EP45-DS3L Vista BSOD

[morph]

Hy,
About 5-6 months ago i bought the following components: E8400, GA-EP45-DS3L, 4GB A-Data Vitesta 800+ CL4 Extreme Edition, ASUS EN9800GT Ultimate, Thermaltake TR2 500W.
Since then, I've been trying various versions of Vista or Windows 7 (both x86 or x64) everytime I had the same problem. After some random time, i recieve some BSOD like the one listed in the attachement.
Now, for solutions, I've tryed the following: using different drivers (chipset, video, sound, lan) same thing. I've tryed different RAM modules (kingston something) same thing. I memtested my A-DATA for 24 hours, no errors.
Also, my system is absolutely stable in XP SP2 (24 hours of prime 95, 12 hours of orthos, LinX, OCCT, whatelse) with no BSOD.
I've also used various BIOS's (default F7 to F10) with different settings, same thing.
I've tryed contacting Microsoft support, sent them a memory dump, they said the error was to general to figure out what is happening. I've also contacted Gigabyte support, they gave me no advices i haven't tryed allready.
So, I'm really stuck. I don't like Vista that much, but W7 seems to be a real win but now i can't run it because of my MB.
Has anyone else had this problem before? Are there any chances of solving this out? RMA'ing my board is not a real good choice, as i would have to wait for about 1 month, but since I have to work on my college graduation projects, i can't wait for that long.

Also, for a second question, are these voltages too high? That's the only way I managed to get 4GHz stable on my E8400.
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[profJim]

Re: EP45-DS3L Vista BSOD

Way high voltages!!

It looks like Cpu Termination and PLL are set to Auto, a definite no-no when overclocking. Generally the maximum value for Termination is at least 0.05 - 0.10 volts less than Cpu Vcore.

MCH core seems high for 4GB DDR2-800 memory, and this can lead to instability.

Check out this post for the info we need to help you. Ignore the first part of the post and start with:
"If you want specific bios suggestions, we need the following."

[morph]

Re: EP45-DS3L Vista BSOD

Indeed, that was using Auto. It was the only way i could get 4GHz Prime95 stable. Everything else has failed, and i've been trying dozens of settings.
Anyway, that is not my main concern. I still can't make it run Vista (or 7) without that BSOD.

[NimrodAUS]

Re: EP45-DS3L Vista BSOD

OK. Have you tried running it at stock CPU speed and see if you still get the BSOD. For help with this you are probably going to need to give us all the information in your MIT screen in BIOS as looks like you have made some small errors already so be good for one of the Guru's to check over everything for you. So you have run Memtest 86+ V2.11 for like a day? this is the version you want to run. The other possiblity is a PSU issue but I think maybe this could be yet another dead/dying Graphics card issue. Have you got another GPU to try ? Does this BSOD happen when your gaming or browsing the web?

[profJim]

Re: EP45-DS3L Vista BSOD

The are several E8400 threads where they are stable at 3.80 - 3.960 GHz, with reasonable volts. Use the forum SEARCH function to find:
e8400 overclock

[morph]

Re: EP45-DS3L Vista BSOD

OK. Have you tried running it at stock CPU speed and see if you still get the BSOD. For help with this you are probably going to need to give us all the information in your MIT screen in BIOS as looks like you have made some small errors already so be good for one of the Guru's to check over everything for you. So you have run Memtest 86+ V2.11 for like a day? this is the version you want to run. The other possiblity is a PSU issue but I think maybe this could be yet another dead/dying Graphics card issue. Have you got another GPU to try ? Does this BSOD happen when your gaming or browsing the web?

The BSOD happens even when using Optimized Defaults with no tweaking at all. Also, it's absolutelly random, sometimes when i don't use the PC at all, other times when watching a movie or surfing the web. The only time it happened when i was in a game it was when playing Counter Strike 1.5. But it never happened when playing newer games (like Crysis, GRID, Assassins Creed, FarCry2, etc) which would stress my graphics card or CPU. Also, as i said, this happens only in Vista/W7 while XP is perfectly stable, at stock or OC, and i've had uptimes of over 1 week.

The thing is, i can't find any information on that specific BSOD, the only link that i found was giving information about driver related problems, but as i said, i've tryed a several versions, with no help.

Also, after installing vista, i get a screen from "problem reports and solutions" telling me that "a chipset in my computer has known compatibility issues with vista" and tells me that it's the SMBus controller. Here's a print of the error in the attachement. But after clicking on the link vista provides, it redirects me to the intel website, to download inf drivers, the version that i allready have installed.

[NimrodAUS]

Re: EP45-DS3L Vista BSOD

Farkkkk. Vista 64bit gave me the same thing as you have there. Directed me to intel's website and downloaded the new inf files the same as I already had installed. But I extracted them and manually installed them again in device manager and never had the problem again. Just run the exe for the inf files and they should extract to a folder of your choice? and then right click the SMbus thingy and click update driver and select the folder where you just extracted that stuff to. Try that mate. I hope it helps.

[morph]

Re: EP45-DS3L Vista BSOD

Thnx for the tip, haven't thought of that. I will try it next time I install Vista. But, did the BSOD happen to you? Or you just had the incompatibility message?

[NimrodAUS]

Re: EP45-DS3L Vista BSOD

Na I didnt get the blue screen. Im just giving ideas. The Blue screen may be something unrelated. Have a look in your event viewer next time you install vista. It will tell you if its GPU or something else maybe. You wanna get it sorted cause when windows 7 comes man you will love it.

[morph]

Re: EP45-DS3L Vista BSOD

I allready do love Windows 7. I've tryed almost all builds since 7000 (both x86 and x64) and I really like it.

[NimrodAUS]

Re: EP45-DS3L Vista BSOD

Thats good then. I dont know why people wouldnt go with X64. I mean it makes everything run better and faster and Ive not had a compatability problem at all. Sure some drivers are a little harder to find but it all works out in the end. Im not just saying its faster because its suppose to. I have compared side by side Vista 32 and 64 bit and Windows 7 and its way more efficient. Plus more FPS in games so yeah. I just cant wait for windows 7.

Now for your problem, I did a quick google and there are plenty of people running Vista both 32 and 64 bit versions on the mother board with the same CPU. I sumise that your compatability issues arise from a more sinister source, of which I dont know. But Id be really trying to get to the bottom of it. Forget vista just install windows 7. Possibly try a different ram? or just 1 stick. And It wouldnt be the first time this week that ive seen a dead 8800/9800GT causing blue screens. For instance, I had/have an 8800GT and no matter what I tried, in only one game it BSOD all the time randomly in XP no matter how many times I reinstalled it did it. Installed Vista 32 and have never seen a blue screen again. Then that card died after 3 months, they sent me a new one which has gone just over a year and now pretty much taken a big crap and wont do 3d stuff much now. So I got a HD4850 and holy crap, im like wtf was I thinking with NVIDIA. ATI are seriously much better. But I know its all money and it doesnt grow on trees. Im basically just saying that its possible you have a dodgy Video card and it would be the 3rd one this week ive seen with similar symptoms. I could run any video card stress test there is on the internet without any problems but soon after running Crysis, Fallout 3 and the like it would artifact out on me and most of the time crash with the blabla NVidiasucks.dll has stopped responding and has sucksessfully recovered crap and I tell ya i was going bannans with that error, I think i nearly killed google trying to find an answer.

[morph]

Re: EP45-DS3L Vista BSOD

Well, I've tryed using one or the other sticks of RAM, from installing Vista to the first BSOD (that's one of the first things the Microsoft tech guy sugested). And my RAM din pass a 24 hours Memtest session without errors. About the BSOD, the only time when it happened while in a game was when playing Counter Strike 1.5. In no other games I have had this problem, and I did play some of them just for testing. Also, the BSOD did not occured when using stress programs (like orthos, prime, linx, occt, furmark, 3dmark). It simply appears randomly, most of the time when the PC is at idle (i would find the BSOD in the morning, I don't power off the PC at night, or when I went away from home when coming back).
Oh, and in Windows 7 it happens exactly like in Vista.
And the strangest thing is that on XP it never BSOD'd on me, not in 5 or 6 months of using it. Not on x86 or x64 (which, unfortunatelly i had to give up because of the same CS 1.5 reporting it had -18MB of RAM and needed at least 16MB to run, hilarious, isn't it?). I know, nobody plays 1.5 anymore, but 1.6 sux and source.. I simply can't get used to it.
I'm really out of ideas and don't know what else to try. I'm begining to think I'm the only one having this issue as I can't find any infos about it.