GA-P43-ES3G + Q9300 randomly timed bluescreen...

[jander002]

Hello,

I had an old rig such as:
GA-P43-ES3G
Core2Duo E6400
4x1Gb DDR2 667Mhz
ATi HD4890
Chieftec 500W
(2 HDDs and an IDE DVDcombo)

Haven't spent much time configuring the BIOS, never cared for tuning anything. So it was pretty much 'load optimal settings' and a few tweaks like USB keyboard, bootup devices and such... Nothing in M.I.T. menu.

I've bought a Q9300 just to make my MMORPG playing life easier... thats when the problems started. After installing the new CPU and clearing CMOS i made the usual load optimal settings choice. Win7 (32bit) boots up correctly everything was fine and then out of the blue -> blue screen, forced restart. I don't have any idea what makes the machine to reach the blue screen, because sometimes it was right after the bootup, bot other times I could stresstest with Prime95 for 15 minutes, or even ran PCMark. (These software can usually give me a blue screen in a few seconds though.)

Anyways I installed the old CPU and everything was fine again. Put back the new one... blue screens. I have Freezer 7 PRO, and it's not the temperature i've checked with CPUz and Real Temp (under load time: 50-60 celsius). It's not the RAM modules because i've tried with only 1 module (one by one). And I guess it's not the voltages because i've tried the following settings:

Robust Graphic Booster: Auto
CPU Clock Ratio: 7x
Fine CPU Clock Ratio: +0.5
--------- Clock Chip Control
CPU Host Clock Control: Enabled / Disable
CPU Host Frequency (Mhz): 333
PCI Express Frequency (Mhz): Auto / 100Mhz
--------- DRAM Performance Control
Performance Enhance: Standard
( G ) MCH Frequency Latch: 333 Mhz
System Memory Multiplier (SPD): 2.00B
System Memory Frequency 667 / 667
DRAM Timing Selectable (SPD): Auto
--------- Motherboard Voltage Control
CPU VCore (1.23750): 123750 - ~135000 V
CPU Termination (1.200): Normal
CPU Reference (0.805): Normal
MCHCore (1.100): 1.100 - 1.300 V
DRAM Voltage (1.800): 1.800 - 2.100 V

Can you guys thing anything other than bringing it back to the retails? They are on holidays so i tought i'd try to solve it myself...

Thanks in advance!

[jander002]

Re: GA-P43-ES3G + Q9300 randomly timed bluescreen...

Running Prime95's first test (which only stress-tests the CPU - almost no RAM used) seems to be working just fine...

But when i stress test them both at the same time, i get blue screen very soon.

I guess the my old RAM doesn't like the new CPU...

EDIT:

[kick]

Re: GA-P43-ES3G + Q9300 randomly timed bluescreen...

Does the bios version you have support the 9300?
What is the ViD voltage on your 9300?

Load and save the optimised defaults again after you get the blue screen.
When u go back into windows after blue screen does it suggest you "repair"?

Defrag the hdd and remove the memory error reports generated after the blue screen.
Perhaps turn off the 0.5 multiplier to see if that removes the problem.

Is the board running the same ram voltage as for the 6400?
Use memtest to see if the memory is working ok with the cpu.

What windows version are you using.
Is that the full bios readout?
On my board optimised defaults enters nearly everything on auto.Does your board have auto settings instead of "normal" try auto.

Have you any non microsoft items that run on windows start up.. gx card overclockers ,utilities etc?, they might need to be reinstalled.

[jander002]

Re: GA-P43-ES3G + Q9300 randomly timed bluescreen...

Does the bios version you have support the 9300? Yes, from the very first bios. (I have the latest btw.)

What is the ViD voltage on your 9300? How can i check this one? I have everest if that works.

Load and save the optimised defaults again after you get the blue screen. Yes, also with fail-safe defaults. I used the optimal settings with the previous CPU for 2 years.

When u go back into windows after blue screen does it suggest you "repair"? Yes, but it wants to upload to microsoft to analyze data.

Defrag the hdd and remove the memory error reports generated after the blue screen. How can i remove that data?

Perhaps turn off the 0.5 multiplier to see if that removes the problem. Ok, i'll check it after this post, and will edit right after.

Is the board running the same ram voltage as for the 6400? I used auto for that cpu, so i don't know for sure. I've tried auto / normal and a great threshold with the new one.

Use memtest to see if the memory is working ok with the cpu. I just came back, it did pass without any errors.

What windows version are you using. Win7 32bit updated.

Is that the full bios readout? The full M.I.T. menu, the others have non-related things i guess, but if you want anything specific i'll post it.

On my board optimised defaults enters nearly everything on auto.Does your board have auto settings instead of "normal" try auto. Yepp full-auto / full-normal / full-manual i've done those.

Have you any non microsoft items that run on windows start up.. gx card overclockers ,utilities etc?, they might need to be reinstalled. I like to run programs myself so really the basics for startup like: avast home, ati catalyst (no oc), audio driver. Thats it.

[Chike]

Re: GA-P43-ES3G + Q9300 randomly timed bluescreen...

The default shown in BIOS is the VID of the CPU.
The rrors are always at the same addresses/bits?
The E6400 operate at 266MHz FSB and the Q9300 at 333MHz, that put a bit more stress on the memory.
You can try to underclock the Q9300 to 255MHz FSB and see if the errors persists. Don't forget to change SMM to 2.50A for 266MHz FSB if you do.

[jander002]

Re: GA-P43-ES3G + Q9300 randomly timed bluescreen...

Yeah that did the trick... I mean the 266 overall FSB... So i guess it seems now that my old RAM modules cannot keep up with the new CPU

Oh gosh i forgot to check the VID but i've posted this earlier:

CPU VCore (1.23750)
CPU Termination (1.200)
CPU Reference (0.805)

Is this the one you guys looking for?

[Chike]

Re: GA-P43-ES3G + Q9300 randomly timed bluescreen...

Unfortunately there is no way to underclock your RAM at 333MHz FSB to help it keep up as DDR-667 is the lowest possible for this bus frequency.
Just to be sure and before you go into any further expences, can you borrow a 4GB DDR-800 kit, preferrably 2x2GB, to see there no other issues?

[jander002]

Re: GA-P43-ES3G + Q9300 randomly timed bluescreen...

I hope i can have a newer ram module for a day or two... In case that setup will work out, i'm gonna sell these 667 ones and buy something like you mentioned.

So for example if i manage to get my hands on a DDR2 800Mhz, what do you suggest i should use for overall FSB? I'd like to have a stable machine 1:1 FSB for CPU:DRAM. No overclock needed.

Of course it'd be great to see if this CPU can be OCd to FSB 400 but it's not something i plan to do, and if these 667 module couldn't take 2.00B * 333 FSB i suppose the same goes for a 800Mhz ones (with FSB 400 of course). Or that really depends how good and expensive they are?

[Chike]

Re: GA-P43-ES3G + Q9300 randomly timed bluescreen...

It all depend on the quality of the ram anf it's compatibility with the board.
My ram take 400MHz FSB without a problem, it can also be OCed to DDR-1066 with 2.12v, but it's only 2GB.
A 2x2GB kit is more likely to work than 4x1GB.

[jander002]

Re: GA-P43-ES3G + Q9300 randomly timed bluescreen...

Okay thank you so much for your help! Now i can try to solve this before the retailers come back from their holiday...

Is it possible to run DDR2 800Mhz kits at FSB 333 same as the native Q9300? Or should i try to find a working middle like 350... ?

[Chike]

Re: GA-P43-ES3G + Q9300 randomly timed bluescreen...

Yes of course DDR-800 work natively at 333MHz with 2.40B mulriplier.
Goot memory woul OC to DDR-900 that's 375MHz FSB or would run DDR-800 at 400MHz FSB.
The chipset limit is around 420MHz FSB, I had a stable OC with up to 406MHz.

What is your budget for new memory?

[profJim]

Re: GA-P43-ES3G + Q9300 randomly timed bluescreen...

Before you buy new memory, you should borrow a high quality 500 - 600 watt psu to test with.
Your Chieftec 500 watt psu might be the cause of your problems with your new cpu.
A single HD4890 video card shouldn't be a problem with a good 500 - 550 watt psu.

I'm reasonably sure that most Chieftec units are cheap, lower end models and they might not be able to deliver their rated power with electrical noise and ripple within ATX specifications. A psu that can't deliver "clean" electrical output will lead to instability and possible damage to other hardware.

[jander002]

Re: GA-P43-ES3G + Q9300 randomly timed bluescreen...

Hm i came back for new posts only to find my last one dissapeared. Well it may be because isp maintenance today... oh well. So lets see:

Chike: thanks for the info about the FSBs. I live in Hungary so about my budget: my old buddy said he can give me some branded ram modules for about 40$ / 2Gb... but it's not retail price as we're friends. I forgot the brand really, also i'm not familiar with today's ram brands, but i'm sure it'll be a good one, and maybe i try them first too.

Jim: wow... borrowing a new PSU might be difficult, i dunno how i'll manage to do that, but i was thinkin about this early when this problem came up. I convinced myself that i don't have that much stuff inside that would need more juice. Anyways i thought Chieftec was quite a reasonable PSU 'maker' this one came for a high price compared to the others can be bought here, but then again it was 2 years ago...

[Chike]

Re: GA-P43-ES3G + Q9300 randomly timed bluescreen...

Can you get those memory for a trial first? Are those 2GB modules?

[jander002]

Re: GA-P43-ES3G + Q9300 randomly timed bluescreen...

Yes most definetly! It's much easier to get a ram borrowed from a friend living closeby. Friends usually don't like the idea when i turn to them and say: hello can i borrow your PSU from your machine? Don't worry i'll give it back in no time!

Seriously check this out: i went to my best friend's, he isn't familiar with his computer that much, i may built that one the around same time i did this one. Guess what he has ddr2 667! Oh gosh! So next turn tomorrow with another friend

What do you think about the PSU issue? Or chieftec psu-s in general?