10 (no fix)
4. Try a single memory module to find out if one has problems (no fix)
5. Downgrade the CPU level to prevent overheating (no fix)
6. Upgrade the CPU level in idle state to prevent too low voltage problems (no fix)
After these steps I concluded something must be wrong with Zotac system itself:
7. I send the Zotac back to my vendor, asking for a replacement: they tested it and nothing should be wrong with the system: I got te system back.
8. I bought a new Zotac CI327 to really exclude that my Zotac had problems (using my old power adapter): the same problem on the new Zotac.
9. I applied the new power adapter to the old system (no fix)
New conclusion: some of the components do not work together. As the BSOD gave a storage error and no bootable device was found: i guessed the SSD was the major problem.
10. I imaged the system and replaced it on a Kingston A400 (intentionally with another SSD controller)
Since then my system has run over 5 days now, without any problems. Whooho! First time ever. Therefore I guess the SSD switch fixed my problem.
Hopefully this will save you some time fixing your own CI327.
If any problems do arise in the next few days, I'll let you know...
Symptoms:
1. Every one to three days the system freezes
2. Sometimes ending with a BSOD, telling about a storage problem
3. After the automatic reboot the BIOS message 'No bootable device available' appeared on the screen.
4. Sometimes the system gave 5 long beeps (according to manual indicating a CPU/Memory issue)
5. After turning off power and rebooting the system dit start up normally
System:
- Zotac CI327 mini pc
- 2x 4GB 1866 HyperX memory
- Intel 540s SSD 180GB harddrive (with SM2258 controller)
Solution:
Replace the Intel 540s (or maybe: other harddrive with Sandforce 2258 controller) with a completely different SSD (in my successful case: Kingston A400 with Phision S11 controller)
Steps to find the problem
1. Applied a BIOS update
2. Imaged the system and placed a new SSD of the same model: Intel 540s (no fix)
3. Reinstall Windows 10 (no fix)
4. Try a single memory module to find out if one has problems (no fix)
5. Downgrade the CPU level to prevent overheating (no fix)
6. Upgrade the CPU level in idle state to prevent too low voltage problems (no fix)
After these steps I concluded something must be wrong with Zotac system itself:
7. I send the Zotac back to my vendor, asking for a replacement: they tested it and nothing should be wrong with the system: I got te system back.
8. I bought a new Zotac CI327 to really exclude that my Zotac had problems (using my old power adapter): the same problem on the new Zotac.
9. I applied the new power adapter to the old system (no fix)
New conclusion: some of the components do not work together. As the BSOD gave a storage error and no bootable device was found: i guessed the SSD was the major problem.
10. I imaged the system and replaced it on a Kingston A400 (intentionally with another SSD controller)
Since then my system has run over 5 days now, without any problems. Whooho! First time ever. Therefore I guess the SSD switch fixed my problem.
Hopefully this will save you some time fixing your own CI327.
If any problems do arise in the next few days, I'll let you know...
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