cause_of_chaos

Hi guys,

Usually, I'm quite good with PCs and solving problems, but this one has stumped me!!!

Spec:
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[COLOR="DarkRed"]Mobo: [/COLOR]ABIT IN9 32X-MAX Wi-Fi (Nforce 680i)
[COLOR="#8b0000"]CPU:[/COLOR] Intel Core 2 Extreme QX6850
[COLOR="#8b0000"]Memory:[/COLOR] Geil DDR2 800MHz (4x1Gb) @ 4-4-4-12
[COLOR="#8b0000"]GFX: [/COLOR]GeForce 8800 Ultra
[COLOR="#8b0000"]HDD:[/COLOR] Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 500GB
[COLOR="#8b0000"]PSU:[/COLOR] OCZ GameXStream 850W
[COLOR="DarkRed"]OS: [/COLOR]Windows VISTA Ultimate 64
-------------------------------------------------------

The problem is that the PC constantly resets during installation / booting of Windows.

I've run DOS-based memory tests and performed HDD tests and all pass fine (have left them running for at least 6 hours each).

But when trying to install Windows, the PC resets randomly. After 5-6 attempts, Windows successfully installs.

But then the PC resets when booting into Windows. Sometimes before it has booted, sometimes as soon as I touch the mouse, sometimes when I click any drive under 'My Computer'.

Temps are fine (CPU does not hit 35C) and the case has 3x120mm fans, 1x80mm fans and a HUGE fan on the top of the case.

I've tried the following:
- Tried with only 1x1Gb stick of memory
- Tried loading SATA drivers before installing Windows,
- Updated mobo bios to latest version
- Updated the firmware of the HDD to latest version
- Tried installing Windows XP Pro
- Checked the voltages / temps in the Bios
- Double-checked everything is plugged-in correctly
- Stripped all unnecessary things from it
- Set all values to minimum in the Bios

I am an AMD / ATI dude so don't know what else to do!

ABIT returned the mobo saying that it was fine, and 3 repair shops couldn't diagnose the problem. Any thoughts on what can be the problem?

[COLOR="Green"]Cheers guys for reading through this long post! [/COLOR]

Kind Regards,
cause_of_chaos

__________________
AMD Phenom II 965 Black Edition @ 3.4Ghz
4Gb Crucial Ballistix PC2 8500 ~ 800 FSB {Timings 4-4-4-12}
Asus M3A32-MVP Deluxe CrossfireX Mobo ~ 2002 Bios
MSI ATI RX3870 512Mb PCI-e 2.0 Graphics card
Creative Audigy2 ZS Platinum Sound card (SB0350 10k2 [e800])

GigaWatt

it's the motherboard... the motherboard is faulty... i had the same problem with the same board, except it was with Windows XP SP2, the rig kept resetting itself randomly during installation... at least you managed to get the OS installed... i didn't even get it installed...

the solution might be a BIOS change... try upgrading, it might work...

i just returned the rig to the company where they put the rig together and got it back with a new motherboard... this time the motherboard didn't have any problems, although it still was the same IN9 motherboard... maybe it had something to do with the series of the board, some faulty manufacturing series... who knows...

__________________
It's not schisophrenia... it's just a voice in my head...

cause_of_chaos

Hi GigaWatt,

Cheers for the reply!

As it's my friends rig I couldn't do many tests at his place but I was thinking this.

Ah well I'll let him know - I'll tell him to RMA it.

Once again, cheers!

Regards,
cause_of_chaos

__________________
AMD Phenom II 965 Black Edition @ 3.4Ghz
4Gb Crucial Ballistix PC2 8500 ~ 800 FSB {Timings 4-4-4-12}
Asus M3A32-MVP Deluxe CrossfireX Mobo ~ 2002 Bios
MSI ATI RX3870 512Mb PCI-e 2.0 Graphics card
Creative Audigy2 ZS Platinum Sound card (SB0350 10k2 [e800])

GigaWatt

no problem, cheers mate...

__________________
It's not schisophrenia... it's just a voice in my head...

ChaosMinionX

Did you try manually setting the various voltages? It could be that the board is not properly setting them, or it needs a BIOS update for that chip since the QX6850 came out after that board and it needs an update to fix it.

__________________

A Desire to Game

Random restarts are usually attributed to:

A) Motherboard incompatibility
B) Insufficient power source
C) Incorrect voltages CPU/RAM

The only 100% way to diagnose the problem would be to swap parts.

First I would try the RAM. Some boards are finicky in that they will boot just fine or operate fine for awhile and then lock up or restart because of incompatible RAM.

Second, I would check all power connections and then swap power supplies. Try a buddy's PS in yours and/or put your PS in someone else's system. OCZ 850W should be sufficient though.

Third, I would try a different CPU if possible. Perhaps your 680i isn't compatible with current settings for your Quad Core.

I can tell by your rig specs this isn't your first rodeo, but things like this happen. Gotta take the good with the bad. Good luck amigo.

__________________
Three is my new favorite number. (SATA III, USB 3.0, and triple channel memory)

cause_of_chaos

I have manually set the voltages - I do that anyway. One thing to note is that I had to forcefully corrupt the CMOS settings to save these voltages - after initially upgrading the BIOS, I couldn't save any changes (they used to revert back to originals when PC rebooted). Would this back-up the "bad motherboard" theory?

Cheers for the replies guys - that gives me a couple more things to check. I'll speak to my friend tomorrow on ways in which we can resolve this issue, and will report back when / if I get results!

Regards,
cause_of_chaos

__________________
AMD Phenom II 965 Black Edition @ 3.4Ghz
4Gb Crucial Ballistix PC2 8500 ~ 800 FSB {Timings 4-4-4-12}
Asus M3A32-MVP Deluxe CrossfireX Mobo ~ 2002 Bios
MSI ATI RX3870 512Mb PCI-e 2.0 Graphics card
Creative Audigy2 ZS Platinum Sound card (SB0350 10k2 [e800])

GigaWatt

this could also mean a faulty battery... and could (in some part at least...) explain the random restart of the board...

i never did check the motherboard i had throughly... i just returned it to the store where i bought it (it wasn't for my rig, so why pay the extra attention to it... i wasn't even getting payed for the rig job). the new motherboard they gave me seemed fine, it wasn't showing any signs of problems, even with the same hardware previously attached to the other (faulty) motherboard... so i concluded that the motherboard was somehow damaged or faulty... that was my best guess...

__________________
It's not schisophrenia... it's just a voice in my head...

cause_of_chaos

I also had suspicions that the motherboard was at fault - I usually only buy ASUS motherboards so this one with the Pheonix BIOS was slightly user-unfriendly in my opinion.

Firstly gonna try a new HDD - as the Memory has passed a 6-hour stress-test I'm assuming that that isn't the problem.

If that fails, I will swap the PSU with my Enermax Infiniti 720W which has served me greatly so-far.

Once again, cheers for the replies guys!!!

Regards,
cause_of_chaos

__________________
AMD Phenom II 965 Black Edition @ 3.4Ghz
4Gb Crucial Ballistix PC2 8500 ~ 800 FSB {Timings 4-4-4-12}
Asus M3A32-MVP Deluxe CrossfireX Mobo ~ 2002 Bios
MSI ATI RX3870 512Mb PCI-e 2.0 Graphics card
Creative Audigy2 ZS Platinum Sound card (SB0350 10k2 [e800])