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Please help - dfi t3h6 i7 problem

B

Bipolarbear

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Joined
Dec 25, 2008
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61
I'm having a few problems with my newly acquired system and was hoping that someone here might be able to help me come up with a solution.+System contains an i7 d0, 3x2gb Gskill NQ PC12800 ram (9-9-9-24), a DFI Lanparty T3H6 mini atx motherboard, noctua nhu9b se cooler, gtx 280 and a couple of SATA hard drives + 1x IDE DVD writer, powered by a SuperFlower 750w 80+ PSU.

+The build has been nothing but trouble from the start. Firstly, the case (Lian-Li v350) required some serious modifications to fit everything in, then I had a problem with the CPU not clocking up from+a 12x multiplier in Windows 7. Turned out this was a BIOS issue, so I upgraded to the latest one from the DFI website and the multiplier increased as it should.+

Unfortunately, somewhere around this stage some serious instabilities set in. At the moment, 9/10 times the system will reboot spontaneously back to post as it tries to load windows, in the EXACT same time in the loading process. On the rare occasion it makes it to the desktop, it rarely lasts more than 5 minutes before BSODing with a variety of different STOP codes.+I reverted to the next most recent bios (which doesn't support proper multiplier under windows 7, but I thought it might bring back stability) but the problem remains.

I tried running with one stick of ram in (in the correct channel for this mode of operation) to no avail. I reinstalled Windows 7 on a different partition and the same problem occurs.+ I'm at work now and plan to try Windows XP when I get home but I really want to be able to run 7 as it will be my regular use machine.

+I have a few possible ideas about what the problem could be. Firstly, could it be something to do with the AHCI/IDE setting? I have it set to AHCI right now but the problem does not seem to go away if I set it to IDE. It may also perhaps be something to do with the bios settings themselves, though clearing the bios to defaults does not make the problem go away.

People have talked about changing the MEM LOWGAP setting but I have it set to "1024" at the moment, as I believe it should be. Voltages are all at default, I have tried setting it to 1.2v for both vid and vtt to no effect. I have followed all the guides for i7 clocking (even though I am running at stock, making sure I observe ratios between multipliers etc) but the DFI bios is almost hilariously complicated.+

If anyone has any insight into this issue or has had experience with a DFI board and a i7 920 (and could post their settings, perhaps?) I'd be very, very grateful. I have spent a lot of money and time on this system and it's incredibly frustrating having these issues.+

Cheers
 
Firstly, could it be something to do with the AHCI/IDE setting?
Click to expand...

Probably not.

I'm not familiar with your PS but I'd be swapping it with a known good unit.
 
Thanks for the clarification re ahci/ide.

Superflower is actually the oem for a number of reputable psu companies. I did my research as I was dubious at first. It was not a cheap supply and has 60a on the 12v rails. I double checked with a tt 550w and got same error.

At this stage I think the problems started when I flashed the bios to the most recent version. I might revert to the shipping bios and see if it fixes things - though I wouldn't think that a NEWER bios would break compatibility. It is just odd they it fails in the exact same spot of windows loading process each time.

Any other ideas?
 
I know its a new build but have you run any diagnostics? I'm talking about memtest and drive fitness tool. Chkdsk wouldn't hurt, but it won't fix a problem like this. They won't be able to fix the problem but you will be able to get a sense of direction on diagnosing the issue.
 
I double checked with a tt 550w and got same error.
Click to expand...
Even if your PS was a Corsair I woulda recommended swapping as a general TS method in your situation.

Your problem seems to be a hardware problem and maybe these mods needed
to fit everything in
Click to expand...
caused a grounding issue.

How 'bout removing the MB from the case and trying the minimum boot configuration?

Another thing that may be helpful are the stop codes and anything of interest in the event viewer.
 
One of the other issues, which a few have touched upon, is the overtightening of the HSF mounting bracket. Overtightening causes the board to flex which *may* result in some of the errors you are seeing.
 
Hi guys, and thanks again for the advice.

I've run chkdsk and memtest. Memory passes everytime, as does the hd.

Last night I disabled everything in the bios that could be causing trouble - onboard lan/audio/ide, eist, turboboost, ht. Tried high voltage, low voltage, auto, everything. No change.

When I first installed the system (on original bios) it was fine. I'm convinced it must be something to do with the new one somehow breaking compatibility. The question is - why?

Next step is to try and flash back to original bios. I'll report on results, and thanks again for the replies.

Ps grounding issue is good idea but doubtful as last night I fully disassembled / reassembled to try different pci slots etc.

Has anyone experienced this situation where a system reboots at exactly the same place in the loading process?
 
Gskills are rated at 1.5v - I've tried them everywhere between this and 1.65.

Vtt I've kept in line with vid, everywhere between 1.2 and 1.35v.

I've never had such problems after having a bios reset before...
 
Clear the CMOS.

When rebooting, boot into BIOS and load optimized defaults

Set the memory lowgap to the 1500-ish mb setting.

Make sure the memory is on the bclk*8 multi, which should be the auto setting.

Manually set the memory to rated timings and voltage.

You may also have a corrupted windows install, which could be the main problem. Might need to reinstall.
 
I have the UT X58-T3eH8 so I'm going to assume it has a very similar bios.

VR Current Limit Max: enable this, it will override amperage draw limitation
O.C. Shut Down Free: seems like D0 like this set to disabled, C0 like to be enabled

You can also try disabling Virtualization and Execute Disable Bit under CPU feature.

Other than that I don't really know. Maybe play musical chairs with the RAM and test another PSU.
 
This all sounds like a compatibility problem with the memory, he states that he's been having stability issues from the start. But on the flipside it could easily be the motherboard.
 
DFI boards do not play well with certain types of memory...usually the type that would be considered "budget" memory.

Could also be a psu issue. DFI boards are so freaking picky about psu's. They absolutely have to have 3A on the 5VSB rail. If someone is building with a DFI nowadays, I basically encourage them to purchase only a silverstone psu with a single 12V rail, as they seem to be the ONLY psu's that do not have some level of documented problems. Not such a bad thing really because silverstone psu's are tanks.
 
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