Sandy Bridge - Cold boot BSOD's

[kidintheshadows]

Sounds like the exact same problem I'm having, but I have an ASUS P8P67 Deluxe. And I've tried essentially everything you have. Memtest, multiple installs of Windows, switching the hard drive I used, switching the SATA port I used. Even tried cold booting only with the essential mouse and keyboard attached to the computer. Still no go.

Cold boot, instant BSOD. Wait on the BSOD for 20 or so seconds. Reboot. Get into Windows 7 just fine. Can play games for hours, surf web, play Bad Company 2 for rounds on end. Absolutely no problem. Just that initial cold boot phase. I contacted ASUS Tech Support 3 times and finally got what I imagine was a competent technician and we determined that I might just have a defective board. I ask him if my ram might of been the issue as it was not on the Qualified Vendor list for the motherboard, but he said he highly doubted it would of caused that kind of problem as it seems something had to "warm-up" on the motherboard before stability took place.

Sadly, the whole SATA 3.0Gb/s port issue has pushed any ability for me to get an instant replacement, so I just have to go with the general flow of the replacement program they have running.

ASUS has told me that it appears as though they are manufacturing completely new boards with the revised chip, so essentially you'll have to send in your old motherboard and they'll send a brand new one to you (rather than receiving your old board, taking out the bad chip, and soldering in the new chip). So I just have to play the waiting game for the day I have to send mine in. I'd suggest you do the same and sign up for the replacement program if you haven't already.

Or if you find the problem, let me know! Good luck!

[Mattbot2]

Try one stick of RAM at a time.

Tried that :/

Just a random one, seen anything elsewhere on SB's? Didn't they have an issue in production for some? Or I am getting mixed up?

And the fact it's a cold boot that's the issue, literally in temp terms. Hmmm resistance is higher at lower temps I believe, your changing sticks and it solves it, so...


RAM is my favorite because of that and they are sensitive souls aren't they? Tried any other RAM just to see? As opposed to swapping sticks?

Best of luck on this one.

Don't have any other ddr3 unfortunately.

The SB problem was with the southbridge, it affects the SATA 2 ports. Is the OP aware of this? Make sure the HDD is on a SATA 3 port, and don't forget to get the board replaced!

Yeah have got it on the SATA 3 ports.

Sounds like the exact same problem I'm having, but I have an ASUS P8P67 Deluxe. And I've tried essentially everything you have. Memtest, multiple installs of Windows, switching the hard drive I used, switching the SATA port I used. Even tried cold booting only with the essential mouse and keyboard attached to the computer. Still no go.

Cold boot, instant BSOD. Wait on the BSOD for 20 or so seconds. Reboot. Get into Windows 7 just fine. Can play games for hours, surf web, play Bad Company 2 for rounds on end. Absolutely no problem. Just that initial cold boot phase. I contacted ASUS Tech Support 3 times and finally got what I imagine was a competent technician and we determined that I might just have a defective board. I ask him if my ram might of been the issue as it was not on the Qualified Vendor list for the motherboard, but he said he highly doubted it would of caused that kind of problem as it seems something had to "warm-up" on the motherboard before stability took place.

Sadly, the whole SATA 3.0Gb/s port issue has pushed any ability for me to get an instant replacement, so I just have to go with the general flow of the replacement program they have running.

ASUS has told me that it appears as though they are manufacturing completely new boards with the revised chip, so essentially you'll have to send in your old motherboard and they'll send a brand new one to you (rather than receiving your old board, taking out the bad chip, and soldering in the new chip). So I just have to play the waiting game for the day I have to send mine in. I'd suggest you do the same and sign up for the replacement program if you haven't already.

Or if you find the problem, let me know! Good luck!

Thanks mate, nice to be suffering with someone. Can I have a link to the replacement program sign up? Thanks

[The Fish]

Well I know it's the northbridge which controls RAM, but the s'bridge is connected to the CPU through the northbridge I believe. So given that both of you guys have exactly the same problem, and an odd one at that, make me wonder if the affected mobo's with issues also have 'side problems' caused by the faulty ICH on the s'bridge?

I am still thinking the fact a cold booty does it and a warm one won't is a good clue. Just can't stretch my head around it enough lol.

Odd's are we'll never know why and I hope the replacement boards sort your problems fellers.

[watercooled]

The memory controller is on the CPU, there is only a single southbridge-like chip (PCH) now.

[Mattbot2]

So we think dodgy board? Hope the replacement fixes it.

[kidintheshadows]

Did you get my email? I tried to reply but this damn forum won't let you post links until you make 5 posts. >:[

[Mattbot2]

Did you get my email? I tried to reply but this damn forum won't let you post links until you make 5 posts. >:[

Yeah I did thanks, can't find a UK equivelant mind, hopefully these replacement boards aren't too far off.

[The Fish]

watercooled said

The memory controller is on the CPU, there is only a single southbridge-like chip (PCH) now.

Thanks, obviously I am on the older P45 board. This is one of the big differences on the core series of CPU's right and P55 onward boards? Hence that triple channel thing on RAM?



Off to read up again on it ta.

[watercooled]

Pretty much all new CPUs have the RAM controller on the CPU, AMD were doing it before Intel started with the Core CPUs.

[Mattbot2]

So I've got the new board and it's still doing it!

[watercooled]

Well at least you now have an updated chipset board (or should have) which you would have needed to do at some point anyway. Now I think it's just a case of replacing stuff with known working spares one at a time until the problem stops. For a problem which happens this often I'd say it's unlikely it's the RAM as Memtest passed - if RAM was at fault I'd expect Memtest to pick up on it pretty quickly. Also, problems like this with CPUs are rare but not unheard of, but I think it's more likely a problem with the HDD or the software on it, especially given the BSOD codes. Have you tried reformatting (using the repair option on the install disc might be worth a go first)? Also it would be worth trying another HDD and cable from a known-working system.

Edit: Something else has just occurred to me, Memtest booted and ran fine for hours which further strengthens my suspicion of a HDD/software problem.

[Mattbot2]

Well at least you now have an updated chipset board (or should have) which you would have needed to do at some point anyway. Now I think it's just a case of replacing stuff with known working spares one at a time until the problem stops. For a problem which happens this often I'd say it's unlikely it's the RAM as Memtest passed - if RAM was at fault I'd expect Memtest to pick up on it pretty quickly. Also, problems like this with CPUs are rare but not unheard of, but I think it's more likely a problem with the HDD or the software on it, especially given the BSOD codes. Have you tried reformatting (using the repair option on the install disc might be worth a go first)? Also it would be worth trying another HDD and cable from a known-working system.

Edit: Something else has just occurred to me, Memtest booted and ran fine for hours which further strengthens my suspicion of a HDD/software problem.

Well it was doing it on my HDD, twice, then I changed to my SSD and it's doing the same! Full format each time. Most recently I've seen MEMORY_MANAGEMENT and ntfs.sys

[watercooled]

And you've tried a known-good cable from another system?

[Mattbot2]

And you've tried a known-good cable from another system?

Forgot to mention that, yes I have. I'm totally baffled, my money's on RAM or CPU.

[watercooled]

I'm now thinking the CPU, possibly the DMI interface. Are there any obvious signs of damage on the bottom of the CPU or any foreign matter on any of the contacts?
I'd try a BIOS update and go through and check voltages/clocks are about right.

Memory is also suspect but since this is more than an intermittent problem, I'd expect Memtest to find and errors pretty quickly like I said. You'd need to leave it running for longer or swap out for more RAM to be more sure though. But another reason I'm not convinced it's the RAM is 1 stick at a time doesn't help - it's unlikely both sticks would be faulty.

[Mattbot2]

I'm now thinking the CPU, possibly the DMI interface. Are there any obvious signs of damage on the bottom of the CPU or any foreign matter on any of the contacts?
I'd try a BIOS update and go through and check voltages/clocks are about right.

Memory is also suspect but since this is more than an intermittent problem, I'd expect Memtest to find and errors pretty quickly like I said. You'd need to leave it running for longer or swap out for more RAM to be more sure though. But another reason I'm not convinced it's the RAM is 1 stick at a time doesn't help - it's unlikely both sticks would be faulty.

Nope, checked it all when I swapped out to the new motherboard, am on the latest BIOS and I'll check the clocks / voltages.

It's only on cold boot though, which is really odd. I may have a friend with some DRR3 I can borrow, so if I can eliminate that, it's gotta be CPU.

Another weird thing is if I do this.

Turn on at button, before it even hits POST, switch off at PSU, press power button, wait for motherboard LED to go out, turn on at PSU, turn on at power button, boots first time, but if I don't do this, I can easily get 10 BSODS just regular rebooting.