New build driving me nuts and not sure where to go next.

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brennok

[H]ard|Gawd
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Nov 30, 2006
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A week ago I put together the second build in my signature. i9-12900k, Scythe Mugen 6 dual fan cooler, MSI Z790 Carbon Wifi II, Team Expert 2x32 GB DDR5 4800 ram, 1x 4TB WD SN850x and 1 x Corsair MP400. I am only using the iGPU. Everything went together smoothly and had no issues. Idle temps were 35c and every once and a while peak would hit 90c when running through the Plex library to set it up again.

The first sign of an issue was I added an old empty 1TB MX500 2.5 SSD. The system locked up whenever it would move files over to the drive. I pulled the drive and checked its health on another PC and it shows fine. I never reinstalled it.

Then yesterday I realized I couldn't connect to it and the PC was frozen with a black screen. I rebooted and it froze again just as it went into Windows 11 Pro. I then tried a bootable USB to repair Windows but it locked up as soon as it got to the menu. The NVME failed the self diagnostic test in MSI bios, using the WD SN850x as the main drive.

I replaced the WD drive with another new 4 TB WD SN850x and reinstalled Windows. Initial setup completes and then restarts only to again freeze before Windows loads. Repeated the process formatting the drive and again with a different USB, but same thing every time.

Memtest86 bootable USB and memory passes, no XMP set. I am going to run another pass tonight after swapping the DImm slots.

I figure I will pull the cooler and check the CPU tomorrow, when it freezes the board is only reporting 37c so I don't know if it is possibly a bad board or if the memory is bad yet passing. Any suggestions are appreciated since I can't get into Windows to see the dump files to see what happened when it crashed. The other problem is I am not actively using it since it is more for Plex and remote self hosting.
 
There were issues with one of the latest windows 11 updates in October 24. With certain WD/Sandisk nve drives. it was causing blue screens. https://support.cyberpowerpc.com/hc...Blue-Screen-with-certain-Western-Digital-SSDs Though your's is not one of them listed. I wouldn't be surprised if there's some kind of issue with them too. I would update the firmware on the snx drive. Now they state a lot of the ssd drive issues seem to be with the dramless one's. The mp400 seems to have 512mb ram, So i don't think that should be the case. But i would pull that one too just to see if that makes a difference. I would Try to find a 23H2 iso and install windows from that Delay the 24H2 update and see if it still bluescreens or freezes.
 
Geforcepat said:
There were issues with one of the latest windows 11 updates in October 24. With certain WD/Sandisk nve drives. it was causing blue screens. https://support.cyberpowerpc.com/hc...Blue-Screen-with-certain-Western-Digital-SSDs Though your's is not one of them listed. I wouldn't be surprised if there's some kind of issue with them too. I would update the firmware on the snx drive. Now they state a lot of the ssd drive issues seem to be with the dramless one's. The mp400 seems to have 512mb ram, So i don't think that should be the case. But i would pull that one too just to see if that makes a difference. I would Try to find a 23H2 iso and install windows from that Delay the 24H2 update and see if it still bluescreens or freezes.
Click to expand...

Thanks I saw that when researching but that only seems to affect models without Dram. I can't even get to the Windows install at this point. At this point I am leaning towards CPU, mobo, or PSU.

I removed the cooler and Thermalright contact frame, and I replaced it with the stock bracket. I remounted the cooler and same issue. As soon as the Windows Install starts now it freezes. I tried a different external USB drive this time and it just says ran into a problem and needs to restart. I can get into the bios and everything is default at this point. I even tried the M.2 WD in another slot in case that slot went bad. No luck.
 
Are all the parts brand new? If so exchange the cpu, board, and ram. That would trouble shoot EVERYTHING. I doubt it's the PS but process of elimination would be the sure fire way to go. Unless someone figures it out. Sounds like a hardware issue to me. 12900K shouldn't have freezes unless it is defective, same with that board. The memory could be the culprit also.
 
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xDiVolatilX said:
Are all the parts brand new? If so exchange the cpu, board, and ram. That would trouble shoot EVERYTHING. I doubt it's the PS but process of elimination would be the sure fire way to go. Unless someone figures it out. Sounds like a hardware issue to me. 12900K shouldn't have freezes unless it is defective, same with that board. The memory could be the culprit also.
Click to expand...

Yeah everything is brand new so I have a feeling that is what I am going to have to do. I picked up a Dr Power III to test the PSU and an external enclosure to test the NVME, but the one I bought from Ugreen came broken with no way to mount the NVME.

Most of the stuff is Amazon which shouldn't be too bad, but the CPU is Newegg which we all know how they can be.
 
youve check the cpu is seated right and that there are no bad pins or schmoo on the contact pads?
 
pendragon1 said:
youve check the cpu is seated right and that there are no bad pins or schmoo on the contact pads?
Click to expand...

Yeah I fully checked over the CPU and pins when I pulled the contact frame since I read some reports of people running into instability with it. Everything was clean. It is just weird to me that everything was running smoothly for a week other than that one freeze with the old SSD 2.5.

Unless something happened when I remounted it without the frame which I will probably check again since I need to pull the board out to check the PSU. The Fractal Torrent makes it a pain to access the CPU power cables due to the PSU placement. I probably need to order some thermal paste in case. I just used the Scythe one that came with the Mugen 6 dual fan cooler it was only a tiny one so not sure enough for a third or fourth mounting.If I have any laying around it is probably super old at this point.
 
Are you on the latest BIOS?

Have you tried moving the NVME installed? On that board M.2_1 and M.2_2 are fed directly from the CPU, and M.2_3 - M.2_5 are all fed from chipset. I would suspect CPU / socket issues if it's only on the first two. Also: don't use M2_2 or it drops primary x16 slot down to x8.
 
Dopamin3 said:
Are you on the latest BIOS?

Have you tried moving the NVME installed? On that board M.2_1 and M.2_2 are fed directly from the CPU, and M.2_3 - M.2_5 are all fed from chipset. I would suspect CPU / socket issues if it's only on the first two. Also: don't use M2_2 or it drops primary x16 slot down to x8.
Click to expand...

Yeah I flashed to latest when I first built the PC. I skipped the gen 5 slot even though I am using the GPU just in case I decided to add one later. I am almost positive I tried in another slot, but I will try it again.

PSU tests ok with Dr Power III. Tried RAM from gaming PC which I know works and no issues there, but didn't sold the issue either. I didn't test the new ram in the gaming PC though, which I may or may not do.
Everything posts fine and I don't think I have been stopped from getting into the bios once. I just seem to run into issues anytime I try to do anything else. It is either the CPU or Mobo at this point so may just exchange them both.

Of course Amazon is out of the MSI board with ETA of 1/23-2/8 which puts me in a dilemma, so might need to change boards now.
 
brennok said:
Yeah everything is brand new so I have a feeling that is what I am going to have to do. I picked up a Dr Power III to test the PSU and an external enclosure to test the NVME, but the one I bought from Ugreen came broken with no way to mount the NVME.

Most of the stuff is Amazon which shouldn't be too bad, but the CPU is Newegg which we all know how they can be.
Click to expand...
That's the main reason I buy from Amazon even though they are the largest monopoly of online etailers shutting down so much competition, because of the no fuss return policy.

I would call Newegg on the phone personally and tell that that you've exhausted your troubleshooting options and it's down to the CPU and need a replacement, it should go in your favor.

I have a good feeling if you return/replace the mb/cpu/ram all your issues will disappear. If not you know it's 99.99% sure it's not those 3 major components.

At that point can try a different NVME and fresh install of Windows.

Lastly swap the Power supply.
 
xDiVolatilX said:
That's the main reason I buy from Amazon even though they are the largest monopoly of online etailers shutting down so much competition, because of the no fuss return policy.

I would call Newegg on the phone personally and tell that that you've exhausted your troubleshooting options and it's down to the CPU and need a replacement, it should go in your favor.

I have a good feeling if you return/replace the mb/cpu/ram all your issues will disappear. If not you know it's 99.99% sure it's not those 3 major components.

At that point can try a different NVME and fresh install of Windows.

Lastly swap the Power supply.
Click to expand...

Yeah I only bought Newegg due to the BF sale. It was the cheapest place and came with a free NVME so figured might as well get it over the 12700k. I think it was a $20 price difference before you counted the free NVME and free Intel bundle.

I just tried running the original 4TB SSD in another slot and same issue. It just randomly hard locks with nothing on the board to indicate a problem. I was in advanced diagnostics trying a couple commands to see if I could restore and clean up the drive only to completely freeze again.

I then tried the second 4TB in the first slot, removed the first SSD, and seemed to be working as the Windows install processed. I watched the percent sign go up and glanced away only to turn back and see it frozen again.

I will probably just return all three. I may see if I can find another board that works just considering it is OOS at Amazon. If I wasn't doing it for Plex I would probably just switch to AMD at this point.
 
Just for funsies I tried one stick in slot 2 and both of the sticks that I bought froze. BB has the Gig Aorus Elite AX in stock so I may grab one to try to see if it still has the same issue. I also sent a support ticket to MSI just to see what they say.

Thanks for all the help everyone. I will update this as I go lol.
 
Just sort of a nothing update.

MSI responded to my ticket asking if I used a USB key larger than 16gb. I immediately answered in fact I used a 16gb, 32gb, and a 128gb in my attempts. This was over 24 hours ago and no response yet.

Intel responded today asking me things which were in my original submission including the details I filled out in the form. Waiting on a response.

Meanwhile tested ram in my AMD PC again and no issues with it. Made a little more progress trying to install Windows on new PC, but again randomly locked up with my AMD ram. Figured I would try while I had ram out of my PC. Amazon ended up having a used 15-12600k in like new condition for $166 with tax sold by Amazon Resale, which replaced warehouse, via Prime so I ordered that to try which will be here tomorrow/today. MSI board through Amazon now shows a February delivery date so if the i5 also fails I will probably just return the CPU, mobo, ram and PSU, and come up with a new build.
 
Well good news and so so news.

I5-12600k came in and everything works. I did a fresh install of Windows since the crash borked my original Windows install. Drive is fine though so just wiped it and started fresh. I let it run overnight and no issues.

Well everything worked until I connected SATA drives. Then the board wouldn't even post, but would hang at A2 - Detecting IDE. I picked up another duplicate PSU, Corsair rm850x, and no change though RAM now works with the more aggressive XMP profile hitting CL34 at 6000 vs CL40 at 5600. It turns out this board uses the ASM1061 chipset for the first two SATA ports. Apparently this chip causes major issues and random crashes. Luckily tonight I stumbled across this older MSI thread which somehow I never saw in my previous searches. Disabling the chipset worked and I moved the drives over to the SATA ports from the Z790 chipset. Everything seems fine now.

I will probably stick with it though I put in a ticket about it to MSI. Looking over what Z790 boards are still out there, it looks like MSI uses the ASM1061 chip so those are all out. The others that would work are all discontinued like the Taichi lite Z790 so not an option.
 
Just think a little farther out of the box.

You don't need to use the onboard SATA ports just stick a $30 card in it and use whatever motherboard suits all your other feature needs.

Then the card is mobile to your next couple of motherboards and builds so you don't have to wonder how the compatibility will be.
 
Advil said:
Just think a little farther out of the box.

You don't need to use the onboard SATA ports just stick a $30 card in it and use whatever motherboard suits all your other feature needs.

Then the card is mobile to your next couple of motherboards and builds so you don't have to wonder how the compatibility will be.
Click to expand...

True I might even have an older one back from my WHS days though I think that is limited to 2TB drives though can't remember if SAS or SATA..
 
If board cannot boot with SATA drives connected, and you have history of it freezing with various drives connected, it's the board then.
See if there's BIOS update, if there isn't and you have a newest version, return it for a full refund, and buy something else.
I also had crappy ASUS board in the past, which was randomly dropping SATA drive every day or so, but only happened when I had multiple drives connected. Could not figure it out until I replaced the board with different one, all problems went away immediately, with all other hardware staying the same. Setup works perfectly to this day.
 
brennok said:
Well good news and so so news.

I5-12600k came in and everything works. I did a fresh install of Windows since the crash borked my original Windows install. Drive is fine though so just wiped it and started fresh. I let it run overnight and no issues.

Well everything worked until I connected SATA drives. Then the board wouldn't even post, but would hang at A2 - Detecting IDE. I picked up another duplicate PSU, Corsair rm850x, and no change though RAM now works with the more aggressive XMP profile hitting CL34 at 6000 vs CL40 at 5600. It turns out this board uses the ASM1061 chipset for the first two SATA ports. Apparently this chip causes major issues and random crashes. Luckily tonight I stumbled across this older MSI thread which somehow I never saw in my previous searches. Disabling the chipset worked and I moved the drives over to the SATA ports from the Z790 chipset. Everything seems fine now.

I will probably stick with it though I put in a ticket about it to MSI. Looking over what Z790 boards are still out there, it looks like MSI uses the ASM1061 chip so those are all out. The others that would work are all discontinued like the Taichi lite Z790 so not an option.
Click to expand...
Are you using a SATA 3 drive? You're not using a nVME drive?
 
xDiVolatilX said:
Are you using a SATA 3 drive? You're not using a nVME drive?
Click to expand...

I am using NVME, 2xWD SN850x 4TB, for OS and everything new.

I moved over an old 2.5 SSD SATA 3 and WD 4TB Red as additional data drives. I didn't want to fill up the NVME with old crap from my old PCs, but also wanted to get stuff off there so I could shut them down without having to haul them out in case I realized I needed something off them.

The SATA SSD drive caused the first crash when I was moving files between the NVME and SATA which I attributed to possibly a dying SSD. I disconnected the drive and all was well. Tested fine in dock and old PC though. Then I had the major lockup a day or two later which I couldn't recover from which sent me down the rabbit hole to find issues with the CPU. Replacement CPU worked fine and then tried to recoonect the same SSD to have failures after post. Then tried working SATA HDD with same result which brought me to finding issues with the ASM1061 chip. Moving the drives to the Z790 SATA and disabling chip everything worked and is working now. Without disabling chip though other SATA ports caused same lockup.
 
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