Problems getting GA-EP45-UD3P board to cooperate

[SimonSez]

So I had a GA-EP35-UD3L board and I decided to upgrade to a GA-EP45-UD3P because I want two 300GB WD Velociraptors in RAID-0 configuration. Well this has become a huge headache. I am having trouble getting the computer to boot. It sometimes boots up fine and I can get into the Windows 7 64-bit installation and then when it starts copying files during the installation there will be a short beep and the computer shuts off. Other times it will just shut down randomly between the POST screen and sometime shortly after the RAID screen.

Here is the hardware breakdown:

GA-EP45-UD3P
CPU: Intel Q9550 2.83GHz
Memory: 2x 2GB Corsair Dominator CM2X2048-8500C5D modules 5-5-5-15-2T 2.1V
Hard drives: 2x 300GB WD Velociraptor SATA
Graphics: ATI Sapphire 512MB 4850 PCIe

I have tried setting optimized defaults in BIOS and then just changing the memory settings to 5-5-5-15 and 2.1V. It doesn't seem to fix anything.

The memory and CPU work fine on the old board. Is it possible one of the WD drives is bad? How can I test them? I bought the WD drives used.

[SimonSez]

Re: Problems getting GA-EP45-UD3P board to cooperate

Update: unplugging the WD drives seems to have no effect. The computer will still go into a continuous reboot cycle at times.

[SimonSez]

Re: Problems getting GA-EP45-UD3P board to cooperate

I forgot to mention the power supply is a Corsair HX520. The BIOS shows 12.18V at the 12+ rail in the BIOS.

[Lsdmeasap]

Re: Problems getting GA-EP45-UD3P board to cooperate

Please give me your full settings you are using in a template from my signature.

While you wait, you need to set Performance Enhance on Standard, and set MCH voltage to 1.2-1.24 for 4GB, and of course also set your ram voltage too. You may also want to set your own Memory multi, for 333 FSB set 2.40B for 800Mhz or 3.20B for 1066, and then set tRD (Static tRead Value) for each channel to 9 for now

Plug your hard drives into SATA2_0 and 1

As for testing the drives you can do that with WD Diagnostic tools, let me know if you need a link to that. I think you may not though, at least not for now, since you see the problem either way

[SimonSez]

Re: Problems getting GA-EP45-UD3P board to cooperate

I let the computer off all night and today I tried working on it again and now it won't even boot up. The lights sort of blink/fade on the front and the computer won't even go to the POST screen. I unplugged all drives and even the memory and it does the same thing. Trying to clear the CMOS does nothing. I am baffled now. I'll have to work on it after work tonight.

[Lsdmeasap]

Re: Problems getting GA-EP45-UD3P board to cooperate

I'd get it out of the case and OFF the motherboard tray, this way you rule out any shorts causing this.

You have to have memory in the board for it to work, so no need trying without any.

Do you have a case speaker connected, if not please connect one when you do further testing

[SimonSez]

Re: Problems getting GA-EP45-UD3P board to cooperate

So I'm back to working on the PC. I took the MB out of the case, it still won't boot up. I hooked up a speaker and it will just make a short "pop" when I turn on the computer. Here's what happens: I press the power switch and the phase leds all turn on and the speaker makes the pop noise at the same time and everything is one for about a half second and then shuts off.

I took out the CPU and the board actually stays on. Possibly a bad CPU?

[SimonSez]

Re: Problems getting GA-EP45-UD3P board to cooperate

I bought a Corsair HX650 PSU and now everything boots up fine. So the culprit was a Corsair HX520 PSU that went bad after 4 years of service.

[Lsdmeasap]

Re: Problems getting GA-EP45-UD3P board to cooperate

Nice to see you found the cause!!

And it's also nice to hear the dead/dying PSU didn't take any of your hardware with it!!

Post back anytime if you need further help with anything