Ex58-Extreme Stability Issues

[Norm74656]

I built a system a few months ago and I'm having stability issues that I can't pin down and I wanted to see if anyone here could give me some idea of how to track this down.

The hardware consists of a Gigabyte Ex58-Extreme (using the latest F9h Bios), an Intel Boxed Core I7 950, an OCZ triple channel 6 GB memory kit (OCZ3X1600LV6GK), an XFX GTX 260, an OCZ 850watt PSU (OCZ850GXSSLI), a Pioneer SATA DVD burner, a Segate 7200.12 500gb and a Western Digital 1tb WD1001FALS in a Lian-Li PC-A6010 case running Windows Vista x64 Ultimate.

The problem is that at least once a week (sometimes more frequently) the system reboots for no reason, most of the time when it's idle although once in a while I'll actually be working on it. The only thing that's noted in the system log is that "The previous shutdown was unexpected".

I've had to deal with this type of thing in Windows XP and I have gone to the "Startup and Recovery" system settings screen and unchecked "Automatically restart" and there does not appear to be a blue screen with any type of stop error message when this happens.

So how do you track down problems of this nature, idea's anyone?

Thanks,

- Norm

[wazza300]

Re: Ex58-Extreme Stability Issues

what cpu speed are your running at and overclock settings? ram timings qpi volts?? and is it xp 32 or 64?

[Norm74656]

Re: Ex58-Extreme Stability Issues

The system is running at all default settings and speeds, no overclocking whatsoever. Ram timings are set to OCZ's recommended defaults (8-8-8-24) and the system has passed MemTest86+ through 20 plus passes without any errors. QPI / VTT voltage is set to auto which is detected and set to 1.20v.

I believe that I did mention in my first message that I'm using Vista Ultimate X64.

- Norm

[wazza300]

Re: Ex58-Extreme Stability Issues

its not advised to use auto voltages as it usually overvolts components try setting them manually as this might be causing crashes even if its passing memtests,set your ram to its rated voltage,you can set cpu voltage to normal keep c1e enabled and it will lower volts at idle,and slightly raise qpi volts to accomodate your ram timings,1.26000 qpi should be fine to start with and see if it still crashes,also try re-installing your graphic card drivers as this might be causing it too

[Norm74656]

Re: Ex58-Extreme Stability Issues

its not advised to use auto voltages as it usually overvolts components try setting them manually as this might be causing crashes even if its passing memtests,set your ram to its rated voltage,you can set cpu voltage to normal keep c1e enabled and it will lower volts at idle,and slightly raise qpi volts to accomodate your ram timings,1.26000 qpi should be fine to start with and see if it still crashes,also try re-installing your graphic card drivers as this might be causing it too

I currently have my ram settings on manual which includes the voltage which is set to OCZ's spec voltage. You say "you can set cpu voltage to normal keep c1e enabled and it will lower volts at idle,and slightly raise qpi volts to accomodate your ram timings" but what is "Normal" voltage for the 950?

Thanks,

- Norm

[Psycho101]

Re: Ex58-Extreme Stability Issues

There is an actual setting for Vcore in the BIOS called "Normal". The choices should be Auto, Normal and then a range of absolute voltages from around 0.8V up to ~2.0V.

[wazza300]

Re: Ex58-Extreme Stability Issues

i suggested normal voltage setting as the cpu voltage will throttle on that setting with c1e enabled any higher and it wont throttle,i can safely clock to 3.8ghz with those settings and youll be fine on stock as the cpu will use only the amount of voltage that it needs ie it wont be overvolted like it would if it was left on auto

[Norm74656]

Re: Ex58-Extreme Stability Issues

Okay, thanks to you both. I now have the various voltage settings set to your recommendations.

As I'd mentioned previously, the reboots generally happen every three to ten days so it's going to take a couple weeks to know for sure if these changes have made a difference.

I'll post back as soon as I know anything one way or another.

Thanks,

- Norm

[wazza300]

Re: Ex58-Extreme Stability Issues

http://mersenneforum.org/gimps/p64v2511.zip 64 bit
http://mersenneforum.org/gimps/p95v2511.zip 32 bit
download and run this test for 15mins and you will know if its going to be stable or not
run a blend test on it if it lasts for more than 15 mins your looking good,test for longer when you have time

[Norm74656]

Re: Ex58-Extreme Stability Issues

I ran the test for 23 minutes and there were no problems. But as I said almost every time that the system rebooted itself was when the system was idle and not doing anything. So while I'm optimistic that maybe the problem is fixed I'll have to reserve judgment for a week until I'm sure.

Thanks,

- Norm

[Psycho101]

Re: Ex58-Extreme Stability Issues

23 minutes is no where near enough. Try 8 hours minimum.

[Norm74656]

Re: Ex58-Extreme Stability Issues

Sorry, but Wazza300 indicated that 15 minutes would be sufficient to give some indication and 23 happened to be all the time I had.

Now that I've been running this configuration for four days, I can say that if anything my system is more prone to the sudden rebooting than before. Previously it never happened more than once every three days (and sometimes a week would go by) but it's happened so far twice in one day (hours apart) and then again just the next day.

Again in the situation where it rebooted twice in one day, the system was idle with probably just FireFox and one other application open.

- Norm

[Norm74656]

Re: Ex58-Extreme Stability Issues

I last posted about two weeks ago and haven't heard from anyone?

As I mentioned in my previous post, I made the bios settings that wazza300 and Psycho101 suggested and if anything I seem to be having more reboots that I was having before.

Does anyone have some idea's on how to track down the source of the problem since this does not appear to be an operating system issue?

Thanks,

- Norm

[wazza300]

Re: Ex58-Extreme Stability Issues

what bios are you using?it could be a sleep/resume or something else thats causing it to crash,did you set qpi voltage to 1.3000/ram voltage to 1.66 and manual timings? cpu voltage on normal

[Lsdmeasap]

Re: Ex58-Extreme Stability Issues

Sorry your post had been overlooked!

Can you please tell me your current issues again, give me your full settings and specs and I will advise back.

Thanks!