New AMD AM3 Build - Hardware Issues/Faults

[scottismo]

Hello all. Hoping you can help me with a rather serious problem here.

I built the follow machine on Friday:

AMD Phenom II X4 Quad Core 955 Black Edition 125W
Asus ATI Radeon EAH5850 DirectCU 1024MB GDDR5 PCI-Express Graphics Card
Asus ATI Radeon EAH5850 DirectCU 1024MB GDDR5 PCI-Express Graphics Card
Crucial memory 4GB (2 x 2GB) DDR3 PC3-12800 Ballistix 1600 MHz RAM 8-8-8-24 Unbuffered NON-ECC 1.65V 256 Meg x 64
CROSSHAIR IV FORMULA - Asus Crosshair IV Formula, AMD 890FX, SAM3, PCI-E 2.0, DDR3 1600/1800/1866, SATA 6Gb/s RAID, ATX
850W Corsair 850HX PSU, ATX, EPS12V, Modular, UK Version
500GB Samsung HD502HJ Spinpoint F3, SATA 3Gb/s, 7200rpm, 16MB Cache, 8.9 ms, NCQ, OEM
Sony AD-7240S-0B 24x DVD±R, 12xDVD±DL, DVD+RW x8/-RWx6 ,12xRAM SATA, Black, OEM
Silverstone Fortress FT01B-W Tower Case Black Aluminum with Window w/o PSU

THE PROBLEM

1. The build went fine and I took all the usual precautions (wrist strap etc).
2. First boot seemed ok, but its interesting to note that my case doesn't seem to have a beeper.
3. I updated the BIOS to the latest version.
4. I attempted to install Windows 7 64-bit.
5. Upon doing so, the machine froze at the "loading windows" screen.

ATTEMPTED SOLUTIONS

After some research, I decided to reseat the memory modules. This did not work. So I ran Memtest+ and to my horror millions of red errors appeared on my screen. I then proceeded to test each module as such with the following result:

1. NO ERRORS: I ran the system with 1x 2GB in Slot A1
2. NO ERRORS: I ran the system with 1x 2GB in Slot A2
3. ERROR: I ran the system with 1x 2GB in Slot B1
4. ERROR: I ran the system with 1x 2GB in Slot B2

The result for each module was the same.

1. NO ERRORS: I ran the system with 2x 2GB in Slot A1 + A2
2. ERRORS: I ran the system with 2x 2GB in Slot B1 + B2

I'm going to test the memory later on tonight in a friend's machine but based on those results I feel its more likely that the DIMM SLOT is at fault rather than the memory modules. Note that I can actually install Windows when the memory is in Slot A1 and A2 but this is obviously not optimal as they are not operating in Dual Channel mode.

After some preliminary research, I saw a couple of other potential causes:

• One website suggested that there was an incompatibility with Corsair PSU's.
• One website suggested that the CPU might be faulty - as the memory controller is on the CPU.
• One website suggested that the memory might not be compatible.

Given that the memory appears to be working ok in the first two slots, I'm inclined to feel that the DIMM SLOTS are faulty rather than any of the above arguements.

Reflecting on the build, there might be a few tell-tale signs of mistreatment.

• The motherboard manual was bent and the equipment was a little bit messy in the box (but not so much as to assume 2nd hand).
• The chassis fan header nearest the B1 and B2 memory modules had two of the four pins bent (I had to bend them back before I could connect the fan).

I just wonder whether the board has had a bit of a mishandling.

ACTION PLAN

I plan on removing all non-essential hardware from the machine such as the HDD, 2nd GPU, Wifi Card and Optical Drive - then retest the memory in B1 and B2 slots. I don't hold much hope of this succeeding.

Any help you can give would be greatly appreciated! As you can imagine, it is a nightmare scenario after you have been waiting so long for a new PC! Am I best off just sending the Motherboard back to Scan tommorow morning and asking for a replacement?

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

The damage on the motherboard does not sound very good TBH. Have you tried relaxing the timings on the memory and running it at 1333MHZ in the affected slots??

[Jasp]

After some preliminary research, I saw a couple of other potential causes:

* One website suggested that there was an incompatibility with Corsair PSU's.
* One website suggested that the CPU might be faulty - as the memory controller is on the CPU.
* One website suggested that the memory might not be compatible.

First suggestion = cant see it myself.
Second suggestion = on i7 cpus yes on AMD processors no.
Third suggestion = maybe?

Sounds like you have accidently got a RMA board? was the motherboard itself in a sealed bag with the seal intact, was the box shrink wrapped and sealed?

Sounds like the ram slots.

[kalniel]

Second suggestion = on i7 cpus yes on AMD processors no.

The memory controller has been on CPUs for AMD since athlon 64 days.

[Domestic_Ginger]

My instaallation of windows takes forever at the loading scream! If you're sure you left it long enough than it must have crashed.

Have you gone into the bios and made sure that the settings are correctfor the ram, as CtV said you can relax the timings but you might want to check they're getting enough voltage.

[Ulti]

Also to run dual channel memory, you use the same colour slots on that board unless otherwise stated. I.e. either the two reds or the two black slots. I can't really tell which one is A1 which is A2, B1 B2 etc.

[Jasp]

The memory controller has been on CPUs for AMD since athlon 64 days.

Yer ya right.... didn't realise. Thought it was a i7 only thing.

[scottismo]

UPDATE:

I've now tested the memory in a friend's X58 board and it is fine. I'm going to contact Scan shortly to see if I can return the motherboard.

Also to run dual channel memory, you use the same colour slots on that board unless otherwise stated. I.e. either the two reds or the two black slots. I can't really tell which one is A1 which is A2, B1 B2 etc.

To run my board in dual channel mode, I need to use A1 and B1 or A2 and B2. With B1 and B2 not working, I can't do that!

First suggestion = cant see it myself.
Second suggestion = on i7 cpus yes on AMD processors no.
Third suggestion = maybe?

Sounds like you have accidently got a RMA board? was the motherboard itself in a sealed bag with the seal intact, was the box shrink wrapped and sealed?

Sounds like the ram slots.

The memory is fine. Running in A1 and A2 slots I can install Windows and run an intensive app like 3DMark06 error free so I can't see it being an incompatability.

I think you're right, I may have recieved a dodgy board but we won't know for sure until I get it replaced! I don't recall seeing any broken seals or such but I honestly can't remember how it was packaged. The first thing that struck me when I opened the box was the bent manual and slight disarray of the contents...