Starting to think this i7-970 is the problem...

[JPS]

I have a custom built PC back in the shop and the client is complaining of instability - lockups, BSODs, etc. The system is built around an Asus P6X58D-E, Intel i7-970 CPU, 24 GB of G.Skill F3-12800CL9T-12GBRL, MSI 460 GTX, 750W PSU, and 6 HDDs.

Anyways, when it first came in, I ran memtest86 v4.0 with all 24GB in and as soon as it hit Test #7 [Block Move], it errored out hard and continually. I removed one set of 12GB and ran Memtest again - same deal. Pulled two of 3 remaining sticks and ran memtest again - ditto.

I swapped in a 12 GB set from Mushkin - same deal again. Tried 12GB of Corsair Dominator and the same deal again.

Starting to think this might actually be a CPU issue since the controller on the i7-970 is on-die. I have scoured Intel's website to try and find a bootable utility that would analyze the CPU and let me know if it is damaged/defective, but I cannot find anything.

Does anyone know what might be happening with this system or have any ideas to try to and get the system stable? I have pretty much pulled my hair out and have torn the system down and rebuilt it twice only to find the same result.

 

[d4a2n0k]

You have it set to X.M.P. in the BIOS?

 

[JPS]

You have it set to X.M.P. in the BIOS?

I have tried that, I have tried Auto, and I have manually set everything as well. Still errors out at the same spot everytime.

 

[Kenmitch]

What makes you believe the MB cannot cause these problems? I'm just wondering why your troubleshooting points towards the CPU. Did you try the CPU in another MB and get the same results?

 

[BadThad]

Unfortunately you're at the point that you need to swap in a different CPU and retest. A bad CPU is rare, but still possible. I've seen brand new CPU's be defective before.

 

[JPS]

What makes you believe the MB cannot cause these problems? I'm just wondering why your troubleshooting points towards the CPU. Did you try the CPU in another MB and get the same results?

This motherboard is a warranty replacement from Asus. The first motherboard displayed similar instabilities.

BadThad

Agreed, but I unfortunately do not have any spare LGA 1366 CPUs lying idle....

 

[Jacky60]

Is your cpu overclocked because if so you've litle chance of running 24gb of memory at its rated speed. Even with 12gb you'll almost certainly have to downclock the memory a couple of notches below what its rated at. I was shocked at how bigger memory volumes mean slower memory speeds and how overclocking the memory controller along with the cpu ( a must with i7) means less stability. Have you tried with very low memory speeds e.g.1066 rather than say 1600mhz?

 

[nanaki333]

i don't know what you tried prior to all this, and i don't want you to feel insulted by my suggestion but.... have you checked for a bios update? could be a compatibility issue with 4GB DIMMs. do you have any 2GB sets you can put in to try out and just run 6GB?

 

[Elganja]

Try using just 3 DIMM slots, not all 6 and see if you still have the issue

 

[dawp]

Try using just 3 DIMM slots, not all 6 and see if you still have the issue

he did:

from the OP

Anyways, when it first came in, I ran memtest86 v4.0 with all 24GB in and as soon as it hit Test #7 [Block Move], it errored out hard and continually. I removed one set of 12GB and ran Memtest again - same deal. Pulled two of 3 remaining sticks and ran memtest again - ditto.

I swapped in a 12 GB set from Mushkin - same deal again. Tried 12GB of Corsair Dominator and the same deal again.

at this point, he's has ruled out everything but the CPU. an as suggested above, see if there is a bios update for that board that may cover the issue your having.

looks like the latest bios is 0502 from here:
http://usa.asus.com/product.aspx?P_ID=gFBKfNyhppW9tDbB&templete=2

P6X58D-E 0502 BIOS
1. Improve memory compatibility
2. Improve system stability

 

[Elganja]

he did:

from the OP
at this point, he's has ruled out everything but the CPU. an as suggested above, see if there is a bios update for that board that may cover the issue your having.

totally missed it... i still find it hard believe that the CPU is bad, but it looks like the OP tried everything else.

RMA to intel? they are pretty quick about turnaround time

 

[Ferzerp]

Is your cpu overclocked because if so you've litle chance of running 24gb of memory at its rated speed. Even with 12gb you'll almost certainly have to downclock the memory a couple of notches below what its rated at. I was shocked at how bigger memory volumes mean slower memory speeds and how overclocking the memory controller along with the cpu ( a must with i7) means less stability. Have you tried with very low memory speeds e.g.1066 rather than say 1600mhz?

I have an i7 930 running at 4.0Ghz (1.24V vcore) using 1600 Mhz memory running at 1589 Mhz (as close to rated speed as I could get it), so it is most certainly doable. In fact, if you have a truly stable OC, the memory controller will be stable too and have no issues running RAM at normal speeds. Otherwise, you can't really say it is a stable overclock, now can you?

 

[nanaki333]

he did:

from the OP
at this point, he's has ruled out everything but the CPU. an as suggested above, see if there is a bios update for that board that may cover the issue your having.

looks like the latest bios is 0502 from here:
http://usa.asus.com/product.aspx?P_ID=gFBKfNyhppW9tDbB&templete=2

the poor OP... he's going to have a *slap forehead* moment if he completely forgot to update the bios

 

[betasub]

This motherboard is a warranty replacement from Asus. The first motherboard displayed similar instabilities.

Could this be the same board "repaired/refurbished"? Or is it a replacement item?

 

[JPS]

Guys - I have done the BIOS update to 502.

Also, the board is not repaired/refurbished. When I did the RMA with Asus they cross shipped so I received a new board while the original one was still in my possession.

I have been pouring over the different forums from G.Skill, Corsair, and Mushkin to see if anyone else is having problems.

At this point, I have the speed of the RAM lowered slightly and am tweaking voltages in the hopes that maybe a little more juice to eithe the DRAM, QPI/DRAM, or CPU settings will stabilize things.

What I cannot figure out for the life of me, is when I built this beast back in October, it was tested and deployed stable using all STOCK settings. The EU is a professor who would never even attempt to overclock, much less know what it is to OC, so I know he has not messed with anything. Yet, here it sits back in my shop, unstable as is a 13yro kids with no clue tried to build it using snot as thermal paste. F$CK!

Pretty sure I might have to go the Intel RMA route, but all that will do is piss the EU off to have to wait yet again...Double F$CK!

 

[nanaki333]

did you try using 2GB DIMMs instead of 4s? try it with just 3x2GB and see if anything happens... or better yet.... nothing happens!

 

[supaidaaman]

gulftown memory is set to "x1.5 the DDR speed. For instance, if you want to run your memory at DDR3-2000, then you’ll need to have your uncore running at 3000MHz minimum"

Maybe try that when manually setting the ratios. Ive got the same cpu and mobo, I run 12 gskill without any problems (stable oc@4ghz)

 

[JPS]

did you try using 2GB DIMMs instead of 4s? try it with just 3x2GB and see if anything happens... or better yet.... nothing happens!

I have tried every RAM combo I can - even a single 1GB - same results!

gulftown memory is set to "x1.5 the DDR speed. For instance, if you want to run your memory at DDR3-2000, then you’ll need to have your uncore running at 3000MHz minimum"

Maybe try that when manually setting the ratios. Ive got the same cpu and mobo, I run 12 gskill without any problems (stable oc@4ghz)

That is encouraging - are you running your RAM under manual or SPD settings? Can you verify your other settings?

 

[JPS]

Just hung up with Intel - they are RMAing the CPU and strongly suggested I used only PC3 10666 sticks, not PC3-12800 downclocked to 10666. I will order some Mushkin Silverline replacements right now....

 

[nanaki333]

damn man. what a pain. you don't even have another s1366 in a working machine you can throw in just to test it out? it would suck to go through that whole month long RMA process just to be back to square one :/

 

[JPS]

damn man. what a pain. you don't even have another s1366 in a working machine you can throw in just to test it out? it would suck to go through that whole month long RMA process just to be back to square one :/

Yeah it is a pain and no I don't have any spare 1366 cores lying around. Most of my business for custom machines is for office systems that are usually built around lower end 1156 or 1155 cores. This was a specific custom build of which all parts were special ordered - nothing I would keep stock of normally in the shop.

Intel is being good though - I am looking at 7-10 days to having a new one.

 

[aigomorla]

did u update bios for gulftown microcode?

970 = gulftown = 32nm = new microcode required.

This motherboard is a warranty replacement from Asus. The first motherboard displayed similar instabilities.

BadThad

Agreed, but I unfortunately do not have any spare LGA 1366 CPUs lying idle....

sounds like microcode...

Did u update Bios?

 

[JPS]

did u update bios for gulftown microcode?

970 = gulftown = 32nm = new microcode required.



sounds like microcode...

Did u update Bios?

One of the first things I did - motherboard is using 0502 BIOS

 

[aigomorla]

One of the first things I did - motherboard is using 0502 BIOS

then RMA with intel if its retail.

Let them know the problems your running into.

That you tried 2 different boards with updated cmos.
The cpu is not performing accurately @ stock conditions.

 

[IntelEnthusiast]

I am going to give you one last idea. Try putting some DDR 3 800/1066 in the board and run the same test and see that changes anything. If it doesn’t fix the problem call 916-377-7000, we have just reopened cross shipments with a Credit Card.

Christian Wood
Intel Enthusiast Team