[Troubleshooting] $3,000 Rig, First-time Builder, Serious Problems, PLEASE HELP

B

BuildBuildBuild

n00b
Joined
Mar 24, 2012
Messages
7
Note: Copy & Paste Image URL links to view images and avoid 403 Forbidden Error. Thanks!

UPDATE (Monday, March 26 @ 12:40pm GMT):
  • Ran the Prime95 Torture Test for over 10 hours yesterday after waking the computer up, while looping TWO Youtube clips on EndlessYoutube.com the entire time, and while using the computer normally throughout the day, and had NO errors. These are the CPU stats towards the end of the Torture Test: [2] http://i.imgur.com/VQm4i.png
    I think it's safe to say the CPU is fine.
  • The above, coupled with the earlier [3] Memtest Results seem to show that both the CPU and RAM are fine.
  • I've enabled XMP in the BIOS and my RAM is now running at its intended clock speed of 1600 Mhz.
  • Since enabling XMP, my SSD and Graphics benchmarks have improved (no idea if related, or just coincidence, but happy either way). Furthermore, I also did a “Performance Optimization” using the Samsung 830 Magician Software and now my SSD speeds are exactly where they should be across-the-board
  • * New SSD Scores: [4] http://i.imgur.com/j05cu.png
  • * New Graphics Scores: [7] http://i.imgur.com/FfwUD.png (P7419, nice improvement, have been advised elsewhere that the 3dMark scores are compared against other cards, including Overclocked Cards and GPU’s, which is why 3dMark is reporting my results as "low" since everything of mine is at stock speed.
  • I left the computer asleep overnight (remember, before the BIOS update, it wouldn’t wakeup or respond after an overnight sleep) and it woke up without a hitch.
  • Computer has not frozen at all since I updated the BIOS early yesterday (not even during the simultaneous Prime95 Torture Test, 2 Endless Youtube clips, and the 3dMark benchmarking).
All in all, it looks like everything is normal now and working as it should, which is a HUGE relief for me. What my inexperienced mind first thought were multiple hardware failures was simply an outdated BIOS firmware and lack of optimization. I didn’t even have to open my case to get everything working like it should.
Moral of the Story: ALWAYS update your BIOS to the latest firmware when you build a new PC. I learned the hard way, but you don’t have to! :)
I can finally begin to enjoy my creation, and that is a wonderful feeling. Thanks again for everyone's help, you’ve all been great and made this a lot less painful than it otherwise would have been. I'm very glad this type of support for newbies exists otherwise I would have been drowning alone in a sea of silicon.
If anything else happens, I’ll report back, but I’m happy to say this will not be the last PC I build.

____________________________________

UPDATE (Sunday, March 25 @ 3pm GMT):
  • Ran Memtest for over 12 hours and after 6 full passes, there were no errors. Is it safe to say the RAM is not the problem and is OK?
  • Updated BIOS to latest firmware.
  • Since updating BIOS firmware:
  • * SSD: benchmarks are all normal EXCEPT 4K Writes which have improved but are still underperforming by about 33%. This is definitely progress, but any ideas why that specific benchmark could be underperforming while everything else is now normal?
  • * Sleep issue: Put computer to Sleep, and it stayed asleep (remember, before it would wake up automatically after about 30 seconds). Woke it up after 15 minutes, and several minutes later, noticed Q-Code was at “AA” (remember, it used to remain at "30", which was the Sleep cycle). This is the first time I’ve witnessed the Motherboard report a normal Q-Code of “AA” after waking up from a Sleep. Again, this is definitely progress.
  • * Have been running Prime95 Torture Test for over 2 hours now after waking the computer up, while looping TWO Youtube clips on EndlessYoutube.com (remember, my PC had frozen twice while on Youtube previously), with no errors so far. During this time, I decided to push my computer to the limit, and also ran 3dMarks11 benchmark. System did not crash, and got a 3DMarks score of P4385. How long should I run Prime95 for?
  • * CPU & Fan Info after 2+ hours of Prime95: http://i.imgur.com/UqSFG.png (I have no idea how to read this,is it all looking normal?)
  • Graphics Card: Can someone please 100% confirm if a 3DMarks score of around 7200 is indeed low for my specs? I’m not yet clear on that, but have not benchmarked the card since after the BIOS update (other than during Prime95 as above), so I'll have to wait until I complete the Prime95 testing before benchmarking it again.
So it seems the BIOS firmware update has helped in at least a few areas, so I'm glad to see some progress. Thanks for everyone's help so far, I know that last thing you guys want to be doing on the weekend is helping someone with their PC troubles. Hopefully I can get this all resolved and running smoothly by tomorrow, or at least pin-point the cause and get it exchanged. Thanks again and I'll continue to answer all the posts and keep everyone updated until this is 100% resolved.

____________________________________

Specs:

Note: All the latest Drivers and Windows Updates have been installed.

Pic of Build: http://i.imgur.com/90l4L.jpg
Close-up: http://i.imgur.com/GIuSo.jpg

Notes:
  • No major issues during build.
  • All latest Drivers and Windows Updates have been installed
---

Turning On First Time:

First time I turned it on, got a green flashing screen. Turned it off. Waited a few minutes, turned it back on, worked OK (never had the green screen problem since). Got CPU Fan errors. Read on forum that’s normal for Noctua NH-D14 fan due to efficient RPM, so I lowered CPU Fan Alarm threshold and never got the CPU fan error again.

---

Main Issues:
  • When it wakes up from from a short sleep, the Q-Code stays at “30” (which refers to the sleep cycle). A couple of times I saw it stay at “30” and then it changed to “80” (DXE Initialization) while still working, but I never saw it go back to “AA” after waking up. Shouldn’t the Q-Code change to normal “AA” status once the computer wakes up and has been used for over 30 minutes? In case it helps, when I put it to sleeps, it goes from “AA”, to “03” (System Agent initialization before microcode loading), and then goes off.
  • At first, computer would wake up immediately from a short (few hours or less) sleep. But it did not seem to respond to an overnight sleep. After leaving it asleep overnight, pressing the keyboard or moving the mouse did nothing. I had to shut it off.
  • Now, after installing the last 36 Windows updates, it only sleeps for about 30 seconds and then wakes up by itself but the screen is still blank. If I move the mouse, Windows then appears normally on the screen.
  • Computer has frozen at least four times so far. Once when editing the Windows Hosts file in Notepad, second time while opening a Youtube Video, third time when running 3dMark11, fourth time while opening a Youtube video again. I checked the Q-Code of the MB when the second freeze and fourth freeze happened and it showed a Q-Code of “30” on both occasions, so it might have to do with the Sleep. When it freezes, the screen stays on whatever it was on, but nothing moves or reacts or changes (neither on the screen nor on the computer itself). It simply stops responding and reacting. When it froze on 3dMark11, the screen was just dark and stayed that way (I ran 3dMark 11 4 times, it only froze on one of those four times).
---

Diagnostic Screenshots:

Fans & Voltage: http://i.imgur.com/ct8cc.png
RAM:http://i.imgur.com/pQbU0.png

---

Underperforming Benchmarks:

1) SSD
  • Samsung 830 512GB with latest firmware.
  • Partitioned and properly aligned.
  • Clarification: Forgot to mention that it has been running in AHCI mode, TRIM on, Intel Rapid Response installed, and plugged into Intel X79 Sata 6Gb/s Controller all since the beginning.
  • S.M.A.R.T. Screenshot: http://i.imgur.com/ULKf9.png
  • Crystal Disk Marks: http://i.imgur.com/WPI0O.png

Based on average Crystal Mark Scores from 4 different sources online (see below), my SSD is underperforming an average of -36%:
After doing the last 36 updates on Windows, I ran it again, and it’s still underperforming: http://i.imgur.com/vngtJ.png

2) GPU

---

Based on all of the above, it is clear to me that something is very wrong with my build, which is quite disheartening after all the time and money I invested in it.

Please help me figure out all these issues as I’m way in over my head and have no idea how to diagnose or resolve them.

Building a PC was far more complicated than I anticipated (especially due to the poor instructions in the manuals regarding so many cables), but I thought it was still worth it when I finally finished the build and saw what I had created with my own two hands. Now, with all these problems that my old Dell never gave me (it pains me to say that), I’m starting to have regrets and second-thoughts, especially since I saved up a lot of money to buy top-of-the-line components to avoid precisely these kinds of issues. To be honest, after this experience, I probably won’t be building a PC ever again, but I want to at least salvage this one so that it lasts me at least 3 years.

I’m willing to test, diagnose, and try anything, so I’m all ears.

Please help. Thank you.
 
Last edited:
You able to post working screenshots of your BIOS screens for voltages and all settings? Also, your pics aren't working.
 
Moqu said:
You able to post working screenshots of your BIOS screens for voltages and all settings? Also, your pics aren't working.
Click to expand...
I'm currently running Memtest (which I'll leave overnight), but I did include a pic of the voltage settings (if that helps).

Not sure why the image links are giving a 403 Forbidden Error, but if you click the links and then click on the URL bar and hit Enter, they'll work. Sorry for the extra trouble, this hasn't happened before with Imgur.com.

Please review the images and offer any guidance or suggestions. I feel completely lost.

(By the way, I'm NOT doing any overclocking, have not changed any of the default settings in the BIOS other than Fan Alarm Threshold, and I'm running Win7 Pro.)

Thanks again.


artimusbill said:
A guide on setting up your SSD might be something to look at. HERE is one suggestion.
Click to expand...
Thanks, from what I can tell, most of those (if not all) are already set. Unfortunately, my underperforming $850 SSD is only one of many problems I'm experiencing with this build...
 
Theultimateeye said:
My 7970 scored around the same so i wouldn't worry too much. Overclocking it should help a lot along with your cpu. My ssd benchmarks were low too when i first got the drive but then i used a lot of optimization guides online and it brought the number up a decent amount. Check out this guide if you haven't yet - http://.com/ssd-guides/optimization-guides/the-ssd-optimization-guide-2/
Click to expand...
So are you saying my 7950 is scoring what it should be scoring for my non-overclocked Specs? Please confirm so I can at least put that one issue to rest. Thanks!
 
UPDATE (Sunday, March 25 @ 3pm GMT):
  • Ran Memtest for over 12 hours and after 6 full passes, there were no errors. Is it safe to say the RAM is not the problem and is OK?
  • Updated BIOS to latest firmware.
  • Since updating BIOS firmware:
  • * SSD: benchmarks are all normal EXCEPT 4K Writes which have improved but are still underperforming by about 33%. This is definitely progress, but any ideas why that specific benchmark could be underperforming while everything else is now normal?
  • * Sleep issue: Put computer to Sleep, and it stayed asleep (remember, before it would wake up automatically after about 30 seconds). Woke it up after 15 minutes, and several minutes later, noticed Q-Code was at “AA” (remember, it used to remain at "30", which was the Sleep cycle). This is the first time I’ve witnessed the Motherboard report a normal Q-Code of “AA” after waking up from a Sleep. Again, this is definitely progress.
  • * Have been running Prime95 Torture Test for over 2 hours now after waking the computer up, while looping TWO Youtube clips on EndlessYoutube.com (remember, my PC had frozen twice while on Youtube previously), with no errors so far. During this time, I decided to push my computer to the limit, and also ran 3dMarks11 benchmark. System did not crash, and got a 3DMarks score of P4385. How long should I run Prime95 for?
  • * CPU & Fan Info after 2+ hours of Prime95: http://i.imgur.com/UqSFG.png (I have no idea how to read this,is it all looking normal?)
  • Graphics Card: Can someone please 100% confirm if a 3DMarks score of around 7200 is indeed low for my specs? I’m not yet clear on that, but have not benchmarked the card since after the BIOS update (other than during Prime95 as above), so I'll have to wait until I complete the Prime95 testing before benchmarking it again.
So it seems the BIOS firmware update has helped in at least a few areas, so I'm glad to see some progress. Thanks for everyone's help so far, I know that last thing you guys want to be doing on the weekend is helping someone with their PC troubles. Hopefully I can get this all resolved and running smoothly by tomorrow, or at least pin-point the cause and get it exchanged. Thanks again and I'll continue to answer all the posts and keep everyone updated until this is 100% resolved.
 
In regards to memtest: Did you run Memtest each stick of RAM separately? Sometimes testing the RAM altogether gives false negatives.

In regards to Prime 95: 8 to 12 hours will be enough. 24 if you want to make sure.

As for your SSD problem, go ask in the Data storage subforum if your SSD is right.

Video card wise, I don't use 3DMark nor do I read them to determine PC performance.

So after the BIOS update, what issues are you still seeing?
 
Your SSD looks fine, why did you partition it out to 95GB though, give the C: drive the entire disk.
 
You may be overly analyzing your system, probly happens to most people with new rigs -- want to make sure it's running right, at the proper speeds, normal temps, if anything is quirky, ad nauseum. I don't hear anything seriously wrong with your system -- I've read about many sleep issues and as such have turned off all settings for my desktop...When you're benching make sure that you're doing apples-to-apples, many numbers posted online are for oc'd rigs, some heavily. I've even seen oc'd scores in official results -- ie like a 2600k that does 7.5 cinebench 11.5 on a few sites for ivy previews. My 2700k at 3.9 doesn't do much more than that (7.66?), so don't read too much into cpu/gpu/memory benches, tho slower SSD speeds may be symptomatic of a conflict or minor issue. Make sure youre using the best SATA ports on your board, my gigabyte has intel and marvel sata 3 ports and I've heard the marvels run like 20% slower. I'm not saying your issues are exactly this but could be something similar.

edit: I'd give more specific info, but can't load any of your pics so...not gonna try manually punching in urls or copy/pasting...sorry not gonna troubleshoot the troubleshooting...
 
ND said:
Your SSD looks fine, why did you partition it out to 95GB though, give the C: drive the entire disk.
Click to expand...
95 GB for Windows and Program Files, the rest for Music, Photos, and Videos. If I need to re-install Windows, I won't need to move the Music, Photos, and Videos since they are on a separate partition.

UPDATE (Monday, March 26 @ 12:40pm GMT):
  • Ran the Prime95 Torture Test for over 10 hours yesterday after waking the computer up, while looping TWO Youtube clips on EndlessYoutube.com the entire time, and while using the computer normally throughout the day, and had NO errors. These are the CPU stats towards the end of the Torture Test: [2] http://i.imgur.com/VQm4i.png
    I think it's safe to say the CPU is fine.
  • The above, coupled with the earlier [3] Memtest Results seem to show that both the CPU and RAM are fine.
  • I've enabled XMP in the BIOS and my RAM is now running at its intended clock speed of 1600 Mhz.
  • Since enabling XMP, my SSD and Graphics benchmarks have improved (no idea if related, or just coincidence, but happy either way). Furthermore, I also did a “Performance Optimization” using the Samsung 830 Magician Software and now my SSD speeds are exactly where they should be across-the-board
  • * New SSD Scores: [4] http://i.imgur.com/j05cu.png
  • * New Graphics Scores: [7] http://i.imgur.com/FfwUD.png (P7419, nice improvement, have been advised elsewhere that the 3dMark scores are compared against other cards, including Overclocked Cards and GPU’s, which is why 3dMark is reporting my results as "low" since everything of mine is at stock speed.
  • I left the computer asleep overnight (remember, before the BIOS update, it wouldn’t wakeup or respond after an overnight sleep) and it woke up without a hitch.
  • Computer has not frozen at all since I updated the BIOS early yesterday (not even during the simultaneous Prime95 Torture Test, 2 Endless Youtube clips, and the 3dMark benchmarking).
All in all, it looks like everything is normal now and working as it should, which is a HUGE relief for me. What my inexperienced mind first thought were multiple hardware failures was simply an outdated BIOS firmware and lack of optimization. I didn’t even have to open my case to get everything working like it should.
Moral of the Story: ALWAYS update your BIOS to the latest firmware when you build a new PC. I learned the hard way, but you don’t have to! :)
I can finally begin to enjoy my creation, and that is a wonderful feeling. Thanks again for everyone's help, you’ve all been great and made this a lot less painful than it otherwise would have been. I'm very glad this type of support for newbies exists otherwise I would have been drowning alone in a sea of silicon.
If anything else happens, I’ll report back, but I’m happy to say this will not be the last PC I build.
END UPDATE.
 
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