Hello everyone,
This is my first time posting on a support forum, so if I explain things poorly, forgive me.
I've been building my own computers for more than 10 years and I am used to the usual array of problems which can come from broken hardware and faulty software, but I have a problem now that has me stumped.
The specs for my system are:
Gigabyte 990fx UD5 motherboard
AMD FX8350 cpu
(currently) 4 gigs of patriot Sector 5 RAM, specced for DDR3 1600
a 500GB WD black edition 7200rpm HDD
a Sapphire Radeon 6950
and a 1000w Rosewill PSU
A secondary / possibly related problem:
I recently replaced a AMD X3 720 with the above CPU, before which my computer was running perfectly (of course). In order to install the CPU, I first flashed the bios to the latest version (11) to make sure my MB was compatible and then swapped the units out. Almost immediately I had an issue with the RAM not clocking up to 1600, even if I set it manually in the BIOS. I still have this issue and which may or may not be related to my main issue, but when I set the RAM to 1600, I would receive an error on post stating that I had overclocked the RAM to an unstable point and the clock speed was reset to 1066. This is not my main issue, though it is annoying, and I thought I would mention it as a clue for anyone who is more tech-savvy than I am.
My main issue:
After letting the RAM clock issue slide (for now), I passed post and booted up into Windows 7, upon which my computer almost immediately rebooted with no BSOD. Figuring that my BIOS was set improperly in default mode, I have fiddled endlessly with the settings to no avail.
Currently, I have been able to get my computer to boot to windows and remain stable in windows by turning off all of the C-states and AMD cool and quite, and by disabling the CPU auto clock-boost. None of these things particularly bother me, but I still am unable to run games for more than 1 hr, generally before my computer reboots with no BSOD. It is interesting to note, also, that I can run borderlands for a long while before a reboot, while Skyrim reboots my pc consistently during the load screen.
Here are some things that I have tried which have not worked so far:
- adjusting the voltages up for nearly every component on the MB, including CPU and RAM.
- lowering the clock speeds on the RAM
- disabling all the cores but the main 2 cores on the CPU
- increasing the voltage for my GPU
- shutting off various settings on my bios
- clearing my CMOS and re-flashing my bios back to version 10 (which is still compatible with my CPU)
- re-seating my RAM and using different slots
- reinstalling multiple drivers, including but not limited to my video drivers and my chipset drivers.
- I have replaced my heat sink and fan for my cpu with a self-contained water-cooling unit and I am certain this is not a heat issue.
- Also, there is very little dust in the case and on the components due to filters on the intake fans.
- I have run multiple tests on the ram and CPU, including memtest 86 for 12hrs, cpu stability test 6 for 9 hours, and prime 95 for 9 hours. None of these tests have caused the same reboot issue and were able to run for the stated periods of time.
I'm sure I have done other things as well, but I can't remember them off the top of my head. I will try to post on any other tests I run / problems that may crop up. Please Help!
This is my first time posting on a support forum, so if I explain things poorly, forgive me.
I've been building my own computers for more than 10 years and I am used to the usual array of problems which can come from broken hardware and faulty software, but I have a problem now that has me stumped.
The specs for my system are:
Gigabyte 990fx UD5 motherboard
AMD FX8350 cpu
(currently) 4 gigs of patriot Sector 5 RAM, specced for DDR3 1600
a 500GB WD black edition 7200rpm HDD
a Sapphire Radeon 6950
and a 1000w Rosewill PSU
A secondary / possibly related problem:
I recently replaced a AMD X3 720 with the above CPU, before which my computer was running perfectly (of course). In order to install the CPU, I first flashed the bios to the latest version (11) to make sure my MB was compatible and then swapped the units out. Almost immediately I had an issue with the RAM not clocking up to 1600, even if I set it manually in the BIOS. I still have this issue and which may or may not be related to my main issue, but when I set the RAM to 1600, I would receive an error on post stating that I had overclocked the RAM to an unstable point and the clock speed was reset to 1066. This is not my main issue, though it is annoying, and I thought I would mention it as a clue for anyone who is more tech-savvy than I am.
My main issue:
After letting the RAM clock issue slide (for now), I passed post and booted up into Windows 7, upon which my computer almost immediately rebooted with no BSOD. Figuring that my BIOS was set improperly in default mode, I have fiddled endlessly with the settings to no avail.
Currently, I have been able to get my computer to boot to windows and remain stable in windows by turning off all of the C-states and AMD cool and quite, and by disabling the CPU auto clock-boost. None of these things particularly bother me, but I still am unable to run games for more than 1 hr, generally before my computer reboots with no BSOD. It is interesting to note, also, that I can run borderlands for a long while before a reboot, while Skyrim reboots my pc consistently during the load screen.
Here are some things that I have tried which have not worked so far:
- adjusting the voltages up for nearly every component on the MB, including CPU and RAM.
- lowering the clock speeds on the RAM
- disabling all the cores but the main 2 cores on the CPU
- increasing the voltage for my GPU
- shutting off various settings on my bios
- clearing my CMOS and re-flashing my bios back to version 10 (which is still compatible with my CPU)
- re-seating my RAM and using different slots
- reinstalling multiple drivers, including but not limited to my video drivers and my chipset drivers.
- I have replaced my heat sink and fan for my cpu with a self-contained water-cooling unit and I am certain this is not a heat issue.
- Also, there is very little dust in the case and on the components due to filters on the intake fans.
- I have run multiple tests on the ram and CPU, including memtest 86 for 12hrs, cpu stability test 6 for 9 hours, and prime 95 for 9 hours. None of these tests have caused the same reboot issue and were able to run for the stated periods of time.
I'm sure I have done other things as well, but I can't remember them off the top of my head. I will try to post on any other tests I run / problems that may crop up. Please Help!