system freezes - I need help

[ivoteforpedro]

Hardware:
Asus M4A89GTD_Pro_USB3
AMDhttp://www.tomshardware.com/forum/268769-29-system-freezes-help# X6 1075T
Corsairhttp://www.tomshardware.com/forum/268769-29-system-freezes-help# DDR3 8GB XMS3 (2x4GB
Video- on-board graphics
PSU - Thermalke TR2-430w
ATI TV Card
Generic DVD Burner
LG Blu-Ray Burner
Samsung HD103SJ 1TB
Hitachi Deskstar 1TB
Hitachi Deskstar 2TB

I'm not a gamer. I use this system for HD video rendering.

My computer started having BSOD. After OC, I went back to stock bios everything, but still having BSOD. At first I thought it was memory, I tried additional voltage for memory. Stock is 1.5v, but they are rated 1600 at 1.65v. Changed to 1.65v still had the problem even with lower timings 1333. I tested the memory with Widows 7 memory diagnostic tool. Windows diagnostic tool said they were working and found no issues. I tested the memory with memtest86 in unganged and no errors.

I tried using Kingston DDR3 Kingston KHX1600C9D3B1K2/4GX but I had the same problem in dual channel.

I found if I use my memory in dual channel mode, the system crashed but if I only put two sticks of memory so they were not in dual channel mode, the system wouldn't crash even under stress test. I reported the issue tohttp://www.tomshardware.com/forum/268769-29-system-freezes-help# Asus because I thought I might have a motherboard problem. They sent a replacement. I changed the MOBO with the replacement.

Now, I'm having a similar problem; but instead of BSOD, my computer runs but the screen freezes. If my computer is doing a job like recording a show, it still records, but my screen is frozen. My mouse or clock doesn't move on the screen. Nothing is OC now, but still having problem.

I've checked for viruses, updated video driver, even rolled back some MS updates but still have the same problem. I tried using stock auto memory timings, reduced the memory timings to manual, reset all mobo bios to stock but still have the same problem in dual channel mode. My temps are fine. I'm not overclocking. For it to crash in dual channel mode, it doesn't appear to be software specific. It happens randomly, unless stress testing.

In order for it to not freeze, I'm running my memory in Unganged mode (but that restricts me to using only two sticks). I ran a night with memtest86 in unganged mode and passed 8 tests with zero errors. The system freeze doesn't occur unganged with two sticks, but I would like to use all four. Any ideas on what is causing my computer to freeze. What might cause a system to freeze with 2 or 4 sticks in dual channel but not same 2 sticks in unganged? Could I have a processor issue? Anyway to test to know for sure?

 

[denis280]

SO far all i can see is your PSU is not giving you the power you need with all the the sprc you have you should have at leas 550watt and up.

 

[munkle]

SO far all i can see is your PSU is not giving you the power you need with all the the sprc you have you should have at leas 550watt and up.

I highly doubt it's a psu problem (psu's usually don't case bsod's, your pc usually just shuts offs), but that psu is junk I would recommend a different one. What ati tv card do you have? I had an ati 550 pro that caused problems in win7.

Could be your cpu, they aren't bad very often but it does happen and the memory controller is on the cpu.

 

[Sunburn74]

So I just solved a similar problem. Your issues are likely a memory problem. You are getting hard freezes without blue screens at odd intervals primarily during idle?

Here's what I recommend. In addition to running the memory at 1.65v, you should also bump up all the ram termination, ref, and channel voltages. they usually are all like 0.75. bump them up to like .86. See if that resolves your problem.

The other thing to try is to disable c3/c6 and if necessary c1e in the processor settings.

Both of the above options actually resolved my hard freezing issue individually on their own. However, I finally settled on keeping the higher ram voltage rather than disabling power features.

The true solution is to buy a new set of ram. I recently upgraded my ram because ram was cheap and etc and immediately all my issues with the last set went away. I didn't need higher voltages and didn't need to disable power saving features.

Hope that helps.

 

[munkle]

He's already tried 2 sets of ram, both being bad is unlikely as well but possible.

What does the bsod say?

 

[Zaap]

It could be the motherboard.

Check out the newegg user feedback on that board: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813131631

This guy after his 3rd RMA:

"Cons: My third RMA in a row, for the same M4A89GTD PRO USB3 is on the way to Asus Canada (RMA# CAA1181600 SN#A8M0AC019195). I bought it on February 2011, I hope the forth board will be the good one. All these 3 faulty boards had some problem related to memory controller or memory sockets. It can only run 2 memory sockets. I’ve spent hundreds of hours testing different settings, sticks, sockets, following Asus technical support recommendations and always got the same conclusion by tech Asus: the board is faulty."


Similar comments from quite a few other users. Seems very likely to me that Asus turned out a bad run of these boards.

 

[denis280]

I highly doubt it's a psu problem (psu's usually don't case bsod's, your pc usually just shuts offs), but that psu is junk I would recommend a different one. What ati tv card do you have? I had an ati 550 pro that caused problems in win7.

Could be your cpu, they aren't bad very often but it does happen and the memory controller is on the cpu.

I did get some issue with PSU not doing the job.BSOD. freezing and just shutting down.but like munkle told you yes it is a crappy one.i would change it anyway.

 

[ivoteforpedro]

Thanks everyone for the suggestions. I will try tweaking the RAM and processor settings. When I first built my system, everything was stable. After reading everyone's comments, it did make me think since I built the computer, I've added additional components such as the Blu-ray and extra hard drive. I wonder if my system is drawing too much. Seems weird that it only happens at dual channel though. After learning more about PSU, I found my old one was only 65% efficient. I found this PSU on newegg for $29 after rebate and discount. I realize it has its drawbacks (not modular) but seems much better than mine. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=17-371-031&SortField=0&SummaryType=0&Pagesize=10&PurchaseMark=&SelectedRating=-1&VideoOnlyMark=False&VendorMark=&IsFeedbackTab=true&Page=3#scrollFullInfo
If the new PSU doesn't work, I guess it off to working with ASUS and requesting another RMA.

 

[VirtualLarry]

That Antec Neo Eco 620 is a good one. Once you install that, it should rule out any PSU problems.

 

[ivoteforpedro]

I have ordered the PSU. But while it is being shipped, I thought I would play with some of the settings just to see if I can make it more stable.

I found the C3 and C1e settings.

I have not found where I would adjust the ram termination, ref, and channel voltages. Based upon my Bios, I can adjust the CPU, CPU/Northbridge, VDDA, Dram, HyperTransport, Northbridge, NB 1.8, Southbridge, and SidePort Memory Voltage. The Dram voltage appears to only have one setting. I can change the Dram Timing configuration and Driving configuration, but these don't appear to be voltage adjustments. Any idea?

 

[ivoteforpedro]

I received the new PSU Antec Neo Eco 620 yesterday. I put it in and I still have the same issues. I also tried tweaking the memory settings again, but it didn't make a difference if I raised the voltage, lowered the timings or disabled the power saving features. I did notice the freeze occurs much quicker using the blue dual channel than the black. The computer doesn't freeze using one blue and one black (either combo).

Since I've tried RMA mobo, second brand of memory, new PSU, I'm guessing my next step is to try a different processor or RMA my second mobo. I don’t have another AM3 processor to put in this motherboard. The local computer store doesn’t allow returns on processors only exchanges. Is there anyway to diagnose whether it is the motherboard or processor memory controller causing my issues?