New Motherboard To Existing Stable Setup, Only Posts Sometimes

[mcchurchmouse]

I replaced the HP stock motherboard last night (long term proven very stable system setup) with a brand new 970 Extreme4 with hopes of unlocking extra cores on my AMD Phenom II X4 840T (Thuban). I haven't had any luck unlocking but I am encountering an odd issue. Often times when updating the bios or after other resets the board will not post. Everything powers up except the keyboard (usb) and the monitor receives no signal. All fans fire right up and I hear some sort of drive activity. When it posts, Dr. Debug shows all sorts of codes very quickly. When it will not post Dr. Debug shows a "16" for a moment then goes to "00" where it sits until I turn it off and then back on at which point it often posts but occasionally not. If the system posts it always makes it the whole way into Windows unless I use the "X" boosting function at which point it always blue screens before Windows gets to the welcome screen. I have tried removing one of the sets of RAM and tried that set in both slot pairs but it didn't seem to make any difference. I have also fussed around with various BIOS settings but it seems to still have trouble regardless and even when completely the settings are at default. I hate intermittent problems, they never seem to be easy to resolve. Anyone have any ideas?

(First post, don't know if it will automatically list my equipment based on registration entry so I will list it here manually)

ASRock 970 Extreme4 (2.20 BIOS)
AMD Phenom II X4 840T
EVGA Nvidia GT610 SC w/ 2GB DDR3
12GB DDR3-1333 (2 - 4gb, 2- 2gb, (2 sets of matching pairs))
Samsung SSD 830 120GB (OS)
Seagate Barracuda 7200.12 1TB (DATA)
Seagate Barracuda 7200.7 160GB (Photoshop Scratch)
DVD R/W
Dynex 400w Power Supply
Windows 7 64-bit

Thank you in advance!

Benjamin

[- wardog -]

Re: New Motherboard To Existing Stable Setup, Only Posts Sometimes

Until you have have a stable system I'd highly recommended not flashing the BIOS. That's a great way to hose a BIOS and make the mb useless.

Do you or a friend have a different psu to test with?

While I've read it done successfully many times, you should stick with either the 2x4GB or 2x2GB. Or if you insist using both sets, at least stick with one pair or the other until you find stability.

Did you reinstall the OS when you introduced the new motherboard?

Have you benched the mb outside the case with only the bare necessities attached/connected?

[mcchurchmouse]

Re: New Motherboard To Existing Stable Setup, Only Posts Sometimes

I wanted to be sure and thank you for your tips. I had not done most of that but have since done it with no success. I tried alternating and eliminating sets of ram, different power supply that I had upgraded from a few months ago, unhooked everything that could be unhooked including internal USB case wires and such, and even took the time to glare menacingly at it. I spoke to the "knowledge bar" at Microcenter where I purchased the board and they sold me a MB speaker and advised me to listen for beeps and if there where any that might shed some light on what is going on. There where no beeps so they advised me the board is likely defective so I returned it and purchased a Gigabyte board. I've actually had the same problem happen once or twice with the new board so I fear something more complex is going on. Seems the only time it always does it is after changing a BIOS setting and the system does the quick power kill and reboot.

Anyway, as I said I wanted to thank you and not just disappear on you.

Benjamin

[- wardog -]

Re: New Motherboard To Existing Stable Setup, Only Posts Sometimes

Do you or a friend have a different psu to test with?

Allow me to restate.

Do you or a friend have a psu to test with that is of higher capacity/quality than this "newly upgraded' Dynex 400w psu?

I've not much faith in Dynex.

[parsec]

Re: New Motherboard To Existing Stable Setup, Only Posts Sometimes

Ah yes, those BestBurn power supplies, I wonder who actually makes them?

[- wardog -]

Re: New Motherboard To Existing Stable Setup, Only Posts Sometimes

Ah yes, those BestBurn power supplies, I wonder who actually makes them?

HuntKey used to. I don't know today who might. Currently $29.99 at BestBuy.

[parsec]

Re: New Motherboard To Existing Stable Setup, Only Posts Sometimes

OMGawd, $29.99! Can you imagine what's (not) inside that thing? Might pick a Diablotek over that one.

I'd rather have the $19.99 Seasonic that Microcenter has.

[profJim]

Re: New Motherboard To Existing Stable Setup, Only Posts Sometimes

The psu is the foundation of your system.
It must provide stable, clean and well regulated voltage and have built in power protection circuits.
The Dynex is a low end P.O.S. that I wouldn't give to my worst enemy.
Using a cheapy psu can lead to boot problems or stability and puts the rest of your hardware at risk.

I would not buy a psu that didn't pass the rigorous tests performed by JonnyGuru, HardOCP, HardwareSecrets, PCPER, TechPowerUP, or BenchmarkReviews.
Read the "glowing" review at Dynex 400 W Power Supply Review | Hardware Secrets.
I cringed when I viewed the short video at the end of their damning review.

There are many good power supplies available from Newegg or other web sites.
Do your homework and buy a name brand psu that passes muster with the above mentioned review sites.

[parsec]

Re: New Motherboard To Existing Stable Setup, Only Posts Sometimes

Double OMGawd!! They wanted (and people payed) $80 bucks for that thing at one time? Then down to $50 in July, 2009. Now it's $30, over three years later. I wonder if it is the same unit? If it was, I would imagine they would have emblazoned it with NEW!.

To be fair, it did provide it's 400W of output, and then some. Alas, they didn't put in $1 more of circuitry, that may have needed some hand tuning, for OC/OP protection. Can't have that, out the door they go. To fail somewhere over 400W.

Can you imagine some poor gamer kid, that saved his money for a nice video card, slapped it into the family PC, and promptly caused the PC to restart, when its PS glitched. "You need a better PS dude... Like yeah, Okay.." and went and got this one. No wonder BB is going under.

[profJim]

Re: New Motherboard To Existing Stable Setup, Only Posts Sometimes

Top tier psu at an excellent price:
Newegg.com - SeaSonic X Series X650, 80 PLUS GOLD Certified, Full Modular, Active PFC, 650 watt Power Supply, includes Iron Egg Guarantee
$115 after $15 MIR and $25 off w/ promo code EMCJHJC44, ends 12/16, net cost: $90 with free shipping.
If you aren't a Newegg email subscriber, sign up now and you should be able to use the promo code to get the $25 off promo code discount.

My Seasonic X650 psu is excellent!!