Gigabyte GA-EP45-DS3R (rev. 1.0) Constant reboot problem on adjusting Bios settings

[Ronski]

When I alter settings in the BIOS, the majority of the time on reboot the PC will just keep rebooting which is a major pain in the rear when trying to overclock, as the only way to stop the reboot cycle is to crawl under my desk and turn the power off, let all residual power drain and then turn it back on, but sometimes it will still reboot cycle and I have to turn off again. It does this even if I use settings that I know are stable, such as loading a saved profile. I've also found it does this if I ever need to use the reset button.

I'm using the F10 Bios and apart from this one problem my PC works perfectly, even from S3.

I should also mention that it's always done this, even when I had different CPU (Q6600), memory and graphics cards.


Any idea's as I'd like to tweak my system a bit more, but this problems is so annoying?

My Specs are:

• Antec P180 Aluminum Case, top two fans changed to Arctic Cooling 12025 120mm PWM Case Fans - speed controlled by BIOS, lower chamber fan moved to hard drive side, Antec Tri-cool fan fitted in front of upper hard drive bay.
• Motherboard Gigabyte GA-EP45-DS3R (rev. 1.0)Asus Tri Fan 4870x2 2GB
• Samsung SP2504C 250GB Sata
• 2 x Samsung HD502iJ F1 500GB Sata
• LG L204WT 20" 5ms 1680 X 1050 16:10 Widescreen Tilt LCD Monitor
• Dual Boot XP/Vista Home Premium 64bit

[AHPD]

[NimrodAUS]

Re: Gigabyte GA-EP45-DS3R (rev. 1.0) Constant reboot problem on adjusting Bios settin

Disable the USB Legacy thing in the BIOS. USB Storage Function to [Disabled].

[Ronski]

Re: Gigabyte GA-EP45-DS3R (rev. 1.0) Constant reboot problem on adjusting Bios settin

Thank you both for your replies, I will disable the USB Legacy option and let you know if that helps.

I have never had a noise from my motherboard. I never managed to get good results from overclocking my Q6600, it ran stable at 3Ghz, but I think the most I got was 3.1Ghz. With my QX6850 I can get 3.6Ghz stable and have managed to get 4Ghz stable enough to run SuperPI but not 3DMark06.

I have long suspected that the motherboard is holding back the overclocking, the guy I bought the QX6850 from had it running at 3.6Ghz on standard voltages, I've had to raise the voltages to get 3.6Ghz, which in turn causes it to run a lot hotter.

My S3 works perfectly since the F10 Bios, even with Bios defaults, thats with both with the Q6600 and QX6850

[AHPD]

Re: Gigabyte GA-EP45-DS3R (rev. 1.0) Constant reboot problem on adjusting Bios settin

Disabling USB Storage Detect doesn't help in anything here, but i managed to get a stable 3.4Ghz in my Q6600, my processor is not blessed in anyway, VID 1.30, you must provide a lot of juice to get speeds higher than 3.2ghz stable.

My way of verifying stability is using a piece of software called Intel Burn Test, makes your processor a lot hotter than Prime95 and else.

I set in bios 1.38750v to make stable at 3.2ghz, but for 3.4Ghz, 1.45000v, too much juice for extra 200Mhz, for 3.6Ghz, i'm too afraid to try, my mobo makes that stupid whining noise lot noiser and i don't have spare money in case if my motherboard gets fried

[Ronski]

Re: Gigabyte GA-EP45-DS3R (rev. 1.0) Constant reboot problem on adjusting Bios settin

Disable the USB Legacy thing in the BIOS. USB Storage Function to [Disabled].

Just checked, it was already disabled, so anybody any other suggestions on how to stop the reboot loop after changing settings in the Bios?

[NimrodAUS]

Re: Gigabyte GA-EP45-DS3R (rev. 1.0) Constant reboot problem on adjusting Bios settin

Hmm Whining noises coming from a motherboard can only mean one thing. BAD. Its probably some power regulator chips starving. One time on my 8800GT I forgot to plug the PCI-e Power cord in and boy did it scream. The Legacy USB thing was just a shot in the dark. From what AHPD has said It does sorta sound like a power issue. Oh and I think I have spotted a potential problem. Corsair HX Series 520w modular PSU + Asus Tri Fan 4870x2 2GB?? Come on man that Video Card itself would take nearly all the power that PSU could offer. You need to be looking at a 800Watt PSU to do what you have.

[gampamu]

Re: Gigabyte GA-EP45-DS3R (rev. 1.0) Constant reboot problem on adjusting Bios settin

My system will go into the dreaded reboot loop from sometimes when it's restarted from Windows or when the reset button is pressed, especially at high FSB settings (>460) but happens only if my system settings are not 100% stable. For my system the culprit is usually insufficient MCH/CPU Term/Memory voltages, or the Static tRead setting being at a borderline.

[profJim]

Re: Gigabyte GA-EP45-DS3R (rev. 1.0) Constant reboot problem on adjusting Bios settin

For my system the culprit is usually insufficient MCH/CPU Term/Memory voltages, or the Static tRead setting being at a borderline.

I agree 1000%.
This can also happen when memory speeds or timings are set too high or too tight.
When this happens on my system, the bios settings are usually preserved, but my system boots with stock settings.
I have the boot screen picture disabled in the bios, so I instantly know what boot speed is being used.
Entering the bios MIT section, I am then greeted with the red warning pop up box telling me of the failure.

[Ronski]

Re: Gigabyte GA-EP45-DS3R (rev. 1.0) Constant reboot problem on adjusting Bios settin

...... Oh and I think I have spotted a potential problem. Corsair HX Series 520w modular PSU + Asus Tri Fan 4870x2 2GB?? Come on man that Video Card itself would take nearly all the power that PSU could offer. You need to be looking at a 800Watt PSU to do what you have.

Whilst I realise that I am sailing quite close to the maximum that the power supply is rated for I am just within the max. A 4870x2 draws around 300w (25amps), the HX520 can supply around 40amps (480w) across it's 3 12v rails - each a maximum of 18amps, but 40amps combined. Total system draw from the wall socket is 500w (maxed out in Crysis), so allowing for efficiency losses (assuming 85%) the PSU is supplying 425w to the components. This is why I wish graphics card manufactures would state the peak consumption of cards and not a recommended PSU rating, as they have no way of knowing what else is in your system, and quite obviously over rate whats required. Also when the card is in 2d mode only one of the GPU's is being used and thus power draw drops considerably, as I don't game an awful lot the strain on the power supply is usually confined to short periods.

The problem with the reboot loop was also present when I had my 8800GTS 512mb. I have to do some reading up on those over bios settings mentioned above and see if they help.

PS. I am keeping my eye open for a HX1000 at the right price.

[Psycho101]

Re: Gigabyte GA-EP45-DS3R (rev. 1.0) Constant reboot problem on adjusting Bios settin

Whilst I realise that I am sailing quite close to the maximum that the power supply is rated for I am just within the max. A 4870x2 draws around 300w (25amps), the HX520 can supply around 40amps (480w) across it's 3 12v rails - each a maximum of 18amps, but 40amps combined. Total system draw from the wall socket is 500w (maxed out in Crysis), so allowing for efficiency losses (assuming 85%) the PSU is supplying 425w to the components. This is why I wish graphics card manufactures would state the peak consumption of cards and not a recommended PSU rating, as they have no way of knowing what else is in your system, and quite obviously over rate whats required. Also when the card is in 2d mode only one of the GPU's is being used and thus power draw drops considerably, as I don't game an awful lot the strain on the power supply is usually confined to short periods.

I agree with the essence of what you are saying. PSU wattage requirements are usually over exagerated. However you forgot one crucial factor in your calculations. Capacitor aging. All capacitors deteriorate, regardless of quality. You're PSU will not be capable of the same wattage it was when brand new. Not sure if this is factored into the wattage rating, eg 5 years of cap aging will still give the 520W of power output.

You'll most likely be fine for the moment. If you're not looking to get another 4870X2 (waste of time going quad CF imo, get another single 4870 and run 3 way CF) then the HX1000 is over kill. You'd be better off getting the new HX850 or a BFG ES 800. Both will cope with a single 4870X2 with masses of headroom left.

[Ronski]

Re: Gigabyte GA-EP45-DS3R (rev. 1.0) Constant reboot problem on adjusting Bios settin

....You'll most likely be fine for the moment. If you're not looking to get another 4870X2 (waste of time going quad CF imo, get another single 4870 and run 3 way CF) then the HX1000 is over kill. You'd be better off getting the new HX850 or a BFG ES 800. Both will cope with a single 4870X2 with masses of headroom left.

Thanks for the tips on the power supplies, I'd overlooked the fact that Corsair had brought out the new power supplies recently (much better price than HX1000) - there was a large gap in the HX range before that. Would the HX850 handle 3 way CF as you mention above - don't want to get caught out again and have to upgrade the power supply again, I want something that will last a few upgrades.

[Psycho101]

Re: Gigabyte GA-EP45-DS3R (rev. 1.0) Constant reboot problem on adjusting Bios settin

Yes, the HX850 would definitely handle 3 way CF with ease. The TX850 is on AMD's list of official 4 way CF (two X2's), so it should even handle a pair of 4870X2's, though it would be cutting it fine.

[Tarqy]

Re: Gigabyte GA-EP45-DS3R (rev. 1.0) Constant reboot problem on adjusting Bios settin

I have the same problem you have Ronski on the UD5 and i'm actually using a HX1000W so honestly dont think its a PSU issue. Strangely enough 'im also using the ASUS 4870X2 Tri-fan but thats possibly just coincidence.

[Ronski]

Re: Gigabyte GA-EP45-DS3R (rev. 1.0) Constant reboot problem on adjusting Bios settin

I have the same problem you have Ronski on the UD5 and i'm actually using a HX1000W so honestly dont think its a PSU issue. Strangely enough 'im also using the ASUS 4870X2 Tri-fan but thats possibly just coincidence.

I don't think it's a power supply problem either, but I do need a new power supply as I'm running the PSU very close to max when gaming.

It's just a coincidence, I only upgraded to the 4870x2 a few weeks ago, and I've had this problem ever since I've had this motherboard, it's so frustrating when overclocking - perhaps I'll have to mod a mains cable and put a switch on my desk!