GA-EP35-DS3L hard freeze

[yazjack]

Hi,

First of all, platform:
- q6600 quad @ 2,4
- GA-EP35-DS3L mobo
- GeIL Black Dragon Quad PC8500 4x1 GB
- Gigabyte GeForce 8800 GT (main suspect)
- all pluged to 450W Chieftec

- running on Win Xp Pro Sp3

I have this platrofm since 4 months, everything worked perfect till now.
As it says in thread name, the problem is hard freeze.
It occured to me while playing some good 'ol games like NFSMW, it looks like that:

1. black screen (no error msg, nothing)
2. monitor gets "no signal" info
3. sound works for a while than loops
4. after hard reset it plays some weired "beep" than noting (no hdd nor boot response)
5. normal reboot is possible after powering off and on

I started my research, it seems like a lot of ppl have the same problem (most of them using GeForce cards) tho i culdn't find a solution.

I made some temp. tests:
CPU 50 - 70 degrees (seems a lil high)
GPU 35 - 50 degrees

I ran 3Dmark06 to read the temperatures before freeze
but instead of freeze i got that neat nvidia window saying sth like
"to avoid hardweare damage performance was lowerd".

I've no clue whats going on, i think i'll end up sending whole platform back to shop...

[Lsdmeasap]

Re: GA-EP35-DS3L hard freeze

My Main Suspect is that 450W PSU. Not only does it not sound like enough Watts for your system, it likely is having all of it's amps pulled and used by your Graphics card.

If you think it may be more of the card being the issue, you can clear up those thoughts easily by taking the card to a friends house and seeing how it runs on his PC. Or if you have another PC at home put it in there and test it.

Being as you say the sound loops and then freezes you likely have other issues then a dying Graphics card. You may have insufficient Power overall for the system. You may have dying or dead ram. You may just have incorrect settings for your system in the BIOS

Please post me back the settings you are using >>>

This is Just a template I use to ask people their settings, pay no attention to the numbers in it, replace with yours

Robust Graphics Booster___________ [Auto]
CPU Clock Ratio ____________ [8]
CPU Host Clock Control_ [Enabled]
CPU Host Frequency (MHz)__________ [450]
PCI Express Frequency (Mhz)_______ [100]
C.I.A. 2__________________________ [Disabled]
System Memory Multiplier (SPD)____ [2.00]
DRAM Timing Selectable_______ SPD __ [Manual]

Performance Enhance = [Standard]

CAS Latency Time________________ ?
Dram RAS# to CAS# Delay_________ ?
Dram RAS# Precharge Delay_______?
Precharge Delay (tRAS)__________ ?
ACT to ACT Delay (tRRD)_________ ?
Rank Write to READ Delay________ ?
Write to Precharge Delay_________ ?
Refresh to ACT Delay______________ ?
Read to Precharge Delay__________ ?
Static tRead Value_______________ 1-31
Static tRead Phase Adjust________ 1-31

System Voltage Control____ [Manual]
DDR2 OverVoltage Control__ [+0.300V]
PCI-E OverVoltage Control_ [+0.1V]
FSB OverVoltage Control___ [+0.1V]
(G)MCH OverVoltage Control [+0.1V]
CPU Voltage Control_______ [1.25]

[yazjack]

Re: GA-EP35-DS3L hard freeze

Thanks for a quick answer,
I'll post back bios settings when i get home.

Anyway, is it possible that issues caused by PSU would apear after 4 month of normal work? Worst case scenario would be PSU frying ram...

till later, thx again.

[Lsdmeasap]

Re: GA-EP35-DS3L hard freeze

OK, Please do. I may not get back to you until late this evening or tonight, but rest assured I will get you some help

Yes, it could happen on day one or day120. As for it frying the ram, that is not so much likely. Just not being enough power or strain on it to provide power to something could cause hardware issues or issues with the unit itself after some time.

I would think your ram is OK, as far as the PSU affecting it I mean. Settings could still be off, and could have always been that way.

But in the end, it could also be your card. Not getting enough Amps, or the RAM on the card dying or overheating, or the card actually being affected by the strain on the PSU

[yazjack]

Re: GA-EP35-DS3L hard freeze

Ok, here's bios setup:

Robust Graphics Booster___________ [Auto]
CPU Clock Ratio ____________ [9x]
CPU Host Clock Control_ [disabled]
CPU Host Frequency (MHz)__________ [200]
PCI Express Frequency (Mhz)_______ [Auto]
C.I.A. 2__________________________ [Disabled]
System Memory Multiplier (SPD)____ [auto]
DRAM Timing Selectable_______ SPD __ [Manual]

Performance Enhance = [Standard]

CAS Latency Time________________ ?
Dram RAS# to CAS# Delay_________ ?
Dram RAS# Precharge Delay_______?
Precharge Delay (tRAS)__________ ?
ACT to ACT Delay (tRRD)_________ ?
Rank Write to READ Delay________ ? I don't see any of those
Write to Precharge Delay_________ ?
Refresh to ACT Delay______________ ?
Read to Precharge Delay__________ ?
Static tRead Value_______________ 1-31
Static tRead Phase Adjust________ 1-31

System Voltage Control____ [Manual]
DDR2 OverVoltage Control__ [normal]
PCI-E OverVoltage Control_ [normal]
FSB OverVoltage Control___ [normal]
(G)MCH OverVoltage Control [normal]
CPU Voltage Control_______ [normal]



I bought a cpu fan just a minute ago, and managed to lower cpu temp. by
35C deg o.O good for me i guess. Seems like it hepled to get through 3d mark tests, but platform still freeze at any 3d gameplay.

I'm out of cheap solutions :P
If your further bios advices wont help I guess I,m sending platform back to shop.

[yazjack]

Re: GA-EP35-DS3L hard freeze

Hell with my memory, I just checked and i actually have 500W PSU.
I guess that makes ram main suspect now...

[Lsdmeasap]

Re: GA-EP35-DS3L hard freeze

Ahh, sounds like you are using a Old BIOS, which could also add to the chaos. Please see my BIOS guide, and update your BIOS (NOT USING @BIOS)

If you do not wish to flash your BIOS, to see the settings I ask for and need you will need to use a Hotkey with the BIOS you have installed. To do this, go into the BIOS, and on the MAIN PAGE hit Control + F1 and the screen will flash. Then go into MIT and you will see the hidden settings. Then please repost the template with all settings for me to see'


Why 200FSB? That is very odd since you have things on Auto, did you have a different CPU in there at one time?


You GFX card could also be overheating/failing. DO you have a older one you can test, or can you test that one on a different system with the same 3D test and see if the same errors occur?

Thanks