New machine woes

Post by **Dog Pants** » April 11th, 2008, 12:38

I suppose I should stick this here now, if only to document it. My new upgrade consists of (including old parts, new bits in bold):

CPU: Intel C2D E8400 3.00GHz 1333FSB 'Wolfdale'
MOBO: Asus P5e3
RAM: 2x 1GB OCZ DDR3
GFX: BFG 8800GTS
PSU: 520W Corsair modular
HDD: 250GB (SATA) Seagate Barracuda
DVD: Sony DVD R/W (IDE), LG DVD ROM (IDE)
Sound: Creative X-Fi of some description
Case: Thermaltake Shark

I've had to remove my two old IDE HDDs because the new MOBO only supports on IDE port and I need that for my optical drives. The motherboard disliked the old drives even when I was using one HDD and one DVD drive, but that's not uncommon with IDE.

I had issues initially with the motherboard, RMAd it, and had it returned serviceable. I suspect this was down to the BIOS being old and incompatible with the Wolfdale processor, and I also suspect they flashed the BIOS to the latest version before returning it. I did that myself anyway, and it seems to be okay as far as the BIOS goes.

The problem now the mobo started working is that the windows install locks up during the format of the HDD. However, sometimes it locks up while checking the drive config, and occasionally while starting windows initially (the blue screen after the drivers have loaded).

Recently I've tried:
Using each stick of RAM individually and in different slots.
Using a SATA DVD drive (courtesy of Berk)
Using a different HDD (also courtesy of Berk)
Removing my sound card.
Using different SATA ports.
Three different copies of Windows.
About seven different tests on the HDD, all of which are passed.
CIIJASIIE.
Quick format (locks up at 20%).
Normal format (locks up at 100%)
Format through recovery console (locks up at 100%)

I've yet to try:
The other HDD again, hopefully making it to the format stage. (= HDD u/s and RMA)
My old RAM. (= RAM u/s and RMA)
The Ubuntu disk Berk sent me. (= hopefully Windows will work on a formatted disk)
And failing that, my old hardware in toto. (=CPU u/s and RMA)

Most of the above options mean I'll be without a PC for another couple of weeks, which is obviously very frustrating.

Anybody any suggestions then?

Post by **Dr. kitteny berk** » April 11th, 2008, 12:42

memtest. memtest. memtest. memtest. memtest.

In that order.

oh, and make sure your rams are running at the right voltage/settings.

Lateralus · Post by **Lateralus** » April 11th, 2008, 12:48

I see you've already tried jam, so that depletes my box of useful replies.

Post by **Dog Pants** » April 11th, 2008, 12:50

Dr. kitteny berk wrote:memtest. memtest. memtest. memtest. memtest.

I understand the words, but not the process. I did run a RAM check using my lovely tools CD, and thinking back it passed the first check but seemed to lock up during the second (saturation test?). Might be something in that (and it's the least inconvenient of the RMAs).

Dr. kitteny berk wrote:oh, and make sure your rams are running at the right voltage/settings.

Motherboards on auto settings don't always get it right huh? Actually, considering it's DDR3 that wouldn't be too far fetched. Got a good link to where I could find out what everything should be?

Post by **Dr. kitteny berk** » April 11th, 2008, 12:59

http://www.memtest.org/ download, burn, boot from disc, watch for BIG SHOUTY RED.

erm, memory settings depend on what your memory is. if you have the packing, it should say something like 7-7-7-3 1.8v on there. they'll be the right settings.

Post by **HereComesPete** » April 11th, 2008, 13:00

Why do you need two optical drives?

1.9v for the OCZ stuff.

Memtest on single sticks, just to be really sure.

PEBKAC.

Post by **Dog Pants** » April 11th, 2008, 13:06

dr. kitteny berk wrote: if you have the packing, it should say something like 7-7-7-3 1.8v on there

Pffft, they came in a plastic blister thing. I think there was a bit of card with them though.

HereComesPete wrote:Why do you need two optical drives?

1. Direct copy CDs (I never keep originals in my car), and less fannying about swapping game disks.
2. Because I have them.

HereComesPete wrote:PEBKAC.

Whatnow?

Post by **Dr. kitteny berk** » April 11th, 2008, 13:08

check the OCZ website for the stuff that matches what you bought.

or ocock.

Chickenz · Post by **Chickenz** » April 11th, 2008, 13:12

PEBKAC = Problem Exists Between Keyboard And Chair

Post by **HereComesPete** » April 11th, 2008, 13:14

Yes, webshite is best, because of all the different types OCZ have released recently. I got 1.9v for OCZ DDR extra fast stuff, but I dunno what flavour yours is.

PEBKAC - Problem Exists Between Keyboard And Chair.

Post by **Dog Pants** » April 11th, 2008, 13:25

Ah, that (PEBKAC). If only it were so simple.

Post by **deject** » April 11th, 2008, 14:16

Also, this may have been mentioned before, but if you're installing XP on a relatively new motherboard (which since you're running a Wolfdale CPU it is), XP may not play nice with your SATA controllers. Try getting some F6 drivers for your motherboard or figure out which BIOS setting makes them more compatible.

Post by **Dog Pants** » April 11th, 2008, 14:35

Yeah, I tried looking for the SATA drivers but the Seagate website just directs me to a bunch of other sites with long lists of hardware I don't recognise.

Looking into the memory route a bit more, the OCZ website has a link to their forum where someone set up this memory in a similar mobo (and similar BIOS). I've followed their settings (they said 1.9v was recommended but caused instability so they put it down to 1.8 and it was fine) and am giving that a go.

Post by **HereComesPete** » April 11th, 2008, 14:36

Didn't western digital buy seagate?

Post by **Dog Pants** » April 11th, 2008, 14:52

RAM setup fixed it.

Thanks everyone, I'd have been fannying around for ages without your collective help (well, I was anyway but it'd have been even longer).

Was probably Godzilla that did it in the end. I'd recommend his help to anybody else suffering problems.

Lateralus · Post by **Lateralus** » April 11th, 2008, 14:57

Hurrah!

Post by **deject** » April 11th, 2008, 17:04

Dog Pants wrote:Yeah, I tried looking for the SATA drivers but the Seagate website just directs me to a bunch of other sites with long lists of hardware I don't recognise.

Looking into the memory route a bit more, the OCZ website has a link to their forum where someone set up this memory in a similar mobo (and similar BIOS). I've followed their settings (they said 1.9v was recommended but caused instability so they put it down to 1.8 and it was fine) and am giving that a go.

You get them from your motherboard manufacturer, not the hard drive people. Seeing as the controller is part of the motherboard and all.

Post by **Dog Pants** » April 11th, 2008, 17:34

deject wrote:
You get them from your motherboard manufacturer, not the hard drive people. Seeing as the controller is part of the motherboard and all.

Hehe, fair point. I was thinking drivers for the hard drive. It works now anyhoo, I'm posting this from a lovely clean install of Windows on my desktop machine, and waiting for the last few Gb of stuff to transfer from my old drives (Steam, as it happens).

All is well.

buzzmong · Post by **buzzmong** » April 11th, 2008, 17:50

Post by **deject** » April 11th, 2008, 18:59

buzzmong wrote:

that